Lebkuchen Cutout Cookies

These invitingly spicy glazed German cookies, which can be baked ahead, are what many holiday cooks like best. Roll and cut out rectangles, fun gingerbread folk, trees, stars, or — in the northern European holiday tradition — hearts.

Penne with Roasted Tomatoes and Red Peppers

Roasted vegetables, fresh basil and tender pasta tossed and topped with ricotta is sensational. Roasting your own vegetables is easy, and the resulting sweet, smoky flavour is worth the extra time.

Gluten-Free Apricot Fig Tarts

With a nicely spiced filling similar to mincemeat, these bite-size tarts need only a dollop of sweetened whipped cream for complete perfection.

Mushroom Venison Ragout Sauce

All this fabulously rich sauce needs is a bed of broad noodles, such as pappardelle or fettuccine. This makes enough to tuck extra away in the freezer for another meal or to use when making lasagna.

Mediterranean Vegetable Pie

Chai and White Chocolate Biscotti

Dotted with chocolate and pistachios, this after-dinner treat begs to be dipped in tea.

Mini Plum Puddings

Sweet and oh so cute, these little steamed desserts are anything but old-fashioned.

Chestnut Tourtière and Winter Fruit Chutney

This recipe comes from our contributing editor, Andrew Chase, who developed it for his vegetarian friends. But it's so delicious that his nonvegetarian friends love it too.

Orange Chicken Skewers & Sautéed Fennel

Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies

Take your gingerbread cookies up a notch this year by turning them into snowflake stunners.