All of the recipes for Crowded Kitchen's 2025 Recipe Advent Calendar in one place! This year's series is focused on delicious homemade holiday food gifts and fun, easy appetizers and entertaining ideas.
If you're new here, this is our third annual recipe advent calendar (see 2024's here!). It's a series where we share a brand new, super festive recipe every day from December 1-24. We hope this series encourages you to try a new recipe, and maybe even start a new family tradition. Happy holiday baking!
Below are the recipes we have shared so far...check back in for new recipes every day in December!
Day 1: Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
These easy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are loaded up with all of my favorite mix-ins – chocolate chunks, red and green m&m's, pretzels, potato chips, peanuts, caramels and sprinkles. They're the perfect mash up of salty and sweet, and they're always a huge hit at the holidays!
Day 2: Homemade Ferrero Rocher
These Homemade Ferrero Rocher are even better than store-bought. I know...that might seem impossible, but they really are! A whole hazelnut is surrounded by a creamy, rich ganache, then a crispy hazelnut cookie layer, and finally a hazelnut dark chocolate coating. These make a really special DIY gift for the holidays!
Day 3: Candied Orange & Pistachio Biscotti
These crisp biscotti are packed with pistachios and candied orange peel, then dipped in melted chocolate for a delicious cookie that's perfect for dunking in coffee or tea, or for holiday gifting.
Day 4: Mistletoe Mojito
If you're looking for a festive, light and refreshing holiday cocktail, this easy Mistletoe Mojito is the way to go! It's made with fresh mint, rum, cranberry juice, simple syrup, lime juice and cranberry pomegranate spritz. We top it with a cute mint and cranberry mistletoe garnish!
Day 5: Slice & Bake Cheddar Cheese Coins
These cheddar cheese coins (aka cheese pennies) are a cross between shortbread and a Cheez-it. They're crisp but flaky, super buttery and cheesy, slightly spicy, and are a perfect snack or an amazing soup cracker. Best of all, they only require a few basic ingredients and are super simple to make.
Day 6: Orange & Pomegranate Pâtes de Fruits
These homemade orange and pomegranate pâtes de fruits are the perfect balance of tart and sweet, with a chewy texture and crunchy sugar coating. This classy candy looks as great as it tastes and makes for an impressive edible gift!
Day 7: Sausage Roll Wreath
This savory Sausage Roll Wreath with cranberry sauce is the perfect pull-apart Christmas appetizer! This is such a show-stopping recipe that's surprisingly easy to make.
Day 8: Pretzel Peanut Brittle
This easy homemade peanut brittle is made with honey instead of corn syrup, and we add in mini pretzels for an extra salty crunch. It comes together with just 7 ingredients on the stovetop and takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish. Package it up in a tin and give it as a holiday gift!
Day 9: Homemade Grissini (Italian Breadsticks)
These Grissini (Italian breadsticks) are crunchy, salty, and savory. They're the perfect addition to charcuterie boards and a great companion for almost any dinner!
Day 10: Stained Glass Sugar Cookies
Our Stained Glass Sugar Cookies can be made two ways: with a colorful hard candy center, or with a translucent, glass-like center made with isomalt. These make for the most gorgeous homemade cookie ornaments and they're a fun project for kids and adults alike!
Day 11: Partridge in a Pear Tree Cocktail
It doesn't have to be the first day of Christmas to enjoy this Partridge in a Pear Tree Cocktail. With spiced pear infused vodka, pear juice, lemon juice, honey and sparkling wine, it's crisp, refreshing and bubbly. The perfect festive drink for your next holiday gathering!
Day 12: Cheesy Thumbprint Cookies with Pepper Jelly
These cheesy cheddar thumbprint cookies filled with red pepper jelly are mostly savory with a hint of sweetness and spice that makes these really something special. This is a unique snack/appetizer, or even a dessert if you don't have a big sweet tooth, to serve at the holidays.
