Holiday Recipes Archives - A Side of Sweet

Make an Easy Cheese & Charcuterie Grazing Table

Everything you need to know about building a simple grazing table. All the inspiration you need with styling tips & tricks! Includes a FREE grazing table food list.

You all know I love planning a good party! I almost enjoy the planning part as much as the party itself. The more we entertain, the more I value recipes and dishes that don’t take a lot of time, or can be made in advance.

I want it all – something that is sure to wow our guests, but without a lot of effort required the day of the event. I do everything I can to keep from being totally overwhelmed and to make sure our guests aren’t arriving to a kitchen that looks like a tornado just hit.

A grazing table is the mecca of easy entertaining, whether it’s a wedding or a holiday party. It takes no skill to arrange. The key is starting with the right ingredients. My motto? “More is more”. If you’ve followed me for a while you know that phrase describes my aesthetic perfectly – colorful and busy, but still stylish.

Read on for simple grazing table ideas!… Read More »

Mac and Cheese Bites Recipe

Nut Free Vegetarian

Your guests will go crazy for this easy mac and cheese bites appetizer recipe made with smooth and creamy Jarlsberg cheese.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jarlsberg. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holidays are here and I have the best appetizer recipe for you!

I could honestly eat macaroni and cheese every day for years and not get sick of it. That’s why it was so fun to put a bite-sized spin on this classic dish. Another way to enjoy it, but as an appetizer! Macaroni and cheese bites are easy to make and I’ve even included a short video to inspire you. Check the recipe box for that!

Read on for the mac and cheese bites recipe…

Easy Fall Cheese & Charcuterie Board Idea for Thanksgiving

Your Thanksgiving guests will love this fun turkey-shaped fall cheese & charcuterie board idea. Includes step-by-step instructions with photos.

If you’re looking for minimal effort and maximum WOW factor, the easiest Thanksgiving appetizer for your table this year is this turkey-shaped cheese and charcuterie platter. I shared a sneak peek on Instagram last week and people went crazy for it! It requires no skill to put together and you can use whatever ingredients you want to fit your style and what you have available.

Read on for how to make this cheese and charcuterie platter for fall!

Lemon Curd Tart Recipe with Olive Oil Crust

Nut Free

A lemon curd tart recipe baked in a delicious olive oil tart shell made with Spanish olive oil. Plus, everything you need to know about choosing, storing and tasting olive oil.

You really can’t go wrong with lemon curd. Right now our lemon tree is producing like crazy, providing us with a bounty of lemons to use. We’ve been eating lemon curd by the gallon. Although I love spooning it on homemade yogurt, my new favorite thing is making baking it into this lemon curd tart. For this recipe, a traditional tart crust gets a delicious twist with tart dough made with olive oil. And for a plot twist – the lemon curd also uses olive oil instead of butter!

Intrigued? Read on…

… Read More »

No-Bake Créme Brûlée Cheesecake

Nut Free Vegetarian

Your holidays will be LIT (literally) with this no-bake créme brûlée cheesecake recipe. This dessert is perfect for parties as it can be made in advance.

I gave my classic no-bake cheesecake recipe a fun and decadent upgrade just in time for the holidays with this créme brûlée version. It has the crispy sweet crust of créme brûlée, but with the firm and creamy texture of cheesecake. It’s also incredibly easy and it’s such a crowd pleaser to light food on fire (intentionally of course!) before serving.

Read on for the recipe and what I’ll be drinking with it!
… Read More »

Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe with Brie Cheese

Nut Free Egg Free Vegetarian

This cheesy spinach artichoke dip recipe is the BEST ever thanks to Real California Brie cheese. It takes just minutes to make and has only five ingredients!

You know I love a good easy recipe. I tend to overexert myself when we’re entertaining for the holidays, in part because I want our guests to have an amazing experience, and in part because I’m a terrible control freak. To compensate, I focus on simple recipes and dishes that can be partly or completely made in advance.

This cheesy spinach artichoke recipe checks all my party boxes. You can make it advance and bake it the day of, it only has five ingredients and it takes just minutes to assemble. Even a control freak like myself would feel comfortable delegating this recipe to a willing assistant – it’s that easy.

Read on for the cheesy spinach artichoke dip…