Holiday Recipes from Midwest Inns
Gingerbread Waffles with Hot Lemon Curd Sauce [1]
These spicy waffles will fill your house with the nostalgic perfume of Christmas cookies and holiday baking. The recipe comes from the Southmoreland on the Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, where the innkeepers serve the waffles with a salty meat like breakfast sausage or ham.
Swedish Lemon Pancakes [5]
A delicate crepelike pancake folds like an envelope around tangy lemon curd in this pretty brunch dish from Abilene's Victorian Inn in Kansas. The whipped sour cream topping is a breeze to make.
Mini Egg Pastries with Bearnaise Sauce [9]
At Cold Spring Inn in Hubertus, Wisconsin, Kari and Jerry Munley serve these elegant brunch pastries with cinnamon rolls and fruit. The herby bearnaise sauce is a bit fussy to make compared to purchased hollandaise sauce, but you'll notice a real difference in flavor.
Pork ‘n’ Pippins Quiche [13]
At Round Barn Farm Bed and Breakfast and Bread in Red Wing, Minnesota, Robin and Elaine Kleffman serve this sweet-and-savory quiche with a dollop of sour cream and seasoned, broiled tomato halves on the side.
Spiced Pumpkin Bisque [17]
The Inn at Irish Hollow in Galena, Illinois, serves this creamy, curried soup throughout the fall and winter. You can make your own crème fraiche for the garnish, or use purchased crème fraiche or sour cream.
Butternut Squash and Apple Salad [21]
Sweet squash and apple pair with sharp Gorgonzola and tangy dressing in this autumn salad from Black Star Farm in Suttons Bay, Michigan. The dressing calls for verjus, a tart pressed grape juice. You can order verjust online or find it as specialty stores, but wine vinegar makes a good substitute.
Pumpkin Bread [25]
At Burchell's White Hill Farmhouse Inn in Minden, Nebraska, Bob and Linda Ard make this moist, spiced bread using homegrown heirloom pumpkins, but this version of their recipe uses the canned puree.
Pumpkin Bread [26]
Hot Holiday Apple Cider [29]
This rosy cider simmers for just 10 minutes, making a great choice for drop-in visitors or last-minute parties. At Burchell's White Hill Farmhouse Inn in Minden, Nebraska, Bob and Linda Ard serve the drink with Christmas cookies.
Hudson Bay Bread [33]
This dense, chewy calorie-packed bar has long been the portable food of choice for trappers and now campers canoeing Minnesota's Boundary Waters. For a boost of protein, smear the bar with peanut butter. Our version comes from the Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais.
Hudson Bay Bread [34]
Mystery Cookies [37]
You won't believe the secret ingredient in these moist spice cookies: canned tomato soup! The recipe comes from the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio.
Mystery Cookies [38]
Oreo Truffles [41]
These easy candies look elegant but are simple to make. The recipe comes from chef Anthony Schulz at the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio. He says kids, especially, have fun making these truffles.
Oreo Truffles [42]
Pistachio Cranberry Icebox Cookies [45]
Flecks of nuts and fruit make these buttery cookies perfect for a holiday cookie exchange or gift box. The recipe comes from the Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan, Ohio.
Fruit and Nut Granola [49]
At Abilene's Victorian Inn in Kansas, chef Adrian Potter bakes this granola for guests. Eat it with milk or layered in a parfait with yogurt and fruit. We love how the recipe lets you customize the nuts and fruit to your taste.
Pork Tenderloin with Mushrooms and Onions [53]
You can have this comforting winter supper dish on the table in less than an hour, but it's nice enough to serve to company with steamed veggies and mashed potatoes. The recipes comes from Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Read more about our Midwest inns [57]
Read more about the inns featured in this slideshow.