As we head into the holiday season, the amount of parties rapidly increases, filling up calendars quicker than ever. It becomes quite a tedious cycle, scrolling through the same basic recipes and scrambling to find which dish to prepare. Well, look no further for both unique and easy recipes; here is a cookbook guide to festive dishes you can make this holiday season. 

Peppermint toffee

As soon as November begins, peppermint bark is a hot commodity. While the basic peppermint flavor may be a delicious dessert, try mixing it up to make the dish more festive. Instead of just chocolate, throw in some crunchy toffee for the perfect holiday treat.

Ingredients:

Toffee

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, chilled and cubed
• 2 cups of brown sugar
• 1/3 cup of water
• Pinch of salt
• Optional: dash of vanilla extract

Chocolate

• 3 cups of white or dark chocolate 
• 6 candy canes or peppermints crushed up

Directions:

Melt butter, sugar and salt into a saucepan, and allow the mixture to boil. Using a candy thermometer, bring the saucepan to 285 degrees and pour the mixture into a pan lined with a baking sheet. Let the toffee cool before pouring on melted chocolate, then immediately sprinkle on the peppermints. Set the bark in the fridge before serving. 

Cauliflower gnocchi walnut salad 

Pasta salads are delicious any time of the year, but putting this tasty seasonal spin on it will definitely impress your dinner guests. The perfect mix of nutty, sweet and spice will have people begging for the recipe. 

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi
• ½ cup of walnuts
• 1 ball of mozzarella cheese cubed
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
• Balsamic vinegar 
• Olive oil

Directions:

Prepare the gnocchi according to instructions on the bag, then let it cool. Chop up the walnuts, and slice the tomatoes and mozzarella. Place the prepared ingredients onto a plate with the gnocchi. Drizzle the mixture with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then eat!

Sweet potato casserole

The classic sweet potato casserole is a Thanksgiving delicacy. Take it to the next level by swapping out marshmallows for a crumbly nutty topping, which will allow you to eat the dish all winter long.

Ingredients:

Sweet Potatoes

• 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup melted butter

Pecan Topping

• ⅔ cup brown sugar
• ⅓ cup flour
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Heat your oven to 400 degrees. While it is preheating, line a baking sheet with foil and bake the sweet potatoes for about an hour, or until soft and tender. Let the potatoes cool before peeling their skin. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees for cooking the casserole later. 

In a large bowl, add the cooked sweet potatoes, sugar, eggs, vanilla and milk. With an electric mixer, beat until smooth. Add in butter and beat the mixture again until well-blended. Pour in a buttered 9 inch by 13 inch casserole dish, and smooth out the top with a rubber spatula. Set the pan aside.

Mix together the brown sugar and flour. Then, add melted butter and pecans, and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle the pecan blend on top of sweet potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until browned. Slice into pieces and then serve.

No matter what time of the year it is, these mouthwatering recipes are always guaranteed to deliver complete satisfaction. Test any of these tasty treats out to impress your next guests.