25+ Season’s Eatings Recipes for your Holiday Entertaining! You’ll find recipes for everything from appetizers and party bites, to cocktails and cookies, food gifts and more!
I wrapped these holiday recipes up in bright red bow from the archives to help you make your list and check it twice!
And so you can refer back when you take a break from trimming the tree, decking the halls or the Jeep. ;)
Click on the links in red to find the complete recipe, how-to and Christmas inspiration.
Happy Black Friday, Everyone!
Christmas Tree Tailgate and Picnic
Southern Living Christmas All Through The South with The Novel Bakers
Christmas Tree Cheese Board
An easy and festive appetizer for a Christmas party
O Christmas Appetizer Tree
Sure to impress your family and friends as a centerpiece of your party or buffet, you can customize one to your tastes, using cheese, meat, olives, cherry tomatoes, or any antipasto item that you can skewer with a toothpick!
Cranberry-Orange-Pistachio Loaves
These mini loaves are merry and bright, as well as sweet, tart and nutty from the red and green of the cranberries and pistachios! A perfect little loaf to give or enjoy for the holidays!
Slow Cooker Cranberry Mulled Wine
Put your slow cooker to work for easy holiday entertaining! This simmering Cranberry Mulled Wine will warm you up from the inside out and make the house smell wonderful too!
Pecan Bourbon Balls
An easy no-bake Southern treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or for Christmas gift giving!
Honey-Rosemary Cherries and Blue Cheese Crostini
Serve as an appetizer or let your guests serve themselves and assemble from bowls of ingredients. If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, substitute goat cheese or Boursin.
Easy Owl Cookies
A hoot to make!
Melted Snowmen Cookies
Turn any plain sugar or chocolate cookie into adorable melted snowmen!
No-Bake Coconut Orange Snowballs
These no-bake confections are addictive and an easy, make-ahead treat! I made countless dozens for an annual holiday open house and they were always a hit.
Rosemary Wreath with Olives & Cheese!
A festive and easy appetizer for holiday entertaining
Spinach Tortellini Christmas Wreath
A 10 minute appetizer for your Christmas or holiday entertaining
Christmas Sangria with Rosemary Simple Syrup
As easy to mix as it is to drink!
Poinsettia Sparkling Cocktail!
Festive and easy to serve for a party, brunch or Christmas Eve!
Christmas Wreath Macaroons
These festive cookies require just four ingredients, plus your decorative sprinkles. Like all macaroons, since they are flourless, they’re gluten-free.
Red Velvet Peppermint-White Chocolate Thumbprints
Red Velvet = Christmas and these festive cookies are infused with a burst of peppermint flavor and white chocolate centers!
Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies
An easy Christmas cookie recipe that uses a short cut!
Marinated Shrimp and Artichokes
One of Southern Living’s best recipes. Quick and make-ahead, 8 to 24 hours in advance. It’s good anytime of year, but perfect for the busy holiday season!
Reindeer Corn Snack Mix
An easy no-bake treat for holiday snacking or last-minute food gift!
Panettone Trifle with Orange Curd and Raspberries
A holiday dessert with a ‘wow’ factor that uses one my favorite holiday treats, Panettone! Link includes a recipe for easy microwave orange curd.
My favorite holiday gift basket and/or hostess gift, Panettone,and a bottle of Prosecco. Include a bottle of maple syrup and oranges for your recipient to enjoy as French toast.
German Chocolate Cake Mix Pancakes
Indulge in these over the top German Chocolate Pancakes, layered with German Chocolate “Syrup” or frosting, made with a box mix!
Parmesan-Crusted Crab Cake Bites with Chive Aioli
A great little appetizer to serve for the holidays! The crab mixture can be made a day in advance, then the bite-size cakes are baked in a mini muffin tin with a crust of Parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs.
Bourbon-Pecan-Gingerbread Cookies
This cookie has a fluffy, muffin-like texture with a bourbon glaze on top!
Spicy Dark Chocolate Nut Clusters
A quick and easy food gift to make for the holidays!
Merry Cranberry Salsa
A light, flavorful, and healthy appetizer for the holidays that comes together in 10 minutes!
Making Lists and Make-Ahead Holiday Appetizers
Make-ahead recipes and inspiration for your holiday entertaining or Christmas party
Including Cha-Cha Chicken Salad, a molded chicken salad, made 8 – 24 hours in advance.
Candy Cane-infused Vodka
Ready to gift or sip in 3 hours and shake up a White Chocolate Peppermint Martini!
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Quick and easy cupcakes for the busy holiday season, served with candy cane handles!
Hot Chocolate Stirring Spoons
Easy and fun for kids to make with candy melts or almond bark and decorative holiday sprinkles
Candy Cane Cocoa Mix
A mix for easy seasonal sipping and ideal for gift giving.
