If there’s one thing I love about the end of the year, it’s spending time in the kitchen working up tasty treats for the dessert table. I especially love those days when the snow is falling gently and a few icicles hang on the branches of the pine tree outside my window. There’s nothing like the warmth of an oven and the smell of rich dessert spices to make you feel cozy and satisfied.

Desserts make great gifts, too! I love wrapping up a plate of cookies for the people working at my favorite coffee shop, and it’s such a treat to pull out a homemade pie when you have unexpected visitors. Plus, we can’t forget the holiday cookie exchanges! I can pretty much guarantee that everyone will love some Chewy Maple Sugar Cookies.

The holidays aren’t just about socializing, though. There’s something truly special about a lazy winter weekend morning where you can relax with a cup of coffee and fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls. Sure, they might be a dessert, but who’s to say? I won’t tell anyone if you want to have some for breakfast.

It was with these thoughts in mind that we put together the November/December 2022 edition of RecipeLion Magazine. We gathered together 40 of our favorite holiday dessert recipes to share with you. From a classic candy popular in the early 1900s to one of the easiest Peanut Butter Fudge recipes around to a truly decadent selection of pies, there’s something here sure to make your holidays cheery and bright.

Take a look at some of what’s in this issue of RecipeLion Magazine!

Pie Table Favorites

I don’t care how many pie recipes I have, there is always room for more pie recipes in my recipe collection. What’s better than trying a new pie recipe? Or experimenting with new pie recipe ideas? Or going back to a comfortable classic?

• Easiest Key Lime Pie: It can chill you out on a summer day or take your tastebuds to a warm oasis on a cold winter night. Key Lime Pie has it all when it comes to the world of blissful pies. And when you make the Easiest Key Lime Pie recipe, you don’t even need to stress about making a mess in the kitchen. Plus, it has a really interesting history!
• Apple Nut Pie: Everybody knows that apple pie is a classic American dessert served not only during special occasions and family festivities, but also every other day of the year. Although this will always be a crowd favorite, there’s no reason not to take it up a notch and sprinkle nuts into the mix to make the perfect Apple Nut Pie.
• Southern Pecan Pie: This sweet, buttery, crunchy concoction is like a warm, comforting hug on a rainy day. It’s a perfect reward at the end of a long work week. In other words, it’s a pie you want to make if you need to make your day 100 times better! And that’s true even if you’re already having a great day!

Perfect Pot Luck Desserts

Every pot luck meal needs a few good desserts. Although, there’s a pretty good chance that some of us here at RecipeLion Magazine have made these and not taken them anywhere other than our own tables.

• Christmas Morning Coffee Cake: Packed with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, crystallized ginger, and chopped pecans, this holiday delight is sure to ignite your senses and boost your energy for the rest of the day.
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs: The No-Bake Peanut Butter Snowballs are a creamy, decadent, and slightly salty dessert that will leave everyone wanting more. This recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare and one hour to freeze, making it the perfect recipe to whip out on any occasion.
• Sparkling White Chocolate Cranberry Cake: Make every day special by gifting yourself this irresistible Sparkling White Chocolate Cranberry Cake. The magical treat consists of three layers of decadent vanilla cake with a burst of cranberries in between, making it perfect for just about anytime.

The Sweetest Baked and Candied Gifts

I don’t know what it is about candies, but I can’t seem to get enough. Maybe it’s the bite-sized portions or that they pack so much yummy goodness into a small package. Or maybe they’re just good! Either way, I think you’ll love these and the other candy recipes in this issue.

• Kumquats Preserved in Honey: Kumquats Preserved in Honey can be the perfect addition to other desserts. Need a unique topping for regular ice cream? Want a tropical twist on the usual pancakes and biscuits? Kumquats Preserved in Honey will do the trick! Apart from the honey, tossing in some sugar and vanilla extract will mellow out the fruit’s tartness if it becomes too much for you.
• Sea Salted Caramels: Make these Sea Salted Caramels if you want to munch on something sweet and gooey with a hint of saltiness and the perfect balance of flavors.
• Martha Washington Candies: Travel back in time by creating this nostalgic delicacy. Much like their taste, the Martha Washington Candies boast a rich history that makes every bite more satisfying.
• Perfect Peppermint Patties: These patties are made with a cool and creamy peppermint filling that just melts in your mouth. Then they’re surrounded by a decadent chocolate coating that works perfectly to balance out the mint. When you combine these powerhouse ingredients, you’re bound to create an irresistible treat.

12 Cheerful Holiday Cookies

What would a dessert plate be without cookies? I think my favorite thing about cookies is that you can make them as simple as you want, or you can go all out with decorations and shapes. Well, that and they taste good! Here are some of the cookie recipes in this issue.

• Chewy Molasses Cookies: Create perfectly soft and chewy cookies when you bake the Chewy Molasses Cookies. Made with the unusual combination of sweet molasses and dry mustard, this unique treat is something that you won’t want to miss out on.
• Danish Spice Cookies (Speculoos): Curious to see how the famous Speculoos cookies are made? This Danish Spice Cookies recipe will show you exactly how. Hint: there are so many different spices involved to give the cookies the wonderfully caramelized and perfectly spiced flavor.
• Italian Christmas Cookies: Italian Christmas Cookies—also known as biscotti di Natale—are one of the most beloved holiday treats in Italy. And for a good reason! They’re absolutely delicious and have a lovely texture that melts in your mouth.
• Homemade Gingerbread People: Want to make a dessert that you can play with? Then the Homemade Gingerbread People is the one for you. Its slightly sweet and perfectly-spiced flavor makes it a tasty treat, and its plain surface provides a blank canvas you can decorate.

I hope you enjoy this issue and have some fun making these holiday treats!

Happy cooking—and happy eating!

Bill Dugan
Editor & Publisher

P.S. Please enjoy this issue of RecipeLion Magazine, and let me know what you think about it by commenting below with your feedback! Your input is valuable to us and can help us make improvements.