Christmas Holiday Seasonal Recipes of the Week, Appetizers, Dinner Entrées, Christmas Pot Pie Recipes, Soups, Sides, Pies, Desserts...Holiday & Xmas Recipes for Pets along with easy to make ornaments & Tree Decorations & much more festive stuff which are the final recipes of the year!

Appetizers
1. Eggplant Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Eggplant Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
Eggplant … bacon?! Yes, it’s real. When prepared properly, eggplant can be wonderfully versatile when it comes to recreating meaty flavors. In Emilie Heck‘s Eggplant Bacon Wrapped Asparagus recipe, it’s seasoned with liquid smoke and brown sugar, wrapped around asparagus, and then baked until it has that crispy bacon crunch factor. These are the perfect finger food for holiday parties.

2. Anchovy-Free Olive Tapenade
Anchovy-Free Olive Tapenade [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
You don’t need fish to make a dish with bright, bold, umami-packed flavors! This 100 percent Anchovy-Free Olive Tapenade by Nora Schlesinger is perfect for spreading on bread and sandwiches, dipping with veggies and crackers, or including as part of a vegan cheese board.

3. ‘Cheesy’ Fried Potato Croquettes
Vegan Cheesy Potato Croquettes
These ‘Cheesy’ Fried Potato Croquettes by Rosie Newton and Dillon Sivyour are guaranteed to make you friends, impress in-laws, and solve relationship problems – maybe they can’t do all that, but they’re pretty darn good. These homemade croquettes are filled with soft mashed potato, vegan cream cheese, herbs, and spices, coated with a crispy cornmeal, deep-fried coating. It’s a great dish to put out at a party.

4. BBQ Pulled Carrot Rolls
BBQ Pulled Carrot Rolls
The best comfort foods are simple and making this appetizer is super-easy and super hands-off, like Melanie Sorrentino‘s BBQ Pulled Carrot Rolls. Shredded carrots are the perfect whole foods based replacement for pulled pork. Drenched in a tangy, sticky barbecue sauce, these pulled carrot rolls are a guaranteed hit.

5. Blooming Onion With Dipping Sauce
Blooming Onion with Dipping Sauce
Gabrielle St. Claire‘s vegan Blooming Onion With Dipping Sauce is a handful of ingredients, baked, crispy, the sauce is like pure heaven, a much healthier version, great for entertaining, no greasy mess, and perfect for any season! Typically a blooming onion utilizes egg and breadcrumbs, which also have egg, are fried, and have a slight crisp outer edge. In hopes to create a healthier alternative, this version skips the frying, switches up the egg for more a thicker flour coating, and opts for Panko and simply grinds it into a dust to resemble breadcrumbs.

Entrées
6. Cannelloni With Quinoa Mushroom Stuffing
Vegan cannelloni with quinoa mushroom stuffing
This version of cannelloni al Forno is just as cheesy and deliciously savory as the original, but it’s completely dairy-free! Florian Nouh‘s Gluten-free Cannelloni With Quinoa Mushroom Stuffing is stuffed with a savory mixture of quinoa, sautéed mushrooms and zucchini, diced tomatoes, and a splash of balsamic vinegar. They’re topped with a layer of tomato sauce followed by a layer of vegan cheese shreds that get stretchy and melty in the oven. If you are looking for a stunning vegan pasta dish, look no further than to these cannelloni.

7. Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Lasagna With Bechamel Sauce
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Lasagna With Bechamel Sauce
Jamie Bevia‘s recipe for Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Lasagna With Bechamel Sauce tastes so sinful, but it really isn’t! It has deep flavors of each and every vegetable, and a super creamy melt in your mouth bechamel sauce. It may seem like a lot of steps or a lot of work, but it is not!

8. Vegetable Rose Tart With Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Filling
vegetable rose tart
Kirsten Kaminski‘s Vegetable Rose Tart With Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Filling is so pretty and tasty! The oat and sunflower seed crust is deliciously crunchy, the cheesy sun-dried tomato filling is savory and creamy, and together with the fresh vegetable ribbons on top, it makes the perfect dish! It’s great if you want to impress with your cooking skills at Christmas dinner. You can also easily adjust the spices, garlic, and vegetables according to you taste.

