Midwest Living Holiday Cookbook 2006

All the recipes from our 2006 annual holiday cookbook! Brighten the yuletide with these recipes for desserts, appetizers, main dishes and more.

Start Slideshow

1 of 23

Ultimate Chocolate-Mint Cookie Sandwiches

These cookies have the gooey factor going for them. They're a soft chocolate cookie sandwiched with mint filling and a swirl of fudgy frosting on top.Ultimate Chocolate-Mint Cookie Sandwiches

2 of 23

Buzz Cafe Butter Cookie Cutouts

"We use this recipe year-round for all of the holidays," says Laura Maychruk, co-owner of Buzz Cafe in Oak Park, Illinois (10 miles west of Chicago's Loop). "For Christmas, we make snowflakes and Christmas trees. The cookies are delicious even without the icing." If you want to store these at room temperature, use a butter icing.Buzz Cafe Butter Cookie Cutouts

3 of 23

Chocolate-Pecan Coffee Cake

We put together our favorite coffee cake ingredients for this recipe: chocolate, butter, sour cream, pecans and coconut. It's worth the indulgence!Chocolate-Pecan Coffee Cake

4 of 23

Egg 'n' Bacon Breakfast Casserole

South Dakota chef Doug Hanson shared this make-ahead recipe from his grandmother. "It's easy to make on Christmas Eve and pop in the oven Christmas morning while watching the kids play with toys," he says. "You can't go wrong with eggs, cheese and bacon."Egg 'n' Bacon Breakfast Casserole

5 of 23

Three creamy cheesecakes

Cranberry-Chocolate Cheesecake (top) uses cranberries both in the filling and in the sauce. White Chocolate Candy Cane Cheesecake (middle) is a variation on the mascarpone cheesecake made at Parkview Gourmet specialty foods in Libertyville, Illinois. Very Berry Cheesecake (bottom) uses both fresh berries and berry-flavored brandy, vodka or orange juice for its flavor.Cranberry Chocolate Cheesecake White Chocolate Candy Cane Cheesecake Very Berry Cheesecake

6 of 23

Midnight Star Chicken

This chicken stir-fry recipe adds distinctive Asian flair to the menu at Jake's restaurant atop the Midnight Star Casino in Deadwood, South Dakota.Midnight Star Chicken

7 of 23

Little Traveler's Chopped Salad

Bacon and French-fried onions punch up the flavor in this crunchy, fresh-tasting, main-dish salad from Little Traveler, a gift shop/cafe in Geneva, Illinois.Little Traveler's Chopped Salad

8 of 23

9 of 23

Chocolate Milk Shake Cocktail

Peppermint and chocolate give this splashy, nonalcoholic drink a festive, flavorful edge.Chocolate Milk Shake Cocktail

10 of 23

Pomegranate Martini

We decorated the martini glasses by rubbing the rims with a lime, then dipping them in red and white sugar.Pomegranate Martini

11 of 23

Sour Cream-Cranberry Muffins

Brown sugar, pecans and pumpkin pie spice create both the filling and topping for these muffins. Dried cranberries add a hint of tang and texture.Sour Cream-Cranberry Muffins

12 of 23

Smoked Corn Cakes with Tomato and Sour Cream Sauce

This recipe is a favorite at Deadwood Thymes Cafe and Bistro in Deadwood, South Dakota, where the chef smokes the corn before adding it. You can use roasted corn, too; we like it both ways.Smoked Corn Cakes with Tomato and Sour Cream Sauce

13 of 23

Peanut Brittle and Holiday Peach Sauce over Ice Cream

Holiday peanut brittle adds a sweet, caramel crunch to ice cream -- and tastes even better with peach sauce. It's a favorite use of this seasonal sweet from Long Grove Confectionary Company in Long Grove, Illinois.Peanut Brittle and Holiday Peach Sauce over Ice Cream

14 of 23

Toffee Blondies in a Jar

These Toffee Blondies are a popular variation on brownies. While they have a handful of semisweet chocolate pieces, most of the flavor comes from brown sugar, butter, chopped nuts and toffee pieces or butterscotch pieces. They make a nice gift from the kitchen, too; layer the ingredients in a glass or clear plastic container.Toffee Blondies in a Jar

15 of 23

Luke's Lemon Meringue Pie

This lemon meringue pie recipe, which includes candied lemon peel, is a favorite at Southmoreland on the Plaza, in Kansas City, Missouri. The recipe comes from Luke Reichle, brother of Southmoreland co-owner Mark.Luke's Lemon Meringue Pie

