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Make These Dishes Ahead of Time! - 30 recipes

Give yourself more free time by prepping and preparing these recipes in advance, because the Holidays are really all about hanging out with your loved ones.

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Top Recipe

By GratefulSea

Rate this recipe 4/5 (3 Votes)
Cranberry Sauce with Bourbon & Mint 1 Picture
Details

Servings 8
Cooking time 125

  • 1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar; more to taste
  • 1/3 cup bourbon
  • 5 big sprigs fresh mint
  • 1/2 cup chopped, toasted hazelnuts

See this recipe

Traditional cranberries with a hint of bourbon and mint flavors

Top rated Make-Ahead Thanksgiving recipes

By

These mashed potatoes are great because you can make them ahead and save yourself some time

  • 15 medium (5 pounds) potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 egg whites, slightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
4.5/5 (11 Votes)

By

This recipe makes 8 loaves of bread, so you can enjoy the taste and texture of homemade bread for a while

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup lard
  • 2 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 quart scalded milk
  • 1 quart boiling water
  • 3 packages dry yeast
  • 1/3 cup lukewarm water
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 25 to 30 cups flour
4.4/5 (19 Votes)

By

Sauté celery and onion in butter until soft, set aside

  • 2 cups celery, chopped
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 2 pound pork breakfast sausage
  • 5 quarts hamburger buns, broken into pieces (1bun=approx 1 cup)
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups chicken broth, plus extra
4/5 (67 Votes)

By

Make-ahead recipes are a lifesaver when the holidays roll around

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups Easy Chicken Stock
  • 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 5 to 6 tablespoons easy chicken stock (optional)
4.6/5 (23 Votes)

By

Your kids will want to eat dirt, and so will you, with this Oreo Dirt cake

  • 1 (14.3-ounce) package of Oreo cookies
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 (12-ounce) container of Cool Whip
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 (3.4-ounce) packages of vanilla or chocolate instant pudding mix
4/5 (439 Votes)

By

This apple filling makes the best pies

  • 7 to 8 cups sliced apples (thin)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoons butter cut into chunks
3.7/5 (316 Votes)

By

This scrumptious Philadelphia 3-Step Cheesecake is a super easy way to enjoy cheesecake any time

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 (6-ounce) Honey Maid Graham Pie Crust
3.8/5 (724 Votes)

By

Combine brunch essentials overnight, including hash browns, eggs, cheddar cheese and bacon, for tasty brunch bites ...

  • 1 (30-ounce) bag hash brown potatoes, frozen country-style, shredded
  • 3/4 cup (from 10 3/4 ounce can) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
  • 12 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3/4 cup cooked real bacon pieces, from a jar or package
  • 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
4.4/5 (184 Votes)

By

Layers of goodness abound with pie crusts separated by a sweet pecan mixture in this delicious pie cobbler, the per...

  • 1 box refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
  • 2 1/2 cups light corn syrup
  • 2 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 4 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 6 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
  • Butter-flavor cooking spray
  • 2 cups pecan halves
  • Vanilla ice cream, if desired
4.1/5 (138 Votes)

By

This Beef Brisket is great with mashed potatoes with the juice spooned over the top and your favorite roasted veget...

  • 2 (10.5-ounce) cans beef consommé
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 5 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons liquid smoke
  • 1 (10-pound) beef brisket
3.8/5 (193 Votes)

By

Fluffy beaten egg whites make this eggnog recipe lighter and easier to drink than a cup of cream and booze has any ...

  • 6 large eggs, separated
  • 1 cup sugar
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • 3 cups whole milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups dark rum
  • whole nutmeg and cinnamon stick, grated with a microplane for serving
4.5/5 (48 Votes)

By

Gravy is one of the easiest things to make, you just have to follow a few basic rules

  • 4 turkey wings
  • 4 ribs celery, (use leaves too)
  • 1 onion, cut into chunks
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 8 cups water
  • 10 peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups turkey stock, strained with fat skimmed
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or a splash of white wine
  • Kosher salt to taste (I used 1/2 teaspoon)
  • Fresh cracked pepper, optional
4.3/5 (50 Votes)

By

Buttery, soft ‘n chewy Butter Pecan Cookies exploding with toasted pecans and brown sugar flavor

  • 1 1/2 cups Diamond of California pecans, chopped
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature preferred
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar, for rolling, optional
  • sea salt, for sprinkling, optional
4.6/5 (29 Votes)

By

You'll never buy cheese crackers at the store again, now that you have this SHarp Cheddar Chili Cheese Cracker reci...

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, 1/2 stick
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
4.3/5 (28 Votes)

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