Our Best Holiday Party Recipes
From holiday cocktail parties to sit-down Christmas dinners (and everything in between), these festive recipes are guaranteed to impress — and make entertaining easy!
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Pomegranate Glazed Pork
You'll be amazed at how much flavor a simple glaze gives this pork roast. Warming winter spices like cinnamon and cloves are balanced with sweet maple syrup, tart pomegranate and savory thyme.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Glazed Pork
Pizza Wreath
A sausage and pepperoni pizza transforms into a festive wreath for the holiday season. Top with a golden-brown dough bow and sprinkle with fresh basil for a dish that's almost too cute to eat.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Wreath
Gigantic Standing Snowman
This impressive centerpiece is perfect for feeding a crowd at your ugly sweater party this holiday season. Coated with a meringue frosting, these bite-size cupcakes are as light as snow and easy to pull off and enjoy during the festivities.
Get the Recipe: Gigantic Standing Snowman
Tortellini Skewers
Ree uses festive colors for these tasty skewers: store-bought spinach tortellini and fresh mozzarella for white, cherry tomatoes for red and adrizzle of pesto for green.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Skewers
Birch De Noël
If you're hosting a winter wonderland-themed party then this spin on the classic Yuletide cake is a perfect choice. Instead of the original meringue mushroom-covered log, this one is made to look like a lovely white birch instead.
Get the Recipe: Birch De Noël
Spinach and Feta Rugelach
One of your favorite appetizers (spinach dip) is the perfect flavor inspiration for this savory spin on buttery, rolled rugelach. Molly smartly uses feta for just the right amount of saltiness.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Feta Rugelach
Ranch Dressing Cheese Log
Get the Recipe: Ranch Dressing Cheese Log
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Get the Recipe: Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Candy Melt Trees
When you need a quick and easy (but oh-so-festive) decoration for holiday desserts, use candy melts instead of chocolate — no tempering required!
Get the Recipe: Candy Melt Trees
Wine-Poached Figs
This simple and elegant appetizer is ready in only 15 minutes. Pair the poached figs with bread, a boldcheese and your choice of wine for easy holiday entertaining.
Get the Recipe: Wine-Poached Figs
Standing Rib Roast
When you need an impressive centerpiece for your dinner table, try Anne's roast.
Get the Recipe: Standing Rib Roast
Cinnamon Roll Wreath
At your holiday brunch, tell guests to have fun with this pull-apart treat and enjoy with coffee or tea.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Wreath
Snowman Banana Nog
This snowman decoration comes together in a few minutes and makes a sweet way to serve a winter mocktail. The creamy white nog is dazzled with the wintry flavors of nutmeg and allspice.
Get the Recipe: Snowman Banana Nog
Gingerbread Spiced Nuts
These sweet-and-spicy nuts are the perfect addition to any holiday cheeseboard or cocktail party spread.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Spiced Nuts
Prime Rib au Jus
Get the Recipe: Prime Rib Au Jus
Gorgonzola-Pear Toasts
Get the Recipe: Gorgonzola-Pear Toasts
Individual Meringue Swan Lakes
Light-as-air meringue swans float upon individual meringue lakes filled with rich vanilla creme anglaise. This dessert is almost too beautiful to eat.
Get the Recipe: Individual Meringue Swan Lakes
Potato-Beef Canapes
Get the Recipe: Potato-Beef Canapes
Hot Corn Dip
Get the Recipe: Hot Corn Dip
Herb Coeur a la Creme
Ina's 15 minute cream cheese round is an easy yet elegant way to start your party.
Get the Recipe: Herb Coeur a La Creme
White Chocolate Caramel
Roasting high-quality white chocolate magically turns it into an addictive caramel. Stir it into hot chocolate, sandwich it between two cookies or drizzle it over ice cream.
Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Caramel
Potato Puffs
Get the Recipe: Potato Puffs
Horseradish Shrimp
Get the Recipe: Horseradish Shrimp
Winter Hat Cake
With a variety of pastry tip shapes, you can create a knitted-wool look for this cozy cake. And after your guests are finished admiring, slice into it for a chocolate candy-filled surprise.
