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Hello December! Arguably the busiest month of the year! From holidays to year-end events to gathering and enjoying everyone’s company, it’s a month of go, go, go. December is a month packed with delicious, comforting, and indulgent foods. As we celebrate all the things, we want you to enjoy basic day-to-day meals between the gatherings. This month, we’re sharing a list of easy dinners, seasonally approved breakfast ideas, hostess treats, and delicious desserts! So, we hope that you enjoy this wonderful round-up of What to Cook in December.
December also brings the official start to winter and shorter days filled with daylight. And while December is a magical time of year, some of us know that the darker days can lead to some less-than-desirable elements of winter; hello: Seasonal Affective Disorder. But there is still much joy to be found in cooking when the seasons change.
Not only are we continuing to bring new recipes out in December, but we are focused on those recipes centered around holiday celebrations; we all know we must eat between those meals, too! So, this month, we’re focused on eating with the seasons and getting excited about cooking this December.
In your local market, you’ll find heartier produce and the steadfast crops left in storage (like apples and root veggies). These staples cook up to make some fantastic comfort food meals. Below, you’ll find a perfect list of recipes to make this December to help keep your spirits bright this season!
Seasonal Market Finds
- Clementines
- Cranberries
- Persimmons
- Chard
- Kale
- Root Vegetables (turnips, carrots, rutabaga, kohlrabi, etc)
- Winter Squash
- Herbs (sage, rosemary, thyme, etc)
- Leeks
- Cabbage
- Sweet Potatoes
- Pomegranates
- Potatoes
- Brussels Sprouts
December Recipes
Gluten-Free and Paleo Pancakes: Always in season, these crazy popular paleo pancakes are a breeze to make and so comforting! They are on weekend rotation at my house, but even more frequently as the winter months creep in.
Gluten-Free Sheet Pan Pancake: Make your mornings easy with this crowd-pleasing Gluten-Free Sheet Pan Pancakes Recipe! The sweet, simple batter is the perfect base for all your favorite toppings, and one batch is ready in about 20 minutes and makes enough to feed up to 16 people.
Chocolate Peppermint Baked Oatmeal: This Chocolate Peppermint Baked Oatmeal Recipe is perfect for the holidays! It’s rich, chocolatey with a hint of mint, and packed with good-for-you ingredients.
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls: The ultimate comfort food any time of the year, these Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls are made using oat flour and coconut flour primarily. The gluten-free dough is surprisingly easy to work with, and doesn’t require a double rise which means you can have fresh cinnamon rolls from start to finish in less than two hours.
Orange Cranberry Roasted Chicken: There is a lot going on with this chicken! It’s roasted up with savory and sweet flavors like fresh oranges, cranberry, rosemary, garlic, and ginger. As the chicken roasts, you bast the chicken with all of those flavors and the skin turns a beautiful golden brown color. Serve it up with the amazing gravy that is made with the pan juices, and all your favorite sides. Of course, we’re sharing our favorite below
Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes: These three-ingredient roasted cinnamon sweet potatoes make for the perfect sheet-pan side-dish! If you haven’t tried the combination of cinnamon and sweet potatoes yet, this is a must-make! So simple, caramelized goodness, and so full of flavor! Plus, they’re awesome in my Harvest Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing!
Maple Glazed Baked Ham: This Maple Glazed Ham is the perfect roast for the holidays! It’s the perfect balance of salty and sweet, is made using just a handful of simple ingredients, and contains no refined sugars. Bonus: it takes just 5 minutes to prep! Plus use it in Leftover Ham and Potato Hash, Ham and Cheese Waffles (Gluten-Free), and Split Pea Soup with Ham (Instant Pot or Stove Top).
Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas: If you are looking for the perfect veggie enchilada recipe then look no further. Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas are simple to make, using real wholesome ingredients, and are just so delicious! Bake some for now, and freeze some for later. Your future self will thank you!
Spaghetti Squash Italian-Style Casserole: This Spaghetti Squash Italian-Style Casserole is such a flavorful, simple, and healthy dinner casserole when you are craving comfort food!
Orange Cranberry Overnight Oats: This overnight oats recipe is the best make-ahead breakfast. It’s creamy (without any dairy) and bursting with seasonal orange, cranberry and pecan flavor. This vegan-friendly and gluten-free overnight oats recipe packs a lot of fiber into your breakfast to leave you satisfied all morning long! And it makes great meal prep, too.
Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup: This Instant Pot Potato Soup taste just like a loaded baked potato! It’s creamy and topped with all of your favorite baked potato toppings. This comfort food soup is gluten-free and optionally made dairy-free!
Instant Pot Pot Roast: The Instant Pot is by far the best way to cook Pot Roast when you are short on time, but still want to enjoy this classic comfort food. This recipe is largely hands-off cooking which makes this a breeze to put together. It’s a hearty and delicious dinner that also happens to be Paleo and Whole30 friendly!
