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Layered Christmas Gelatin
Christmastime always means that this recipe comes out of my recipe box. The traditional holiday colors in this salad make the buffet table look so pretty. —Diane Schefelker, Ireton, Iowa 2 / 60
Upside-Down Fruitcake
I get tired of people bad-mouthing holiday fruitcakes. It's one of my favorite holiday flavors and I look forward to it every year. This year, I decided to combine it with everyone's favorite, upside-down cake. Try to say no to this fruitcake; I dare you! —James Schend, Taste of Home Deputy Editor 3 / 60
Crown Roast with Apricot Dressing
I have been making crown roasts for many years but was only satisfied with the results when I combined a few recipes to come up with this guest-pleasing version. It’s beautifully roasted with an apricot glaze and a nicely browned stuffing. —Isabell Cooper, Cambridge, Nova Scotia 4 / 60
Celebration Cheese Balls
A handful of simple ingredients that go together in minutes, three fun flavorful options…these creamy cheese balls from our Test Kitchen are a darling, do-ahead delight for busy holiday hostesses! Why not whip up several batches? —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 5 / 60
Brandy Slush
This slush with a hint of citrus keeps you cool on hot summer days. Even if you're not a tea lover, you'll likely find the mix of flavors pleasing. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 6 / 60
Baked Ham with Pineapple
I first learned the technique for cooking pineapple ham for a themed dinner my husband and I hosted. Since it was widely known as the symbol of hospitality, pineapple was the star ingredient on our menu and on this lovely baked ham. —JoAnn Fox, Johnson City, Tennessee 7 / 60
Miniature Meat Pies
I make these handheld pies in advance, keep them in the freezer, then bake them the day of the party. They are always a hit at tailgate and potlucks. —Gayle Lewis, Yucaipa, California 8 / 60
Bread Pudding with Nutmeg
I always make this bread pudding recipe for my dad on his birthday and on holidays. He says it tastes exactly like the bread pudding with nutmeg he enjoyed as a child. —Donna Powell, Montgomery City, Missouri 9 / 60
Cathedral Cookies
Children love the colorful marshmallows in these festive confections, which look like stained glass when they're sliced. They practically light up the room from the serving platter at our holiday parties. —Carol Shaffer, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 10 / 60
Cranberry-Orange Roast Ducklings
I came up with this recipe few years ago. The first time I served it, there wasn't a speck of food left on the platter and I knew I had a winning recipe. —Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin 11 / 60
Traditional Holiday Stuffing
Sausage and sage add a gourmet taste to this stuffing. It's perfect for large family gatherings, but you can also save some for later. —Lorraine Brauckhoff, Zolfo Springs, Florida 12 / 60
Creamy Pineapple Fluff Salad
Guests of all ages will gravitate to this traditional “fluff” salad, chock-full of pineapple, marshmallows and cherry bits. —Janice Hensley, Owingsville, Kentucky 13 / 60
Holiday Rum Balls
I use this recipe for special occasions with my wonderful family and friends. The treats are so easy to make and pack a festive rum punch. — Diane Duschanek, Council Bluffs, Iowa 14 / 60
Icy Holiday Punch
Pull out the punchbowl for this rosy thirst-quencher that dazzles at Christmas parties. This fun prep-ahead beverage makes any occasion a bit more special. It's delicious with apricot gelatin, too. —Margaret Matson, Metamora, Illinois 15 / 60
Garlic Herbed Beef Tenderloin
You don't need much seasoning to add flavor to this beef tenderloin recipe. The mild blending of rosemary, basil and garlic does the trick. —Ruth Andrewson, Leavenworth, Washington 16 / 60
Whipped Shortbread
These whipped shortbread Christmas cookies melt in your mouth. Mostly I make them for the holidays, but I'll also prepare them year-round for wedding showers and afternoon teas. —Jane Ficiur, Bow Island, Alberta 17 / 60
Champagne Cocktail
This amber champagne cocktail is a bubbly twist on the traditional old-fashioned. Try it with extra dry champagne. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 18 / 60
Cashew Brittle
I like this quick and easy recipe because it doesn't require a candy thermometer. It also makes a wonderful gift for nut lovers on your list. —Rhonda Glenn, Prince Frederick, Maryland 19 / 60
Mocha Yule Log
This eye-catching dessert is guaranteed to delight holiday dinner guests. Chocolate lovers will lick their lips over the yummy cocoa cake, mocha filling and frosting. For a festive touch, I garnish the log with marzipan holly leaves and berries. —Jenny Hughson, Mitchell, Nebraska 20 / 60
