Holidays recipes

Victorian jewels mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts baked into tender two-bite cakes. A glossy jelly glaze gives each one its jewel-box shine. Holiday gifting star.

Reva's molasses sugar cookies: chewy, crackle-topped molasses cookies rolled in sugar before baking. Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. The old-fashioned holiday cookie your grandma kept in a tin.

Cranberry cheesecake on a buttery walnut-graham crust, with a layer of cranberry sauce hidden beneath a creamy sour cream filling. A festive, crack-free holiday cheesecake topped with sugared cranberries.

Bacon-wrapped roasted pheasant stuffed with apples and onions, served with a glossy cherry-wine jubilee sauce. An elegant game bird dinner that brings the hunter's harvest to the holiday table.

Five-minute roasted red pepper and green chile dip with sour cream, mayo, and a squeeze of lemon. Red-and-green color makes it a holiday party staple. No cooking required.

Spiced date drop cookies with chopped dates, toasted walnuts, cinnamon, and cloves baked into a soft, chewy drop cookie. An old-school holiday tin classic that bakes in just 10 minutes.

Microwave scalloped oysters: a holiday-table classic shortcut with shucked oysters, breadcrumbs, celery, and a splash of cream baked together in a covered casserole. Ready in 20 minutes, no oven required.

No-bake chocolate walnut cream balls rolled in cocoa-dusted powdered sugar. Five ingredients, no cooking required, and ready in 20 minutes. Old-fashioned bonbon-style sweet for the holiday tin.

Traditional Jewish tzimmes with beef, carrots, sweet potatoes, prunes, and dried apricots braised in orange juice. A sweet and savory one-pot holiday dish simmered low and slow until fork-tender.

Bacon-wrapped chicken breasts marinated in soy, garlic, ginger, and hot sauce, then baked low and slow until the bacon crisps and the chicken stays juicy. A holiday-easy main dish.

Raisin-spice cookies made with oatmeal cookie mix, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, raisins, and chopped nuts. A quick drop cookie with warm holiday spices that makes four dozen in under 30 minutes.

Chocolate pecan pie with melted German sweet chocolate, toasted pecan halves, and a glossy corn-syrup custard baked into a flaky pie shell. The Southern holiday classic with a cocoa upgrade.

Bread machine cranberry cinnamon bread: tangy fresh or frozen cranberries folded into a soft white loaf with lemon zest and warm cinnamon. Set-and-forget loaf for fall and holiday brunch.

Spritz dainties for the cookie press, made with brown sugar instead of white for a deeper butterscotch note. Buttery shaped cookies brushed with egg white wash and decorated for the holidays.

Lime Jello salad mold with crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, lemon juice, and whipped cream folded in at just the right thickness. A creamy, tangy retro gelatin salad for potlucks and holidays.

Slow cooker hot cranberry punch with pineapple juice, brown sugar, and a cheesecloth bundle of whole cloves and cinnamon stick. A hands-off holiday drink that perfumes the kitchen all afternoon.