9. Santa Fe Roasted Stuffed Peppers With Spicy Cashew Mozzarella
Santa Fe Roasted Stuffed Peppers With Spicy Cashew Mozzarella
These colorful Santa Fe Roasted Stuffed Peppers With Spicy Cashew Mozzarella by Melissa Huggins are a must-try for all! They’re filled with savory sautéed vegetables like mushrooms and carrots, as well as protein-rich quinoa and black-eyed peas that’ll keep you full. The cashew mozzarella is optional, but its is highly recommended. You won’t believe how easily you can turn cashews into gooey, melty mozzarella. Combine everything together, roast it in the oven, and enjoy a meal that you’ll definitely be coming back to.

10. Quinoa Stuffed Peppers and Plum Tomato Salsa
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers and Plum Tomato Salsa
These nutritious sweet peppers are available year-round and have a mild flavor with a nice crunchy finish. While they make a great accompaniment to dishes, in this recipe we’re bringing this nutrient-rich vegetable to the forefront. Stuffed with a sticky quinoa, Alena Grahn‘s Quinoa Stuffed Peppers and Plum Tomato Salsa make for a bright and healthy meal that will bring a pop of color to your Christmas dinner table.

Dessert
11. Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cups
vegan Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cups
Rich, crunchy and sweet, Kat Condon‘s Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cups are full of smooth, peppermint-infused coconut butter! The candy canes are optional, which means that this recipe could easily be enjoyed year round. However, I think the candy canes add the perfect extra “oomph” to these cups and make them perfect for a holiday dessert.

12. Coconut Molasses Ginger Cookies
Vegan coconut molasses ginger cookies
Robin Runner‘s Coconut Molasses Ginger Cookies are tender yet crunchy. They’re not overly sweet but packed with ginger and molasses which screams holiday season. These freeze perfectly and make a wonderful cookie to share with friends and family.

13. Fruit Mince Pies
Vegan Fruit Mince Pies
Dried fruit and pastry lovers, this one is for you. Simple and easy to assemble, Lauren Wright‘s beautiful Fruit Mince Pies will make any holiday dinner table look extra beautiful.

14. Gingerbread Mince Pies
Vegan gingerbread mince pies
Rachel Clarke‘s delicious mini Gingerbread Mince Pies outdo themselves in taste. They’re topped with homemade gingerbread and a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar to make them look snowy. Be sure to double the batch because it’s guaranteed that people will want seconds!

15. Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
vegan chocolate peppermint cake
This is the most decadent, righteous chocolate creation, made all that much better with a healthy dose of peppermint–lots of minty extract and a whole load of candy canes. The triple chocolate in Travis Piper‘s Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake comes from cocoa powder, dark chips, and ganache.

1. Pineapple Baked Ham
Vegan pineapple baked ham
The holiday ham, adorned with pineapple rings, is a magazine cover-ready classic. Here, you can stroll down memory lane with a plant-based Pineapple Baked Ham from Plant-Based Meats, complete with a layer of white “fat” wrapped around it and a sweet, pineapple glaze. Click here for the recipe!

2. Turkey Roll With Stuffing
Vegan turkey roll with stuffing
If meatless holidays have you wishing for a centerpiece dish to carve and serve, look no further. This delectable Turkey Roll With Stuffing from Plant-Based Meats is stuffed with herbed bread and walnuts and is great with a mushroom gravy to ladle over the roast, mashed potatoes, and any other sides you serve. This recipe used a four-cup oval cheesecake pan bought from the Internet for the photo, but you can bake yours in a standard loaf pan. You’ll need to make a bain marie to bake the roast, by placing the pan holding your roast inside of a larger pan and filling the larger pan with hot water to reach 2/3 of the way up the sides of the roast pan. That keeps the “turkey” moist. Click here for the recipe!

3. Mushroom Filet Mignon With Mushroom Red Wine Sauce
Mushroom Filet Mignon
If you’re looking for a hearty entree that mimics a classic steak, give this Mushroom Filet Mignon from Plant-Based Meats a try. Look for mushrooms with thick stems, which are easier to strip. It takes a few minutes to shred the steamed mushroom stems into umami-rich lengths, but once they’re embedded in your steak, they give it a certain meaty chew that works. Use the caps to make the meaty red-wine sauce spiked with fresh thyme, and you have a delicious meal. Click here for the recipe!

4. French Pâté with Pistachios and Peppercorns en Croute
Vegan french pate
For a pretty presentation, this French Pâté recipe from Plant-Based Meats is studded with green pistachios and chunky peppercorns, just like a classic French pâté. The secret ingredient is parsnip, which purees to a silky smoothness and sweetly balances with rich walnuts. You don’t have to wrap it in puff pastry (you can unmold and serve it before the baking instructions below), but it makes for a real showstopper at parties. Without the pastry, it is gluten free. Click here for the recipe!

