ginger snap cookies

One of the great things about the holiday season is the abundance of delicious treats! So I’ve put together a guide of all my recipes that are delicious and easy options to make for all parts of your holiday meals. Christmas food never tasted so good!

Christmas Food Guide Sections:

Christmas Appetizers

In our family we love making a variety of Christmas party appetizers to enjoy. There are several great options for easy Christmas appetizers: finger foods, dips, antipasto platters, cheese boards, hot hors d’oeuvres. It really comes down to hat you’re in the mood for. Here’s a list of some of my favorite Christmas appetizer recipes!

Christmas Dinner Recipes for the Main Dish 

One of the first things to think about when making your Christmas Dinner Menu is the main dish. What will be the centerpiece of your meal? Whether you go with a traditional Christmas dinner or shake things up with something unexpected, these Christmas dinner ideas for main dishes are a great place to start. And you can also check out my full list of main dishes if you’re looking for something a little less traditional but still delicious!

Christmas Side Dishes

Once you have you main dish figured out for Christmas dinner, it’s time to decide what Christmas dinner side dishes with best round out the meal. Here are a ton of awesome Christmas vegetable side dishes and starch side dishes that will leave your guest fighting for seconds!

Christmas Cookies

Baking Christmas cookies is a time honored tradition in many families and ours is not different. I’ve compiled a slew of fantastic Christmas cookie recipes to appeal to even the pickiest of eaters (I have two young kids, after all!). Among my favorites are various Italian Christmas cookies, traditional Christmas cookies that we all love and grew up with, Christmas shortbread cookies and many others to choose from.

Christmas Desserts

While I love cookies, to me, they’re only part of the wide array of delicious Christmas dessert recipes out there. So I’ve compiled a list of easy Christmas desserts. This does include cookies but also includes great cakes, pies, cupcakes and various other confections.

My Great Grandma's Lemon Pound Cake Recipe is a serious keeper! Easy to make, subtly sweet with a light and moist crumb that no one can resist.

Great Grandma Hinz’s Lemon Pound Cake Recipe

Pina Colada Dump Cake is the easiest dessert you’ll make. Made with crushed pineapple, cake mix, coconut and butter, just dump the ingredients into the pan and let the oven do the rest of the work!

Pina Colada Dump Cake

This Peppermint Ice Cream Pie recipe is super easy to make. It features a delicious Oreo crust, your favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream and whipped cream. The work for you is minimal and the response is always fantastic!

Peppermint Ice Cream Pie

This Lemon Bars Recipe is a classic family favorite- super easy to throw together with a bright and tangy-sweet lemon curd layer and short bread crust.

Lemon Bars Recipe

This Four Ingredient Chocolate Mousse whips up super quickly and easily. It’s light as a feather with the most decadent, rich, chocolaty flavor with a rich dark chocolate flavor that you’ll love! Make this for your loved ones this Valentine’s Day!

Four Ingredient Chocolate Mousse

Do you love Coconut Cake? Then this is the cake for you! Perfectly moist, full of delicious flavor and crazy easy to make! Perfect for the holidays, a get together or a last minute party!

Coconut Cake

This Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe is a holiday family favorite- they're deliciously chewy, chocolate cookies that are super easy to make and a definite crowd-pleaser! These cookies are perfect on a Christmas cookie platter and are the best addition to any special occasion dessert table.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies have just the right amount of crunch while also being chewy- they're a hit with both kids and adults without all the hassle of having to bake them!

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

Whether you call these authentic Italian cookies Neapolitan Cookies, Tricolor Cookies or Rainbow Cookies, they are so delicious and are a gorgeous addition to any cookie platter! These are perfect for Christmas or any other holidays and special occasions. The almond paste and chocolate add such fantastic flavors along with the fruitiness of the raspberry and apricot preserves.

Italian Rainbow Cookies

These classic peanut butter cookies are just like the old fashioned cookies your mom used to make; nice and chewy in the middle with just a tiny bit of crunch around the edges. This has been a family favorite recipe for generations!

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

A square image of a Rice Krispie Treat Turkey

Rice Krispie Treats Turkey

This Cherry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars recipe makes a great lunchbox treat and party snack! These chewy treats have dark chocolate chips and dried cherries. They're quick and easy to make and a huge hit with the whole family!

Cherry Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars

My family makes this Easy Chocolate Cream Pie over and over again. Made with chocolate pudding, pie crust and fresh whipped cream, it's effortless to put together and we always fight for seconds!

