Thanksgiving Sides Roundup

I saw a t-shirt the other day that said, “I’m just here for the sides” and I felt like it should be mine! Thanksgiving is all about the sides for me. I could honestly do without the turkey…shhhhhhhh don’t tell anyone, but it’s true. Give me allllllll the potatoes, rolls, stuffing, veggies, sweet potatoes, salads and gravy!! And the pie…always save room for a slice (or 5) of pie! But that’s a whole different post! So here’s a roundup of all our favorite Thanksgiving sides…

Potatoes

Let’s start with the potatoes. Are you a classic mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving person? Or do you like to mix it up? We have recipes for roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, and several cheesy potato casseroles. No matter which way you want to potato, we have you covered!

Mashed Potatoes

This is your classic, creamy mashed potato recipe that is buttery and totally irresistible! Topped with some turkey gravy and you’ve entered turkey day euphoria!

Steakhouse Smashed Potatoes

These masked potatoes have a little texture to them so we call them “smashed potatoes”. We leave the skins on and leave the potatoes a little more chunky.

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From the crunch of the sugar crust on the bottom to the juicy cranberries to the flaky cake layer on top; Nantucket Christmas Cranberry Pie is cranberry dessert heaven.

This recipe was sent to me by a reader, Maureen. She saw our Cranberry Christmas Cake on Facebook and it reminded her of this pie. She thought we might like it and she was right.

Cranberry Pie

The sweetly tart combination proved to be irresistible! My whole family LOVED this pie and I even ate it again for breakfast. That’s how much I enjoyed it.

If you can’t decide whether to make cake or pie, this recipe is your answer!

Crunchy pecans are added to a mixture of tart juicy cranberries and sugar, then topped with a buttery batter to make ta dessert that’s a little bit cake and a little bit pie.

Is it a pie-like cake? Is it a cake-like pie? I don’t know but I do know that it tastes phenomenal!

Christmas Cranberry Pie

Have you ever made cranberry pie before? I admit that it’s not the first thing I think of when I think of pie but it makes total sense.

We eat a lot of cranberries around the holidays and even more pie so why not put the two together?

This Cranberry Pie recipe is also far less fussy than your typical Christmas Pie. Instead of rolling a delicate pie crust, you simply pour the cranberry filling into a pie pan and top with a batter made from butter, eggs, sugar and flour.

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Our Favorite From Scratch Banana Cream Pie Recipe

A banana cream pie recipe that is made completely from scratch and infused with real banana flavor. This is the best banana pie filling you’ll ever find!

I used the ATK method of infusing the filling with real bananas and oh my gosh, I love it so much. Why don’t people like pie?! What is wrong with the world? I have never once posted our bcp recipe because I hate that it lacked banana flavor. And now I’m so happy!

I heard someone complaining it’s the worst dessert and a piece of my soul withered right there. Right there on the spot! I just can’t understand it! Pie is dessert perfection!

What You Need to Make Banana Cream Pie

There’s nothing crazy going on with this recipe at all. You’ll just need your basic cream pie ingredients plus a few bananas. Here is your ingredients list:

Cinnamon Crumb Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe

My feelings for coffee cake run deep, so I absolutely had to make a pumpkin version of my coffee cake recipe with a cinnamon crumb streusel topping and maple glaze.

Soooo we should talk about how much I love coffee cake because after posting the best coffee cake, and coffee cake muffins, it’s becoming obvious that I’ve got a little obsession. And how could I not? The crumb topping is like the most perfect streusel ever and I’m not exaggerating. It’s got this tiny little hint of salt that you have to taste to understand the goodness. But on top of that, the pumpkin cake is so full of flavor and so tender soft that you just can’t help but take bite after bite.

Pumpkin pie cake has long been a favorite on our blog and I know this is ridiculous but for years I’ve been wondering how I could create a from scratch breakfast version. Obviously things got a little out of hand as that cinnamon topping came into play but I’m certain you’re going to be making this pumpkin coffee cake year after year. In fact, I insist you do. It may sound silly but one of the best gifts you can give your kids is a family tradition. You’d be surprised how much it will mean to them in the future.

Reasons You’ll Love this Pumpkin Coffee Cake Recipe

• Drizzled with a maple glaze
• Thick and perfect cinnamon crumb topping
• Fantastic blend of warm fall flavors
• Indulgent for breakfast and scrumptious for dessert
• Super soft, moist and tender
• Best of all, so easy and quick to make

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Smooth, creamy, and filled with the warm spices of the holiday season Eggnog Ice Cream is the perfect fireside treat.

Eggnog Ice Cream

While ice cream is often considered a summer treat, eggnog ice cream is a winter favorite. This lightly spiced ice cream evokes a cozy feeling and we enjoy it through the holiday season.

The warm spices of nutmeg, vanilla, and a splash of rum extract bring about all the cozy holiday feelings. This is a bowl I am happy to enjoy fireside throughout the holidays.

Eggnog is as rich in history as it is to drink, or in this case enjoy as ice cream. For the British, it was a sign of wealth to serve eggnog because of the expensive spices like cinnamon and nutmeg along with the pricey alcohol like brand and sherry that were used.

Fast forward to the 1700s in America, when it was served because milk and eggs were readily available. Rum was used and suddenly you have an affordable drink to enjoy during the holidays.

Traditional eggnog would contain raw egg, but I find that the combination of nutmeg, vanilla, and rum extract mimics the real thing nicely. This results in an easy-to-make base and deliciously creamy homemade eggnog ice cream.

Eggnog can be made with a variety of different alcohols. For the ice cream though, I prefer to use rum extract, keeping it with the eggnog flavor, but alcohol-free so that the final texture isn’t compromised and the whole family can enjoy it.

My favorite eggnogs are the ones you start to see this time of year in the glass bottles at the grocery store. Many local creameries have their own special recipe like Hartzler Family Dairy which has a seasonal collectors edition glass bottle each year.

Speaking of eggnog, did you know that you can make an even simpler version of eggnog ice cream with just one ingredient?? You sure can. Just pick up your favorite eggnog at the store and pour it into your ice cream maker. No joke, it works great.

That version of eggnog ice cream isn’t exactly the same as this one, but if you wind up with leftover eggnog? Now you have the perfect use for it.

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