5. Baloney
Vegan baloney
This smooth, sliceable Baloney from Plant-Based Meats is fantastic in sandwiches, or chopped and added to salads. You can make a fried baloney sandwich and sear slices in a little oil before slapping them on toasted bread, and smearing on some mustard, mayo, and pickle relish. How great would those sandwiches be on the holiday table with the appetizers? Everyone would go crazy for them! Click here for the recipe!

6. Corn Dogs With Tangy Mustard Dipping Sauce
Vegan Corn Dogs
Here’s a vegan Corn Dog recipe from Vegan Junk Food of the carnival classic that you can make at home in a pinch. Need we say more? These would make great appetizers, sides, and would be great to bring to holiday parties. Your friends won’t know it’s vegan unless you tell them! Click here for the recipe!

7. Stuffed Seitan Roast
Stuffed Seitan Roast
Just because it’s vegan it doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste amazing! Josephine Watmore‘s Stuffed Seitan Roast can be made in the morning and left to cool before things get too hectic during the holidays. Then just slice off the portions you need for dinner and reheat for 10 minutes until hot all the way through just before serving. This way, it frees up space in the oven and makes preparing dinner more relaxed and less overwhelming! Click here for the recipe!

8. Seitan Parmesan
Seitan Parmesan
Meat-free chicken parm? Yes, please! Melanie Sorrentino‘s Seitan Parmesan tastes just like the old classic, right down to the savory flavor and meaty texture. Serve it on top of your favorite pasta, tomato sauce, and plenty of melty vegan cheese. Click here for the recipe!

9. Barbecue Baked Seitan Strips
Barbecue Baked Seitan Strips
Considering how incredibly flavor absorbent seitan is, it’s no surprise that baking Josephine Watmore‘s Barbecue Baked Seitan Strips in the oven with BBQ sauce already slathered all over it would yield delicious results. In this recipe, seitan is made from scratch and then doused in a savory BBQ marinade. Add this seitan to tacos for a zesty Mexican dish, to wraps with vegan mayo, or on top of your favorite salad. Click here for the recipe!

10. Chestnut and Lentil Loaf
Chestnut and Lentil Loaf
The lentils and the rest of the ingredients in this Chestnut and Lentil Loaf recipe by Kim Sujovolsky will give you nothing less than the meatiest vegan meatloaf. Although there are endless ways to make a lentil loaf, this one uses chestnuts, which makes this dish perfect for the holiday season, and really good next to any gravies or pan sauces, not to mention the simple addition of a little extra ketchup on the side. Click here for the recipe!

11. Chickpea Meatloaf and Tomato Maple Glaze
chickpea meatloaf
The main components of this vegan meatloaf besides chickpeas are onion, garlic, red pepper, fresh thyme and fresh parsley. Then, of course, there is the flavor bomb glaze that goes on top. This vegan Chickpea Meatloaf by Nancy Montuori also tastes delicious as a sandwich smeared with the maple glaze. Click here for the recipe!

12. Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza With Blue Cheeze Spread
Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza
Buffalo cauliflower is the perfect vegan alternative for “wings.” This Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza With Blue Cheeze Spread is to die for. It is spicy, savory, and crunchy. The blue cheeze spread really makes this pizza – it tastes really close to blue cheese (most people wouldn’t even know). For such an impressive meal, it’s not that difficult to bring together and it’s really worth it. Click here for the recipe!

13. Lentil Nuggets With Sweet and Sour Sauce
Lentil Nuggets
Craving chicken nuggets? Make a swap to Natalie Martin‘s whole-food, plant-based alternative. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, these Lentil Nuggets a great finger food for kids. Enjoy fresh out of the oven or as a leftover (even cold!) Click here for the recipe!

14. Beefless Bolognese Sauce
Beefless Bolognese
Julie Zimmer‘s Beefless Bolognese Sauce is worth trying. The soy crumbles absorb the flavor of the spices, herbs and vegetables. It’s light but it has a meaty texture. Click here for the recipe!

15. Homemade Beefy Seitan
Vegan Homemade Beefy Seitan
This combination of mushrooms, soy sauce, and red wine give this Homemade Beefy Seitan a deep umami flavor. Making your own meat substitute might seem like a complicated task, but this recipe from NYC Vegan is easy to follow and will leave you with results far better than processed, packaged seitan! Click here for the recipe!

1. Chickpea Pot Pie
A warm, flaky, comforting classic Chickpea Pot Pie by Dawn Hutchins from Florida Coastal Cooking & Wellness, that just so happens to be plant-based! This pot pie will be the star of your table this season. Just make sure you get a slice before it’s all gone! Click here for the recipe!