Easy Chocolate Cream Pie

These Almond Ginger Cookies are such an easy dessert to make! This crispy cookie is the best slice-and-bake option if you're looking for a spicy cookie that is that isn't overly sweet. They're great for Christmas!

Almond Ginger Cookies

This quick and easy Chocolate Pudding Cake recipe is a delicious cake mix hack! There are only five simple ingredients and the result is the most perfectly moist cake you'll ever taste. This is an awesome last-minute dessert to throw together and it's so good that people will have no idea it's from a box!

Quick and Easy Chocolate Pudding Cake

This Coffee Snickerdoodles recipe is a delicious and easy twist on traditional Snickerdoodle cookies. Soft and chewy with the spicy-sweet flavors of cinnamon and sugar with the zing of coffee, these are a delicious addition to any holiday cookie platter and simple enough to make without needing a special occasion!

Coffee Snickerdoodle Cookies

Make this Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe for the holidays- they're no-bake, seriously easy and totally delicious! Made with pumpkin yogurt, cream cheese, powdered sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla in a graham cracker crust with candied pecans on top, these are sure to please the whole family!

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

This Candied Pecans recipe is the best I've tasted! A few simple ingredients like brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla and egg and then it's as easy as letting the oven do it's magic. They make a tasty snack, or salad topper and are excellent homemade gifts as well!

Candied Pecans

Do you like super rich, decadent desserts? If so, these Peanut Butter Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are right up your alley! Made with dark cocoa powder, chocolate chips and peanut butter chips, these are seriously easy to whip up last minute and also freeze well!

Peanut Butter Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Crunch Cake is the seriously easy fall dessert that you'll want to bring to every party! This cake mix hack includes a pumpkin sheet cake, cheesecake layer and a crumbly streusel topping with pecans. Every single person who tries it goes crazy over it and begs for the recipe.

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Crunch Cake

This Kahlua Toffee Chocolate Trifle Recipe is the ultimate make-ahead dessert. Made with chocolate cake, Coffee Liquor, vanilla pudding, whipped topping and toffee bars, it's so addictive that your family will be fighting for seconds!

Kahlua Toffee Chocolate Trifle Recipe

Rosie's Award Winning Cherry Cheese Pie is a favorite family recipe- it is insanely easy and heavy cream, cream cheese, vanilla, confectioner's sugar and cherries make up the minimal ingredients. It looks gorgeous on any dessert tables, especially for the holidays and could not be more delicious! Get in the kitchen and make this now!

Rosie’s Award Winning Cherry Cheesecake Pie

Raspberry Lemon Icebox Pie

Raspberry Lemon Icebox Pie

Rich and Creamy Peanut Butter Pie is the dessert that dreams are made of and best of all, it's no bake! Oreo cookie crust, creamy peanut butter filling, swirls of chocolate sauce and plenty of mini peanut butter cups. You will make this again and again!

No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe

A square image of Grandma's Best Banana Cake recipe.

Grandma’s Best Banana Cake Recipe

A square image of Chocolate Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries.

Chocolate Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries Recipe

A square image of a place of almond Shortbread Cookies.

Chocolate Dipped Almond Shortbread Cookies Recipe

A square image of the Toll House Cookie Recipe

Nestle’s Toll House Cookie Recipe

A square image of Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

A square image of Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Turtles.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Turtles Recipe

A square image of Chocolate Almond Candy, 2 ways

Homemade Chocolate Almond Candy, 2 Ways | A great DIY holiday gift!

A squaer image of Apple Cinnamon Thumbprint Cookies.

Apple Cinnamon Thumbprint Cookies

A square image of Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe with Oatmeal Ginger Snap Topping.

Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe with Oatmeal Ginger Snap Topping

A square image of Salted Caramel Blossoms Cookies.

Salted Caramel Blossoms Cookies Recipe

A square image of Orange Cranberry Torte.

Orange Cranberry Torte

A square image of Strawberry Banana Split Cake

Strawberry Banana Split Cake

A square image of White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pumpkin Cookies.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Pumpkin Cookies

A square image of Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bites.

Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bites

A square image of Poppy Seed Cake.

Poppy Seed Cake

This Lemon Pistachio Cake is the best easy recipe when you need a quick cake to wow your guests. This is actually a hack for a box cake mix made with pudding and topped with light and fluffy whipped cream. The result is a super moist and pretty layered cake that is so good your guests will never guess that it's only halfway homemade!

Lemon Pistachio Cake

This PMS Bark is the ultimate treat to fulfill both your sweet and salty cravings! Made with rich dark chocolate, salty potato chips and pretzels, peanut butter chips and buttery toffee bits, this recipe is SO easy to make and really addictive- you won't be able to get enough!!

