Holidays/35 recipes

Sweet potato and apple casserole microwaves cubed sweet potatoes and Golden Delicious apples with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then thickens the syrup with cornstarch. A 35-minute holiday side without the oven.

Banana walnut Bundt cake with whole wheat flour and a bright orange glaze, made in the microwave. A tropical holiday showstopper that comes together in under 35 minutes.

No-bake rum balls with vanilla wafer crumbs, finely chopped pecans, cocoa, and a generous splash of light rum. Rolled in powdered sugar and ready in 15 minutes. The boozy holiday classic.

No-bake walnut chocolate rum balls rolled in cocoa powder. Made with grated milk chocolate, chopped walnuts, powdered sugar, and real rum. A rich holiday candy ready in 15 minutes, makes 2 1/2 dozen.

Three-ingredient pretzel turtles with mini pretzels, Rolo or chocolate caramel candies, and toasted pecan halves. Easy no-fail sweet-and-salty holiday treat ready in 15 minutes.

Baked brie topped with spiced cranberry sauce, brown sugar, pecans, and a hint of rum extract. A gooey, 15-minute holiday appetizer that disappears fast.

Applejack apple slab pie bakes 25 sliced tart apples with cinnamon and butter between a shortening pastry crust in a sheet pan, then drizzles with a sweet cream glaze. Crowd-feeding holiday pie.

Hot wassail made with apple juice, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice simmered with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and lemon. A non-alcoholic holiday punch ready in 15 minutes.

Microwave sweet potato casserole with mashed sweet potatoes, pineapple tidbits, brown sugar, butter, and gooey marshmallows. The holiday classic side dish, ready in 25 minutes without ever turning on the oven.

Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch lebkuchen spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and wine, loaded with raisins and chopped nuts. A heritage holiday cookie baked in just 15 minutes.

No-bake cocoa bourbon balls with crushed vanilla wafers, pecans, cocoa powder, and corn syrup rolled in granulated sugar. A classic holiday candy ready in 15 minutes.

Ham in champagne baked with two bottles of extra dry champagne, brown sugar, honey, ginger, and dry mustard. A showstopping holiday ham with a bubbly glaze basted every 15 minutes until lacquered.

Fruit ginger drop cookies made with gingerbread mix, candied fruit, and chopped nuts. A 4-ingredient holiday cookie ready in 25 minutes.

Country ham simmered in apple cider with ginger and peppercorns, then finished with an applesauce-mustard-brown sugar glaze. Southern holiday centerpiece that feeds 25.

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.

Green bean casserole made in the microwave with canned green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and crispy French fried onion rings on top. The classic holiday side dish ready in just 15 minutes.