16 of 23

Harvest Pie, Sweet Potato Pie and Sweetie Pie

The holiday Pie Fest at Southmoreland on the Plaza features several dozen pies including Harvest Pie (front of picture), Sweet Potato Pie (left) and Sweetie Pie (top).Harvest Pie blends the tastes and aromas of apples, cranberries and baked spices. Sweet Potato Pie has a soft filling with just a touch of sweetness. Pie lovers with a serious sweet tooth need to try the Sweetie Pie, full of melted chocolate, butterscotch, pecans and coconut.Harvest Pie Sweet Potato Pie Sweetie Pie

17 of 23

Cherry Pie

Cherry pie is the specialty of Betty Reichle, mother of Southmoreland on the Plaza co-owner Mark Reichle. Her filling has a hint of cinnamon and almond. And she weaves a handsome lattice crust on the top. "I make points with Mark when I make this pie," she says.Cherry Pie

18 of 23

Finnish Blueberry Pie

This berry pie proves that there's beauty in simplicity. The piecrust is wrapped around a three-ingredient filling that includes fine dry breadcrumbs. You don't even need a pie plate to make this juicy treat.Finnish Blueberry Pie

19 of 23

Roasted Nut Snack

Choose your seasoning-cocoa, curry, barbecue or five-spice powder-to spice up this recipe combining assorted nuts. Make it up to a week before your party.Roasted Nut Snack (Nuts to You)

20 of 23

Cranberry Shortbread

Tart cranberries add zest to buttery shortbread.Cranberry Shortbread

21 of 23

Little Traveler's Lemon Curd Bars

Little Traveler in Geneva, Illinois (40 miles west of Chicago) uses creamy, tangy lemon curd to make these bars for its "girlfriend tea" events. Box them in striped paper and a simple wooden box (available at crafts stores) and add a festive red ribbon for a girlfriend-worthy holiday gift.Little Traveler's Lemon Curd Bars

22 of 23

Holiday Cranberry Syrup

Cranberries give this syrup its rich color and characteristic tang. Use the sugar mixture as a base for drinks or as a topper for ice cream, cake or pancakes. Give in decorative bottles for food gifts, along with the recipe.Holiday Cranberry Syrup

23 of 23

More recipes from the Midwest Living Holiday Cookbook

Crimson Cranberry Chutney Chocolate Mint Meltaways over Peppermint Ice Cream Fantastic Fondue Winter-Fruit Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette Raspberry Chai Smoothies Chocolate-Dipped Sugarplum Candies Mexican Spiced Cocoa Creamy Hot Cocoa Fancy Chocolate Pie Rich Almond Pastry for Single-Crust Pie Southmoreland's Pastry for Single-Crust Pie

Replay gallery

Account

More

Midwest Living Holiday Cookbook 2006

1 of 23

Ultimate Chocolate-Mint Cookie Sandwiches

1 of 23

2 of 23

Buzz Cafe Butter Cookie Cutouts

2 of 23

3 of 23

Chocolate-Pecan Coffee Cake

3 of 23

4 of 23

Egg 'n' Bacon Breakfast Casserole

4 of 23

5 of 23

Three creamy cheesecakes

5 of 23

6 of 23

Midnight Star Chicken

6 of 23

7 of 23

Little Traveler's Chopped Salad

7 of 23

8 of 23

8 of 23

9 of 23

Chocolate Milk Shake Cocktail

9 of 23

10 of 23

Pomegranate Martini

10 of 23

11 of 23

Sour Cream-Cranberry Muffins

11 of 23

12 of 23

Smoked Corn Cakes with Tomato and Sour Cream Sauce

12 of 23

13 of 23

Peanut Brittle and Holiday Peach Sauce over Ice Cream

13 of 23

14 of 23

Toffee Blondies in a Jar

14 of 23

15 of 23

Luke's Lemon Meringue Pie

15 of 23

16 of 23

Harvest Pie, Sweet Potato Pie and Sweetie Pie

16 of 23

17 of 23

Cherry Pie

17 of 23

18 of 23

Finnish Blueberry Pie

18 of 23

19 of 23

Roasted Nut Snack

19 of 23

20 of 23

Cranberry Shortbread

20 of 23

21 of 23

Little Traveler's Lemon Curd Bars

21 of 23

22 of 23

Holiday Cranberry Syrup

22 of 23

23 of 23

More recipes from the Midwest Living Holiday Cookbook

23 of 23

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery