118 christmas baking recipes

Silky pumpkin mousse pie made with whipped egg whites, evaporated skim milk, and a hint of orange zest. A no-bake holiday dessert that's lighter than traditional pumpkin pie.

Classic pecan pie with toasted pecan halves, brown-buttery filling, and a flaky crust. The Southern Thanksgiving and Christmas pie that's all gooey custard underneath the crunchy top.

Classic homemade pumpkin pie with a from-scratch shortening crust and a custard filling spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Real evaporated milk and whole eggs, no shortcuts.

Lighter pumpkin pie with a gingersnap-graham crust, evaporated skim milk, and mostly egg whites for a lower-fat take. Molasses adds depth, cinnamon and nutmeg do the holiday work.

Traditional pumpkin pie made with sweetened condensed milk, two eggs, pumpkin puree, and warming cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The Eagle Brand classic that ends up on Thanksgiving tables for a reason.

Classic Kentucky pecan pie with toasted pecans floating on a brown sugar corn syrup custard. The Southern Thanksgiving and Derby Day dessert, baked in a flaky shell.

Pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crumb crust, dark rum, heavy cream, and freshly grated nutmeg. The double-boiler trick warms the filling before baking for a smoother, less weepy custard.

Old-fashioned pumpkin pie with molasses, evaporated milk, and the four classic spices: cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. The grandmother-style holiday pie with a deep, dark filling.

Old Pecan Street pecan pie: an Austin, Texas classic with light corn syrup, vanilla, and chopped pecans baked into a single unbaked crust. The straightforward Texas-style holiday pie.

Dark rum balls made with crushed vanilla wafers, cocoa, nuts, and a generous pour of dark rum, rolled in powdered sugar. No-bake holiday cookie that improves with age in the tin.

Cool and creamy pumpkin pie folds whipped cream into a butterscotch-pudding pumpkin filling spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, then chills in a cinnamon-sugar-glazed crust. A no-bake pumpkin pie that skips the oven entirely.

Fudgy chocolate pecan pie built on sweetened condensed milk and melted sweet chocolate instead of the usual corn syrup. The pecans stir into a rich chocolate custard for a brownie-meets-pecan-pie holiday dessert.

Holiday gingerbread cutout cookies made with molasses, brown sugar, and warm spices. Dough chills for 1 hour, rolls to perfect thickness, then cuts into festive shapes ready for decorating.

Soft, buttery sugar cookies with a hint of lemon zest, made with both butter and oil for a tender crumb. Cream of tartar keeps them pillowy. A holiday cookie jar classic.

Nancy's ice cream kolacky: a three-ingredient Eastern European-style cookie where vanilla ice cream replaces liquid and eggs, creating a tender pastry dough filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. A Christmas cookie-tray favorite.

Holiday pumpkin muffins with pumpkin pie spice, buttermilk, and a simple powdered sugar glaze. Soft, warmly spiced, and ready in 25 minutes for Christmas morning breakfast.