Puff Pastry Baked Brie with Cranberries
Puff Pastry Baked Brie or Brie en Croûte, an easy appetizer for the busy holiday season!
I didn’t think it was possible for me to be hungry this morning after stuffing myself with turkey yesterday but these delicious recipes proved me wrong. I’m looking forward to trying your Panettone Trifle and Marinated Shrimp. Your Christmas Wreath Macaroons were a hit at our cookie exchange last year. Thanks for the inspiration this morning. I hope you and your furballs had a Happy Thanksgiving!
WOW!! I’ll be saving this post for sure!! Thanks Mary and I look forward to your Holiday post!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
OMGoodness Mary…so much delicious inspiration and beauty! I’m with Jerrie not thinking I could be hungry but wow… I thankful for all the beauty, recipes, tables and adorable pups you share. Pinning away. Happy Thanksgiving weekend!
No black Friday mall for me. Rather sit in my warm bathrobe and do cyber shopping. Thanks for the great reads and beautiful photos of each recipe you have given us and provided me with a break from couch shopping. Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one with plenty of leftovers for an easy lunch today. Nothing like a Turkey and stuffing sandwich with a little cranberry sauce and mayo! Enjoy yourself and take a well deserved nap .
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the yummy sounding food, the over the top displays and most of all for bringing a smile to my face after a very stressful day yesterday!
Wow Mary, I want to make all of your recipies but darn it, I don’t have your energy. They are wonderful sounding and your photography is outstanding. Sending this post to friends and family.
Such a beautiful body of work over the years, I always love seeing novel baker recpes, brings happy memories to my tastebuds!
Thank you for the gift of you the gift that keeps on giving. What a wonderful way to start the holiday planning celebrations for friends and family. You are amazing thanks for all you do it bring such joy to so many
After yesterday I didn’t think I’d ever be hungry again, but your beautiful photos have my stomach rumbling and my head is spinning with all these festive possibilities! Thank you Mary!
Jenna
Ahhhh, such an enjoyable treat delight, thank you Mary! So thankful for you..
Oh Wow Mary, you just made my day. We are planning to have an Christmas Open House on the 16th of December. I have gotten quite a few things baked ahead and in the freezer and now after another trip to the store will be adding the Bourbon Balls and Coconut Snowballs. Is it possible to freeze the Bourbon balls? I had already planned to make the Cranberry Mulled Wine from the In Style Party Book thanks to you. I have made the Coconut Macaroons in the past and they were a big hit so including them again. I cannot begin to tell you how very much I appreciate the wealth of knowledge and inspiration you provide to us your faithful followers.
Mary, I’m blown away by all your recipes and beautiful photos. I’d love to have a Bourbon Pecan Gingerbread cookie and some Cranberry Mulled Wine right now. Thanks for these yummy looking recipes!🎄
So many mouth watering, temptations! Really want to try the crab cakes with the panko bread crumbs this year, they sound so delish! Thanks Mary for a stunning recipe round-up! What a gift to us! Thank you! ♥️
Mary, after feasting on Thanksgiving I didn’t think I would ever be hungry again! One look at this post and gorgeous food presentation, I am starving 😊
Mary, you have my mouth watering. Everything looks so yummy, thanks for sharing.
Wow! First off… your Tailgate party is fabulous!
And those OWL cookies! A-mazing!!!
This post has been pinned as I love the tree appetizer toooooooo! And everything else. What an inspiration you are!
Ooh Mary, I see soooo many things I want to make!! Thank you for gatherings all these favorites in one spot. Wish I could join you in your Merry Mary Christmas Kitchen!! xx
Wow I can’t wait to start preparing for Christmas. Love love your recipes
Wonderful recipes/post here…many thanks for the inspiration..
These recipes sound so yummy! Will have to try them – Thank you!
The parmesan Panko crab cakes were a huge success at an engagement party!
Delish!!!
Any idea if you can make ahead and freeze?
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!
You inspire me!🤗
Thank you Gale, I’m glad they were a hit! I responded to your question about freezing them when you asked it before Thanksgiving. My responses must be going to your spam folder so I’m not sure you’ll get this answer either. I’m not sure about freezing them but my feeling is the Parmesan Panko Crust would just crumble and fall apart. Also the filling has cream cheese which doesn’t freeze well as the texture changes and becomes grainy. I think you’d be better off making the filling and the chive aioli a day in advance, refrigerating and then assembling and baking before serving. :)
Wow! Now I’m starving:). Amazing recipes, thank you!
Hi! I just found your blog from the group blog and so happy to join your fun group! I like reading the comments and get some good ideas from the things people share. Your recipes look delicious and easy….just my style!! Merry Christmas!
What is your Christmas china pattern? I know it is discontinued. I can’ seem to find it the information again.
Fitz and Floyd St. Nicholas: https://homeiswheretheboatis.net/2018/12/10/a-visit-from-st-nicholas-christmas-tablescape/