Get the Recipe: Winter Hat Cake
Salt Cod Dip
A creamy spread of salt cod, potatoes and garlic is perfect for dipping crisp crackers.
Get the Recipe: Salt Cod Dip
Peppermint Fried Dough
Can't wait to sneak one of the candy canes off the tree? Try these pepperminty fried dough bites, instead!
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Fried Dough
Filet of Beef with Mushrooms and Blue Cheese
Ina Garten’s filet of beef is ideal for the holidays: It’s foolproof — and guaranteed to impress!
Get the Recipe: Filet of Beef with Mushrooms and Blue Cheese
Snowman Punch
This creamy and cool punch — inspired by a Ramos gin fizz — is a real knockout, complete with a snowman chilling out in drifts of bubbles. To make it ahead, you can assemble the snowman body in advance and pop it in the freezer, adding the scarf just before serving.
Get the Recipe: Snowman Punch
Struffoli
Get the Recipe: Struffoli
Christmas Queso
Get the Recipe: Christmas Queso
Savory Cheese Palmiers
Get the Recipe: Savory Cheese Palmiers
Holiday Roll-Ups
Get the Recipe: Holiday Roll Ups
Bacon Ranch Cream Cheese Wellington
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Cream Cheese Wellington
Baked Prosciutto and Brie with Apple Butter
Get the Recipe: Baked Prosciutto and Brie with Apple Butter
Chocolate Chip Biscookie
The holiday season is synonymous with cookies, and the most well-loved cookie of childhood is probably the chocolate chip variety. Melissa's recipe is part cookie, part biscotti — sweet and soft enough to eat like a cookie, but hard enough to be perfect for coffee dipping.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Biscookie
Braciole with Orecchiette
Get the Recipe: Braciole With Orecchiette
Peanut Butter Truffles
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Truffles
Miss Mickey's Peanut Butter Balls
Get the Recipe: "Miss" Mickey's Peanut Butter Balls
Crepes
Try both the sweet and savory versions of Alton's crepe recipe. Stuff with a filling or simply top with powdered sugar for an elegant treat.
Get the Recipe: Crepes
Butter Spritz Cookies
Get the Recipe: Butter Spritz Cookies
Cheese Fondue
Get the Recipe: Cheese Fondue
Antipasti de Salumi
Get the Recipe: Antipasti de Salumi
Chorizo Bites with Smoked Paprika and Piquillo Pepper Aioli
Get the Recipe: Chorizo Bites with Smoked Paprika and Piquillo Pepper Aioli
Herbed Hazelnuts
Get the Recipe: Herbed Hazelnuts
Bacon and Chive Green Bean Coins
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Chive Green Bean Coins
Asparagus and Jack Cheese Frittata
Frittatas are an easy way to feed a crowd on a budget. Aida uses asparagus and cheese to flavor the eggs, but any combination of vegetables and cheese would be great.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus and Jack Cheese Frittata
Buttermilk Scones
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Scones
Butternut Squash and Mussel Soup
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash and Mussel Soup
Fettuccine with Lobster, Tomatoes and Saffron
Banana and Pecan Pancakes with Maple Butter
Get the Recipe: Banana and Pecan Pancakes with Maple Butter
Capital Eggnog
Get the Recipe: Capital Eggnog
Jerry's Sugared Pecans
Get the Recipe: Jerry's Sugared Pecans
Overnight Pot Roast
Get the Recipe: Overnight Pot Roast
Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip
Ellie's red pepper and walnut dip is quick and easy to make (it's done in 15 minutes!); Set it out alongside a vegetable platter for an elegant appetizer spread.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip
Crispy-Skin Black Sea Bass with Avocado, Tomatillo and Fennel Relish
For a lighter holiday entertaining main, try Bobby's black sea bass with a crunchy relish that's both sweet and spicy.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Skin Black Sea Bass with Avocado, Tomatillo and Fennel Relish
Peruvian Seafood Chowder
Get the Recipe: Peruvian Seafood Chowder