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Our 100 All-Time-Best Christmas Cookie Recipes

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Bake the Best Holiday Cookies

Whether you’re still learning the basics of cookie making or are all about using those pro baking tips you’ve mastered over the years, there’s no better time to bake from scratch than during the holidays. Whether you whip up an assortment of holiday bars and barks to pack and ship to someone special or are baking a batch of easy-to-make cookies to serve alongside homemade hot chocolate on movie night, you’ll find that cookies always spread cheer. Nut and spice cookies, fruity cookies, sugar cookies and more: we always have a hard time narrowing down our favorites (which is why this collection has 100 recipes!).

But, we have to admit that the imperfection of these festive smashed cookies places them at the top of our list. The addition of two eggs gives the centers a tender and soft texture, while the crinkled edges get ever so slightly golden and crisp. Top with a simple confectioners’ sugar glaze for a holiday treat perfect for a cookie tin — and that’s oh-so-fun to make!

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100 Easy Holiday Appetizers To Elevate Your Party

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Our Best Holiday Appetizer Recipes

If you ask us, one of the best parts of the holiday season is the snacking that happens before the main meal. Who wouldn’t want to mix up a festive cocktail or two and treat themself to an assortment of small bites before a special holiday dinner? Cheese balls and cheese logs, party-ready dips, wow-worthy platters—with so many delicious options, choosing what to make can be difficult. One of the recipes we always include in our pre-dinner spread however, is this baked brie.

We like to dress it up for the holidays; we stuff it into little golden parcels of puff pastry along with a hit of cranberry sauce and crunchy walnuts—for the ultimate sweet-and-savory bite.

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27 Traditional Holiday Cookies You’ll Want To Bake Every Year

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Traditional Christmas and Holiday Cookie Recipes

If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics.

If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics. We’re talking buttery shortbreads, all different types of sugar cookies and, of course, plenty of gingerbread. If looking for a handful of recipes that rely on classic flavors and tried-and-true techniques, these are the ones to add to your repertoire. You’ll find snowballs, thumbprints, biscotti and more. No matter which cookies you decide to bake, spritz are a holiday must. The green and white tie-dye effect gives these classic cookies a modern-retro look, and the red sprinkles add a bit more holiday cheer.

Food Network

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The 23 Best 5-Ingredient Holiday Treats (That Anyone Can Make!)

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Festive Treats With 5 Ingredients or Less

With ambitious holiday party planning comes the potential to spend the entire time cooking in the kitchen—while your guests wonder where you are. Let’s skip all that. Instead, take the quick-and-easy route: put together something festive and enjoy your limited time together, with treats that only require a handful of ingredients. Each clocks in at just five or fewer—and will fill everyone you love, including you, with holiday cheer. One of our favorites? This reimagined take on the Yule log. Using store-bought Swiss roll cakes ensures this version is a breeze—but still impressive enough to dazzle your family and friends.

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26 Foolproof Fudge Recipes Anyone Can Make

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

How To Make Fudge at Home

Whether you’re a fan of chocolate, peanut butter, peppermint or white chocolate there’s one thing we can all agree on: there’s nothing quite like a square of homemade fudge. It’s one of our favorite DIY Christmas candies — although we whip it up anytime we need an easy dessert or one-bowl sweet treat, all year round. It never fails to please! The trick to making a creamy, dreamy batch? Don’t stir the sugar mixture as it boils. Let it cook (undisturbed) to 234 degrees F and your final candy will have the crystal-free texture you’re looking for.

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Swirly Shortbread Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

This recipe is courtesy of Ghirardelli. If you’re looking to impress with presentation and taste this holiday season, these swirly chocolate chip shortbread cookie bars are the answer. Featuring a buttery shortbread base studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips, layered with sticky caramel and finished with a swirl of bittersweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips and melted white candy, this millionaire bar-inspired recipe is topped with beautiful swirls that look almost too good to eat – but we’ll definitely be eating them anyway!

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27 Money-Saving Meals to Keep in Your Back Pocket

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Our Best Budget-Friendly Dinner Ideas

Cooking on a budget is an art form that balances cost without sacrificing flavor, and making affordable swaps in the kitchen doesn’t have to lead to bland or uninspiring meals. In truth, low-cost cooking invites a world of creativity, where simple, inexpensive ingredients are transformed into delectable dishes and wholesome meals. The key lies in the clever use of spices and pantry staples, strategic techniques, and the magic of fresh, seasonal produce. Some of the world’s great dishes were born from a need to coax flavors out of a few humble ingredients. We’ve rounded up our favorite affordable meals to highlight some of the ways that we make the most out of every single morsel.

One of the best ways to save money without sacrificing flavor is to use your dollars where they count. By keeping the sides for this crispy roast chicken simple, you can go big on a zesty sauce that will pack a punch.

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Our Top 50 Thanksgiving Recipes

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Plan the Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner

Whether you’re planning a traditional Thanksgiving menu featuring classics like turkey, savory green bean casserole and homemade cranberry sauce or experimenting with new takes on your family traditions, you’re going to need a few ideas to get you started. Luckily, our 50 most-popular Thanksgiving recipes have you covered. This collection of feast-worthy eats includes soups and appetizers to start your meal, turkey and side dishes to round it out — and even desserts. You’ll truly find everything you need to host the perfect holiday meal.

There are lots of great options but this flavorful turkey is truly one of the best. A slather of mayonnaise on the bird pulls double duty by standing in as a flavor-packed rub as well as adding moisture and fat to often dry meat. And what’s particularly great is that it browns the skin beautifully without the constant basting that most birds need.

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17 Freezer-Friendly Thanksgiving Dishes You Can Make Right Now

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Stock Your Freezer Before Thanksgiving

Maybe you have that big work conference right before Thanksgiving, or a million homemade costumes to make for the school play. Whether you’re hosting or bringing a dish to pass, we’ve got you covered. These dishes can be made right now (from Thanksgiving sides to desserts) and go into your freezer for a later date. We’ll tell you how to get them ready when Turkey Day rolls around, so that homemade is within reach even if you’re short on time. No need to thank us on the national day of gratitude — the satisfaction that we’ll be helping you eat well is thanks enough.

We love this genius make-ahead. Though you could just assemble the casserole and bake day-of, you can also wrap that casserole, freeze it, and forget about it until an hour before go-time. Then, just unwrap and bake right from the freezer. A last-minute topping of fried onions will give it that essential little something extra.

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70 Easy Chicken Dinners You’ll Make on Repeat

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Our Best Chicken Dinner Ideas

You don’t need to be a pro in the kitchen to whip up these delicious chicken recipes. Even beginner cooks will find that these no-sweat recipes come together with ease.

Chicken is often a go-to protein, mostly because it’s easy to cook and is considered a lean protein. Though chicken has a reputation for being bland, that couldn’t be further from the proof. Whether you prefer juicy chicken thighs or tender chicken breasts, there are so many easy ways to dress the meat up and turn it into a winning meal. If you’re looking for flavorful chicken recipes, we recommend starting with this Tuscan Chicken Skillet. It’s full of bacon, cream and Parmesan—is your mouth watering yet? There’s no need to go out to dinner when you can make this restaurant-style creamy, cheesy chicken and fettuccine at home.

Food Network