Throwback Holiday Recipes | Better Homes & Gardens

Throwback time! Steal some of grandma's traditional Christmas dinner ideas and serve Baked Alaska, gooey mac and cheese, classic bread stuffing, and so much more this season. Here are delicious Hanukkah and classic Christmas recipes to enjoy as you flashback to holidays past.

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Spritz Cookies

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Spritz cookies are back! And this time, the traditional Christmas dessert has a super-tender texture courtesy of a scoop of Greek yogurt that's added to the batter before baking. Decorate with colored sugar, sprinkles, or a drizzle of icing. Or all three—it is a holiday!

30 Classic Christmas Cookie Recipes That Will Disappear Off Your Dessert Spread

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Hot Cranberry Punch

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Party hosts in the '70s knew how to do it: Stir together a big bowl of punch rather than playing mixologist for every single guest so you too can enjoy the festivities. Here, we update the vintage holiday recipe of rum punch with black tea and a Christmas-appropriate color palette.

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Classic Fruitcake Loaves

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It's not a traditional Christmas dinner until somebody brings the fruitcake! This one's studded with dried apricots, candied cherries, nuts, and dates. Top it off with a rum-spiked glaze.

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Flash-Roasted Turkey

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Hit the fast-forward button on this traditional Christmas dinner entree by cranking up the heat to 450 degrees. That, plus patting the turkey dry before roasting, will ensure the skin gets nice and crispy.

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Warm Brie with Fig and Pistachio Tapenade

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Baked Brie is the ultimate vintage holiday recipe for your starter spread. Drape yours in a homemade tapenade made with just three easy ingredients: fig, pistachios, and honey.

The Cheesiest Recipes That Ever Happened

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Smoky Cheese Ball

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Come on, you didn't think we'd forget the cheese ball, did you? This 1940's smoky version comes together in just six ingredients. Coat the classic Christmas recipe in anything—pistachios, raisins, bacon...

Even More Vintage Holiday Recipes Worthy of a Comeback

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Babka

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Babka, a popular Jewish bakery treat, is perfect for serving at Hanukkah or Christmas brunches. For a mash-up holiday dessert that offers the flavors of fruitcake and babka all in one, try our Dried Fruit Babka variation.

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Sugar Cookie Cutouts

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The Christmas season is simply not allowed to pass without a plate of sugar cookies, and these are too delicious to innovate on. Made simply with butter, sugar, eggs, and a handful of other baking staples, these little holiday desserts will please Santa as well as your entire family.

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Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

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A party without little smokies? We don't think so. Make the childhood fave even better by wrapping them in bacon and slow cooking in brown sugar.

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Slow Cooker Chestnut-Bacon Stuffing

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"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire..." This classic holiday recipe gets a hands-off update that calls for roasting Christmas chestnuts in a slow cooker alongside bacon, plenty of crusty bread, and aromatic veggies and herbs.

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Cinnamon Nuts

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If you've ever been strolling the streets of New York during holiday shopping season, you'll recognize the irresisitble scent of spiced nuts. Welcome guests to your home with a big bowl of this classic Christmas recipe to start dinner off on a sweet, nostalgic note.

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Double Cranberry Sauce

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One taste of this cranberry sauce recipe and you'll wonder why you've always opted for the canned variety. Combining fresh and dried cranberries enhances the flavor and texture of the traditional Christmas side dish. Even better news: It takes only 20 minutes to get this refreshing recipe on the table!

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Classic Crab Cakes

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Brown sugar ham can't have all the fun. Mix up your vintage holiday recipe line-up with retro crab cakes sprinkled in paprika and fresh lemon juice.

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Steamed Figgy Pudding

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Get figgy with it. Many of the flavors you love during the holiday season are baked right into this warm holiday dessert—dried cranberries, apple pie spice, rum, and a whole lot of citrus.

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Cheese and Chive Popovers

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Ahh, popovers: melty Gruyere cheese and fresh herbs oozing out of a puffy egg-base pastry. Our take on popovers showcases the classic Christmas recipe at its best!

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Loaded Creamed Corn with Tomato and Bacon

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We always knew the old Midwestern recipe needed a little revamping—with bacon! This classic holiday recipe swaps canned creamed corn for homemade, plus adds a hefty amount of melty cheese and fresh tomatoes.

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Honey-Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Cream

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Whoever thought of carrots in cake is simply genius. It's no wonder this is one of Grandma's favorite holiday desserts. Give your old-fashioned slice a new twist by topping it with lush mascarpone cream.

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Herbed Prime Rib

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Enjoy the rich flavors of a steakhouse staple at home with a delectable prime rib the family is sure to love. The mouthwatering rub is made of espresso powder, dry mustard, and garlic and onion powders. Make a few slits in the fat side of the roast to allow the flavor of the rub to reach the meat.

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Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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Let the slow cooker do the work this holiday with this easy mashed potato recipe. Start the potatoes in the morning, and forget about them until it's time to stir in the creamy, buttery sauce that makes this traditional Christmas side dish unforgettable.

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Spice and Honey Roasted Carrots

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Dress up your carrots with hazelnut, cumin, and coriander for a Christmas side dish that will have everyone raving. The spice blend and honey combine for a one-of-a-kind flavor. You'll never go back to regular cooked carrots again!

