5 Treasured Christmas Recipes from Alison’s Pantry

We love seeing all your fun holiday recipes, so it seemed fitting to share some of our favorites from over the years! We hope you like them as much as we do. 

Christmas Party Prep

So, with Christmas just around the corner, we’re all starting to think about what we want to serve for our big meal. For example, planning the menu in advance helps us stay on track because once the family starts coming to town, it becomes hard to focus on the meals when you just want to visit! Unless you don’t like your family…then we suggest diving right into planning the food! 

Need More Entertaining Ideas?

• 3 Easy, Party-Pleasing Christmas Bread Ideas
• 5 Holiday Food Traditions You Will Want to Start This Christmas
• 3 Gift Ideas for Neighbors

With all the craziness around the Holidays, make-ahead dishes are our best friend. For example, it helps us not feel as stressed trying to get everything done on the day of the big meal! At the same time, Mashed Potatoes are the best fresh, so this one is all about personal preference. 

Make-Ahead Holiday Mashed Potatoes with Bacon

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs. potatoes, peeled and cubed (can use #8569)
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup butter, cubed
• ¼ cup milk
• 1-½ tsp onion powder (#1027)
• 1 tsp salt (#1146)
• 1 tsp garlic powder (#1021)
• ½ tsp pepper (#1029)
• 8 Daily’s Precooked Bacon Strips, heated and chopped (#4835)
• 1 cup shredded Tillamook Cheddar Cheese (#1866)
• 3 green onions, chopped

Instructions:

1. To begin, place potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain; mash potatoes with cream cheese, sour cream and butter.
2. Next, stir in milk and seasonings. Transfer potato mixture to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish; sprinkle with cheese, onions, and bacon. 
3. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40-50 minutes or until heated through.

 

 

Not only does this dough make divine rolls, but our make-ahead dough can also be used for many things including rolls, cinnamon rolls, hamburger buns, scones or bread. 

Make-Ahead Holiday Rolls

Ingredients:

• 3 cup warm water
• ¾ cup sugar or honey (#1148)
• 3 tbsp SAF Instant Yeast (#2446)
• 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
• 6 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp salt (#1146)
• 10-12 cups Lehi Roller Mills Unbleached Bread Flour (#2285)

Instructions:

1. First, mix water and honey. Sprinkle yeast on top. Let set until yeast rises and foams at the top.
2. Stir in evaporated milk, butter, and salt. Stir in 5 cups flour. Stir until smooth. Add 4 cups flour. Keep adding flour until dough is soft and not sticky. Knead until satin smooth. No need to let rise.
3. Form your dough, then allow to rise for just 15 minutes and then bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

For make ahead rolls:

First, roll dough on a floured board, into a large Â½ “ thick circle. Cut into pie shapes and roll for crescent rolls. Place on greased cookie sheet and flash-freeze. Now, once the rolls are firm, remove them from the pans and store in zippered freezer bags, in the freezer. When ready to bake, place frozen rolls on greased baking sheet, cover, and allow to thaw and double in size in a warm place. Last, bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until light brown.

 

 

Not only do we think this is a major upgrade from canned cranberry sauce, but we’re sure you will love it as well! This recipe will leave your house smelling delicious. In addition to being a great way to top our turkey, Cran-Raspberry Sauce is also an excellent dessert topping.

Cran-Raspberry Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ cups Wyman’s Frozen Cranberries (#1220)
• 2 cups Wyman’s Fresh Frozen Raspberries (#1219)
• 1 cup Sugar
• ½ cup water

Instructions:

1. Heat water and sugar. Add frozen fruit.
2. Cook and stir till thoroughly heated.
3. Serve with poultry, ham, pork.

  

Our friend Anne Metzler from Riverton, WY shared this recipe with us. She said,  “this is what I’m making all my coworkers for Christmas.” In reality, we would have a hard time sharing this Christmas treat! This Party Mix is one of our favorites.

White Chocolate Party Mix

Ingredients: 

• 6 cups pretzel sticks (#2319)
• 5 cups Cheerios
• 5 cups Crispix
• 2 cups salted, dry roasted peanuts
• 16-oz. pkg. plain M & M’s
• 4 cups Ghirardelli Vanilla Chips (#1306)
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, combine first 5 ingredients.
2. Heat the vanilla chips and oil.
3. Pour over cereal mix. Stir well.
4. Pour on AP parchment paper (#1153). Break up after it dries.

 

  

Last but not least, Butterscotch Haystacks are another of our favorite Classic Christmas treats. They only take 4 ingredients, and are so yummy! Also, for a fun spring twist, try adding little candies to make the treat a birds nest.

Butterscotch Haystacks

• 11 oz. Guittard Butterscotch Chips (#1380)
• ¾ Cup JIF Creamy Peanut Butter (#2913)
• 1 ¼ Cups La Choy chow mein noodles
• 3 ½ Cups miniature marshmallows

Instructions:

1. First, Line baking sheets with AP parchment paper (#1153).
2. Microwave chips in a large, microwave-safe bowl on medium-high (70 percent) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth.
3. Stir in peanut butter until well-blended.
4. Add chow mein noodles and marshmallows; toss until coated.
5. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

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