49 Recipes to Make in December
This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.
Recipes to make for December. December is a month filled with traditions, gatherings, and cozy moments at home. As the year winds down, the focus often shifts to comforting meals, festive treats, and dishes that bring people together. Whether you’re hosting a holiday dinner, preparing a small meal for family, or tackling edible gifts, December recipes are all about warmth, flavor, and celebration. It’s the perfect time to embrace seasonal ingredients, like cranberries and root vegetables, and festive spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg, to enhance your cooking.
This month’s dishes should feel special without adding stress to your schedule. From make-ahead casseroles to quick desserts, December recipes often strike a balance between practicality and indulgence. As the hustle and bustle of the season fills your calendar, these ideas will help you create meals and snacks that feel festive yet manageable. Whether for a holiday brunch, a cozy weeknight dinner, or a treat to share with loved ones, there’s no shortage of inspiration for what to make in December.
What to make in December
Here’s a list of cozy recipes perfect for December. These dishes are warm, comforting, and ideal for the colder weather and holiday season:
Breakfast Ideas
Whether you make a holiday twist on a breakfast classic by adding eggnog to your French toast casserole or need a hardy but festive way to start the day, I’ve got you covered with any recipe you’ll need for holiday breakfasts.
Eggnog Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Creamy Eggnog Cinnamon Roll Casserole is the ideal breakfast or brunch for holiday gatherings. Sweet, simple, and easy to make ahead, it’s sure to become a new holiday favorite.
make this recipe
Eggnog Scones
Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit more than hot Eggnog Scones and a warm mug of coffee or hot chocolate.
make this recipe
Overnight Sausage Hash Brown Casserole
This breakfast bake can be made ahead of time and cooked later. Or, it can be baked immediately. If you bake it later, add 10 minutes to the cooking time.
make this recipe
Overnight Eggnog French Toast Casserole
Easy Eggnog French Toast Casserole can be made overnight to enjoy the next day. With just a few ingredients and about an hour, you’ll have the holidays served up and on your table, topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.
make this recipe
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmel
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal is subtly sweet and super quick to whip up the morning of or night before. This make-ahead breakfast dish tastes just as good the next day as it does straight from the oven.
make this recipe
The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe
The Best Breakfast Casserole is an easy, delicious, and hearty breakfast casserole loaded with eggs, sausage. It’s a cheesy comfort food casserole that takes minutes to assemble. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, and potlucks!
make this recipe
Soups and Stews
Soup and stew is perfect for chilly evenings. I’ve got your recipes below for a filling meal of cozy comfort with a side of grilled cheese.
Old Fashion Beef Vegetable Soup Recipe
This is a hearty beef and vegetable stew. Perfect for cold winter nights. Easy enough to make on a weeknight. Substitute your favorite vegetables if you aren't fond of the ones I used. It would be great with pumpkin or sweet potatoes. This recipe is easily adapted for the slow cooker. After browning meat, transfer to a slow cooker and simmer 4 hours.
make this recipe
Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna Soup Recipe
Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna Soup Recipe is an easy one-pot soup recipe your entire family will love! This is the perfect mix of a hearty, comforting chicken pot pie, lasagna, and soup all in one dish.
make this recipe
French Onion Noodle Soup
Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of a classic French onion soup with this easy-to-follow recipe.
make this recipe
CHICKEN GNOCCHI SOUP RECIPE
This version of chicken soup is one of our favorites. It's creamy and comforting while being healthy. And, for me, I love it's so quick and easy to make. I always make extra chicken when I cook chicken because there are so many ways to use leftover chicken. Enjoy!
make this recipe
CREAMY SAUSAGE POTATO SOUP WITH TOASTED HALLOUMI
Creamy Sausage Potato Soup with Toasted Halloumi has a creamy and flavorful broth that's easy and comforting on those cooler nights when you want a cozy, healthy dinner.
make this recipe
Main Dishes
Dutch Oven Taco Chili
This stovetop Dutch Oven Chili is hearty and rich from the bacon, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce .
make this recipe
Million Dollar Baked Ziti
This is a great family weeknight dinner and doubles easily for a crowd.
