‘Tis the season to unleash your inner chef with a mix of sweet and savory delights! Whether you’re planning a cozy gathering with friends or want to experiment with new food, I’ve got you covered with a selection of five holiday recipes from some of my favorite food sites.

1. Festive Fudge Balls

Treat yourself to these festive fudge balls — decadent chocolate goodness rolled in peppermint, walnuts, pistachios or raspberries for a delightful twist on classic fudge!

Ingredients:

– Vegetable-oil cooking spray, for pan

– 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

– 3 packed cups mini marshmallows (or cut-up regular marshmallows)

– 1 ½ cups sugar

– ½ cup whole milk

– ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

– 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

– 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

– 1 cup pulverized peppermint candies, finely chopped toasted walnuts, finely chopped pistachios or ground freeze-dried raspberries (or a combination)

Directions:

  1. Lightly spray a 9-by-9-inch cake pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper.
  2. In a saucepan, melt the butter, marshmallows, sugar, milk and salt. Stir in the vanilla.
  3. Remove from heat; stir in the chocolate until melted. Pour into the prepared pan and refrigerate until set.
  4. Roll into balls and coat with festive toppings. Refrigerate until firm.

2. Chocolate-Peanut-Butter-Caramel Cereal Bars

Upgrade your holiday snacking with these chocolate-peanut-butter-caramel cereal bars — a perfect harmony of crispy puffed rice, velvety peanut butter and a chocolate drizzle, topped with a sprinkle of sea salt for that irresistible sweet and salty balance.

Ingredients:

– 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, plus extra for greasing the pan

– 1 bag (10 ounces) mini marshmallows

– A pinch of flaky sea salt (like Jacobsen or Maldon), plus more for sprinkling

– 4 cups puffed rice cereal

– ¾ cup sugar

– ⅓ cup heavy cream

– ¾ cup creamy peanut butter

– 3 ounces (⅔ cup) bittersweet chocolate, chopped 

Directions:

  1. Grease a square baking pan with butter, ensuring even coverage.
  2. In a large pot, melt 6 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Add the mini marshmallows and a pinch of flaky sea salt, stirring until the marshmallows are completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
  3. Remove the pot from heat and quickly fold in the puffed rice cereal until well-coated.
  4. Press the cereal mixture evenly into the prepared pan using a spatula or your hands.
  5. In a saucepan, combine the sugar and heavy cream over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and peanut butter, stirring until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
  6. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the pressed cereal in the pan, spreading it evenly.
  7. Melt the bittersweet chocolate in a heat-proof bowl over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer.
  8. Sprinkle a bit of flaky sea salt over the chocolate for that perfect touch.
  9. Allow the bars to cool and set in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
  10. Once set, cut into squares and enjoy!

Note: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

3. 3-in-1 Brown-Buttered Winter Vegetables

Transform your holiday feast into a mix of flavors with these 3-in-1 brown-buttered winter vegetables — an enticing variety that includes brussels sprouts, sweet carrots and brown butter sauce, delivering a twist to traditional winter sides.

Ingredients:

– Three carrots, thickly sliced

– 300 grams brussels sprouts, halved

– Two leeks, thickly sliced

– 75 grams butter

– Handful sage leaves (optional)

Directions:

  1. Boil then drain the carrots, brussels sprouts and leeks.
  2. In a pan, heat the butter until it turns a golden-brown hue and releases a nutty fragrance, indicating that it’s perfectly browned. Add sage leaves, then transfer the flavorful browned butter to a plate
  3. Add cracked black pepper, pour in the vegetables and stir-fry until piping hot and starting to brown. 
  4. Season with sea salt and serve.

4. Warm Apple Cider

Savor the warmth of the season with this warm apple cider — a comforting blend that captures the essence of autumn and gives you sweet hints of spiced apples and a bit of citrus, perfect for chilly holiday gatherings.

Ingredients:

– 6 cups apple cider

– ¼ cup real maple syrup

– Two cinnamon sticks

– Six whole cloves

– Six whole allspice berries

– One orange peel, cut into strips

– One lemon peel, cut into strips

Directions:

1. In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine the apple cider and real maple syrup.

2. Create a spice bundle by placing the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a square of washed cheesecloth. Fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then secure it with kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.

3. Over moderate heat, warm the cider until it is very hot but not boiling. This should take about five to 10 minutes.

4. Once the cider is hot, remove it from the heat and discard the spice bundle.

5. Ladle the spiced apple cider into big cups or mugs. For an extra touch, add a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

5. Chocolate Chip Mug Cake

Enjoy a quick and easy holiday dessert with this chocolate chip mug cake — a single-serve delight featuring a moist and fluffy cake with melted chocolate chips, ready to satisfy your sweet cravings in minutes.

Ingredients:

– 13 grams (1 tablespoon) butter

– 15 grams (1 tablespoon) sugar

– ¼ tsp vanilla

– 25 grams (2 tablespoons) milk

– 30 grams (3 tablespoons) all-purpose flour

– ¼ tsp baking powder

– Chocolate chips (add to your liking)

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in the mug. You can do this by placing the mug in the microwave for short durations until it is fully melted.

2. Once the butter is melted, add the sugar and vanilla to the mug. Mix these ingredients together until well-combined.

3. Add the room-temperature milk, baking powder and all-purpose flour to the mug. Mix the ingredients until you have a smooth batter.

4. Stir in the desired amount of chocolate chips into the batter. This will give your mug cake a delightful chocolatey touch.

5. Scrape the bottom of the mug to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated. Clean the edges of the mug to avoid any spillage during cooking.

6. Place the mug in the center of your microwave. Cook on high for one minute. The cooking time may vary depending on your microwave, so keep an eye on it.

7. Allow the cake to rest for two minutes. This helps it set and cool slightly. After that, your chocolate chip mug cake is ready to be enjoyed!