Chocolate-Dipped Meringue Sandwich Cookies
These light, airy morsels are twice as nice with two meringue cookies and velvety ganache in between. —Donna Pochoday-Stelmach, Morristown, New Jersey 21 / 60
Cheesy Ham Chowder
My five children all agree that this soothing recipe is wonderful. The soup is full of potatoes, carrots and ham. The best part is that I can get it on the table in only a half hour of hands-on time. —Jennifer Trenhaile, Emerson, Nebraska 22 / 60
Favorite Hot Chocolate
You need just a few basic ingredients to stir up this spirit-warming sipper. It's smooth and not too sweet, making it just right for cozy winter days. —Flo Snodderly, North Vernon, IN 23 / 60
Golden Roasted Turkey
Your holiday turkey will never turn out dry again if you reach for this recipe. Brining overnight and stuffing with apples results in moist, tender meat.—Michael Williams, Moreno Valley, California 24 / 60
Soft Rum Caramels
I adapted a family recipe to come up with these melt-in-your-mouth caramels. My husband and daughter eagerly volunteer to eat any scraps from the pan! —Kelly-Ann Gibbons, Prince George, British Columbia 25 / 60
Spiced Orange-Cranberry Chutney
The aroma of simmering chutney signals the start of the holidays and sets the mood for my seasonal baking. Try it as an appetizer along with cream cheese and graham crackers. —Pat Stevens, Granbury, Texas 26 / 60
Spiced Mulled Wine
You'll want to heat this traditional beverage before company arrives. Your home will have the scent of Christmas! —Lana Gryga, Glen Flora, Wisconsin 27 / 60
Glazed Cornish Hens
If you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your holiday dinner table, we suggest these Cornish game hens topped with a sweet apricot glaze. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 28 / 60
Meringue Snowballs In Custard
My family has passed down this elegant dessert generation by generation. It started with my Russian great-grandmother, who traveled to America more than 100 years ago. I love continuing the tradition with her recipe. —Tonya Burkhard, Palm Coast, Florida 29 / 60
Apricot Cranberry Bread
I was making cranberry bread one day and wanted to try something a little different. I found a jar of apricot jam in the refrigerator and decided to spoon the jam into the center of the bread. It looked lumpy, so I took a knife and cut the jam into the bread. The end result was delicious. —Diane Roth, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 30 / 60
Pickled Pepperoncini Deviled Eggs
It's hard to resist these adorable deviled trees on our buffet table. The avocado filling has pepperoncini and cilantro for extra zip. —Carmell Childs, Clawson, Utah 31 / 60
Christmas Meatballs
Cranberry sauce and brown sugar create a tangy glaze for moist meatballs that are good Christmas appetizers or Christmas dinner ideas. We love them so much, I prepare them year-round. —Joyce Bentley, Redlands, California 32 / 60
Christmas Bread Pudding
I served this bread pudding at the first Christmas dinner I made for my in-laws. Everyone loved it! —Jennifer Dignin, Westerville, Ohio 33 / 60
Chutney-Glazed Carrots
Carrots slow-cooked with chutney, Dijon and ginger make a zippy side for a barbecue or potluck. We love serving these carrots with grilled chicken or beef roast. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada 34 / 60
Meringue Kisses
There's a nice chocolaty surprise inside these sweet kisses. They're my husband's top choice each Christmas.—Tami Henke, Lockport, Illinois 35 / 60
Holiday Baked Ham
Nothing is better at the holidays than a delicious ham baking in the oven. The preserves mixture will be sure to please all of your guests.—American Dairy Assoc, Stacy Duffy, Chicago, Illinois 36 / 60
Gingerbread Men Cookies
No holiday treat platter would be complete without gingerbread man cookies! This is a tried-and-true recipe I'm happy to share with you. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland 37 / 60
Aunt Margaret's Sweet Potato Casserole
My great-aunt made an incredible sweet potato casserole for our holiday dinners. I’ve lightened it up a bit, but we love it just the same. —Beth Britton, Fairlawn, Ohio 38 / 60
Rich Rum Cake
We like a touch of rum for the holidays, and this orangey rum cake is decadent alone or with big swoops of whipped cream. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada 39 / 60
West Virginia Shepherd's Pie
Mashed parsnips and potatoes spread over a savory mixture of lamb and fresh herbs make this dish extra special. The recipe comes from the Scotch-Irish who put down roots in this area long ago. —Tina Price, Deep Water, West Virginia 40 / 60
Pfeffernuesse Cookies
