Search by ingredient, season, occasion, or the kind of meal you have in mind. Every recipe includes the complete story, tested instructions, helpful notes, and a printable recipe card.
Gather around
Start with a collection.
Seasonal gatherings, Southern traditions, and something sweet.
Soft and chewy Peanut Blossom cookies made with creamy peanut butter, rolled in sugar, and topped with a chocolate kiss. A classic cookie everyone loves. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Cookie Swaps or anytime you want a special treat .
Feeds a crowd
Dessert15 minutes + 45 minutes chill time in refrigerator or 20 minutes in the freezer if you are short on time
Soft and chewy gingerbread cookies dipped in silky white chocolate and sprinkled with festive holiday sprinkles. A classic Southern Christmas cookie! Easy to make, warmly spiced, and perfect for gifting, cookie swaps, or adding to your holiday dessert trays .
Feeds a crowd
Dessert10 to 15 minutes plus about 40 minutes to bake the sweet potatoes
This classic Southern Sweet Potato Pie is silky-smooth, lightly spiced, and absolutely delicious. Made with baked sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, and warm spices, it’s the perfect holiday dessert. Easy to make and impossible to resist!
This easy Jiffy Corn Pudding is creamy, sweet, buttery, and never fails. Made with Jiffy Cornbread Mix, whole-kernel corn, and sour cream, it’s the perfect last-minute Thanksgiving side, potluck casserole, or holiday crowd-pleaser. Ready in minutes with simple pantry ingredients!
This easy Easter Brunch Casserole is made with crispy bacon, savory ham, shredded hash browns, and a creamy egg base with Cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese. Perfect for holiday mornings, this make-ahead breakfast casserole is freezer-friendly and great for feeding a crowd. A cozy and comforting dish for Easter, Christmas, or any weekend brunch.
Warm, Southern Comfort in Every Bite This classic New Orleans-style bread pudding is rich, creamy, and infused with warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Made with heavy cream and baked to perfection, it’s topped with a decadent buttery bourbon sauce that soaks into every bite. Whether served warm for dessert or as an indulgent brunch treat, this bread pudding is pure Southern comfort at its finest.
If there’s one dish that perfectly captures the essence of Southern charm, it’s Southern Ambrosia. This iconic fruit salad combines the bright, citrusy sweetness of pineapple and mandarin oranges with the festive flair of maraschino cherries, all embraced by the delicate nuttiness of shredded coconut. Soft, tender marshmallows add a creamy texture, creating a dessert that’s as inviting as a front porch swing and as comforting as your grandma’s Sunday best. Whether gracing a holiday table or cooling down a summer picnic, Southern Ambrosia is more than a recipe, it’s a cherished piece of tradition that brings joy to every gathering.
You’ll love this juicy Cajun fried turkey, perfectly seasoned with a blend of bold spices that bring out its rich, savory flavor. The golden-brown, crispy skin gives way to tender, moist meat that melts in your mouth. It’s a deliciously satisfying dish that’s sure to be the star of any gathering!
These buttery homemade sugar cookies are impossibly light, crisp around the edges, and melt in your mouth with every bite. Topped with festive red and green sprinkles, they bring just the right amount of holiday cheer to your dessert table. Perfectly sweet and delicately thin, they’re a treat that’s as nostalgic as it is irresistible.”
It's a comforting, aromatic drink that not only warms the body but also the soul. The blend of spices, the sweetness of the apple, and the tangy hint of citrus create a symphony of flavors that is truly Christmas in a cup.
Southern pecan pie is the crown jewel of Southern desserts, a rich, buttery masterpiece that blends the warm, toasty flavor of pecans with a velvety, caramel-like custard made from dark and light corn syrup, sugar, and just the right touch of vanilla. Each bite delivers the perfect balance of gooey sweetness and nutty crunch, all cradled in a flaky, golden pie crust.
A recipe that's synonymous with Thanksgiving - the Classic Green Bean Casserole. This dish, with its creamy mushroom sauce, tender green beans, and crispy fried onions, has graced our holiday tables for generations. It’s so delicious no wonder why Americans have fallen in love with it.
Light, fluffy, creamy and buttery is the best way to describe these mashed potatoes that are made with a combination of rustic potatoes and delicious golden Yukon potatoes giving you the perfect texture and flavor. This is a foolproof recipe for mashed potatoes!
The Mississippi pot roast is a beloved American dish known for its simplicity, flavor, and tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It’s made with only 5 ingredients and cooked to perfection in a slow cooker.
These buttery shortbread cookies filled with raspberry jam will literally melt in your mouth! They are super easy to make and will be perfect for any occasion.
