Yule is such a wonderful time for getting in the kitchen and exploring new recipes. As the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half we celebrate the longest night of the year surrounded by the comforts of home and our loved ones. This is the greatest blessing of all, and if you are fortunate enough to have this, then you truly have everything you need. Yule-tide is the season for family and friends and food often takes center stage at these gatherings.
Traditional foods of the season include: apples, candies & sweets, citrus, dried fruits & nuts, eggnog, root vegetables, wassail, winter squash, and Yule log cake. There are already a lot of traditional dishes that are vegan-friendly, including:
- Mashed or Roasted Potatoes
- Roasted Vegetables
- Harvest Salad
- Breads & Rolls
- Cranberry Sauce
- Chutneys
Vegan Kitchen Witch
It takes a bit of preparation and advance planning to make some of your traditional Yule-tide recipes using only vegan ingredients. The key to kitchen witchery is making sure your pantry is always stocked with the fundamental basics. If you’re not familiar with what you should keep on hand, check out My Vegan Pantry list by Oh She Glows! (there is even a 4-page PDF you can print out to take to the store)
Appetizers
Set the mood with these festive appetizers:
Vegan Sausage Rolls by Chris at Thinly Spread are a classic holiday appetizer, but instead of meat, they are filled with chestnut, wine, and thyme mix. Fabulous!
The Rosemary Stuffed Mushroom recipe at Wholly Plants is a healthier version of a go-to appetizer. Instead of relying on dairy, this recipe gets its creaminess from soaked cashews and a powerful punch of flavor with herbs and spices.
Try another dairy-free “cheese” recipe with this Pistachio-Crusted Cheese Ball from Jessica in the Kitchen. If you didn’t mention that this was vegan, no one would ever be able to tell. Serve it on a platter with crackers, fruits, and nuts for a perfect appetizer board.
Main Dishes
Try these main dishes as a focal point for a delicious holiday menu:
Start your morning right with this recipe for healthy Apple Cinnamon Rolls posted by Alisa over at the GoDairyFree website. They are soft, tender, and naturally sweetened, with a make-ahead option so you can just pop them in the oven when you wake up.
One of my favorite vegan bloggers, Sam from It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken, has a recipe for Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash that makes an impressive centerpiece. Sam was inspired to come up with an alternative for the popular vegducken recipes that can be difficult to make and don’t always turn out well.
For a healthy comfort dish, bake this Sweet Potato and Kale Pot Pie from Lori over at My Quiet Kitchen. It features an awesome, easy pie crust so there are no excuses not to try it!
This rich and hearty Portobello Pot Roast recipe over at a Virtual Vegan is the perfect one-pot family meal but add in some roasted or mashed potatoes to really make it a feast.
Sides
Try these delicious side dishes to complete your holiday meal:
This Sweet Potato Salad with Pomegranate, Pecans and Barley is filled with hearty ingredients and bold flavors that can be enjoyed cold or warmed up in the oven. The recipe is from Amber over at Quite Good Food.
Alexandra at Occasionally Eggs has a recipe for Spicy Roasted New Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts that will elevate your root vegetable game and make for a beautiful side dish on Yule.
For an easy and festive Ultimate Vegan Stuffing try out the recipe by Caroline over at the Pickled Plum. It is healthy, savory, nutty and packed with herbal goodness.
Desserts
The holidays are the best time to celebrate with these sweet treats:
A creamy and decadent Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Tart is easy to put together with only 9 ingredients. Find the recipe over at Evergreen Kitchen.
Try this updated version of a Sticky Toffee Pudding from Baked by Clo. It features a decadent, rich sponge cake topped with a thick vegan toffee sauce.
These Gingerbread Cupcakes topped with a salted caramel gingerbread frosting are the best way to enjoy the flavor of gingerbread. Sam perfected the recipe and you can find it over at It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken.
Drinks
No celebration is complete without a festive selection of drinks. These are my favorites:
Emma at Eclectic Witchcraft shares her family recipe for an easy Slow Cooker Wassail that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for the drinking adults in your family. For a non-alcoholic version, try this Slow Cooker Hot Apple Cider Wassail from A Spicy Perspective.
If you used to love eggnog growing up, but find that you can’t stomach the egg or dairy in this drink, fear not! Holly from The Little Blog of Vegan has you covered with a Starbuck’s Copy Cat Vegan Eggnog recipe made from cashews and coconut that is super simple to whip up. (literally – you’ll need a high-speed blender to whip this one together)
The Sparkling Cranberry Apple Cider Punch from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe is a festive and refreshing drink everyone will love, plus it’s very easy to make.
What are some of your favorite holiday foods this time of year? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
