Favorite Christmas Recipes

Christmas is a time to enjoy food, gifts and family. Here are some of our favorite Christmas recipes. We'd love to know yours, too! Share them in the comments section below!

Eggnog from our own Shelia Duggan Chabot

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Pinch of ground clove
• 6 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup spiced rum (optional)

Directions:

• In a saucepan over low heat combine milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, cinnamon stick and clove.
• Bring to a slow boil (this will take between 5-7 mins).
• Once the milk mixture starts to boil remove from heat and leave cinnamon stick in for a couple of minutes, then remove.
• Put egg yolks and sugar into a bowl.
• Using a hand held mixer, mix them until pale and fluffy.
• Pour the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks and mix on low until well mixed.
• Pour the mixture back into the pan and heat over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until thick and creamy. (Make sure you don't let it boil or the eggnog will curdle.)
• Stir in the rum (optional), heavy cream and nutmeg and refrigerate overnight.
• Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

(Adapted from Epicurean Mom's Egg Nog recipe)

Snickerdoodles from our own Julia Whitney Robarts

Makes about 3 dozen
from Cooking Light

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat two cookie sheets with cooking spray.

1) Combine flour, baking soda, and cream of tartar, stirring with a fork.

2) In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup of sugar and butter in a large bowl, and 
stir vigorously until well blended. Add the corn syrup, vanilla, and egg; beat 
well.

3) Gradually add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, mix just until 
combined. Cover and chill for 10 minutes.

4) In a small bowl, combine 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon.

5) With moist hands (keep a wet paper towel nearby to keep your hands moist) 
shape dough into 42 (1-inch) balls. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 
them 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray.

6) Bake at 375 degrees for 5-7 minutes (cookies will be slightly soft). Cool on 
baking sheets for two minutes. Remove cookies from pans; cool completely on wire 
racks.

Rum Punch

Combine over ice in a punch bowl:

1 quart orange juice

6 oz. lime juice

1 quart club soda

1 quart unsweetened pineapple juice

add one 750 ml. white or gold label rum

Here are some recipes shared by Patch Editors:

• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, submitted by Jennifer Fisher, Evanston Patch Editor.
• Nut Cups, submitted by Claudia Lenart, Lake Zurich Patch Editor.
• Streusel-Layered Coffee Cake, Cristel Mohrman, Buffalo Grove Patch Editor.
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls, submitted by Amie Schaenzer, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch Editor.
• Hot Chocolate on a Stick, submitted by Amie Schaenzer, Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch Editor.
• Sweet and Sour Meatballs, submitted by Gloria Casas, Huntley Patch Editor.
• Rosemary Pecan Shortbread, submitted by Chi-an Chang, Winnetka-Glencoe Patch Editor.
•  submitted by Stephanie Price, Crystal Lake-Cary Patch Editor.
• Applesauce Spice Cake, submitted by Angela Sykora, Grayslake Patch Editor.

Enjoy!