These light and tender cake-like cookies are so delicious! Topped with a thick, cream yummy frosting, they taste like something baked from a fancy bakery. This cookie recipe is super easy to make and you can enjoy them for any holiday or occasion!
Really, a delicious, tender honey-flavored ham with a crisp, crackley, sugary spiced crust that tastes exactly like you get from The Honey Baked Ham store? Yes, and the best part is, it’s only a faction of the cost.
This Southern Cornbread Dressing is super moist and absolutely delicious! It will be the only cornbread dressing recipe that you will ever need! Serve it with turkey or chicken for Thanksgiving, Christmas or Sunday Dinner.
A delicious light and fluffy salad or dessert made with pistachio pudding, crushed pineapple, miniature marshmallows, nuts, and cool whip. It can be whipped up in a snap. Perfect for potlucks! A taste of heaven on earth.
This Broccoli Cheese Casserole is rich, creamy, and loaded with tender broccoli, cheddar cheese, and fluffy rice. A classic Southern holiday casserole everyone loves.
A sweet and salty party mix made with Corn Chex’s, dry roasted peanuts, M&M’s, salted pretzels coated in a rich creamy white chocolate. It’s simply out of this world delicious and perfect for the holidays!
Feeds a crowd
Side dish45 minutes (includes boiling sweet potatoes)
This Southern Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole is light, fluffy, and topped with a buttery pecan, brown sugar topping . A holiday favorite for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
This slow cooker bbq apple cider bbq pulled pork will melt in your mouth. It’s cooked to perfection with a delicious sweet & spicy homemade bbq sauce and rub. Pile it up high on a toasted buttered bun and enjoy!
If you like pecan pie, you will fall madly in love with these mini treats. It’s hard to believe anything so good could be so simple, easy and yummy! I’ll be making these by the dozens all during the holidays. Once you take a bite, you will be too!
Soft Cut-Out Sugar Cookies will be your go to sugar cookie recipe for any occasion. Use your favorite cookie cutter shapes and have fun baking, frosting and decorating!
Do you like your hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallows?
On a cold wintery day, I’m a girl who likes to curl up on the couch with a soft warm blanket and a cup of “steamy” hot chocolate topped with a mountain of whipped cream and marshmallows!
For those cold snowy winter days, there is nothing more comforting that a warm cup of hot chocolate. You just can’t beat it. It warms the heart and soul.
Just when you thought life couldn’t get any sweeter….here comes a crunchy, gooey, buttery, chocolatey slice of heaven, Chocolate Pecan Pie with a little splash of bourbon. That’s Kentucky bourbon, of course!
As you know, anything with chocolate in it is my weakness. And then when you add loads of crunchy pecans and freshly whipped cream. Oh my, It’s enough to bring a strong man to his knees!
This slice of heaven is a perfect ending to a holiday meal or to take to a potluck or office party. I promise everyone will rant and rave over it!! It will become a holiday favorite!
Red Velvet Cake needs no introduction. It’s simply without question the holy grail of holiday cakes. It’s beautiful, magical, mysterious, romantic, and undoubtedly one of the best tasting cakes that I ever put in my mouth!
Feeds a crowd
Side dish45 minutes (includes boiling sweet potatoes)
This classic Sweet Potato Soufflé with Toasted Marshmallows is the ultimate Southern holiday side dish. It’s made with creamy, buttery sweet potatoes and topped with a golden, gooey marshmallow layer. This recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and family gatherings. It’s easy, comforting, and always a crowd favorite.
Every time I cook this pot roast, it brings back precious memories of my childhood Sundays. After arriving home from church, we would be greeted with the mouth-watering smell of mama’s pot roast cooking in the oven.
I promise! I wouldn’t lie to you. Evidently my family feels the same way because I get asked to bring it to all our family gatherings and holiday dinners. It has a crispy, crunchy, cheesy crust with a soft soufflé like center. Absolutely divine!
These Classic Southern Deviled Eggs are creamy, tangy, and full of flavor with mayonnaise, mustard, sweet pickles, and paprika. A traditional Southern recipe perfect for Easter, picnics, potlucks, and holiday gatherings.
Warmed jalapeno Cranberry Sauce takes the traditional out-of- the-can cranberry sauce to a whole new level. With healthy dose of ginger and a splash of jalapeno this sauce will spice up your holiday table.
You might expect this cranberry sauce to be quite fiery, and it does have some bite, but it has a great sweetness from the apricot preserves as well which makes it perfect to pair with roasted meats such as turkey, chicken, and pork. Trust me after you try this sauce, you will never ever want to ever go make to canned cranberry sauce. The fresh orange juice and zest ties all the wonderful favors together and gives it a nice tang. You can all ways take out the jalapenos it you prefer a milder taste. With or without the jalapenos, it’s the best cranberry sauce.
