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 rolls and you might have a new Christmas morning tradition next year. We have you covered for whatever Christmas occasion you may find this season.

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Serving: 12

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 c + 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 your 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 once the rolls are lightly browned but not over cooked. Allow to cool and then drizzle with the caramel sauce and serve warm.

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

Topping:

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup pecan, 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 the 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 until it is 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. Add to the oven and cook for 15 minutes or cooked all the way through.

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

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 your flour, baking soda, and cocoa powder in a bowl. Mix the ingredients together until well mixed.

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 with 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. 

6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to completely cool. 

Grape Ricotta Crostinis

Makes: 12-15

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 F. Spread 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 pan to a boil, mixing, 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 them in the oven for 15 minutes until they are golden brown and remove from oven.

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 pistachios over top and an extra dash of sea salt. Drizzle honey for a final garnish.

Roasted Green Beans

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs fresh green beans, stems trimmed

• 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tsp salt

• Juice of 1/2 lemon

• 6 tbsp parmigiano, grated

• 7 strips of bacon

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425.  

2. Add the green beans to a bowl and add sliced garlic, olive oil, and salt. Mix until well combined. Pour the mixture on to the baking sheet. Add the bacon on to a separate baking sheet with parchment paper. Add both baking sheets into the oven.

3. Roast the beans for 15 minutes until tender. Stir the beans so they are cooked evenly and cook for about 5-10 more minutes or until they look fully cooked. Pull the bacon out after being cooked for 15-20 minutes or until cooked as desired.

4. Transfer the beans to a serving dish. Squeeze the lemon juice over top the beans. Cut the bacon into bite size pieces and mix into the green beans. Finish the green beans with parmigiano over top and season as desired.

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 (directions to make your own or use store bought)

• Ginger beer; to top it off

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 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 the bourbon, bitters, lemon juice, ginger and ice. Shake thoroughly.  

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