Holidays Archives - Cooking with Cassandra

The Best Au Gratin Potatoes (Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe)

The Best Au Gratin Potatoes Recipe Creamy, cheesy, and baked to golden perfection, this Au Gratin Potatoes recipe is pure comfort food. Tender Yukon Gold potatoes are layered with Gruyere cheese and a spiced cream sauce, making it the perfect side dish for holidays, family dinners, or whenever you’re craving something extra special. 3 pounds Yukon Gold (peeled and sliced into ⅛ slices (approx 8 medium yukon gold potatoes))2 ½ cups Gruyere cheese (grated)Spiced Cream3 cups heavy cream/whipping cream1 large yellow onion (thinly sliced)3 bay leaves6 garlic cloves (minced)2 teaspoons dried...

The Best Creamy Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Introducing my absolute favorite mashed potatoes recipe! When it comes to comfort food, this truly is the best creamy mashed potatoes recipe you’ll ever try. These homemade potatoes are rich, buttery, packed with flavor, and incredibly easy to make. Whether served at a holiday feast or a casual family dinner, they’re always a hit. What makes these mashed potatoes so special? Yukon Gold mashed potatoes are naturally creamy and buttery, and when paired with garlic, cream cheese, whipping cream, and a touch of sea salt, the flavor is out of this world! The cream cheese adds a tangy twist,...

Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Looking for the perfect holiday cookie that combines warm spices, rich molasses flavor, and a texture so soft and chewy that it practically melts in your mouth? Look no further! These Soft and Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies are your answer. Packed with cozy flavors like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, this recipe is perfect for your holiday baking lineup or whenever you crave a touch of comfort. Plus, they stay fresh for days, making them ideal for cookie swaps, holiday gifts, or simply enjoying with a warm cup of tea. Recently, I featured this recipe in my Ultimate Holiday Cookie Prep Guide...

Almond Snowball Cookies Recipe

A stack of almond snowball cookies dusted with powdered sugar, with one cookie broken in half to show its soft, buttery interior.

If you’re searching for a festive, quick, and easy-to-make dessert, this Almond Snowball Cookies Recipe is the holiday treat you need! These buttery, nutty cookies are delicately coated in powdered sugar, giving them their signature "snowball" look and a melt-in-your-mouth texture. I even featured this recipe in my Winnipeg Sun article, Your Ultimate Holiday Cookie Prep Guide, where I shared all my favorite tips and must-try holiday recipes. Perfect for cookie platters, gift boxes, or as a cozy snack alongside your morning coffee, these almond cookies are sure to become a festive favorite...

Best Homemade Apple Pie Recipe

The comforting aroma of a freshly baked apple pie is pure magic. This Best Homemade Apple Pie Recipe is my go-to favorite, made entirely from scratch with simple ingredients. Juicy apple slices are perfectly spiced and baked inside a golden, flaky crust that delivers a crisp contrast to the soft, tender filling—no mushy apples, no soggy bottoms, just a foolproof apple pie every time. What makes this pie truly special are the caramelized cinnamon-spiced filling that peeks through our easy lattice crust, creating tall, picture-perfect slices. Each bite is packed with nostalgic, comforting...

The Best Christmas Sugar Cookies Recipe with Easy Icing

Introducing truly the best sugar cookie recipe! These soft and festive Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for holiday baking and a must-have in your seasonal collection. My simple cut-out cookies come together quickly and are ideal for decorating with your favorite icing designs. One of the best parts? No chill time is needed! Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth, and quick to make, this cookie dough has become a go-to for me and my family. This guide will show you how to make cookies that stay soft, hold their shape, and have a beautiful, shiny icing. Grab your favorite cookie cutters and enjoy...

Crispy Salami Bites

Looking for a quick, no-fuss appetizer that’s packed with flavor? These Crispy Salami Bites have you covered! With a crispy, savory base topped with feta, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil, they’re sure to be a hit at any gathering. Whether you're hosting a party, prepping game day snacks, or adding something unique to a holiday charcuterie board, this easy recipe is guaranteed to impress! One of the best things about this appetizer is that it takes only 20 minutes from start to finish! It’s quick, easy to make, and the perfect cute addition to any spread. I always get compliments...

Homemade All Butter Pie Crust Recipe

Close-up of a golden, flaky lattice pie crust made with homemade all-butter dough, sprinkled lightly with sugar crystals before baking.

When it comes to baking the perfect pie, it all starts with the crust. This All Butter Pie Crust Recipe is my go-to, foolproof recipe that delivers amazing results every time. It’s easy to roll out and creates a flaky, buttery crust that enhances any filling, from sweet apple or pumpkin to savory pot pies. Unsalted butter adds a rich, irresistible taste that shortening or other fats just can’t match. Made with simple ingredients, this crust is a baker’s best friend, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. If the thought of making homemade pie crust feels overwhelming, don’t worry—I’m here...

The Best Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

You're going to love this pumpkin cake as much as I do! It's a super moist, single-layer pumpkin cake with the creamiest cream cheese frosting—perfect for fall gatherings like Thanksgiving or a cozy weekend at home. The pumpkin makes the cake irresistibly soft and gives it that gorgeous orange glow. And then there’s the frosting—oh, that frosting that’s so irresistible I could eat it straight from the spoon! I’ve made this cake four times this month, and trust me, it’s that good. This recipe is foolproof, easy to whip up, and packed with real pumpkin flavor without being overwhelmed by...

The Best Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Pumpkin Cheesecake | cookingwithcassandra.com

Indulge in the rich, velvety goodness of the best pumpkin cheesecake recipe you’ve ever tasted—the perfect fall dessert for cozy days at home. This easy pumpkin cheesecake features a spiced, creamy filling paired with a buttery graham cracker and pecan crust. The warm flavors of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg make every bite of this spiced pumpkin cheesecake taste like autumn, topped with optional (but totally worth it) cinnamon whipped cream. It's a must for any Thanksgiving table, and I’m here to share all my tricks for a flawless, crack-free result—all made from scratch and without a...

Best Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

Classic Stuffing | cookingwithcassandra.com

Discover how easy it is to put together a delicious, warm stuffing, that you’ll never go back to the boxed kind. Yes, prepackaged stuffing tastes fine and is an absolute breeze to cook, but there is no comparison once you try making this homemade version. There's something so special about home-cooked meals— nothing beats the comfort of making it yourself. Whether it's a cozy favorite like mac and cheese or your own twist on a classic dish like my turmeric ginger chicken noodle soup, the flavors are just better at home. Sometimes, they even bring back nostalgic childhood memories!...

Easy Bruschetta Recipe

Toasted Bread with Bruschetta Toppings | cookingwithcassandra.com

One of the reasons why I enjoy summer (besides barbecues and sunshine) is because of all the produce that is in-season. Melon and berries often get the spotlight as summer fruits, but think about all the fresh tomatoes! This fruit (we aren’t going to debate on whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables!) is perfect for one of my favorite appetizers: bruschetta. Bruschetta — a traditional Italian antipasto — is essentially a tomato mixture on grilled bread slices and is great as an appetizer, snack, side dish or even on its own. They look fancy, but are so easy to make! With...