Holiday Meals That Are Anything But Basic

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Ready to make your holiday spread unforgettable? Let’s skip the usual and turn up the flavor with a feast that’s as impressive as it is easy: carve a Garlic Butter Prime Rib or pull out a Pork Crown Roast with Whiskey Glaze, while Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes and Apple Butternut Squash Casserole bring the sides everyone will rave about. For dessert, classics get a twist with Sweet Potato Pie and Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars, plus surprises like Mint Chocolate Icebox Pie, while Apple Cider Donut Cake captures the cozy spirit of the season and the Pizzelle Recipe adds a crisp, festive flourish. This holiday, keep the kitchen magic simple, sweet, and packed with flavor—ready to serve up something truly special!

Bread & Butter Pudding

Bread & Butter Pudding
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

Bread & Butter Pudding: so warm and comforting! With buttery-crisp, toasty bread & a creamy vanilla custard, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the season!
Get the Recipe: Bread & Butter Pudding

Lucia Buns

Lucia Buns
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

A centuries-old Scandanavian tradition, these soft, slightly sweet, saffron-scented Lucia buns are delicious with a cup of coffee!
Get the Recipe: Lucia Buns

Pork Crown Roast Recipe with Whiskey Glaze

Delicious Pork Crown Roast Recipe with Whiskey Glaze ready to be enjoyed
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This Crown Roast of Pork recipe will wow your holiday guests! Make this beautiful Pork Crown Roast with Whiskey Glaze for Christmas & holidays!
Get the Recipe: Pork Crown Roast Recipe with Whiskey Glaze

Sweet Potato Pie

A slice of pumpkin pie is being lifted from a pie dish on a wooden surface.
Image Credit: The Fresh Cooky

Sweet Potato Pie blends roasted sweet potatoes and cozy spices into a buttery crust. It’s a must-have for a dessert that brings all the fall feels to the table.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Pie

Garlic Butter Prime Rib

A beautifully presented photo of Garlic Butter Prime Rib
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This garlic butter prime rib is juicy, tender, and full of flavor. Plus, it looks beautiful at the center of any holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Prime Rib

Maple Cranberry Sauce

A bowl filled with reddish sauce and a spoon, garnished with strips of orange peel. Nearby, fresh cranberries are scattered on a wooden surface.
Image Credit: I Heart Eating

Maple Cranberry Sauce sweetens tart cranberries with maple syrup for a fresh holiday side dish. This quick recipe adds a seasonal twist to your feast without breaking a sweat.
Get the Recipe: Maple Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry Brie Bites

The image shows four pastry cups filled with red fruit filling, topped with chopped pistachios, arranged on a white plate.
Image Credit: Spoonful of Flavor

Cranberry Brie Bites pair creamy Brie with tangy cranberry sauce in flaky puff pastry. These quick and festive appetizers disappear faster than you can make them.
Get the Recipe: Cranberry Brie Bites

Filet Mignon

A delightful Filet Mignon
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

This filet mignon recipe is easy to make with a simple technique, and it’s basically foolproof. Now I can enjoy filet mignon any time!
Get the Recipe: Filet Mignon

Pizzelle Recipe (Thin and Crisp)

Pizzelle Recipe (Thin and Crisp)
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

The thinnest, lightest, most crisp pizzelle recipe ever!  They’re just as light as air, & this recipe is truly authentic, with plenty of sweet anise flavor.
Get the Recipe: Pizzelle Recipe (Thin and Crisp)

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan bars with pecans and chocolate chunks on a white plate.
Image Credit: A Full Living

Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars layer buttery shortbread, gooey pecans, and rich chocolate for a dessert that’s pure indulgence. These bars keep holiday baking simple and rewarding.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

Mint Chocolate Icebox Pie

Mint Chocolate Icebox Pie
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

If you like mint and chocolate together, then you’ll love this mint chocolate icebox pie!  It’s a perfectly refreshing summertime treat!
Get the Recipe: Mint Chocolate Icebox Pie

Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

A succulent, medium-rare steak topped with grilled onions sits on a bed of vibrant green pesto on a dark plate. The background is softly blurred, focusing on the gourmet presentation.
Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen

Tender, juicy filet mignon grilled to a perfect medium rare. Served with a fruity, herbal, peach mango cilantro sauce and tangy sweet grilled onions. This meal is sure to impress your guests.
Get the Recipe: Filet Mignon with Peach Mango Cilantro Sauce

3 Ingredient Ham Glaze Recipe

A glazed ham with a caramelized surface in a baking pan.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

3 Ingredient Ham Glaze Recipe mixes brown sugar, orange juice, and mustard for a quick glaze that shines on any holiday ham. Just three ingredients, and your meal’s centerpiece is sorted.
Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Ham Glaze Recipe

Apple Cider Donut Cake

A Bundt cake sits on a white stand, adorned with flowers and rosemary. It is encircled by plates, a candle, and a glass of yellow liquid.
Image Credit: The Simple, Sweet Life

Apple Cider Donut Cake packs all the spiced sweetness of fall into a moist, shareable treat. It’s a perfect dessert for cozy gatherings that feels homemade and special.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Donut Cake

Roast Turkey Breast Recipe

On a white plate: sliced roasted turkey breast with crispy skin, garnished with herbs and orange slices.
Image Credit: The Forked Spoon

Roast Turkey Breast Recipe serves up juicy, well-seasoned turkey without the stress of a full bird. Perfect for intimate gatherings, it’s no-fuss and crowd-pleasing.
Get the Recipe: Roast Turkey Breast Recipe

Apple Butternut Squash Casserole

Roasted vegetables, cranberries, crumbled cheese, fresh herbs.
Image Credit: Busy Day Dinners

Apple Butternut Squash Casserole blends sweet apples, cranberries, and roasted squash into a side dish that’s as festive as it is delicious. It brightens any holiday spread.
Get the Recipe: Apple Butternut Squash Casserole

Air Fryer Filet Mignon

Air fryer filet mignon with sliced potatoes.
Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen

Looking for a stunningly gourmet dinner at home without the effort? This air fryer filet mignon is it! Cooked to juicy tender perfection every time, this dinner is sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Filet Mignon

Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

Light, crisp, and so buttery, these spritz cookies are a beloved holiday tradition. So good with a warm cup of tea, coffee, or cocoa!
Get the Recipe: Spritz Cookies

Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes

A bowl of mashed potatoes with chopped chives and melted butter, alongside slices of bread on a wooden board.
Image Credit: Sweet Tea + Thyme

Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes create buttery, creamy perfection with just a few pantry staples. These potatoes are the ultimate holiday comfort food and pair with everything.
Get the Recipe: Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes

Pumpkin Custard

The image features small glass dishes containing pumpkin pie, each topped with whipped cream and sprinkled with pecan pieces.
Image Credit: The Feathered Nester

Pumpkin Custard offers smooth pumpkin flavor in an easy dessert that skips the pie crust. Its creamy texture and warming spices make it a seasonal favorite.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Custard

Mini Brown Sugar Pound Cakes

Mini Brown Sugar Pound Cakes
Photo credit: Baking A Moment

These mini brown sugar pound cakes are moist, velvety-soft, and they make a great homemade gift. Top with a sweet icing and festive decorations!
Get the Recipe: Mini Brown Sugar Pound Cakes

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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