make this recipe
Thanksgiving Stuffed Turkey Breast Recipe
If a smaller Thanksgiving is more your thing and you don't need a large bird for the event, this stuffed turkey breast is the recipe for you! It's FULL of traditional Thanksgiving ingredients and flavors, but it serves six. All you need to do is add a side or two, dessert, and you're set for a easy celebration!
make this recipe
BONELESS PRIME RIB ROAST WITH AU JUS
Ideal for entertaining and holidays, Perfect Medium Rare Oven Roasted Prime Rib makes an impressive and elegant main course recipe. It’s full of flavor, moist, and practically melts in your mouth!
make this recipe
Authentic Cottage Pie Recipe
A multi-layered, hearty casserole dish with two layers of mashed potatoes and minced meat lamb featuring sauted vegetables and red wine gravy.
make this recipe
ROASTED LEMON THYME CHICKEN AND ROOT VEGETABLES
An easy one-pan meal that's easy enough for weeks nights but impressive enough for holidays. It's great for the holidays if you have a small family
make this recipe
Easier-Than-Takeout Three Pack Slow Cooker Roast
Slow cooker roast makes weeknight dinners a breeze!
make this recipe
Sides
Holiday favorites that are loaded with flavor, you and your guests will love these side dish recipes.
Cheesy Broccoli Bites Recipe
Cheese balls are crispy outside. Soft and cheesy inside. These deep-fried bites are easy and quick to make for any occasion.
make this recipe
Baked Velveeta Mac and Cheese Recipe
This classic Baked Velveeta Mac and Cheese recipe will knock your socks off! It's the perfect combination of creamy, cheesy goodness without the hassle of a complicated dish.
make this recipe
Roasted Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts are cooked until tender and crispy then toasted in a tangy honey mustard sauce. This is a tasty low-carb, healthy recipe.
make this recipe
DR PEPPER BAKED BEANS RECIPE
Smokey, spicy, and delicious, Dr Pepper Baked Beans Recipe has the best flavor and consistency. They are the perfect side dish for any barbecue. Great for potlucks, picnics, and tailgating!
make this recipe
Cheddar Bacon Cauliflower Casserole
This cauliflower casserole is loaded with cheddar cheese and bacon. It's a great recipe for family dinners or holidays.
make this recipe
Best Broccoli Salad Recipe (Easy, Make-ahead recipe)
This salad is crunchy and satisfying with a sweet and tangy dressing. Low-carb, delicious, refreshing cold salad recipe made with broccoli, bacon, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.
make this recipe
Sourdough Discard Dinner Rolls
The Sourdough Discard Dinner Rolls recipe makes pillowy soft, luscious, and fluffy homemade rolls with that special sourdough tang. They have a special flavor & texture thanks to a healthy dose of sourdough starter.
make this recipe
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Souffle
Are you looking for a delicious and healthier way to enjoy sweet potatoes? Look no further than this air fryer sweet potato souffle recipe – the perfect mix of sweet and savory that will have your taste buds dancing! Using simple ingredients like sweet potatoes, butter , brown sugar, and eggs, this recipe is easy to make and will impress your guests at any gathering.
make this recipe
Desserts
We love the wide range of desserts perfect for the holidays. Take your pick of several, you’ll need them.
Gingerbread Layer Cake Recipe
This Gingerbread Cake is rich and delicious. It's flavored with ginger and molasses then frosted with cream cheese frosting.
make this recipe
Best Southern Layered Jam Cake
An impressive celebration cake with robust flavors from jam and warm spices.
make this recipe
EASY PEPPERMINT WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE
These are a holiday nod on the classic chocolate chip cookie. They're a fun and tasty way to celebrate the season.
make this recipe
Peppermint Candy Three Layer Cake
If you’re looking for a show-stopping winter holiday cake, Peppermint Candy Three Layer Cake is the recipe to make. Layers of wonderfully delightful, tender vanilla cake is topped with light peppermint frosting.
