10 Classic Southern Holiday Recipes to Make Now

Holly Jolly, y’all

The holidays in the South are incredibly special – after all, Southern comfort is built on a love of food. Maybe you’re looking to connect to your Southern roots. Maybe you’re tired of all your current holiday traditions. Whatever reason you’re looking South this holiday, it’s going to be delicious. Here are 10 recipes to bring a southern touch to the table.

1. Oyster vinaigrette

You’re already familiar with cornbread stuffing (properly called dressing when dumped into a turkey). This country-style oyster vinaigrette recipe can help you be much more Southern than that.

Recipe: All recipes

2. Hoppin’ John

Southerners typically eat Hoppin’ John (a simmered mixture of black-eyed peas and rice) on New Year’s Day. Like most “plant-based” recipes from the region, it contains a large, fatty ham hock.

Recipe: The pioneer woman

3. Sweet Potato Pie

In my humble opinion, pumpkin pie pales in comparison to a good sweet potato pie. Sweet tater tot pie is packed with all the comforting fall and winter spices you can imagine. There’s no better way to end a big meal.

Recipe: Recipes from the heart

4. Corn Pudding

Somewhere between a dessert and a savory side dish, Southern corn pudding is beautifully decadent. Add a little cheese if you feel good.

Recipe: Not quite average

5. Red velvet cake

For something as universally loved as red velvet cake, its origins are widely debated. Although the famous Waldorf-Astoria hotel claims to have invented it, the South also claims it is theirs. Regardless of its origin, you can trust Food Network with this recipe.

Recipe: Food Network

6. Coca-Cola Ham

Three of the best words in the English language, right there. You can glaze a holiday ham in just about anything, but the root-flavored sweetness of Coca-Cola really works wonders. Dr Pepper is also an option.

Recipe: Heidi’s Home Cooking

7. Boiled custard

It’s a pretty unappealing name for a drink, but southerners are wild. This “drink” is made only from milk, sugar and five eggs. There’s a lot of Paula Deen energy here. Be careful with this one.

Recipe: Brownie Bites

8. Frogmore Stew

Don’t worry: no frogs. The main ingredients in this crawfish cooking tradition are shrimp, scallops, and hot sausage. Load it with potatoes and corn and enjoy.

Recipe: Epicurean

9. Lane Cake

There’s a lot of craziness going on with lane cake, an alcohol-soaked dessert eaten during holidays in the South. With all the rum and maraschino cherries, this thing isn’t that far from a cocktail.

Recipe: A woman cooks in Asheville

10. Pig’s head cheese

This one is for the advanced class! If you like head cheese, the South is known for it and pork head cheese is a classic.

Recipe: Chief forager

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This article was originally published on Cheapism

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