Our Family’s Favourite Holiday Recipes

I wanted to share with you some of my family’s favourite holiday recipes. Simple delicious recipes that with warm up your hearts on a cold winter’s eve.

Ever since we first saw the Morton Family Strata in the Christmas movie The Family Stone, my mother and I talked about how we’d love to make something like that for an easy Christmas morning breakfast. Then a few years ago we bought the DVD, and as luck would have it, the recipe was on there! Now we make it every year.

Sarah Jessica Parker in The Family Stone

This has now become a family favourite now and we put all the ingredients together on Christmas Eve night, usually while we’re doing the last of the big dinner’s dishes. It may seem like more work on that night, but really the casserole does all the work while you dream of sugarplums and then all you have to do is wake up on Christmas morning, pop it in the oven and make a pot of coffee.

Another easy morning recipe is Gingerbread Pancakes. All the spice and sweetness of that classic holiday flavouring. A dusting of icing sugar and a drizzle of real maple syrup are highly encouraged.

These Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are absolutely delicious. My mother always made these for special birthday breakfasts growing up. The also make a lovely Christmas treat.

These Egg Nog Scones have the lovely spiced flavour of the drink they’re made from, and are great for a breakfast or an afternoon tea.

The real star of the holiday season is our big family Christmas Eve dinner. I look forward to it all year round. So much good food and lots of laughing around this table over the years. We’ve had to add more chairs and tables as our group has grown, but we always manage to squeeze everyone in.

Turkey is our bird of choice at Christmas, although we will be attempting duck as well for the first time this year. I’ve never tried duck (or cooked it for that matter), so this should be fun!

We also try to make a few special vegetarian side dishes for my sister, like this Spinach and Cheese Puff. They’re good for us meat lovers too 🙂

At every big occasion, we always have to have a double batch of my Mom’s Infamous Macaroni and Cheese on hand. This is a big hit with adults and kids alike.

My Great Aunt Marian brings her Homemade Cranberry Sauce for all of us to enjoy alongside the turkey. This is also great in Leftover Cranberry Sauce Muffins.

Her other contribution to the festivities is the Family Christmas Carrot Pudding. This year I wasn’t able to visit her and make it together, but I will still be enjoying some of it on Christmas Eve night (and maybe some leftovers on Christmas day too!)

For something a little less traditional, try these Shortbread Holiday Sundaes. You could make these using any of your favourite Christmas cookies.