49 Recipes to Make in December

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.

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Eggnog Scones

Nothing puts you in the holiday spirit more than hot Eggnog Scones and a warm mug of coffee or hot chocolate. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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French Onion Noodle Soup

Indulge in the warm and comforting flavors of a classic French onion soup with this easy-to-follow recipe.

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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!

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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.

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Main Dishes

Dutch Oven Taco Chili

This stovetop Dutch Oven Chili is hearty and rich from the bacon, chipotle peppers, and adobo sauce .

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Million Dollar Baked Ziti

This is a great family weeknight dinner and doubles easily for a crowd.

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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

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Easier-Than-Takeout Three Pack Slow Cooker Roast

Slow cooker roast makes weeknight dinners a breeze!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Cheddar Bacon Cauliflower Casserole

This cauliflower casserole is loaded with cheddar cheese and bacon. It's a great recipe for family dinners or holidays.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Best Southern Layered Jam Cake

An impressive celebration cake with robust flavors from jam and warm spices.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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

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Cinnamon Sugared Pecans

Salty, sweet and crunchy snacking just got a lot tastier with my Cinnamon Sugared Pecans.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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

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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

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Beverages

Here are a few holiday-inspired drinks from simple to festive. Enjoy.

Hot Cocoa Mix

Easy and economical hot chocolate mix.

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Festive Christmas Margarita Recipe

Festive Christmas Margarita Recipe is a bright, cheery, delicious, festive cocktail. Easy to make and easier to drink!

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Almond Latte’

Almond Latte is a simple, easy cocktail that is smooth and delicious.

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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.

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BAILEY’S PEPPERMINT MARTINI

Bailey's Peppermint Martini, enjoy this fun festive holiday cocktail recipe. It's a delicious easy cocktail for entertaining.

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Rudolph’s Tipsy Punch

This is a fun, festive cocktail recipe. It can easily be made for a crowd or kid-friendly.

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Sparkling Pomegranate Fruit Sangria

The best white sangria. Sweet, crisp, and refreshing, it's a crowd-pleaser that's perfect for any occasion.

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I hope you found some useful info and recipes to make for December. Also try these recipes

• Traditional Beef Stew Recipe
• CREAMY ITALIAN SAUSAGE SOUP RECIPE
• BEEF STEW WITH BEER
• SHEET PAN HOOSIER STEW
• SWEET POTATO HOOSIER STEW SHEET PAN MEAL