Holiday Cooking Guide

Master holiday cooking with our comprehensive guide! Special substitutions for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and more. Includes traditional recipes, dietary alternatives, and seasonal cooking tips.

4 Major HolidaysDietary AlternativesTraditional RecipesSeasonal Tips

Quick Holiday Reference

🦃

Thanksgiving

Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberries

🎄

Christmas

Ham, eggnog, fruitcake, cookies

🐰

Easter

Lamb, hot cross buns, deviled eggs

🕎

Hanukkah

Latkes, brisket, sufganiyot, soup

🦃

Thanksgiving

Classic American Thanksgiving with traditional dishes and modern alternatives

Turkey

Traditional:

Whole roasted turkey

Substitutes:

  • Tofurky
  • Seitan roast
  • Stuffed squash
  • Mushroom Wellington

Tip: For vegetarian options, focus on hearty, savory flavors and presentation

Gravy

Traditional:

Turkey pan drippings gravy

Substitutes:

  • Mushroom gravy
  • Vegetable broth gravy
  • Coconut milk gravy
  • Nutritional yeast gravy

Tip: Use umami-rich ingredients like mushrooms and nutritional yeast for depth

Stuffing

Traditional:

Bread stuffing with sausage

Substitutes:

  • Wild rice stuffing
  • Quinoa stuffing
  • Cornbread stuffing
  • Gluten-free stuffing

Tip: Use day-old bread or gluten-free alternatives, add nuts and dried fruits

Mashed Potatoes

Traditional:

Butter and cream mashed potatoes

Substitutes:

  • Coconut milk mashed potatoes
  • Cauliflower mash
  • Sweet potato mash
  • Vegan butter

Tip: Coconut milk adds richness, cauliflower reduces carbs while maintaining texture

🎄

Christmas

Festive Christmas cooking with traditional European and American dishes

Ham

Traditional:

Glazed ham

Substitutes:

  • Tofu ham
  • Seitan ham
  • Mushroom ham
  • Jackfruit ham

Tip: Use liquid smoke and maple syrup for authentic ham flavor

Eggnog

Traditional:

Creamy eggnog with eggs and cream

Substitutes:

  • Coconut milk eggnog
  • Almond milk eggnog
  • Oat milk eggnog
  • Cashew eggnog

Tip: Use aquafaba or silken tofu for the creamy texture without eggs

Fruitcake

Traditional:

Traditional fruitcake with candied fruits

Substitutes:

  • Gluten-free fruitcake
  • Vegan fruitcake
  • Paleo fruitcake
  • Sugar-free fruitcake

Tip: Soak dried fruits in rum or brandy for authentic flavor

Gingerbread

Traditional:

Molasses and ginger cookies

Substitutes:

  • Gluten-free gingerbread
  • Vegan gingerbread
  • Paleo gingerbread
  • Sugar-free gingerbread

Tip: Use coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of molasses if needed

🐰

Easter

Spring Easter celebration with fresh, seasonal ingredients

Lamb

Traditional:

Roasted leg of lamb

Substitutes:

  • Mushroom Wellington
  • Seitan roast
  • Tofu roast
  • Cauliflower steak

Tip: Use herbs like rosemary and thyme for traditional lamb flavor

Hot Cross Buns

Traditional:

Sweet spiced buns with cross

Substitutes:

  • Gluten-free hot cross buns
  • Vegan hot cross buns
  • Paleo hot cross buns
  • Sugar-free buns

Tip: Use flax eggs and plant milk for vegan versions

Deviled Eggs

Traditional:

Hard-boiled eggs with mayo filling

Substitutes:

  • Deviled potatoes
  • Deviled mushrooms
  • Deviled avocado
  • Deviled tofu

Tip: Use small potatoes or mushroom caps as the base

Asparagus

Traditional:

Steamed or roasted asparagus

Substitutes:

  • Green beans
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Zucchini

Tip: Spring vegetables work well as seasonal alternatives

🕎

Hanukkah

Traditional Jewish holiday cooking with oil-fried foods

Latkes

Traditional:

Potato pancakes fried in oil

Substitutes:

  • Zucchini latkes
  • Sweet potato latkes
  • Cauliflower latkes
  • Gluten-free latkes

Tip: Use a food processor to grate vegetables, squeeze out excess moisture

Brisket

Traditional:

Slow-cooked beef brisket

Substitutes:

  • Mushroom brisket
  • Seitan brisket
  • Jackfruit brisket
  • Tofu brisket

Tip: Use portobello mushrooms or seitan for meaty texture

Sufganiyot

Traditional:

Jelly-filled donuts

Substitutes:

  • Gluten-free donuts
  • Vegan donuts
  • Baked donuts
  • Sugar-free donuts

Tip: Use aquafaba for egg-free versions, bake instead of fry for healthier option

Matzo Ball Soup

Traditional:

Chicken soup with matzo balls

Substitutes:

  • Vegetable broth soup
  • Mushroom broth soup
  • Gluten-free matzo balls
  • Vegan matzo balls

Tip: Use vegetable broth and flax eggs for vegan matzo balls

Dietary Accommodations

Vegetarian

Plant-based alternatives for traditional meat dishes

  • Use mushrooms, tofu, or seitan for meat alternatives
  • Focus on umami-rich ingredients for depth of flavor
  • Don't forget about protein sources like beans and nuts
  • Consider presentation to make dishes feel special

Vegan

Completely plant-based holiday cooking

  • Use aquafaba for egg-based dishes
  • Coconut milk and cashews work well for creamy textures
  • Nutritional yeast adds cheesy flavor
  • Plan ahead for vegan versions of traditional dishes

Gluten-Free

Safe alternatives for gluten-sensitive guests

  • Use gluten-free flour blends for baking
  • Check all ingredients for hidden gluten
  • Consider naturally gluten-free grains like rice and quinoa
  • Have separate serving utensils to avoid cross-contamination

Keto/Low-Carb

Low-carbohydrate holiday options

  • Use cauliflower for rice and potato substitutes
  • Focus on high-fat, low-carb ingredients
  • Use sugar substitutes for sweet dishes
  • Embrace healthy fats like avocado and nuts

Seasonal Cooking Tips

Fall/Winter

  • • Use warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
  • • Focus on hearty, comforting dishes
  • • Incorporate seasonal produce like squash, apples, and cranberries
  • • Plan ahead for dietary restrictions and allergies

Spring/Summer

  • • Embrace fresh, light ingredients
  • • Use herbs like dill, parsley, and mint
  • • Focus on colorful, vibrant dishes
  • • Consider outdoor cooking and grilling alternatives

Ready to Master Holiday Cooking?

Explore our complete collection of ingredient substitutes and cooking guides!

Complete Substitution GuideBrowse All Substitutes