29 Make-Ahead Christmas Recipes

Read Time: 14 mins

29 Make-Ahead Christmas Recipes1/29 Overnight Reindeer Rolls Test Kitchen Approved Overnight Reindeer Rolls Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Kids love helping in the kitchen. This year, have a little fun making these reindeer-shaped rolls with your little bakers. And make sure to take pictures because the treats will be gone before you know it! —Chris O’Connell, San Antonio, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 roll: 116 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 155mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 2/29 Roasted Beef

An overnight marinade provides a savory seasoning for this tenderloin

Tenderloin 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Roasted Beef Tenderloin Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: An overnight marinade provides a savory seasoning for this tenderloin. I’ve served this simple elegant roast on many special occasions. —Schelby Thompson, Camden Wyoming, Delaware Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked beef: 193 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 257mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 fat. 3/29 Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Make-Ahead Turkey and Gravy

It’s a great choice for potlucks, too

Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 5 hours 5 min Servings 16 servings (2-1/2 cups gravy) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ease the holiday time crunch with a make-ahead turkey recipe that’s ready to serve when you are. It’s a great choice for potlucks, too. —Marie Parker, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 8 ounces cooked turkey with about 2-1/2 tablespoons gravy: 480 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 218mg cholesterol, 434mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 64g protein. 4/29 Christmas Day Chicken 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Christmas Day Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of

It comes out crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside

Home Total Time 45 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve been fixing this delicious chicken for Christmas dinner for over 10 years. It’s convenient since you refrigerate it overnight, then simply coat with crumbs and bake. It comes out crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. —Marcia Larson, Batavia, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half : 324 calories, 22g fat (8g saturated fat), 83mg cholesterol, 464mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 24g protein. 5/29 Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes 96 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Creamy Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes

It gets even better topped with onions and bacon!

Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: With five different dairy products, you know this make-ahead mashed potato casserole is going to be super rich and, of course, delicious. It gets even better topped with onions and bacon! —JoAnn Koerkenmeier, Damiansville, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 354 calories, 20g fat (12g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 400mg sodium, 40g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 5g fiber), 7g protein. 6/29 Make-Ahead Butterhorns 19 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 32 rolls Go to Recipe From the

Recipe Creator: Mom loved to make these lightly sweet, golden rolls

Recipe Creator: Mom loved to make these lightly sweet, golden rolls. They’re beautiful and impressive and have a homemade taste that makes them memorable. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 roll: 239 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 178mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein. 7/29 Twisted Eggs Benedict Salad 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Twisted Eggs Benedict Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Salad for breakfast? Absolutely. You can prep everything except the dressing and chill

it overnight

it overnight. In the morning, dress the salad and poach the eggs. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota Nutrition Facts: 1 cup salad with 1 egg: 199 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 200mg cholesterol, 710mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 14g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 2 fat, 1 vegetable. 8/29 Mud Pie 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mud Pie Recipe photo by Jonathan Melendez for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Here’s one of those “looks like you fussed” desserts that is so easy

it’s become a standard for me

it’s become a standard for me. I love the mocha version, but pure chocolate lovers may prefer using chocolate chip ice cream. The cookie crust is a snap to make. —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 381 calories, 22g fat (11g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. 9/29 Overnight Pancakes 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Overnight Pancakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 30 pancakes Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Our kids love waking up to these golden, fluffy pancakes. The buttermilk batter

I wanted to share a little taste of home with my in-laws

is refrigerated overnight, making them perfect for busy mornings and special occasion breakfasts alike. —Lisa Sammons, Cut Bank, Montana Nutrition Facts: 3 pancakes: 319 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 116mg cholesterol, 862mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 12g protein. 10/29 Make-Ahead Cornbread Dressing Make-Ahead Cornbread Dressing Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 25 min Servings 14 servings (3/4 cup each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Being from California, my family has always been big veggie eaters. I wanted to share a little taste of home with my in-laws so I created

this dish for Thanksgiving

this dish for Thanksgiving. You don’t have to let it sit overnight, but it’s a nice make ahead Thanksgiving option and the flavors mesh more that way. —Patricia Broussard, Lafayette, Louisiana Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 269 calories, 19g fat (7g saturated fat), 42mg cholesterol, 528mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein. 11/29 Ginger Pear Freezer Jam 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ginger Pear Freezer Jam Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 7 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: At dinner with friends one evening, one of our hosts served some

pears she had preserved with ginger and lemon

pears she had preserved with ginger and lemon. The flavor was so heavenly I decided to use the fresh pears she gave us to try my hand at a ginger and lemon freezer jam.—Jeni Pittard, Commerce, Georgia Nutrition Facts: 2 tablespoons: 64 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 9mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein. 12/29 Broccoli Grape Salad 26 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Broccoli Grape Salad Recipe photo by Orly Catz for Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings about 20 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: People can’t get enough

of the sweet grapes and crunchy broccoli in this colorful salad

of the sweet grapes and crunchy broccoli in this colorful salad. I appreciate its make-ahead convenience. —Terri Twyman, Bonanza, Oregon Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 344 calories, 26g fat (4g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 268mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 4g fiber), 7g protein. 13/29 Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy 16 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Make-Ahead Turkey Gravy Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 25 min Servings 4-1/4 cups Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family loves gravy, so I can never have enough of this make-ahead turkey gravy recipe on hand for a holiday dinner. The

base is prepared with turkey wings and can be prepped in advance

base is prepared with turkey wings and can be prepped in advance. —Linda Fitzsimmons, Fort Edward, New York Nutrition Facts: 3 tablespoons: 61 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 234mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein. 14/29 Overnight Cinnamon Rolls 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved LETICIA ALMEIDA FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 55 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like to try different fun fillings in these soft rolls, and each one is packed with cinnamon flavor. They are definitely worth the overnight wait. —Chris O’Connell, San Antonio,

Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 roll: 278 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 262mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein. 15/29 Classic Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes 44 Reviews Classic Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 35 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These make-ahead mashed potatoes save me a ton of time on Christmas Day. No more frantically whipping the potatoes while hungry family and guests hang around the kitchen! —Marty Rummel, Trout Lake, Washington Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 220 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat

fat), 22mg cholesterol, 316mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat. 16/29 Cherry Danish 64 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Overnight Cherry Danish Recipe photo by Orly Catz for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 45 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These rolls with their cherry-filled centers melt in your mouth and store well unfrosted in the freezer. —Leann Sauder, Tremont, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1 pastry: 218 calories, 8g fat (5g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 188mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 17/29

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