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Guide to Holiday Entertaining

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Tis the season for holiday entertaining.  It can be stressful, but also so much fun!  I want to make thing easier on your so I’m rounding up my favorite holiday recipes and sharing this guide to holiday entertaining.

Holiday recipes this image

This post breaks it down by category so you can jump to whatever you need.  I’ll keep it short and sweet so you can get to baking!

HOLIDAY COCKTAILS & DRINKS

Christmas Cranberry Cosmopolitan
This Cranberry Christmas Cosmopolitan is made with festive flavors and colors that any cosmo lover will enjoy.
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The Nutcracker Cocktail
This nutcracker cocktail is full of rich nutty flavors, topped with whipped cream and perfect for the holidays!
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Nutcracker cocktail next to a nutcracker
Cinnamon Vanilla Dolce Iced Coffee
This cinnamon vanilla dolce iced coffee is made with a delicious homemade coffee creamer and fresh coffee.
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Iced Bailey's Coffee Latte
A delicious treat for Christmas' morning! An easy and delicious iced baileys coffee latte recipe perfect for a brunch drink.
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Iced Baileys coffee latte recipe with a red and green straw
Apple Cider Ginger Beer Mule Cocktail
This apple cider ginger beer mule cocktail is the epitome of fall drinks! It's refreshing and delicious!
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Apple Cider Ginger Beer Mule Cocktail with a lime

HOLIDAY DESSERTS

Sugar Cut Out Cookies {that actually hold their shape}
It’s not always easy to make a sugar cookie that holds its shape and tastes (and looks) good. I made these amazing state shaped cookies and just had to share with you. These cookies are perfect if you have an intricate cookie cutter or a shape you want to hold up, they’re also perfect for holding up and being frosted. 
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Sugar Cookies That Actually Hold Shape
5 Ingredient Toasted Pecan Snowball Cookies
These 5 ingredient toasted pecan snowball cookies are easy to make and always on my list when I start holiday baking.
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5 ingredient toasted pecan snowball cookies
The Best Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
I don’t throw around the term ‘the best’ lightly, but these truly are the best salted caramel chocolate chip cookies…EVER! Make them for your next party or get together and everyone will be asking you for the recipe between bites of cookie!
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Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Gingerbread Cut Out Cookies Recipe
This gingerbread cut out cookies recipe is super fun to make with kids and you can get as creative as you like with what shapes you use! Plus the flavor is mild so anyone will love them.
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Vanilice - Raspberry Filled Vanilla Cookies
These vanilice - raspberry filled vanilla cookies are the most delicious cookie ever, they're great because they can be made ahead (they actually taste better after 3-5 days of being made!) The official name for these raspberry filled cookies is Vanilice (meaning 'little vanilla), it's a Serbian raspberry vanilla cookie recipe.
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Raspberry filled sandwich cookies, raspberry sandwich cookies, vanilla sugar raspberry jam cookies, Serbian christmas cookies, Serbian cookie recipe, Serbian recipe, Vanilice recipe
Eggnog Christmas Cookies Recipe
This recipe is for frosted Eggnog Christmas cookies. They're delicious and so festive!
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Close up of eggnog Christmas cookies
Cinnamon Star Cookies (Zimtsterne)
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Chocolate Rolo Stuffed Crinkle Cookies Recipe
Chocolate! Rolo Stuffed! Crinkle Cookies! I am so excited to share this insanely delicious cookie recipe with you from the Baker’s Royale cookbook.
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Big Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies (made with real cranberries)
There’s something about using real cranberries in recipes that just screams fall and winter baking! These big chocolate chip cranberry cookies are made with real cranberries and are my new favorite cookie for the holidays.
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Cookie on a white plate
Caramel Pretzel Bite Candies Recipe
These caramel pretzel bit candies are the perfect addition to any Christmas cookie plate/tin!
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The best recipe for caramel pretzel bite candies
Chocolate Cake With Cinnamon Whipped Cream Recipe
This chocolate cake with cinnamon whipped cream recipe is light and delicious.  It's perfect as a centerpiece on any celebration table.
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Cake on white cake stand

