31 Extremely Worthwhile Recipes To Make This December (Because It's Officially Comfort Food Weather)
Hello and welcome to the final month of 2021. Yes, it is already December (seriously, where did the time go!?), which means it's not only the holiday season — but also prime comfort food season. Here are some of the best warm, cozy, feel-good recipes to try this month.
Here's what's in season this month:
1.Butternut Squash and Goat Cheese Frittata
Make this veggie-packed frittata on Sunday and enjoy it all week long for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
2.Cranberry and Orange Buttermilk Breakfast Cake
When someone offers you the opportunity to eat cake for breakfast, you take it.
3.Mashed Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl
Start your next breakfast bowls with mashed sweet potato at the base and get creative with the toppings. Anything from fresh fruit and granola to scrambled eggs and avocado is fair game.
4.Creamed Spinach Baked Eggs
It's like spinach artichoke dip and shakshuka in one, and you're going to want some bread to sop it all up.
Recipe: Creamed Spinach Baked Eggs
5.Persimmon Banana Nut Bread
For those with a morning sweet tooth, this seasonal take on banana bread — baked with puréed persimmon and walnuts — is just what you're looking for.
Recipe: Persimmon Banana Nut Bread
6.Beet, Fennel, and Radicchio Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts
Not your average salad, this colorful medley is the perfect mixture of flavors thanks to sweet beets, bright fennel, bitter radicchio, and creamy feta.
Recipe: Beet, Fennel, and Radicchio Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts
7.Bacon Beer Cheese Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A cross between two classic winter soups, this cheesy blend is so comforting. Pro tip: heat up a jumbo soft pretzel for dunking.
8.Crock Pot Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bolognese
Low in carbs but certainly not in flavor, this hearty spaghetti squash with Bolognese basically makes itself, thanks to the slow cooker.
9.Sausage, Pepper, and Onion Stromboli
You don't need a pizza oven or any fancy equipment to make this stromboli stuffed with peppers, onion, and spicy or sweet sausage. If you want to save time and effort, just grab your favorite store-bought pizza dough.
10.Brussels Sprout Salad With Creamy Lemon Dressing
Even if you're not a "salad person," chances are you'll love this crunchy and tangy combination of shredded Brussels sprouts, apples, dried cranberries, kale, sunflower seeds, feta, and avocado. If you want to add more protein, toss in anything from shredded chicken or roasted chickpeas to grilled shrimp.
11.Sheet Pan Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts
This Chinese-inspired dish looks restaurant-quality, but turns out it comes together on one sheet pan. Oh, and it's baked from start to finish. No deep-frying required whatsoever.
Recipe: Sheet Pan Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts
12.Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
This plant-based Bourguignon features all the flavors you love about traditional beef stew. It's savory and hearty and comforting, but this version ditches the meat for mixed mushrooms.
Recipe: Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
13.Garlic Miso Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower
There's a secret ingredient I'll be using in every single pasta recipe from here going forward, and it's umami-packed miso.
14.Italian Sausage Butternut Squash Soup
Looking for an easy family dinner everyone will enjoy? This one-pot soup has you covered.
15.Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
Better than take-out, this veggie-packed stir-fry loaded with asparagus, peppers, and now peas is just begging to be served over a big bowl of rice.
Recipe: Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
16.Spinach Chicken Casserole with Cream Cheese and Mozzarella
You really only need a handful of basic ingredients to whip up this cheesy dish: boneless chicken breasts, cream cheese, spinach, mozzarella, garlic, and some seasonings.
Recipe: Spinach Chicken Casserole with Cream Cheese and Mozzarella
17.Garlic Butter Herb Steak and Mushrooms
Fancy enough for date night but easy enough for any old weeknight meal, this steak with garlicky mushrooms is just so good.
18.Potato Leek Gratin
Your favorite potato gratin gets a little flavor boost with the help of leeks and a trio of Blue, Gruyère, and Parmesan cheese.
Recipe: Potato Leek Gratin
19.Cheesy Broccoli Kale Pesto Pizza
Don't want to make pizza from scratch? Don't sweat it. Any store-bought flatbread or naan will do the trick here. It's the toppings that really count.
Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli Kale Pesto Pizza
20.Teriyaki Salmon with Baby Bok Choy and Shiitakes
This sheet pan meal takes only about 15 minutes of hands-on prep time. Then, toss it into the oven and wait for dinner to be served.
21.Shawarma-Spiced Cauliflower Steaks with Herb Tahini Sauce
Whether you serve it as a hearty side dish or plant-based main, this cauliflower will shine at your table. It gets crispy on the outside but melts like butter when you take a bite.
Recipe: Shawarma-Spiced Cauliflower Steaks with Herb Tahini Sauce
22.Mac 'n' Cheese with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Breadcrumbs
There's nothing better than discovering a new recipe that turns childhood favorite mac 'n' cheese into a totally acceptable adult recipe.
Recipe: Mac 'n' Cheese with Brussels Sprouts and Bacon Breadcrumbs
23.Vegan Mushroom and Cabbage Pierogi
If you don't have the time to make homemade dough, pick up a box of store bought dumpling wrappers. They might not be traditional, but they'll certainly get the job done. Boil, pan-fry, or air fry these babies to your liking.
24.Nutella-Stuffed Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
These sandwich cookies may seem totally fancy, but you only really need a handful of simple ingredients to bake them.
25.Pomegranate Cream Tart
Refrigerated pie crust (or homemade, if you feel like over-achieving) plus five ingredients is all you need for this colorful and wintery tart.
Recipe: Pomegranate Cream Tart
26.Apple Cider Donut Cake
I'd like to have a word with the genius who decided to take apple cider donuts — fall's most delicious treat — and turn it into a shareable, celebration-worthy cake.
Recipe: Apple Cider Donut Cake
27.Chai Spice Brownies
It might seem like an unlikely combination, but spicy, aromatic chai is the perfect compliment to rich and fudgy brownies.
Recipe: Chai Spice Brownies
28.Gingerbread Cake with Salted Caramel Buttercream
This cake might seem a bit complex, but all of the ingredients and instructions are pretty straightforward. Trust me, even a novice baker can handle it.
29.Spiced Persimmon Old Fashioned
There's something about the combination of oaky, caramel-y bourbon mixed with tangy, sweet persimmon that makes this cocktail irresistible, even if you're not typically a whiskey lover.
Recipe: Spiced Persimmon Old Fashioned
30.Winter Aperol Spritz
If you thought Aperol spritzes were just for summertime, think again. This cranberry-infused cocktail is a seasonal take on the warm weather favorite
Recipe: Winter Aperol Spritz
31.Chai Espresso Martini
Introducing your new favorite winter cocktail. Creamy, boozy, and ever-so-spicy, this drink hits all the right notes.
Recipe: Chai Espresso Martini
