Festive Favorites

Delicious Recipes for Every Holiday Gathering

Recipes and Photos by Kaitlin Gooding

Holiday festivities can look like large family gatherings or an intimate dinner among close friends. We all celebrate in different ways, so whether you’re attending an ugly Christmas sweater party or gathering around the dinner table, we’ve got a recipe for you. You’ll be the hit of any event if you bring the roasted red grape crostinis slathered with ricotta cheese, salami and drizzled with honey on top. Enjoy slow, cool mornings by the fire with your coffee in one hand and a pumpkin pecan muffin in the other. The peppermint chocolate crinkle cookies are rich in chocolatey flavor and fluffy like a brownie, the perfect dessert for a Christmas dinner. The roasted green beans are a great fresh vegetable for a side dish that has all the tastes of comfort food thanks to the bacon and Parmesan. Cap off your night with one of these fresh apple delight cocktails. One bite of the caramel apple cinnamon roll and you might have a new Christmas morning tradition. We have you covered for whatever Christmas occasion you may find this season.

Apple Delight Cocktail

Servings: 1

Ingredients:

1.5 ounces bourbon

1 dash orange bitters 

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp fresh grated ginger

1 tsp cinnamon syrup

Cinnamon Syrup:

3 cinnamon sticks

1 star anise

1 cup sugar 

1 cup water

Directions:

1. To make cinnamon syrup, add water to a small saucepan, along with sugar, and bring the water to a boil until the sugar is dissolved. Turn the heat down to a simmer, add the star anise and cinnamon sticks. Allow to cook for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to sit for at least one hour. Remove the cinnamon sticks and anise. Pour into an airtight container once cool and store in the fridge.

2. In a cocktail shaker add bourbon, bitters, lemon juice, ginger, cinnamon and ice. Shake thoroughly.  

3. Fill a cocktail glass with ice and strain the shaker over the ice. Top it off with ginger beer. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and a fresh rosemary stem.

Peppermint- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup brown sugar 

Pinch of salt

2 eggs 

1/2 cup powdered sugar 

1.5 tsp peppermint extract

1/4 cup cocoa powder 

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

1. Add flour, baking soda and cocoa powder in a bowl.  Mix the ingredients together until well combined.

2. In a separate bowl, beat butter, sugar and peppermint extract together. Add in one egg at a time and beat until well blended.

3. Slowly mix the flour mixture into the sugar and mix until well combined.

4. Continue mixing until a large ball of dough is formed.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight.  

5. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Once you’ve chilled the dough, remove from the fridge and using a spoon, form small balls of dough. Roll them in the powdered sugar until they are completely covered.  Place each ball on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Lightly press down to create more "crinkles."

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to completely cool and add a dusting of powdered sugar on top.

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Servings: 1o 6

Ingredients:

Dough

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 eggs

3 tbsp sugar

4 tbsp salted butter

3/4 cup milk, warm

2 tsp dry active yeast

Pinch of salt

Filling

1/2 cup + 2 tbsp brown sugar

1.5 tbsp cinnamon

1 large apple, finely chopped

5 tbsp salted butter, softened

Jar of caramel sauce

Directions:

1. In a mixer add warm milk, dry yeast, and sugar. Combine together and allow to sit for 5 minutes or until it begins to bubble. Add the eggs, flour, salt, and butter to the bowl and mix until well combined. Knead the dough by hand for another five minutes.  

2.  Cover the bowl and allow the dough to rest at room temperature for at least 45 minutes.

3. In a separate bowl, add the brown sugar and cinnamon and mix thoroughly.  Set aside.

4. Once the dough has risen, place it on a floured surface. Roll the dough out into a rectangle approx. 12 x 18 inches. Spread the butter evenly on the dough and add the cinnamon sugar and apples evenly and drizzle caramel sauce over top.

5. Roll up the dough tightly into a log. Cut the log into 12 even rolls and place into a lightly greased dish.  Cover the dish and allow to rise for 40 minutes.

6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes, or once the rolls are lightly browned but not overcooked. Allow to cool and then drizzle with more caramel sauce and serve warm.

Grape Ricotta Crostinis

Ingredients:

1 French baguette

3-4 tbsp olive oil

4 tbsp red wine

2 tbsp sugar

2 sprigs of rosemary

2.5 cups grapes

salt

3 oz package dry salami, thinly sliced

1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup roasted pistachios, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the grapes on parchment paper on a baking sheet and roast with rosemary sprigs for 35 minutes.  

2. In a small pan, add the wine and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, sirring, while the sugar dissolves and creates a syrup-like consistency.  

3. Add the grapes and stir until well combined.

4. Cut the baguette into 1/2-inch slices and arrange them on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Drizzle the bread with a little olive oil and salt. Toast in the oven for 15 minutes until they are golden brown.

5. Spread the ricotta cheese on each piece of crostini. Add small pieces of salami on top. Place the roasted grapes and the syrup on top of the cheese. Sprinkle chopped pistachios over top and an extra dash of sea salt. Drizzle honey for a final garnish.

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

Makes: 12 -14

Ingredients:

Muffins:

1 can 100 % pure pumpkin 

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

2 eggs

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup milk 

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup olive oil

1 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp clover

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

Toppings:

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Honey, to drizzle over top

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Add 12 muffin cups to a muffin trey and spray with nonstick spray. 

2. In a bowl, add flour, spices, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Mix until well combined. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, add the pumpkin, sugars, egg, milk, vanilla and olive oil.  Whip the wet ingredients until smooth.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ngredients until well combined.

5. Pour the muffin mix into the cups about 2/3 filled and set aside.

6. In one last bowl, add all the ingredients for the topping and mix well.

7. Evenly add the toppings to each muffin. Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes or until cooked all the way through.  

8. Allow the muffins to cool before serving, and enjoy with a good cup of coffee in the morning.