I have delicious memories of my mother’s candied sweet potatoes. She would cook them in an iron skillet on top of the stove. So rich and decadent that they’re almost like a dessert.
This recipe is similar except I’ve add a splash of fresh orange juice and a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. Perfect flavors for a holiday side dish. I think my mom will approve.
Orange Candied Sweet Potatoes are really easy to make and much of the prep can be done ahead of time. To save time, you can cut your sweet potatoes two or three days ahead just keep them cover with ice water and stored in the frig to keep them from turning brown. The orange sauce can be made two or three days ahead as well.
Happy Holidays and Enjoy!
Aletia
The Christmas holidays are soon approaching. How exciting! It’s my favorite time of year, and I want this year to be extra special so I’m going to jazz up my holiday dinner table with just a few new twist to my traditional holiday classics.
Savory Turkey Breast Stuffed with Fruit and Nuts is going to be our Christmas dinner treat. You are going to love it too! This savory turkey breast is stuffed with a sweet, spicy fruit and nut mixture topped with a beautiful, shinny pear glaze.
Sounds yummy, doesn’t it?
The spicy fruit and nut mixture turns your everyday turkey breast into a wonderful festive main course.
It may look complicated, trying to stuff a turkey breast, but it’s not. I’ll walk you through it. Put the breast on a cutting board and holding your knife parallel to the a cutting board or work surface, slice open the turkey breast horizontally, working from the thicker side of the lobe to the thinner side and not cutting all the way through.
Open the turkey breast like a book and season with salt and pepper. Spread the fruit and nut filling evenly over half the opened turkey breast, leave a little border around the outer edges. Fold the other half of the turkey breast over the stuffing. Tie the breast crosswise with kitchen string in four or five places to hold it all together.
I’m going to serve this savory turkey breast alongside a super moist Apple Chestnut Cornbread Dressing and Orange Candied Yams. Be sure to check my recipe for these sides. Merry Christmas!
Enjoy!
Aletia
This pasta salad has the works! Pecans, crisp red and green peppers, sweet red onions, black olives, broccoli, chicken, and Parmesan cheese covered in a creamy, sweet, tangy dressing that is impossible not to love.
I love this salad. It’s just soooo good and beautiful with all the colorful veggies plus, adding the chicken makes it a complete meal.
I got the recipe from a friend at a Christmas party years ago and have been making it ever since.
If you have extra vegetables on hand, you should throw it into this pasta salad. Like cherry tomatoes, artichokes, shredded carrots, diced cucumbers and chickpeas are delicious in this salad too.
I simply can’t say enough about the dressing. It truly makes the whole dish come together. Something magical happens when Caesar, Italian, and honey mustard dressing are blended together.
are the best words to describe Pineapple Cheese Casserole. Pineapple Cheese Casserole is both sweet and savory. It’s literally a Southerner’s dream all rolled into one casserole-the perfect mix of canned pineapples, cheddar cheese, sugar, and buttered Ritz crackers.
For potlucks, church suppers, family gatherings, this is my dish to bring. It’s supper easy and can be whipped up in a snap and EVERYONE goes Stark Raving Mad over it! And never a crumb left!
It goes well with ham, pork and fried chicken. My family loves this casserole. Our holiday meals wouldn’t be complete without it.
Enjoy!
Aletia
Looking for a last minute dessert kind-of- dessert to bring to a family dinner or potluck at the office? Don’t despair! I have got you covered! It’s a Pecan Pie Trifle layers of chunked pecan pie, whipping cream/Mascarpone cheese mixture, fudge, caramel and toasted pecans. Doesn’t that sound divine? Well, it is!
This is one of my favorite appetizers to bring to a party especially this time of the year. It’s so delicious and it’s bursting with all the season’s flavors-cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh orange and topped with toasted pecans. I promise every bit will be devoured! This beautiful appetizer can be made in a snap! Trim rind from the top of the brie. Spread the cranberry filling on top and sprinkle with toasted pecans. Bake and serve hot with assorted crackers, gingersnaps, apple slices, pears, or baguette rounds. I hope you enjoy this for a holiday party!
Feeds a crowd
More family favorites are being carefully added to Aletia's recipe box.
stay a while
Fresh from Aletia's kitchen
A little Southern goodness in your inbox.
Subscribe to Aletia’s newsletter for recipes, seasonal inspiration, and stories from her kitchen.
Aletia’s newsletter by email. Unsubscribe at any time. Privacy policy