Gluten-Free Pigs in a Blanket: These Gluten Free Pigs in a Blanket are as perfect for a large holiday gathering as they are for game day eats. They are made using an easy gluten-free and nut-free dough that doesn’t need any chilling time. These are a sure crowd pleaser for both kids and grown-ups alike!
Air Fryer Home Fries: The best breakfast side dish, these Air Fryer Home Fries are really easy-to-make and perfectly seasoned. They’re made healthier by using less oil (and less hands-on cooking time) thanks to the air fryer!
Healthier Green Bean Casserole (Dairy-Free): This Green Bean Casserole is a lightened up, but just as delicious, version of a classic Thanksgiving side dish. It’s made up of crisp-tender, fresh green beans baked in a makeshift dairy-free cream of mushroom soup! It’s rich, creamy, perfectly seasoned, and topped with homemade healthier, crispy fried onions!
Sweet Potato Latkes: These Sweet Potato Latkes are a healthier, gluten-free version of classic potato latkes. They’re made with shredded sweet potato, flavored with onions and scallions, and fried to crispy perfection!
Sausage, Peppers, and Onions: This low-carb and keto-friendly Sausage, Peppers, and Onions is one-pan dish that will be a new weekly dinner staple. It’s made in just twenty-minutes, is super easy to throw together, and is so delicious!
Gluten Free Classic Potato Latkes: These Gluten Free Classic Potato Latkes are just like grandma (or my nanny as we call her) makes them, only made without any refined white flour! They have the classic delicious flavors you want, and I guarantee that nobody will know they are gluten-free! We make them every single year and they are a family staple recipe for Hanukkah. Plus, make my Instant Pot Apple Sauce for serving!
Salad Roll-Ups (No Cooking Appetizer!): These salad roll-ups are a fun and healthy appetizer that are gluten-free, light, and requires no cooking! Plus, they are easy to make and customizable! This will be your new go-to app when you need something quick and delicious.
Egg Roll Soup: This Egg Roll Soup is an easy, weeknight dinner that is full of the flavor of an egg roll, without any of the fuss of wrapping and frying! This veggie and pork soup is family friendly and would make great leftovers! We also offer options to make it vegetarian, and it’s already Paleo, Whole30 and Keto friendly too!
Spiced Maple Rosemary Party Nuts: This Spiced Maple Rosemary Party Nuts recipe is sweet, savory, herbaceous, and completely irresistible. Quick and easy to make, it’s perfect for holiday parties, gifting, and everyday snacking!
Easy Peppermint Bark: Using only 5 ingredients, this Peppermint Bark is simple to prepare and perfect for giving away to friends and family as holiday gifts. It’s as easy as melting and spreading chocolate, but truly looks fancy. Top it with candy canes for that super festive look (and taste)!
Healthy Coconut Macaroons: These Healthy Coconut Macaroons are just like the classic but made gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free! All you need is six ingredients to make them! Make them without or without a chocolate bottom.
Gluten-Free Cut-Out Cookies: These Gluten Free Cut-Out Cookies are the best cookies for decorating this holiday season! They are so simple to make and can be rolled out immediately and decorated, or you can store them in the fridge for a few days before you’re ready to decorate. These cut-out cookies are truly perfect for any holiday or celebration year-round.
December Drinks We’re Definitely Mixing Up:
NYE Holiday Champagne Punch: This Sparkling Citrus Punch is the ultimate holiday and New Year’s Eve lightened-up cocktail! It is so delicious, it serves a crowd, and it is made with fresh, good quality ingredients you can feel good about serving!
Ultimate Kick-that-Cold Juice: Call us superstitious this year, but we’re getting ahead of cold and flu season and making sure we always have the ingredients on hand to make this amazing recipe. I always drink it when I’m feeling a little off or under the weather to give my body some extra vitamin C from this nutrient-dense homemade juice.
Slow Cooker Mulled Cider: This crockpot mulled cider recipe turns plain apple cider into a warm, cozy, perfectly spiced holiday drink. The slow cook time gives the spices and fruit so much time to infuse into the cider for a drink that’s absolutely bursting with flavor (and easy for you to make). I put this drink out at holiday parties and let everyone add in their favorite alcohol: vodka, brandy, bourbon, or wine!
French Kiss Cocktail: Tart, sweet, and with a bit of a kick, this French Kiss Cocktail is THE perfect cocktail to serve on New Year’s Eve, especially when you want to kiss this year goodbye! This raspberry and lemon sparking drink is simple to make and so delicious.
Apple Cider Sangria: This Apple Cider Sangria is everyone’s favorite Fall cocktail! It’s flavorful, packed with cinnamon, ginger, apple cider, and white wine for the perfect dinner party sangria! Serve it with a caramel rim (or opt out for simplicity), make a large pitcher, and enjoy this easy fall cocktail!
Looking for more ideas for holiday cooking?
Check out this list of Healthy Holiday Recipes and these Healthy Holiday Desserts! If you have questions on the round-up send me an email. Additionally, don’t skip the Holiday Gift Guide here.