PMS Bark

This Black Forest Ice Cream Pie is a quick and easy no bake dessert recipe. Made with an Oreo Cookie crust, chocolate ice cream, maraschino cherries and whipped topping this pie is a pretty addition to any dessert table! It's perfect for the holidays or to keep in the freezer "just because"!

Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

These Peanut Butter Brownie Truffles are an easy chocolate dessert recipe and an excellent gift to give this for Valentine's Day. This simple recipe is made with rich, fudgy brownies and a peanut buttery surprise in the middle.

Peanut Butter Brownie Truffles or The Great Mouse Debacle of 2017

These M&M's Brownie Truffles are an easy chocolate dessert recipe and an excellent gift to give this holiday season. It's a super-simple recipe made with rich, fudgy brownies and a surprise in the middle. These are a pretty addition to any Christmas cookie platter that the whole family will love!

M&M’S® Brownie Truffles

This Sour Cream Coffee Cake is such an easy cake to make from scratch. This is a family recipe that has been passed down for years and is moist and delicious but also simple to put together. This is the best excuse to eat cake for breakfast and is a great holiday dessert as well (Christmas morning, anyone?!).

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This Rice Krispie Treat Stocking recipe is an easy Christmas dessert option for both kids and adults! It was simple to make and decorate and is meant to be made ahead. This is a fun project for the whole family to make during the holidays and is a great Gingerbread House alternative.

Rice Krispie Treat Stocking

These homemade German Cream Cheese Brownies are a delicious addition to any holiday cookie platter. This recipe is made from scratch but SO easy! Rich chocolate brownies swirled with sweet cream cheese helps make this a decadent treat your family will love!

German Cream Cheese Brownies

These Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles are an easy way to add a fun spin to a traditional recipe. These cookies are chewy and fudgy but they also have a delicious mint flavor. They are the best Christmas cookie for kids to make and eat!

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles

These homemade PB&J Brownies are an easy and delicious holiday dessert option. Chewy, fudgey chocolate brownies with a swirl of peanut butter and the fruit spread of your choice on top, these are made from scratch and would be great on a Thanksgiving of Christmas dessert table or just because you deserve a tasty dessert!

PB&J Brownies

This Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake recipe is the absolute best! Delicious pumpkin spice and subtle coffee flavor combine into the most moist, addictive cake you'll find. Best of all, it's a cake mix hack so it's super easy to make (and your guests will never know that it's not completely homemade!). This is the quintessential fall dessert and the perfect alternative to pie on any Thanksgiving or holiday dessert table!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cake

A square shot of Blueberry Buckle.

Blueberry Buckle

This Sour Cream Cookies recipe is one of my favorites! It's not overly sweet and has a delicious cake-like texture. I love baking these, not only at Christmas and the holidays but all year around. Make these treats for your family and friends right away- they will definitely become one of your favorite desserts!

Sour Cream Cookies

This Orange Cake with Chocolate Ganache Glaze is super easy to make. It's a cake mix hack recipe that comes out so moist and delicious- this one's a keeper!

Orange Cake with Chocolate Ganache Glaze

This Salted Cranberry and Pistachio Bark could not be more delicious! It's insanely easy to make and the salty-sweet flavor combination cannot be beat! I'll definitely be making this over and over again!

Salted Cranberry and Pistachio Bark

These Slice-and-Bake Cookies could not be easier to make- they are sucha delicious addition to any holiday cookie platter and freeze so well!

Slice-and-Bake Cookies

Grandma Rose's Pecan Tarts | The Life Jolie

Grandma Rose’s Pecan Tarts

Christmas Morning Breakfast

When it comes to Christmas breakfast, some families love to go big while others like to keep it simple. Which ever option you prefer, I have a ton of awesome Christmas breakfast ideas to make your Christmas morning breakfast unforgettable.

Recipes to use Christmas Leftovers

Once the holiday is over, you’re often left with a ton of leftovers! No one likes waste so I figured it would be good to share some recipes that are an excellent way to repurpose all those tasty Christmas leftovers into brand new dishes!

Homemade Christmas Gifts

These are some great options for homemade gifts that people actually want to receive.  Not only are they super tasty but they’re homemade Christmas gift ideas that seriously easy to make.

General Christmas Recipes

If you’re not ready to narrow things down by course, here is a full list of all the recipes that work well for various facets of the Christmas meal.

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Casserole is an excellent way to use leftover holiday ham. Cheesy, creamy and super easy to make, it's a dinner the whole family will love!

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham Casserole

Mom's Favorite Ham Salad is a killer way to use leftover ham. It's ready in minutes with just a few ingredients, this classic recipe is a total keeper!

Mom’s Favorite Ham Salad

This Pea Salad with Shrimp recipe is a super easy side dish that's perfect for any gathering! It's served cold because it's creamy with sweet green peas (I totally used frozen!), shrimp, and cashews and water chestnuts which make it crunchy. Make this if you need a tasty and light Thanksgiving side dish!

Peas and Shrimp Salad

Mom's Homemade Scalloped Potatoes are the perfect creamy side dish for a family dinner. With thinly sliced potatoes and onions, salt, pepper and milk with the option to add Romano cheese, these will bring everyone back for seconds!

Mom’s Homemade Scalloped Potatoes

This Smothered Pork Tenderloin in Apple Cider Gravy is the best meaty main dish for dinner. It’s special enough for an intimate dinner party but also makes a quick and cozy weeknight meal! This recipe is so easy but tastes fantastic and comes together pretty quickly!

Smothered Pork Tenderloin in Apple Cider Gravy

Do you love Coconut Cake? Then this is the cake for you! Perfectly moist, full of delicious flavor and crazy easy to make! Perfect for the holidays, a get together or a last minute party!

Coconut Cake

Grandma's Shrimp Dip is a huge family favorite passed down through the generations- it's quick and easy to throw together and everyone always begs for the recipe! Perfect for the holidays!

Grandma’s Shrimp Dip

This Chocolate Crinkle Cookies recipe is a holiday family favorite- they're deliciously chewy, chocolate cookies that are super easy to make and a definite crowd-pleaser! These cookies are perfect on a Christmas cookie platter and are the best addition to any special occasion dessert table.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

These Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies have just the right amount of crunch while also being chewy- they're a hit with both kids and adults without all the hassle of having to bake them!

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

Whether you call these authentic Italian cookies Neapolitan Cookies, Tricolor Cookies or Rainbow Cookies, they are so delicious and are a gorgeous addition to any cookie platter! These are perfect for Christmas or any other holidays and special occasions. The almond paste and chocolate add such fantastic flavors along with the fruitiness of the raspberry and apricot preserves.

Italian Rainbow Cookies

Need a show stopping appetizer for this holiday season? Look no further, this Antipasto Salad Christmas Wreath is as festive as it is delicious!

Antipasto Salad Christmas Wreath

These Sautéed Shredded Brussel Sprouts and a festive holiday side dish recipe that's also super quick and easy to make! Made with Brussel Sprouts, Shallots, Pancetta, Holland House Sherry Cooking Wine and fresh Pomegranate Seeds.

Sautéed Shredded Brussels Sprouts featuring Holland House Cooking Wines

These classic peanut butter cookies are just like the old fashioned cookies your mom used to make; nice and chewy in the middle with just a tiny bit of crunch around the edges. This has been a family favorite recipe for generations!

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

I'm so excited to share tons of information about how to cook a turkey and my recipe for Orange Rosemary Roasted Turkey! You'll find everything you need to know for making the perfect Roast Turkey for Thanksgiving from start to finish!

How to cook a turkey (Orange Rosemary Oven Roast Turkey Recipe)

My family makes this Easy Chocolate Cream Pie over and over again. Made with chocolate pudding, pie crust and fresh whipped cream, it's effortless to put together and we always fight for seconds!

Easy Chocolate Cream Pie

These Almond Ginger Cookies are such an easy dessert to make! This crispy cookie is the best slice-and-bake option if you're looking for a spicy cookie that is that isn't overly sweet. They're great for Christmas!

Almond Ginger Cookies

This Coffee Snickerdoodles recipe is a delicious and easy twist on traditional Snickerdoodle cookies. Soft and chewy with the spicy-sweet flavors of cinnamon and sugar with the zing of coffee, these are a delicious addition to any holiday cookie platter and simple enough to make without needing a special occasion!

Coffee Snickerdoodle Cookies

This Bloody Mary Cheeseball Recipe is the best easy appetizer option for entertaining. Made with many of the same ingredients and toppings as a traditional Bloody Mary drink (but without the alcohol). It's a family friendly hors d'oeuvre that's full of great flavor!

Bloody Mary Cheeseball

This Puff Pastry Breakfast Pizza recipe is super easy and fast. You can put whatever toppings on it, but I love it with bacon, eggs and cheese. This is great for brunch, Christmas morning or a nice,relaxing weekend breakfast!

Puff Pastry Breakfast Pizza

Grandma's Baked Artichoke Hearts is one of my favorite holiday side dishes. This is such an easy recipe and can even be made ahead of time. This is made with Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and garlic powder and is a delicious addition to your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner! 

Grandma’s Baked Artichoke Hearts

This Candied Pecans recipe is the best I've tasted! A few simple ingredients like brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, vanilla and egg and then it's as easy as letting the oven do it's magic. They make a tasty snack, or salad topper and are excellent homemade gifts as well!

Candied Pecans

Honey Soy Glazed Carrots and Parsnips are a sweet and savory vegetable side dish that will please even the pickiest of palates! Made with carrots, parsnips, shallots, honey and soy sauce. This is the perfect addition to any holiday table (hello thanksgiving and Christmas!).

Honey Soy Glazed Carrots and Parsnips

Orange Roll Monkey Bread is an easy and delicious twist on a family favorite recipe. It's so simple to transform refrigerated Orange Cinnamon rolls in to a sweet and gooey pull apart bread. This is a great Christmas morning breakfast and easy enough to make the night before as well!

Orange Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread

A square image of Sauteed Green Beans with Mushrooms, Shallots and Pancetta.

Savory Sauteed Green Beans with Mushrooms, Shallots and Pancetta

A square image of Hot Artichoke Dip.

Easiest Ever Hot Artichoke Dip

A square image of Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

A square image of Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Turtles.

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Turtles Recipe

Enter this awesome giveaway to get $200 in Christmas Cash!!

The 10 best cookies to leave out for Santa + a giveaway!

A square image of Chocolate Almond Candy, 2 ways

Homemade Chocolate Almond Candy, 2 Ways | A great DIY holiday gift!

Check out this list of the Best Homemade Edible Gifts for the holidays. This is full of easy sweet and savory ideas you can DIY this Christmas!

Best Edible Homemade Gifts

A square image of Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe with Oatmeal Ginger Snap Topping.

Cranberry Apple Crisp Recipe with Oatmeal Ginger Snap Topping

A square image of Salted Caramel Blossoms Cookies.

Salted Caramel Blossoms Cookies Recipe

A square image of Orange Cranberry Torte.

Orange Cranberry Torte

Caprese Quiche is an easy breakfast or brunch recipe. This is simple, feel-good food at it's finest with mouthwatering tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. It's great to make ahead or eat right away and perfect to whip up for Easter, Mother's Day or Christmas Morning!

Caprese Quiche

This Black Forest Ice Cream Pie is a quick and easy no bake dessert recipe. Made with an Oreo Cookie crust, chocolate ice cream, maraschino cherries and whipped topping this pie is a pretty addition to any dessert table! It's perfect for the holidays or to keep in the freezer "just because"!

Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

These M&M's Brownie Truffles are an easy chocolate dessert recipe and an excellent gift to give this holiday season. It's a super-simple recipe made with rich, fudgy brownies and a surprise in the middle. These are a pretty addition to any Christmas cookie platter that the whole family will love!

M&M’S® Brownie Truffles

This Sour Cream Coffee Cake is such an easy cake to make from scratch. This is a family recipe that has been passed down for years and is moist and delicious but also simple to put together. This is the best excuse to eat cake for breakfast and is a great holiday dessert as well (Christmas morning, anyone?!).

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This Rice Krispie Treat Stocking recipe is an easy Christmas dessert option for both kids and adults! It was simple to make and decorate and is meant to be made ahead. This is a fun project for the whole family to make during the holidays and is a great Gingerbread House alternative.

Rice Krispie Treat Stocking

These homemade German Cream Cheese Brownies are a delicious addition to any holiday cookie platter. This recipe is made from scratch but SO easy! Rich chocolate brownies swirled with sweet cream cheese helps make this a decadent treat your family will love!

German Cream Cheese Brownies

These Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles are an easy way to add a fun spin to a traditional recipe. These cookies are chewy and fudgy but they also have a delicious mint flavor. They are the best Christmas cookie for kids to make and eat!

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkles

These homemade PB&J Brownies are an easy and delicious holiday dessert option. Chewy, fudgey chocolate brownies with a swirl of peanut butter and the fruit spread of your choice on top, these are made from scratch and would be great on a Thanksgiving of Christmas dessert table or just because you deserve a tasty dessert!

PB&J Brownies

Ok, here it is, the 2015 Holiday Gift Guide. It's a list of 20 gifts ideas for under $20 each broken down for all the different types of people in your life. Check it out!

2015 Holiday Gift Guide: 20 Gift Ideas for Under $20

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