Nothing beats Grandma’s treats. But you can get awfully close with Grandma’s favorite recipes. This holiday, add a taste of nostalgia to your Christmas dessert table and fill your home with the familiar scents and sweetness of the holidays. Whether you need a seasonal cookie or a white Christmas pie, grandmothers across the Allrecipes community offer their best recipes for all your winter festivities.
Grandma Minecci’s Snowball Cookies
Photographer: Jake Sternquist / Food Styling: Annie Probst / Prop Styling: Kristen Schooley
These dainty delights melt in your mouth and play the perfect counterpoint to fudge and other richer treats in a Christmas cookie tin. For a fragrant twist, swap almond extract for the vanilla.
Grandma’s Gingersnap Cookies
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This recipe for gingersnaps makes gingersnap cookies that melt in your mouth! I received this ginger cookie recipe from my grandmother; it’s been enjoyed in my family since 1899,” says Allrecipes member Marie Ayers. “Store cookies in an airtight container.”
Italian Cream Cheese and Ricotta Cheesecake
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
“This is my grandmother’s cheesecake recipe passed down to my entire family. It’s the best,” writes Allrecipes member April Caudle. “I can’t believe I’m sharing it, but everyone needs to know how to make an authentic Italian cheesecake. It is creamy and not thick, which is why our family loves it!”
Grandma’s Butterscotch Pie
Allrecipes/Julia Hartbeck
“Butterscotch pie is one of my favorite holiday desserts. This is my grandma’s recipe that I still make to this day,” says recipe contributor Bernice Smith.
Grandmother’s Pound Cake
Photographer: Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling: Shannon Goforth / Prop Styling: Natalie Ghazali
“This traditional pound cake recipe is over 100 years old and is the original kind of pound cake: it contains 1 pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour with no salt, baking powder, or flavoring,” says Allrecipes member WHOLEGRAINWOMAN. “Vanilla or almond extract can be added if desired.”
Willard Family German Chocolate Cake
Allrecipes / Julia Hartbeck
“This recipe has been in my family for a very long time. My great-grandma could make this with her eyes closed,” says Allrecipes member Kelly MacDonald. “My father was born on her birthday, so she made this cake for him every year. Even shipped it to him in Korea when he was stationed there in the army.”
Grandma Minnie’s Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies
Photographer: Brie Goldman / Food Styling: Annie Probst / Prop Styling: Breanna Ghazali
“This is a wonderful recipe. It is now my favorite sugar cookie recipe,” writes Allrecipes member MARCIE4. “Make sure you do not use electric beaters to mix in vanilla, egg and cream—do it by hand.”
Old-Fashioned Divinity Candy
Allrecipes member
“Reminds me of Grandma’s,” says yendorf. “First time I ever made divinity. Turned out great. Just remember to stay patient and let your stand mixer do the hard work. It will complain when the candy gets stiff, but stay with it.”
Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
Rob Tanner
Just like your nonna used to make! “Italian friends have told me this tastes ‘just the way biscotti is supposed to taste,'” writes Allrecipes member GZJ123. Their advice? “Don’t use butter or margarine. Find a light, good quality olive oil. Butter doesn’t belong in biscotti—it won’t age well and will become rancid instead of allowing the flavor to develop.”
Grandma’s Povitica
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
“I loved when my grandma would make this povitica bread recipe when I was a child. It’s a real treat enjoyed in Croatia. Enjoy! This is time-consuming but worth every minute!” —Stephani
Traditional Springerle
Allrecipes member
“Springerle cookies are one of Germany’s most famous Christmas treats. I’ve had them every year since I was a child,” says Allrecipes member Adrienne Belaire. “My mother remembers her grandmother making them with this recipe that has been in our family for generations.”
Grandma Gudgel’s Black Bottom Cupcakes
Allrecipes member
Ooey, gooey, chocolaty. Meet the cupcake of your dreams. “These were absolutely PERFECT! Even better than the expensive ones they sell at coffeehouses. I followed the recipe exactly and baked for 30 minutes for a picture-perfect product,” writes Allrecipes member Mo. “Will make these over and over again, much to my family and coworkers’ delight!”
Rosenmunnar
Allrecipes member
Just like your favorite Swedish grandma used to bake! These jam thumbprints come together in a snap and call for only four ingredients.
Grandma’s Caramel Popcorn Balls
“My mom made these delicious popcorn balls when I was growing up,” writes Allrecipes member Kim1520. “I made the family recipe for the first time this year. My daughters, grown with their own families, asked why I hadn’t made these sooner. Thirty-plus years later, this recipe will now be a family tradition at Christmas.”
Grandma Leone’s Fruit Cake
Debbie Doo
“Don’t get this cake confused with the traditional fruit cake. It is so much more,” says Allrecipes member Debbie Ries. “This recipe has been handed down for 3 generations, and I now want to share it with all of you. Don’t get nervous with all the ingredients. Everything gets hand-mixed in one great big bowl.”
Dining and Cooking