We asked our staff for some of their favorite holiday recipes so we could share them with you. We love making these recipes with our families and even indulge in them ourselves (ahem, Monkey Bread!). We sincerely hope that you enjoy these treats as much as we do!  

 

CHERRY CHEESECAKE

Brianna Hanson, Marketing Content Specialist

 

 

The Cherry Cheesecake is a dessert that Brianna’s grandmother loves to prepare during the holiday season. It features a creamy, rich cheesecake base topped with sweet yet tart cherries. This dish is a true crowd-pleaser!

 

INGREDIENTS

20 graham wafers OR 1 ½ cup of graham crumbs

½ cup of soft margarine

1/4 cup of sugar

1 package of Philly cream cheese

2 tablespoons of milk

1 package of Dream Whip

1 can of cherry pie mix filling

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Mix 20 graham wafers or 1 ½ cups of crumbs, ½ cup of soft margarine, and 1/4 cup of sugar into a dish. Bake for 8 minutes, and then let cool.
  3. Next, mix 1 package of Philly cream cheese and 2 tbsp milk and blend it smooth, then add 1 package of Dream Whip – fold it together and spread it on top of a cooled graham wafer crust.
  4. Top with/ 1 can of cherry pie mix filling.
  5. Chill before serving.

 

 

KILLER CRANBERRY SAUCE

Mikey Newton, Territory Relationship Manager

 

 

The Killer Cranberry Sauce is a festive staple Mikey loves serving during holiday gatherings. Its blend of tart cranberries and sweet undertones makes an irresistible side dish to your roast turkey.

 

INGREDIENTS

1 whole navel-orange

1 cup of sugar

1 teaspoon of fresh grated ginger

1 package (12 oz) of cranberries, fresh or frozen

½ cup toasted pecans

 

DIRECTIONS 

  1. Grate peel from the orange and set aside. Squeeze juice from the orange into a small bowl.
  2. Combine orange juice, sugar, and ginger in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring until sugar dissolves.
  3. Add cranberries, and simmer until berries begin to pop, about 5 to eight minutes. Remove from heat, stir in reserved orange peel.
  4. When cool, stir in pecans and serve in a pretty glass bowl.

 

 

MONKEY BREAD

Mary Meeker, National Director

 

 

This Monkey Bread is a family recipe from Mary’s Granny and mother. With its sticky, pull-apart texture and sweet cinnamon flavor, Monkey Bread is delicious in every bite. 

 

INGREDIENTS

3 packages of canned biscuits

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

½ cup of sugar

1 stick of margarine or butter

1 cup of light brown sugar

½ cup of nuts (optional)

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mix cinnamon and ½ cup of sugar.
  2. Cut biscuits into 1/4s and roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture.
  3. On the stove, heat margarine, brown sugar & nuts. Bring to a boil.
  4. Spray a round or loaf pan with a non-stick coating.
  5. Layer biscuits and sauce.
  6. Heat in oven for 35 min at 350 degrees.

 

 

PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

Mary Meeker, National Director

 

 

Mary’s Peanut Butter Fudge is another cherished family recipe from her mother and Granny. This creamy, decadent treat is a favorite at family gatherings and holidays.

 

INGREDIENTS

½ cup of butter or margarine

1 lb of light brown sugar – 2 1/4 cups

1 lb. of confectioner sugar

½ cup milk

3/4 cup of smooth or crunchy peanut butter

1t of vanilla

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan and stir in brown sugar and milk.
  2. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
  4. Mix confectioners sugar; beat until smooth.
  5. Spread into a buttered 9-inch square pan.
  6. Chill until firm.
  7. Cut into squares.

 

 

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE

Brianna Hanson, Marketing Content Specialist

 

 

Sweet Potato Casserole, another recipe from Brianna’s grandmother, is an essential comfort food during the holidays. 

 

INGREDIENTS

1 lg can (40 oz) of sweet potatoes (yams)

½ cup of white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of vanilla

3/4 cup of melted butter

½ cup of milk

1 cup of brown sugar – packed

1/3 cup of flour

1/4 cup of melted butter

1 cup of finely chopped nuts

 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mash up 1 lg can (40 oz) sweet potatoes (yams).
  2. Add ½ cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cup melted butter, and ½ cup milk.
  3. Put into an oblong baking dish.
  4. Mix toppings in a separate bowl: 1 cup brown sugar packed, 1/3 cup of flour, 1/4 cup melted butter, 1 cup finely chopped nuts.
  5. Stir well and cover the top of the yams (sweet potatoes).
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

 

 

CRUMBLE COBBLER

Erick Van der Lee, Marketing Content Strategist

 

 

Erick loves making this crumble cobbler during the holidays. His best piece of advice is to double the recipe because he guarantees that people will be coming back for seconds! 

 

INGREDIENTS

(Double the recipe using two cans and doing mashups, apple/cherry, blueberry/cherry)

8×8 inch or 1-1/2 quart casserole pan – Double the recipe for a 9×13 inch pan.

1/4 cup of butter, which is equal to 4 tablespoons of butter

1 cup of flour

3/4 cup of white sugar

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of powdered ginger

1 cup of milk

1 can (21 oz) of pie filling of your choice

(Note: You don’t need to double the following ingredients for the larger version; you’ll have plenty to cover both sizes)

1¼ cups (162 g) of all-purpose flour

⅓ cup (71 g) of light brown sugar

⅓ cup (66 g) of granulated sugar

7 tablespoons (99 g) of unsalted butter, melted

 

DIRECTIONS

Prepping the Pan:

  1. Add butter to a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish (8×8 inch pan) and place into a cold oven. 
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 and let the butter melt, then take the pan out and set the pan aside.

Preparing the Cobbler:

  1. In a mixing bowl, grab your dry ingredients, add flour, sugar, ginger, and baking powder, and mix well with a whisk.
  2. Then, stir in milk until combined.
  3. Pour batter into a pan with butter. Top with dollops of your favorite pie filling. There is no need to be precise; the dough will rise around the filling. The more random placement, the better.
  4. Bake for 30 minutes or until the cobbler has fully risen.
  5. Refer to topping baking instructions for the final step.

Preparing the Crumble Streusel Topping:

  1. Combine the flour and sugars in a medium bowl; drizzle with the melted butter and toss with a fork until evenly moistened. The mixture forms many large chunks with pea-sized pieces mixed throughout.

Baking Instructions:

  1. When the cobbler has fully risen, around the 30-minute mark, take it out of the oven, being careful that the pan is hot. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the cobbler till it’s completely covered.
  2. Place back in the oven until the crumble topping is slightly brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Remove the finished cobbler from the oven. Let it cool and enjoy.
  4. To elevate your serving, add a scoop of your vanilla ice cream.

 

And there you have it! We hope you enjoy preparing these recipes with your loved ones or even as a personal treat. If you would like a Companion to assist you in cooking some of these yummy dishes, click here to get started. Here’s to wishing you and your loved ones a happy holiday season. Bon Appétit!

 

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