Day 13: Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
This festive Christmas Tree Cheese Ball is so easy to make and looks beautiful in any holiday appetizer spread! The cheese ball mixture is made with 4 kinds of cheese, lots of fresh herbs, dried cranberries and coated in more herbs, a pine nut garland and pomegranate ornaments.
Day 14: Christmas Tree Crackers
With just five ingredients, these light and crispy Christmas tree-shaped crackers are quick and easy to make with a cookie cutter! We like to serve them with a Christmas tree cheese ball, but they can go with just about any dip, or they look super festive on a charcuterie board.
Day 16: Pecan Pepita Brittle
We make this easy pecan pepita brittle all the time as a topping for salads, but it's so delicious that we decided to share it as a standalone recipe! It's amazing on top of yogurt (or even ice cream), but it's also great for eating by the handful or giving as a homemade gift. It's easy to make with just 6 ingredients and sweetened with maple syrup.
Day 17: Cranberry White Chocolate Tart
This beautiful, no bake tart has a gingersnap crust, a cranberry compote layer, a rich white chocolate ganache filling, whipped cream and sugared cranberries to make it look extra festive. It's decadent, but easy to make and makes for an impressive holiday dessert centerpiece!
Day 18: Mini Figgy Puddings with Caramel Sauce
These mini figgy puddings are packed with dried fruit, warming spices and bourbon, and served with a delicious warm caramel sauce. We make them in mini bundt cake tins, but muffin tins work, too! Give these a try for a unique Christmas dessert.
Day 19: Slice and Bake Panettone Cookies
Traditional panettone takes several days to make, so skip the wait and make these panettone-inspired cookies instead! They're made with a slice and bake shortbread dough flavored with candied citrus peel, raisins, almond extract, and pistachios. They're easy to make and are a unique Christmas cookie to add to your rotation.
Day 20: Homemade Chocolate Bars
These beautiful homemade chocolate bars are easy to make and are a great DIY gift for the holidays (or any occasion!). We made four flavors: Oreo & Candy Cane, Peanut Butter Banana, Candied Lemon & Coconut and Strawberry Ice Cream Sundae, but the options are endless. Download our free, printable labels below!
Day 21: Homemade Bourbon Balls
These homemade bourbon balls are an easy DIY gift! They're made with pecans, good quality bourbon, chocolate wafer cookies, cocoa powder and maple syrup, then dipped in dark chocolate and topped with a pecan. They're strong, but make for a delicious treat!
Day 22: Puff Pastry Croque Madame
Flaky, golden brown puff pastry is topped with dijon mustard, fresh thyme, gruyere cheese, ham, and a perfectly cooked egg for a delicious breakfast that works well for a crowd! You only need 6 ingredients and a little over 30 minutes to make these.
Day 23: Brownie Brittle
Crisp, crunchy, and utterly delicious, this brownie brittle packs the flavor of a brownie with a texture that will keep you coming back for more! This is an amazing year-round snack, but it's also a great DIY gift for the holidays.
Theresa says
Thank you for so generously sharing your talents and amazing recipes! Can't wait to make some yummy gifts!
Stephanie says
These look amazing!
Angela says
Everything looks festive & delicious!
Julie says
Love this advent idea! Looking forward to seeing each one
Brendi says
You ladies are awesome and so helpful to many of us home baking enthusiasts. I appreciate all you do and sharing your recipes…it is wonderful to be able to share your recipes and welcome them as new traditions in our home. Enjoy a wonderful Christmas Season. You are appreciated!
Lexi says
Thank you so much! Hope you also have a wonderful Christmas!
camile says
L'idée est formidable ! Même si la première recette me laisse plus que dubitative... Ensuite, j'en ai trouvé plusieurs à mon goût. Mais chez nous, on est plutôt "salé" alors, je n'aurai pas assez de recettes chez vous. Dommage ! Peut-être l'année prochaine : un tout sucre et un tout sel...
Lynda says
its like Christmas everyday!!!!