27 crystallized recipes

Crock-made crystal sweet pickles brined for 2 weeks, then dressed in a cinnamon and clove vinegar syrup over 5 days. A labor of love from grandma's kitchen that yields jars of glass-clear, spiced pickles.

A fat-free whole wheat bread machine loaf with real popped popcorn kneaded right into the dough. Honey-sweetened with a subtle corn flavor and a surprisingly tender crumb.

Hoernchen are German almond crescent cookies made with ground almonds, butter, and vanilla, dipped in colored sugar or sprinkles for a festive holiday cookie.

German almond cookies with fresh lemon zest, ground unblanched almonds, and a buttery crumb that shatters at first bite. Overnight chilling builds flavor and makes rolling easy.

A no-bake chocolate-coated date log filled with walnuts, candied cherries, and crystallized ginger. Ground dates kneaded into a roll, coated in melted semisweet chocolate, and finished in chopped walnuts. Old-fashioned confection, no oven needed.

Homemade hummus with tahini, fresh lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and cumin blended until silky smooth. A big-batch recipe that's vegan, no-cook, and ready in 10 minutes.

Hot curried fruit with poached pears, oranges, melon, and grapes in a warm spiced curry syrup topped with crystallized ginger. An elegant side dish for holiday entertaining.

Ginger-banana chutney simmers bananas, dates, raisins, onion, candied ginger, and cider vinegar into a jammy Indian-style relish. Pairs with curry, cold cuts, or grilled meats straight from the jar.

Baked pears in a buttery pineapple cream sauce with crystallized ginger and toasted almonds. An elegant warm fruit dessert with tropical, caramel-rich flavor.

Adorable oatmeal roll-out cookies shaped and decorated like cherry trees with red cinnamon candies, green sugar crystals, and chocolate sprinkle trunks. Makes 36.

Tofu pumpkin pie: vegan pumpkin pie made with silky firm tofu instead of eggs and dairy. Warming spices and crystallized ginger top for a dairy-free holiday dessert.

A showstopping Persian jeweled rice (javaher polow) layered with saffron-glazed carrots, barberries, currants, pistachios, almonds, orange peel, and rose water. Topped with a golden tah dig crust.

This relish is based on a prize-winning English recipe of more than a generation ago. It is less sweet than traditional chutneys; most of its sweetness comes not from sugar, but from apples, dates, and parsnips. I generally use Winesap apples but any well-flavored, crisp eating apple will do.

Roasted Cornish hens stuffed with brown rice, pineapple, currants, and macadamia nuts, basted in a sweet red pepper jelly glaze with crystallized ginger. A showpiece dinner for entertaining.

Holiday pork loin stuffed with brown rice, toasted almonds, orange, and crystallized ginger, glazed with cranberry-orange sauce. A festive Christmas centerpiece roast that slices into ruby-red rounds.

Gingered holiday chutney simmers Anjou pears, red and green bell peppers, lemon, lime and crystallized ginger in a brown sugar vinegar syrup. A sweet-tangy condiment for cheese boards, ham, turkey or roasted pork.