A German holiday tradition, these fragrant cookies pack a warm rush of spices in every bite. Also called peppernuts, they go wonderfully with coffee or tea.—Joanne Nelson, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 41 / 60
Cranberry Waldorf Salad
Cranberries grow in the coastal area about 50 miles from our home. When they become available, I always make this creamy salad. —Faye Huff, Longview, Washington 42 / 60
Marzipan Yule Logs
For an extra-special treat at Christmastime, I shape these little candies using homemade almond paste. The chocolate-coated logs have cute cherry and pecan decorations.—Margery Richmond, Fort Collins, Colorado 43 / 60
Apple-Pecan Baked Brie
As family arrives for a get-together, I make sure this fruity and savory Brie is in the oven so the aromas of cinnamon and apples fill the house. —Alicia Gower, Auburn, New York 44 / 60
Christmas Cauliflower Casserole
This creamy casserole is filled with tender cauliflower and topped with a sprinkling of crispy herb stuffing. It's become one of our favorite Christmas casseroles that appeals to both kids and adults in our family. —Carol Rex, Ocala, Florida 45 / 60
Classic Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
These make-ahead mashed potatoes save me a ton of time on Christmas day. No more frantically whipping the potatoes while hungry family and guests hang around the kitchen! —Marty Rummel, Trout Lake, Washington 46 / 60
Holiday Crown Pork Roast
Crown roast makes a regal Christmas dinner. Flavored with rosemary, sage and thyme, it’s elegant and simple, a real blessing during the hectic holidays. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida 47 / 60
Old-Fashioned Rice Pudding
This comforting dessert is a wonderful way to end any meal. As a girl, I always waited eagerly for the first heavenly bite. Today, my husband likes to top his with a scoop of ice cream. —Sandra Melnychenko, Grandview, Manitoba 48 / 60
Honey Pecan Pie
Looking for a sweet ending to a special meal? This attractive pecan pie is bound to please with its traditional filling and honey-glazed pecans. —Cathy Hudak, Wadsworth, Ohio 49 / 60
Cream of Potato & Cheddar Soup
The Yukon Gold potatoes my daughter shares from her garden make this soup incredible. Add some cheddar cheese and crisp croutons, and it’s just heavenly. It's total comfort with the simplicity of good ingredients! —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin 50 / 60
Cranberry-Orange Roast Ducklings
I came up with this recipe few years ago. The first time I served it, there wasn't a speck of food left on the platter and I knew I had a winning recipe. —Gloria Warczak, Cedarburg, Wisconsin 51 / 60
Italian Holiday Cookies
Many of our holiday traditions center around the foods my mother made while I was growing up. These cookies, which we called "Strufoli", bring back wonderful memories. —Sue Seymour, Valatie, New York 52 / 60
Party Potatoes Au Gratin
Hearty helpings of these cheesy spuds will please hungry folks in a hurry. The rich, creamy sauce makes this recipe of my mother's the one folks request most. The potatoes are just as delicious the next day, reheat in the microwave with a little added milk.—Debbie Carlson, San Diego, California 53 / 60
Holiday Green Bean Casserole
Try this green bean casserole and you'll never go back to the old stuff. — Laura Fall-Sutton, Buhl, Idaho 54 / 60
Homemade Eggnog
Once, I asked my mother how to make eggnog, and she showed me this recipe. After just one taste, folks will know this homemade holiday treat came from the kitchen, not from the store. —Pat Waymire, Yellow Springs, Ohio 55 / 60
Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. —Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas 56 / 60
Chocolate Peppermint Bark
These treats are such a snap to make, I almost feel guilty serving them. But nobody seems to mind I didn't put in much effort—they just keep coming back for more. —Keslie Houser, Pasco, Washington 57 / 60
Quick Crunchy Apple Salad
Pair crunchy toppings with smooth vanilla in this apple salad with yogurt recipe. You'll love this creative combination! —Kathy Armstrong, Post Falls, Idaho 58 / 60
Baba au Rhum Cakes
Dry and candied fruit stud this baba au rhum. The rum is subtle, so it is suitable as a dessert or on a brunch buffet. —Diane Halferty, Tucson, Arizona 59 / 60
Rosemary-Thyme Lamb Chops
My father loves lamb, so I make this dish whenever he visits. It's the perfect main course for holidays or get-togethers. —Kristina Mitchell, Clearwater, Florida. 60 / 60
Perfect Dinner Rolls
These rolls melt in your mouth. I loved them as a child, and I'm happy to make them for my kids because I know I am creating those same wonderful memories my mom made for me! —Gayleen Grote, Battle View, North Dakota Originally Published: December 12, 2017