2. Thick and Creamy Veggie-Filled Cornbread Pot Pies
Pot pies and cornbread. Two all-time favorite comfort foods just became BFFs. Can you even imagine? That thick and creamy veggie filling is sure to send herby fall aromas all throughout your house. When the cornbread starts to rise and turns golden brown, it’s a magical moment. Break through that crispy crust with a spoon to get the perfect filling-to-crust ratio. These Cornbread Pot Pies by Jordan and Clark Cord are beyond easy to make! The sauce takes 10 minutes and you can use boxed cornbread to speed things up. They’re the perfect savory and hearty fall comfort food. Click here for the recipe!

3. Deconstructed Mushroom Lentil Pot Pie With Biscuits
This Deconstructed Mushroom Vegan Pot-Pie by Courtney Klumper is savory, filling, and packed with protein. Serve this up on a chilly evening and you’ll forget this meaty casserole was ever meat-free! Click here for the recipe!

4. Vegetable Pot Pie With Dill-Mustard Sauce 
If you’re tight on time, this warm vegetable dish is easy as pie! Most of the ingredients are things you probably already have on hand. You could use really any vegetables you like in this pie, or even add tofu or soybeans. This Vegetable Pot Pie with Dill Mustard Sauce by Deena Mehta is incredible. Click here for the recipe!

5.  Jackfruit Pot Pie
We’ve got the plant-based pot pie of your dreams right here! If you’re craving a creamy, warm jackfruit and veggie filling encased in a delicate puff pastry crust, you must make this Jackfruit Pot Pie recipe by Sarah Pether. Your stomach will be so incredibly happy. Click here for the recipe!

6.  Festive Creamy and Crunchy Onion Potato Pot Pies
They’re festive. They’re creamy. They’re crispy. They’re perfectly imperfect. Christmas is about good food, family and enjoying each others company, so make sure you’re feeding to please your guests and not feeling restricted to this exact recipe! These Creamy and Crunchy Onion Potato Pot Pies by Maria Koutsogiannis rather easy to make and are filled with flavor, character and aroma. Click here for the recipe!

7. Seafood Pot Pie
Why have “chicken” pot pie when there are so many other proteins out there? Flaky pie crust, sweet potatoes, leeks, and peas paired with fishless fillets, Old Bay Seasoning, and kelp powder. Serve with a great big salad or whatever sides you like. This Seafood Pot Pie by Tara Binder is awesome! Click here for the recipe!

8. Mini Pot Pies with Black Lentil, Fennel and Thyme
These pot pies are exactly as they sounds; a blend of vegetables including fennel, celery, carrots, and potatoes with lentils and herby thyme – it’s a hearty and comforting veg-packed dish that’s healthy too. This classic dish was made healthier by reducing the amount of pie crust needed and baking the meal into adorable, portion controlled dishes! So you can feel guilt-free about succumbing to your yearning for pie. These Mini Pot Pies with Black Lentils, Fennel and Thyme by Hannah Sunderani are so good! Click here for the recipe!

9. Raw Pot Pie
This fresh and flavorful Raw Pot Pie by Amanda Nicole Smith is made with root vegetables, herbaceous gravy, and a gluten-free buckwheat crust. This gravy is super flavorful and can be made with any spices and herbs you prefer. Depending on the tools you have on hand, it can be prepared completely raw, semi-cooked, or fully cooked. This unique take on pot pie is sure to capture the hearts of your family! Click here for the recipe!

10. Indian Sweet Potato and Spinach Pie
Ready for some wholesome Indian comfort food? This Sweet Potato and Spinach Pie by Annabelle Randles is flaky and fragranced with a delicious spice blend. Serve it with raita, an herby yogurt dip that pairs perfectly with the warm flavors of this dish. Click here for the recipe!

1. Smoky Sweet Potato Bisque
Smoky Sweet Potato Bisque
You don’t need cream to make a rich and creamy bisque — in fact, Susan Edelman‘s dairy-free Smoky Sweet Potato Bisque doesn’t even include coconut cream. Sweet potatoes are cooked until tender and then blended with sautéed onions, non-dairy milk, and plenty of spices that’ll bring the heat and keep you warm. Serve with a dollop of cool coconut sour cream and crackers for dipping. Click here for the recipe!

2. Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry
Sweet potato and chickpea coconut curry
Dana Sandonato‘s Sweet Potato and Chickpea Coconut Curry is crunchy, creamy and delicious. The dish combines an excellent blend of spices and fresh ingredients to bring together a curry that is savory and well balanced. The cashews are a perfect crunchy counterpart to the tender sweet potatoes. Click here for the recipe!

3. Swedish Mushroom Meatballs
Swedish Mushroom Meatballs
Making the perfect veggie meatball is an art and the secret is seasoning. These Swedish Mushroom Meatballs by the Cruelty Free Family are blended with fragrant onions, garlic, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, Sriracha, savory liquid aminos, and a few other spices. After being formed and baked until crispy, these meatballs are tossed in a creamy cashew sauce which tastes amazing over mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice. Yum! Click here for the recipe!

4. Red Bean Curry
Red bean curry
Molly Patrick‘s Red Bean Curry is totally delicious, and it’s also a lot easier to clean up because there is no oil coating your dishes. The part that takes the longest is chopping the veggies! Click here for the recipe!

5. Lentil Potato Nut Loaf
Lentil potato nut loaf
Nele Liivlaid‘s hearty, colorful Lentil Potato Nut Loaf is made from red lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, and potatoes. It’s nutty, savory, and slightly sweet thanks to the addition of roast sweet potatoes and carrots. The loaf goes extremely well with vegan cheese sauce, a salad of Romain lettuce, steamed kale, oven roasted tahini-sauce coated Brussels sprouts, and raw red cabbage. Click here for the recipe!

1. Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Herb Oil
Tahini-roasted cauliflower with lemony herb oil
Dinners, in the traditional sense, are usually centered around one main dish. For a stunning centerpiece that looks as amazing as it tastes, you have to try Maikki Vasala‘s Tahini-Roasted Cauliflower. Along with being absolutely gorgeous, it is craftily spiced, rubbed down with a nutty tahini coating, drizzled with lemony herbs, and eventually garnished with roasted almonds. Click here for the recipe!

2. Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Steaks
Teriyaki glazed tofu steaks
This recipe by Maya Sozer is an incredibly delicious way to enjoy the plant protein powerhouse that is tofu. These Tofu Steaks are pan seared and then glazed with a sweet and zesty homemade teriyaki sauce. Serve with white rice and greens for a hearty and tasty meal. Click here for the recipe!

3. Curried Cauliflower Rice Pilaf
Curried cauliflower rice pilaf
Cauliflower rice is a wonderful grain-free alternative to rice that is lighter, more nutritious, and just as delicious! While you can definitely enjoy cauliflower rice plain, this Curried Cauliflower Rice Pilaf by Lisa Lotts only gets more delectable with more seasoning. This particular recipe uses Indian spices like turmeric, curry powder, and cilantro, as well as some popular Indian garnishes like golden raisins and toasted almonds. Yum! Click here for the recipe!

4. Fresh and Light Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
Zucchini lasagna roll-ups
A light and fresh zucchini lasagna recipe to eat more veggies and for those trying to eat less carbs during Christmas dinner! Rolled with hummus and fresh spinach, then topped with simple tomato sauce, fresh basil, and toasted pine nuts – this zucchini lasagna by Emily Brees will be a favorite! Click here for the recipe!

5. Sicilian Roasted Cauliflower
Sicilian roasted cauliflower
Who would have thought that a whole head of cauliflower could pack so much texture and flavor! Lilia Jankowska‘s Sicilian Roasted Cauliflower features a roasted cauliflower topped with crispy, crunch breadcrumbs. It is flavored with plenty of Italian herbs and red pepper flakes. Click here for the recipe!

1. Easy Date Caramel Pecan Pie
Easy Date Caramel Pecan Pie
Caroline Doucet‘s Easy Date Caramel Pecan Pie starts with a simple oat and pecan crust and it’s filled with creamy date caramel. Add a sprinkle of sea salt, a dollop of coconut whipped cream, and some artfully placed pecans to finish off this healthy, refined sugar-free treat!

2. Cinnamon Crunch Maple Pie
Cinnamon Maple Crunch Pie 4
When the chilly weather of the holiday season sets in, you’ll definitely want Emily Spain‘s Cinnamon Maple Crunch Pie on your dessert table. Coconut milk, almond butter, maple syrup, and plenty of cinnamon is blended together, poured onto a simple almond crust, and then frozen until firm and dense. The crunch from the granola on top is the perfect compliment to this otherwise silky dessert.

