31 Outrageously Good December Recipes To Cook As The Weather Gets Colder (2024)

This recipe calls for pears, but you could follow the same steps and try it with apples or even persimmons while they're in season.

Recipe:Cinnamon Maple Oatmeal Baked Pears

Make it a bacon, egg, and cheese, but lose the roll and bake everything in a fully loaded potato.

Recipe:Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes

The best part of this recipe is that no mixing bowls are required. All your pancake ingredients can go right into the blender. Just whip up the batter and pour it into a non-stick skillet.

Recipe:Chai Banana Pancakes

This breakfast recipe features the very best part of scones and muffins in one: a firm, buttery bottom layer and a moist, flaky top.

Recipe:Ginger Persimmon Scone Muffins

Even if you don't normally get excited about salads, you've got to admit that this one is basically a work of art. And it tastes just as good as it looks.

Recipe:Pear Pomegranate Salad

Somewhere between nachos and loaded potatoes, these smashed buffalo taters can (and should) be topped with your favorite garnishes, from scallions and avocado to jalapeño and blue cheese.

Recipe:Smashed and Crispy Buffalo Potatoes

You don't need many ingredients to whip up this supremely savory pasta, but there's something about the garlic butter sauce and cremini mushrooms that make it taste fancy.

Recipe:Garlic Mushroom Pasta

It's hearty, it's cozy, and, best of all, it's wildly easy and comes together in a single skillet.

Recipe:One-Skillet Cabbage Potatoes and Sausage Dinner

This vegetarian-friendly main is guaranteed to please whoever is at your dinner table. If you want to take things to the next level, bread the cauliflower steaks in some panko and get it nice and brown before adding the mozzarella and tomato sauce.

Recipe:Baked Cauliflower Parmesan

Prosciuttomakes everything better, and this dish is no exception. It takes baked chicken from an average Tuesday night meal to something that feels worthy of a special occasion.

Recipe:Prosciutto-Wrapped Baked Chicken

Take notes: You're going to want to put this miso glaze on everything. And luckily, it's so easy to make. Toss miso paste, Dijon mustard, rice vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and chile flakes into a blender and pulse until smooth.

Recipe:Miso-Sesame Glazed Brussels Sprouts

Seared until caramelized and crispy, these cauliflower steaks are a little sweet and a little tangy.

Recipe:Honey Balsamic Pan-Seared Cabbage Steaks

It's not mac 'n' cheese, but this baked cauliflower casserole is just as comforting.

Recipe:Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Easy enough for a weeknight meal but sophisticated enough for a place on your holiday table, these cranberry chicken thighs are a definite crowd-pleaser.

Recipe:Cranberry Rosemary One Pan Chicken

Fact: You can never have too many pasta recipes in your arsenal. This one calls for sausage and kale tossed in a homemade creamy tomato sauce.

Recipe:Date Night Rigatoni with Sausage and Kale

Baked in mini canning jars and perfect for holiday entertaining, these individual desserts feature a cookie crumb crust, a layer of cranberry jam, and decadent white chocolate cheesecake filling.

Recipe:Cranberry and White Chocolate Mini Cheesecakes

These oat and apple cookies drizzled with maple frosting are a festive and easy dessert. Or, if you'd prefer, call it baked oatmeal and eat it for breakfast.

Recipe:Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies

Serve this sweet dessert dip with Nilla wafers, Graham crackers, apple or pear wedges, or, if you like mixing sweet and savory, pretzel sticks.

Recipe:Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip

This spiced gingerbread cake is topped with none other than cream cheese frosting.

Recipe:Gingerbread Loaf

These dessert bars are so simple that chances are you already have most of the ingredients sitting in your fridge and pantry.

Recipe:Cream Cheese Lemon Bars

Here's proof that sangria season knows no bounds. Give this crowd-favorite drink a seasonal twist with blood orange juice, pomegranate seeds, and sparkling rosé.

Recipe:Blood Orange and Pomegranate Sparkling Sangria

You only need five ingredients to whip up this simple co*cktail:Bourbon, sweet vermouth, orange juice,unsweetened cranberry juice, and simple syrup or agave.

Recipe:Cranberry Bourbon co*cktail

Whether you're toasting around the holiday table or watching the ball drop, you can always use a Champagne co*cktail. This refreshing beverage is made with gin, St. Germain, lemon juice, and sparkling wine.

Recipe:St. Germain co*cktail