21 Recipes From the December 2022 Issue of Real Simple (2024)

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Rosemary-Honey Prosciutto Crisps

Prosciutto already packs plenty of savory, craveable flavor on its own. So imagine the treat for your taste buds when you coat slices in rosemary-scented honey and crisp it up in the oven. This is a party snack that’s guaranteed to go fast.

French Onion Soup Bites

Turn the beloved bistro soup into a delightful two-bite party app by stuffing frozen phyllo pastry shells with plenty of buttery caramelized onions and topping them with a generous sprinkle of shredded Gruyere cheese.

Butternut Squash Tartines

Everyone loves a fancy toast, and this festive version has a wintery topping of sweet roasted butternut squash, plus a creamy smear of ricotta and a sprinkle of crunch from pistachios.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Transform a jar of roasted red bell peppers into a fluffy, savory dip that gets its creamy texture from cashews in a technique similar to Romesco.

Mini Goat Cheese Balls

These tasty, cheesy bites are dressed for the party, thanks to a coating of dried cherries, chopped fresh parsley, and nutty sesame seeds.

Easy Dinner Ideas

Instant Pot Beef Ragu With Pappardelle

With an electric pressure cooker, you get all of the richness and flavor of a simmered-all-day meat sauce in a fraction of the time. Serve this deeply savory ragu over thick-cut pappardelle, polenta, or mashed potatoes.

Lemon-Coriander Roasted Chicken With Leeks and Squash

This meal may draw “oohs” and “aahs” at the dinner table, but it’s happily mostly hands-off and easy to make in one pan. It’s full of seasonal flavor from sweet acorn squash and melted leeks.

Fish Tacos with Spanish-Style Marinated Peppers

These fast fish tacos are seasoned with paprika and oregano and topped with a bright and sweet salsa made with jarred roasted red peppers and charred scallions.

Open-Faced Chicken Curry Naan

You can make satisfying curried flatbread sandwiches in an impressive 25 minutes without sacrificing flavor, thanks to red curry paste and creamy Greek yogurt mixed into the ground chicken filling and dolloped on top.

Charred Broccolini With Tahini Caesar and Crispy Chickpeas

This is a lighter wintertime dinner that’s still comforting. Crispy broccolini and chickpeas are tossed with a thick, umami-packed Caesar dressing made with Parmesan, tahini, and dijon mustard.

Sheet Pan Pierogies With Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Shallots, and Mustard Dressing

It’s hard to beat a sheet pan dinner, and this one is far from ordinary, thanks to cheesy frozen pierogies, crispy Brussels sprouts, and a savory dill and mustard dressing drizzled over everything.

Baby Lamb Chops With Mixed Olive Relish and Roasted Carrots

Pick up frenched lamb chops to treat yourself to this easy (but fancy) weeknight dinner complete with lightly charred carrots and a savory olive-caper topping.

Potato-Parsnip Latkes

Add a hint of sweetness to a classic holiday meal by including apples and parsnips in shredded potato pancakes. Then top stacks of golden latkes with sour cream and honey.

Giftable Treats

Peppermint Checkerboard Cookies

These cute shortbread treats look as good as they taste and get a seasonal spark from a few drops of peppermint extract.

Herb and Cheese Crackers

Making your own herby, buttery crackers is a guaranteed recipe for a memorable (not to mention delicious) holiday gift.

Gingerbread Pretzel Popcorn

If you love gingerbread cookies, you’ll want to make an extra-big batch of this caramel-coated, lightly spiced popcorn that gets a savory twist from chopped pretzels.

Holiday Brigadeiros

Give these four-ingredient Brazilian fudge balls a coating of shimmery sprinkles and they’re nearly–nearly–too pretty to eat.

Salty Coffee Toffee Bars

Layers of buttery crackers, gooey caramel, and beautifully swirled chocolate and butterscotch chips make these buzzy bars instant holiday winners.

Mini Chocolate-Olive Oil Cakes

Break out your cutest miniature cake or loaf pans for these dense and fudgy one-bowl cakes that happen to be vegan.

Apple Rugelach

Put a fruity spin on these traditional Jewish pastries by adding apple butter to the filling. Then top each swirled cookie with crunchy sparkling sugar to complete the party-ready look.

Brunch

Spiced Chocolate-Orange Pull-Apart Loaf

This soft and airy bread is a perfect holiday brunch treat, but don’t expect leftovers. Once guests get a whiff of the warming spices and surprise chocolate filling, it will go fast.