3. Ruffled Cinnamon Pistachio Pie
Ruffled Cinnamon Pistachio Pie [Vegan]
Maya Sozer‘s Ruffled Cinnamon Pistachio Pie is a delightful twist on your traditional filo dough pastry-based desserts. The recipe combines the delicious spices and nuts in baklava and the baking methods of pie. The resulting dessert is light, flaky, and delicious — perfect for any holiday celebration.

4. Berry and Candied Lemon Tart
Guaca and Candied Lemon Tart c
Tori Cooper‘s delicious Berry and Candied Lemon Tart has an easy oat crust, a gooey berry filling, and a topping of sweet but tart candied lemons. Any berry can be used in this recipe, making it the perfect dessert for all seasons. It can even be served warm right out of the oven or chilled — so versatile!

5.  Open-Face Apple Pumpkin Pie
Open-Face Apple Pumpkin Pie 3.jpg
This season, instead of covering up the beautiful glazed apples inside of your pies, give them their time in the spotlight by making Hannah Teson‘s Open-Face Apple Pumpkin Pie! This recipe is like a two for one – the rich and spicy filling of a pumpkin pie with the sugar, cinnamon-y goodness of an apple one on top! Simply purée, layer, bake, and devour.

6. No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Cream Pie
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Cream Pie 1
Peanut butter is one of those things that is good with just about anything. You can dip fruit in it, put it on veggies, use it in cookies, eat it plain… the list goes on and on. In Christina Murray‘s No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Cream Pie, peanut butter is combined with coconut cream to create a velvety mixture that is then topped with a generous pour of chocolate and eventually frozen into pie form. Easy, pretty, and each bite tastes like a peanut butter cup – this pie is a winner!

7. Pumpkin Pie With Cinnamon Nut Crust
pumpkin pie 1
Gretchen Price‘s Pumpkin Pie With Cinnamon Nut Crust isn’t your typical pumpkin pie. The crumbly crust is made from toasted nuts, sweetened with maple syrup, and spiced with cinnamon and the pumpkin filling is decadently rich and creamy, thanks to dairy-free sweetened condensed milk. The pie is so delicious just on its own, but then pile on that creamy pumpkin pie filling and you are in pumpkin pie paradise.

8. Chocolate Ganache Mousse Pie
Chocolate Ganache Mousse Pie
Is there a better combination than chocolate on chocolate? Trine Rask‘s amazing Chocolate Ganache Mousse Pie has an easy cookie crust and a light, fluffy chocolate mousse filling. Then, it’s all topped with a smooth dark chocolate ganache. Even though this pie is light, it still tastes decadent, so it’s a real treat for any chocolate lover.

9. Apple Raspberry Ginger Pie
Apple Raspberry Ginger Pie [Vegan, Gluten-Free]
Everyone loves apple pie but Joyce Gan‘s Apple Raspberry Ginger Pie takes it to a whole other level. The combination of apples and raspberries is genius. The taste and aroma of the warm spices like ginger and cinnamon makes this gluten-free pie a treat for all your senses.

10. Hubbard Squash Pie
Hubbard Squash Pie
This Hubbard Squash Pie by Ksenia Print is nestled in a perfectly flaky coconut oil crust, spiked with orange and clove, and sweetened with natural maple syrup. The use of only natural sweeteners in the filling makes for a gentle sweetness that doesn’t overpower Hubbard’s natural taste; if you like your desserts a bit sweeter, feel free to add brown sugar. The Hubbard squash can also be substituted for other winter squashes, like sugar pie pumpkin.

11. Butternut Squash Swirl Pie
Butternut Squash Swirl Pie
Nele Liivlaid‘s delicious Butternut Squash Swirl Pie has a delicate sweetness that is subtle when served on the same day it’s been baked and sweeter when it’s been refrigerated for a day. It’s incredibly creamy with a warm blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, plus creamy swirls on top for presentation. Whether you’re in the mood for fall baking or getting ready for the holidays, this pie will be a stand-out dessert.

12. Chocolate and Butterscotch Pudding Pie
Chocolate and Butterscotch Pudding Pie
Melanie Sorrentino‘s Chocolate and Butterscotch Pudding Pie is a perfect accompaniment to afternoon coffee or tea. Two thick and dense layers of pudding – chocolate and butterscotch – are set atop a simple, vegan crust. The top is dotted with chocolate chips for yummy bursts of chocolatey goodness throughout. Serve with some coconut whipped cream on the side for added decadence!

13. No-Bake Stracciatella Cream Pie
Stracciatella Cream Pie
Florian Nouh‘s No-Bake Stracciatella Cream Pie is inspired by the decadent Italian gelato of the same name. It’s elegant and creamy with just the right distribution of crunchy dark chocolate chunks. Would you believe that it’s easy to make and also made from only six ingredients?