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Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Toffee Sauce

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If you love pumpkin pie, you'll flip for this pumpkin bread pudding topped with a chocolate toffee sauce. Serve it as dessert or at brunch on Christmas morning. Any time is a good time for a traditional holiday recipe with pumpkin!

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Classic Dinner Rolls

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These homemade dinner rolls are so light and airy you'll think Grandma (or, you know, angels) must have made them. Allow adequate time for the dinner rolls to rise, brush with butter, and this traditional Christmas side dish will be worth fighting over.

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Divinity

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Divinity—a nougatlike candy made with egg white, corn syrup, and sugar—is the perfect treat for winter holidays. Why? A successful batch of the snowy-white dessert sets best when the weather is cold and dry.

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Honey-Glazed Pork Roast

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If you're planning an intimate holiday dinner, this is the perfect main course. It gives your menu an elegant twist over the classic holiday ham. Make the preparation even easier when you ask your butcher to trim and tie the bones back on for you.

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Clam Chowder with Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese

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Soup for Christmas is a great option when you're cooking for a crowd. This decadent recipe, which can be thrown together in less than an hour, will have your family declaring it's the best clam chowder they've ever tasted. Who says a traditional Christmas dinner menu has to take all day?

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Hazelnut Pudding Cake

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Pudding cake doesn't get any better than this. The nostalgic favorite starts with a box of brownie mix and finishes with chocolate-hazelnut spread. Easy peasy!

Throwback Recipes: Then + Now

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Homemade Green Bean Casserole

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Green bean casserole doesn't get any better than this. Appeal to all ages by pairing an old-school look (fried onions) with a new-and-improved homemade sauce for this traditional Christmas dish.

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Baked Alaska with Rum Pudding Ice Cream

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An igloo of meringue baked atop chilly ice cream cake? It's no surprise this golden treat was named after Alaska! Make yours holiday-ready by studding it with dried fruit, cloves, and a pinch of cinnamon.

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Holiday Ham

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No holiday menu is complete without tender, oven-roasted ham. Drape yours in one of our three outstanding glaze recipes: apricot-mustard, cranberry-orange, or pomegranate-barbecue.

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Krumkake

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Shape these waffle cookies into a pretty evergreen treelike shape while they're still warm, then stuff with a decadent cream filling for a crunchy and less-finicky take on cream puffs. For even more holiday dessert essence, finish things off with crushed peppermint candies.

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Old-Fashioned Bread Stuffing

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Traditional Christmas dinner without stuffing? Unthinkable! This old-fashioned recipe combines all the essentials: warm veggies, chicken broth, fresh parsley, and dried bread cubes. Use whole grain bread for a healthier spin.

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Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese

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The holidays are not the time to eschew carbs or cheese. This bubbly bake—topped with panko, parsley, and four kinds of cheese—will please grumbling tummies, no matter what age.

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Classic Roast Turkey

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Sometimes the best recipes are the simplest. This timeless turkey recipe lets you pick and choose how you'd like your turkey dressed, including fruited turkey brine and orange-herb butter glaze.

8 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

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Bacon and Cheese Deviled Eggs

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Deviled eggs—a must-have dish for modern-day parties—can be traced back to ancient Rome. Made with addictive ingredients like tangy mayo and crunchy bacon, it's no wonder these eggs have stuck around.

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Rum-Vanilla Bean Bundt Cake

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Bundt cakes are back! Thanks to vanilla beans, a ridged pan, and a splash of rum, this recipe takes the cake for sweetest traditional Christmas dessert. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream scented with a bit of rum extract.

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Fresh Cranberry-Citrus Relish

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Twenty minutes and five ingredients are all you need to whip up this essential sweet-tart sauce. Eat it alone, or slather it on a turkey sandwich—either way you'll be happy you brought this vintage holiday recipe back to the holiday table.

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Slow-Cooked Sourdough Peasant Bread

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From Europe to the states, peasant bread has been a popular pick for generations. This rustic classic holiday recipe features simple, healthy ingredients and lets your slow cooker do all the work.

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Broccolini with Peas and Seared Lemons

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When life hands you lemons, sear them! The classic technique brings sunny, lip-puckering tang to any side of greens. Try our fresh Broccolini dish for fewer than 50 calories per serving.

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Brownies with Brandied Cherries

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Christmas without brandied cherries is like peanut butter without jelly. Whether you pop a few in your cocktail or eat them alone, they make a fabulous addition to any traditional Christmas dinner menu. Here, we pour brandied cherries over warm brownies and top with ice cream for the ultimate holiday treat.

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Classic Holiday Recipes

1 of 39

Spritz Cookies

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Hot Cranberry Punch

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Classic Fruitcake Loaves

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Flash-Roasted Turkey

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Warm Brie with Fig and Pistachio Tapenade

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Smoky Cheese Ball

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Babka

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Sugar Cookie Cutouts

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Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

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Slow Cooker Chestnut-Bacon Stuffing

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Cinnamon Nuts

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Double Cranberry Sauce

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Classic Crab Cakes

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Steamed Figgy Pudding

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Cheese and Chive Popovers

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Loaded Creamed Corn with Tomato and Bacon

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Honey-Carrot Cake with Mascarpone Cream

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Herbed Prime Rib

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Rustic Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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Spice and Honey Roasted Carrots

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Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Toffee Sauce

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Classic Dinner Rolls

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Divinity

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Honey-Glazed Pork Roast

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Clam Chowder with Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese

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Hazelnut Pudding Cake