Well, here we are…it’s the week of Christmas and I’ve got an essential holiday recipe round-up for you today.

There’s no denying that this year looks different for just about all of us. Chances are you won’t be having big Christmas parties or holiday feasts. Instead, we’re opting for intimate celebrations with our closest loved ones.

While we can hold out hope that next year will be different, we can still choose to celebrate in the small ways that we can this year. For us, that means a small Christmas dinner with our favorite holiday recipes.

Holiday Recipe Round-up

If you’re in the process of planning your holiday meal, let me help you out. Here are some of my top holiday recipes from the archives.

Enjoy!

Roasted Pecan and Pear Salad

This roasted pear and pecan salad is an absolute dream. Mixed baby greens are topped with balsamic roasted pears, figs and pecans and dressed with a maple balsamic dressing. The maple balsamic dressing is what pulls the whole dish together. Slightly sweet, slightly tangy, and full of flavor, this dressing takes softens those bitter greens and adds a little bite to those sweet pears. 

Fermented Cranberry Relish

Instant Pot Apple Pork Shoulder

So, this one isn’t your traditional Christmas main dish, but if you’re looking for something easy – with an amazing flavor – this is a winner. Pairing the pork shoulder with apples and onions highlights the natural sweetness of pork. Pork shoulder cooks beautifully in the instant pot, falling apart with just over an hour of pressure cooking. Extra bonus, this meal has maybe 10 minutes of hands on time.

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

These Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are the perfect side dish. With a few simple ingredients, they are ready to compliment any meal in under an hour. With a crisp outside and soft inside, these easy potatoes are perfect alongside pork shoulder and a big holiday salad.

Gingersnap Cookie Bars

Ginger is the flavor of the season for most. These No-Bake Gingersnap Cookie Bars are like the lovechild of a Larabar and a gingersnap cookie. With only 8 ingredients and no cooking required, these snack bars are super quick to make (and easy to eat!). This recipe is also super fun to make with toddlers. Pushing buttons, dumping measuring cups, and flattening the dough are all perfect toddler tasks. It’s a great activity to do together AND the perfect snack on Christmas Eve (or whenever, let’s be honest.) 

Chocolate Dipped Oranges

Looking for a festive new treat to gift friends and neighbors? Try chocolate dipped oranges! They look super fancy, but are quite simple to make. Thinly sliced orange segments are dried, dipped in cinnamon dark chocolate coating, and sprinkled with sea salt. They are the perfect allergy friendly treat; free from dairy, gluten, and nuts!

3 Ingredient Hot Cocoa Mix

Looking for a super simple hot cocoa mix, that’s also rich and tasty? This mix is incredibly easy to throw together, is free from powdered milk and processed sugars, and makes the coziest cup of chocolatey goodness. It also makes a great gift for neighbors, teachers or friends. Pack this mix into 4 oz mason jars and top with a bow! VOILA! (If you’re looking for other great stocking stuffers or gifts, check out this Instagram post…)

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all of you! Thanks for hanging with me this year.  I’m excited to see what the next year brings 🙂