14. Gingerbread Mince Pies
Gingerbread Mince Pies
Need a last minute holiday treat? Rachel Clarke‘s delicious mini Gingerbread Mince Pies outdo themselves in taste. They can be filled with whatever type of mincemeat you like, whether it’s grandma’s classic recipe or mincemeat from a jar and they’re topped with homemade gingerbread and a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar to make them look snowy. Be sure to double the batch because it’s guaranteed that people will want seconds!

15. Lemon Banana Cashew Cream Pie
Lemon Banana Cashew Cream Pie b
Did you ever realize that lemon pairs pretty amazingly to bananas? Yes, the zesty lemon flavor takes a banana cream pie to the next level. So, come on board with Florian Nouh‘s delicious Lemon Banana Cashew Cream Pie! It’s a real stunner: easy, creamy, drool-worthy, remarkable, lemony, refreshing, addictive, fresh, and so delicious. With just six ingredients and in three easy steps. you can make this dream come true.

1. Classic Gingerbread!
Vegan Holiday Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing
When we think of Christmas, we think gingerbread! It’s a classic flavor, and the iconic shapes of gingerbread men and gingerbread houses are ones that we closely associate with the festivities of this holiday. For these reasons, gingerbread is a great thing to include in your Christmas-decorated desserts. First things first: the well-loved Gingerbread Christmas Cookies from Gemma Gonzalez are adorably decorated to look like gingerbread men. Gingerbread men also make a great topping and decoration for a pie, like in Jessica Bose‘s Pumpkin Pie With Gingerbread Cookies. Gingerbread cookies can also come in a variety of other shapes, like reindeer and snowflakes seen here in these Holiday Gingerbread Cookies from Holly Jade.

Holly also can show us how to make another gingerbread classic with these Simple Gingerbread Houses! Gingerbread also can come in cake form, using the cookies to decorate the top – just check out Gretchen Price‘s Winter Wonderland Gingerbread Cake.

2. Santas and Snowmen!
Vegan Santa Sponge Cakes
Gingerbread men aren’t the only iconic shape for Christmas desserts! Santas and snowmen make great sweet treats as well, and are sure to make your guests smile (and also ask for seconds)! Just look at these adorable Santa Sponge Cakes from Stephanie Davies – they’re sure to impress! A great option that’s also a perfect snack for kids are these Strawberry Santas from Holly Bertone.

Holly Jade brings us another adorable wintery treat with these Snowman Macarons that look almost too pretty and cute to eat! Your family and friends will also be delighted by these Pretzel Stick Snowmen from Cara_Reed, and also won’t be able to stop snacking on them.

3. Christmas Colors!
If the subtle approach is more your thing, and you want to make a dessert that’s reminiscent of Christmas cheer without being quite Christmas-shaped, there are plenty of options from our bloggers for that too! Check out this Layered Speculoos White Chocolate Cream Parfait from Kirsten Kaminski, or this White Chocolate Cranberry Cake from Gretchen Price. Both of these lovely desserts layer red and white to create a positively festive feel.

These Spelt Linzer Cookies With Fruit Jam Center from Petra Vogel are not only a great Christmas, but the pop of red peeking out of the white outside definitely gives a holiday feeling. This Holly Jolly Sangria Pie from Gina Fontana features lovely red and white stars and cut outs, with an amazing sangria flavor!

4. A Pop of Peppermint!
A little addition of peppermint is a quick and easy way to make any dish look festive right away. The swirls of red and white, the flavor, and the associations we make with the candy are all decidedly Christmassy. These Chocolate No Bake Peppermint Cheesecake Cups from Taylor Kiser are a perfect example!

An amazing chocolate and peppermint cake will make you the host of the year, so don’t hesitate to make this Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake from Travis Piper. We of course couldn’t leave out the most-well known (and one of our favorite) peppermint desserts ever – this Peppermint Bark from Holly Bertone!

GUINEA PIG & RABBIT MAPLE VEGGIE BARS.

INGREDIENTS:(measurements will be based on how many creatures you’re making treats for and what foods they like to eat.)

Guinea pig or rabbit food pellets
Ripe banana(s)
Fresh carrots
Fresh parsley
Ground oats
Nuts and seeds of your choice
Maple syrup (the real stuff)

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to  350 degrees fahrenheit. You want to dry out/lightly toast, not fully bake.

Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.

Crush creature food pellets and oats almost to a powder.