make this recipe
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies
Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies are bursting with rich, warm flavor from molasses, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon. The perfect cookie for the Holiday season! #cookie #recipe #molasses #oldfashioned #ginger #cinnamon #Christmas #christmascookies #cookietray #cookieexchange
make this recipe
Praline Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake
I love this Praline Glazed Pumpkin Pound Cake. It’s soft, springy, moist and fluffy. Smothered in a pecan praline sauce makes it even more rich and decadent.
make this recipe
Vanilla Red Velvet Marbled Pound Cake Recipe
Vanilla Red Velvet Marbled Pound Cake Recipe is the best of two desserts in one! It’s rich, dense, buttery, and decadent.
make this recipe
Outrageous Red Velvet Brownies
A classic cake is made into rich, dense and delicious brownies. Smother them in cream cheese frosting and they're dessert perfection.
make this recipe
Blue Ribbon Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies
Perfectly flavored, Blue Ribbon Chewy Molasses Ginger Cookies have a snap from the sugar on the outside but are soft, luscious, and chewy on the inside.
make this recipe
Snacks and Treats
A mix of sweet and savory snacks that are perfect for movie night.
WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT CHEX MIX
Irresistible, festive, crunchy, and sweet, White Chocolate Peppermint Chex Mix is a super easy addition to your holiday cookie and candy tray.
make this recipe
Salty Sweet Caramel Snack Mix
Buttery and sweet with a crispy and crunchy texture my homemade Salty Sweet Caramel Snack Mix is perfect for snacking on yourself or sharing as a gift! I used Orville Redenbacher Simply Salted microwave popcorn *I used Kellogg’s Crispix cereal
make this recipe
Cinnamon Sugared Pecans
Salty, sweet and crunchy snacking just got a lot tastier with my Cinnamon Sugared Pecans.
make this recipe
Topgolf Pretzel Board Recipe
Topgolf Pretzel Board Recipe is a no-fuss party starter. A giant pretzel is filled with meats and cheeses. It’s a nice twist on a classic charcuterie board and provides endless grazing.
make this recipe
Easy Churro Bugles Recipe
Easy Churro Bugles Recipe – These churros are a sugary delight! It takes just four ingredients and 15 minutes to make this easy snack!
make this recipe
Bugle Bites
Fun chocolate and peanut butter snacks, my Bugle Bites are a sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy delight! And easy, no-cook recipe that is a great way to get kids in the kitchen!
make this recipe
Ritz Bits Churros Recipe
These Ritz Churro Bites are bite-sized snacks that combine salty Ritz peanut butter crackers with sweet cinnamon and sugar for a flavor explosion. These snack poppers are very addictive! This is an original recipe by Paual and first published here on Callmepmc.com
make this recipe
CHRISTMAS TREE SPINACH DIP APPETIZER
Bread is filled with spinach and cheese, formed into a Christmas tree shape, and cut into 'branches' for an easy pull-apart breadstick. #holiday #baking #recipes #callmepmc
make this recipe
Beverages
Here are a few holiday-inspired drinks from simple to festive. Enjoy.
Festive Christmas Margarita Recipe
Festive Christmas Margarita Recipe is a bright, cheery, delicious, festive cocktail. Easy to make and easier to drink!
make this recipe
Almond Latte’
Almond Latte is a simple, easy cocktail that is smooth and delicious.
make this recipe
HOLIDAY MARGARITA WITH POMEGRANATE POPSICLE
Holiday Margarita with Pomegranate Popsicle is a little tangy, a little sweet, and a little sour. It's the perfect combo to tickle the taste buds.
make this recipe
BAILEY’S PEPPERMINT MARTINI
Bailey's Peppermint Martini, enjoy this fun festive holiday cocktail recipe. It's a delicious easy cocktail for entertaining.
make this recipe
Rudolph’s Tipsy Punch
This is a fun, festive cocktail recipe. It can easily be made for a crowd or kid-friendly.
make this recipe
Sparkling Pomegranate Fruit Sangria
The best white sangria. Sweet, crisp, and refreshing, it's a crowd-pleaser that's perfect for any occasion.
make this recipe
I hope you found some useful info and recipes to make for December. Also try these recipes
Here’s a few of my latest recipes that are good to make in December as well!