Our Favorite Cozy Thanksgiving Recipes

This Thanksgiving, we’re sharing some of our favorite cozy recipes for the holiday. Enjoy!

Warm Homemade Apple Cider

It’s best (and fastest!) to use a slow cooker, instead of a stovetop pot.

Ingredients:

7–10 large or medium apples, some acidic (like Pink Lady) and some sweeter (like Golden Delicious), sliced

1 lemon, peeled and sliced

2 cinnamon sticks

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon ground cloves

1 ½ cups sugar, either brown or white or a combination

1. Combine apple slices, lemon slices, cinnamon, half the sugar, and cloves in your slow cooker, then top with water.
2. Let cook on medium heat for about 5 hours
3. Mash all fruits and spices together
4. Let cook for another 2 hours, on low heat
5. Strain liquid through a dense mesh strainer
6. Stir in vanilla extract and remaining sugar, if desired
7. Serve immediately!

Traditional Stuffing with Chestnuts & Herbs

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

1 onion, chopped

6 full-sized celery stalks, chopped

Dash of salt and pepper

1 ½ cups chicken or vegetable broth

½ cup fresh parsley

1 tsp dried sage

2 ½ cups whole chestnuts

8 cups bread cubes (best to use day-old white bread)

1. Preheat oven to 350° and bring a large saucepan of water to a boil.
2. Add chestnuts to water and cook until tender, about 20 minutes
3. Peel chestnuts and chop
4. Lightly sauté the chopped onion and celery in the butter, until they’re a just barely browned
5. Mix the butter and vegetable mixture with the bread cubes and chopped chestnuts in a large bowl
6. Add chicken or vegetable broth
7. Stuff in turkey and cook, or place in a glass baking dish and cover with foil; bake for about 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for about 20 more minutes, until browned and crispy on top
8. Serve hot

After-Dinner Cinnamon Coffee Cake

The perfect warm dessert to complement a cup of coffee or espresso—that isn’t too sweet.

Ingredients:

(For cake)

¾ cup butter, softened

1 ¼ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

¾ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

Dash of salt

(For cinnamon topping)

½ cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 tablespoons butter, melted

¾ cup chopped nuts (such as pecans or walnuts)

Cinnamon topping:

1. Mix together all ingredients on medium speed

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Use an electric mixer to cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs until fluffy
3. Blend in sour cream and vanilla extract
4. In a separate bowl, combine remaining dry ingredients, then add to mixing bowl, beating until well-combined
5. Pour half the batter into a deep, rectangular pan, either glass or aluminum
6. Spread a thin layer of cinnamon topping over full length of cake
7. Pour in remaining batter, then top with the rest of the cinnamon mixture
8. Bake for about 45 minutes
9. Let cool until just warm, and then slice and serve with coffee

Whatever your foodie traditions, we hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving this year!