FOOD GIFTS

Perfect Christmas Recipe for Gifting: Sea Salt Turtle Cups
These delicious sea salt turtle cups are the perfect Christmas recipe for gifting that everyone is sure to enjoy and are made with only 5 ingredients (yay for 5 ingredient desserts and 5 ingredient Fridays!)
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Rocky Road Brownies In a Mason Jar
Giving these rocky road brownies in a mason jar as a gift is one of my favorite things to do!
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Bananas Foster Party Chex Mix Recipe
If you love bananas foster as much as I do, then this is the snack for you!  I seriously can’t believe how much it tastes like the traditional dessert, and turned into a party Chex mix, your guests are going to love this unique and delicious Chex mix recipe (that also happens to be a completely gluten-free snack recipe!)
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Chex mix spilling out of bag
Chocolate Turtle Chex Mix
A salty sweet snack that's a perfect party dessert, this chocolate turtle chex mix is a crowd pleaser!
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chocolate turtle chex mix recipe, an easy holiday snack recipe,
5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Fudge
This 5 ingredient peanut butter banana fudge recipe is super easy to make, tastes delicious and would make a great food gift.
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5 Ingredient peanut butter banana fudge
Peppermint Fudge - Perfect for a Food Gift
Peppermint fudge, a delicious holiday fudge recipe that is perfect for a food gift
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Peppermint fudge - perfect for a food gift, food gifts, homemade gifts, food christmas gifts
Red Wine Brownies in a Jar
Delicious red wine brownies in a jar that are great to give as a food gift.
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Bottle of wine and brownies in a jar
Seasonal Snack Mix
This seasonal snack mix is so fun and festive, plus it's incredibly versatile! Simply switch up candy colors for any holiday or event.
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Snack mix in Santa bag

A FUN HOLIDAY ACTIVITY

Graham Cracker Houses and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Cookies
Making and decorating mini graham cracker houses is such a fun family activity and I’m sharing a gingerbread glue recipe that actually holds!
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Graham Cracker Houses and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Graham Cracker Cookies

APPETIZERS & MEAL IDEAS

Prime Rib Roast and Yorkshire Puddings
This recipe is for a decadent and delicious perfectly cooked prime rib roast and yorkshire puddings
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prime rib roast and yorkshire puddings on a white dinner plate
Super Simple 5 Ingredient Turkey
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Oven Baked Pork Roast
An easy oven baked pork roast, fancy enough for a special occasion, but easy enough for a family dinner that kids will enjoy.
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An oven baked pork roast on a wooden cutting board
5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes Recipe
Next time you’re having any part or get-together and need a super easy to prepare recipe that everyone is going to love, I’d definitely recommend making these 5 ingredient slowcooker cheesy potatoes!
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5 Ingredient Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes
5 Ingredient Broccoli Divine Recipe
This 5 ingredient broccoli divine recipe makes for an incredibly delicious (some might even call it ‘divine’) vegetable side dish.
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Christmas Pull Apart Bread Wreath
This Christmas pull apart bread wreath is the perfect appetizer for the center of your holiday table.  It's easy to make, filling for guests and great for feeding a group.
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Christmas Tree Appetizer-Cheddar Bacon Ranch Pinwheel Wraps
I can’t even tell you how tasty this super simple Christmas tree shaped appetizer is – they’re cheddar bacon ranch pinwheel wraps and I could seriously eat the whole tray!  The colors in this Christmas appetizer recipe make it the perfect food for your holiday parties. 
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Cheddar bacon pinwheel in the shape of a Christmas tree

BREAKFAST & BRUNCH

5 Ingredient French Toast Casserole
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Healthy Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole Recipe
This delicious healthy breakfast casserole is made in a slow cooker and is perfect for prepping ahead, or for an overnight casserole.
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Slow cooker breakfast casserole
Gingerbread Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting
These gingerbread muffins with cream cheese frosting are a cozy morning recipe and perfect for Christmas morning breakfast!
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Gingerbread muffins with cream cheese frosting
Gingerbread Candied Bacon
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Cranberry Gingerbread Muffins
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Vanilla Bean Cream Coffee
This recipe will show you how to make a rich vanilla bean cream that is super tasty in your coffee.
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Eggless Chocolate Chip Waffles with Strawberry Cream Cheese Sauce
If you've been following along for some time now, you certainly know how often I make eggless waffles in my house.  Well, I've upgraded them a bit!  Enter, eggless chocolate chip waffles with strawberry cream cheese sauce.
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Eggless chocolate chip waffles stacked on a white plate
Snowman Pancakes
These snowman pancakes are the perfect thing to make with kids in the kitchen on any winter morning.
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Snowman pancakes
Slow Cooker Hot Cross Bun Cinnamon Rolls
These slow cooker hot cross bun cinnamon rolls are perfect for a super delicious, no fuss, set-it-and-forget it brunch recipe.
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Cinnamon roll with frosting on white speckled plate

Whatever you make this holiday season, I hope you enjoy it!  Be sure to send any of your reader re-creations in – I always love to see what you’re making.

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Comments

  19. Rosie says

    Having a cookie decorating party and/or christmas tree decorating party. We like to make an all-edible tree with decorated cookies, popcorn balls, candy canes, etc.

    Reply

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