Mash bananas!

Finely chop or puree the carrots and parsley.

Leave nuts and seeds whole, unless they are gigantic then break them down a little.

Except for the maple syrup, mix all ingredients in a bowl until completely combined. Add a splash of water as needed if mixture is too dry to shape.

Take a little bit of the mixture at a time and roll into small logs or bars and place onto lined baking sheet. Brush on a thin layer of maple syrup over each bar.

Place in the oven for ten to fifteen minutes, but only until the treats have hardened.
PEANUT BUTTER PUMPKIN DOG TREATS adapted from Running to the Kitchen

Makes 24 biscuits

INGREDIENTS:
1½ cup oat flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup pumpkin
1 flaxseed egg or 1/4 to 1/3 cup applesauce
pinch of salt
Dash of ground cinnamon (optional, but makes the treats more festive!)
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup organic peanut butter

PREPARATION:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Pinecones
Natural Ornaments
There are many great things about natural ornaments. Most of them are free, just waiting to be picked up in the backyard. Being natural, they don’t produce waste as they can simply be composted after the holiday. Mostly, though, natural items somehow feel more authentic, how people used to decorate during this time of year.

Pine cones make great tree decorations. Pick them up from the yard, use a few threads of scrap yarn or string to hang them, and they quickly spruce up the Christmas tree. It’s almost as if they were meant to be there. Some eco-crafters like to add a little homemade white paint for a snowy effect.

Sprigs of holly, if it grows near home, are abundant. The foliage provides familiarly festive sights, and the berries produce flashes of color against the evergreen. Tie them in bunches to dangle or just jab a spring or two into the tree every so often.

Cinnamon, like the smell of pine, is a mainstay of the Christmas holiday, so it makes sense to use it as a visual decoration as well. Get those cinnamon sticks that have been waiting patiently in the spice cabinet, tie them into bunches of three (try using red yarn), and hang a few on the tree.

Sticks, it should be no surprise, are extremely versatile. They once made great toys for imaginative kids, and now they can make great ornaments as well. Cut and pasted, they can be used to form stick Christmas tree ornaments. Five equal length sticks can be sashed together to make stars.

Garland
Garland is a part of any well-decorated Christmas tree. We’ve seen it in plastic popcorn form. We’ve seen festoons of ribbon linked together. It is often what literally ties the tree. And, there is no need to buy garland because there are plenty of versions we can make from materials lying around the house.

Newspaper chains are just so real and such a pleasure to make. If kids are around, this is a totally doable decoration for them to put together, and they’ll have a blast doing it. Plus, it makes the tree even more enjoyable for them. For those with lots of wrapping paper scraps, they are a perfect and thematic fill-in for newspaper.

Popcorn garland these days seems to, by default, come in plastic form, but that’s crazy. Again, all we need to do here is pop a few bags of popcorn, lace them together on a string, and wind them ‘round the tree. It makes the whole thing more of an experience.

Ribbon, for those eyeing for the classier type tree, makes for understated garland. Rather than rushing out to buy the stuff new, it’s worth having a look around the house, in thrift stores or even on eBay. Get it used for less money and less waste.

Cardboard cutouts can be strung together to make lots of fun garland. Old cereal or beer or cracker boxes can be stenciled into lettering to spell Christmas phrases, of course painting the lettering with appropriate colors. They can make fake strings of lights. They can be cut into cookie cutter shapes—angels, bells, trees, wreaths—and hooked together in merry chains.

Peppermints
Peppermints
Upcycled Ornaments
When there’s some trash to deal with and we don’t want to overfill the dumps, the answer is to begin finding uses for those materials. We can take things that would normally fill our garbage bags and recycle bins, and we can use them to make new stuff. In other words, our materials don’t have to always reach us brand new. Repurpose, upcycle, call it what you want.

Cardboard cutouts, for those who don’t want that type of garland, cardboard makes great upcycled ornaments. Again, boxes can be cut into shapes, decorated by kids (or child-like adults) and hung up as individual ornaments on the tree.

Peppermints, for those who go out to eat regularly, seem to stack up in coin dishes or kitchen drawers. Have no fear, they needn’t all be eaten. Peppermints melt into lovely looking and smelling decorations. Arrange them in a metal cookie cutter on a cookie sheet, put them in the oven for a few minutes to melt, and love the ornament.

Using these types of decorations will provide both a beautiful tree and beautiful memories, with a personal touch and less of a footprint on the planet. Making ornaments is a perfect way to bring family and/or friends together, and that’s what can make for some real Christmas cheer.