⭐ Holiday Recipe Round-Up ⭐
Celebrate with community favorites and an easy holiday bake for hungry stomachs!
Small Bites:
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The holidays have a way of pulling food and memory together…those once-a-year recipes, the smells that mean home, and the dishes your kids now ask for because they remember loving them last December. This year, we’re celebrating the season with a handful of One Potato readers’ most-requested holiday recipes, including a few sentimental treasures (like the Pen Parentis writer-submitted Mama’s Treasure Cake, passed down from Ellen’s mother).
These are the recipes our community returns to again and again: flexible, customizable, and low-stress, so you can spend more time enjoying the people at your table and less time fussing in the kitchen. As always, we’re sharing simple family participation ideas for each dish: easy ways for little hands to help, taste, stir, sprinkle, and join the fun.
From crispy latkes and cozy soups to build-your-own treats and festive drinks, this round-up brings together seasonal favorites that are joyful to cook and even better to share.
And because the holidays often mean surprise guests (or very hungry teenagers), we’re also including a brand-new make-ahead baked pasta that feeds a crowd without the stress.
Here’s what we’re cooking up together:
🥔 Crispy Potato Latkes – golden, crunchy, and endlessly dippable
🥣 One Potato Chicken Soup – cozy, comforting, and freezer-friendly
🍎 Apple Nachos with Chocolate & Coconut – a build-your-own treat kids adore
🎂 Mama’s Treasure Cake – nostalgic, beautiful, and reader-submitted
🥖 Bruschetta 3-Ways – crisp, flavorful, and easy to customize
🥂 Festive Mocktail Round-Up – bubbly, bright, and family-friendly
🍝 Bonus: Holiday Baked Pasta with Veggies & Sausage – hearty, cheesy, and great for last-minute hosting
Scroll for recipes and the full instructions for each!
🥔 Potato Latkes & Chicken Soup
Why we love it: These two recipes (make together for a full meal!) feel like instant holiday magic. The latkes are crispy, salty, perfect-with-any-dip classics, and the chicken soup is that deeply comforting, “someone-who-loves-you-made-this” kind of broth. Together, they taste like childhood memories whether you grew up celebrating Hanukkah, are building new traditions with your own family, or want to explore Jewish food (Amy, from What Jew Wanna Eat, recommends starting with latkes!).
Getting Kids Involved:
Grate potatoes (with supervision, if needed, for little fingers!)
Slice & prep veggies or roll matzo balls to add to the soup pot
Top their own latkes with applesauce, sour cream, or creative twists
Meal Prep Tips:
Make a big batch of soup in advance and freeze for busy nights
Reheat latkes in the oven or air fryer to bring back that perfect crisp
🍎 New Year’s Eve Apple Nachos
Why we love it: This is One Potato-style holiday magic that’s festive, unfussy, and endlessly customizable. Apple “nachos” are the easiest build-your-own treat, ideal for picky eaters, late-night snacking, or a family movie countdown. A little sweet, a little crunchy, and a lot of fun.
Getting Kids Involved:
Slice apples using a kid-safe knife
Drizzle peanut butter, melted chocolate, yogurt, or caramel
Add toppings: granola, sprinkles, crushed pretzels, coconut flakes
Meal Prep Tips:
Pre-portion toppings into bowls for a quick DIY bar
Dip apple slices in lemon water to prevent browning
🍰 Mama’s Treasure Cake (A Writer-Reader Submitted Recipe!)
Why we love it: Shared through our Pen Parentis collaboration, this heirloom cake from reader Ellen Frank Bayer is pure holiday nostalgia. The “treasure” is the chocolate gently swirled through the batter—a simple, old-fashioned marble cake that feels both cozy and celebratory.
Getting Kids Involved:
Swirl in the chocolate
Grease and flour the pan
Dust with powdered sugar or help decorate
Meal Prep Tips:
Bake a day ahead for even better flavor
Store tightly wrapped; serves beautifully at room temp
🥖 Bruschetta 3-Ways
Why we love it: Bruschetta is the ultimate crowd-pleaser: crispy bread, colorful toppings, and a choose-your-own-adventure approach that kids and grown-ups both love. This recipe includes three topping options, plus endless variations, perfect for holiday snacking, easy lunches, or build-your-own appetizers.
Getting Kids Involved:
Brush olive oil onto bread slices
Stir together tomato topping or help pulse cheese in the food processor
Assemble their own bruschetta with veggies, cheese, or herbs
Meal Prep & Time Savers:
Make toppings 1–3 days in advance and store in airtight containers
Toast bread right before serving for the best crunch
Use store-bought crostini if you’re short on time
🍹 Sparkly Mocktail Bar
Why we love it: A mocktail bar adds celebration to any holiday moment, no champagne needed. Kids love choosing their cup, picking their fruit, and making their “signature” drink. (Want to add some learning to this New Year’s mocktail? Re-use the Halloween Potions worksheet and practice some fractions!)
Getting Kids Involved:
Pour juice or sparkling water into fancy glasses
Add sliced fruit, berries, or fresh herbs
Garnish with umbrellas, stirrers, or fun ice cubes
Meal Prep Tips:
Freeze fruit slices for colorful, frosty “ice”
🍝 *NEW RECIPE* Holiday Baked Pasta with Veggies & Sausage
🧒 Kid Tasks:
Younger Kids: Stir the cooked pasta with the sauce and cheese, layer ingredients into the baking dish, and sprinkle the mozzarella on top.
Middle-age Kids: Help sauté the veggies (with supervision), taste and adjust seasonings, and assemble the full casserole before baking.
Teens: Take on the full recipe! Cook the full veggie-and-sausage mixture, season the sauce, assemble the casserole, and handle the baking and portioning.
