Holiday Recipes

  • From the Chefs of LifeSpice

Get Into The Holiday Spirit!

The holidays are the perfect time to gather, create, and cook with intention. This curated collection of festive recipes brings together holiday-ready drinks, craveable sweets, and comforting savory dishes—each designed to highlight bold flavors and quality ingredients. Whether you’re mixing up a drink, baking a seasonal favorite, or serving a comforting dish meant to be shared, these recipes are here to inspire creativity in the kitchen and elevate every holiday moment. Check out some of our favorite recipes from the LifeSpice kitchen below!

Drinks
Sweets
Savory

Drinks

Spicy Tamarind Mulled Cider with Rum

Recipe: Natallia Nice

Ingredients

  • 1 Quart (4 Cups) Apple Cider
  • 1-2 tsp LifeSpice Chili Tamarind seasoning (adjust to taste)
  • 1 Orange, sliced (plus extra for garnish)
  • 1-inch piece fresh Ginger, sliced
  • 2-3 Cinnamon Sticks
  • 1/2 Cup Dark Rum (optional, add to taste)
  • Optional garnishes: orange peels, cinnamon sticks, chili-seasoned rim

Method

  1. In a medium pot, combine the apple cider, orange slices, ginger, and cinnamon sticks.
  2. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Do not boil-just let the mixture warm and infuse for about 15-20 minutes.
  3. Stir in the LifeSpice Chili Tamarind seasoning. Start with one teaspoon, taste, and add more if you want a bolder kick. Once the cider is infused and fragrant, remove from heat.
  4. Stir in the rum (or serve it on the side).
  5. Ladle into mugs. Garnish with a slice of orange, a cinnamon stick, or a chili-salt rim for extra flair.

Spicy Hot Chocolate

Recipe: Renan Lopes

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups Whole Milk
  • 3 Oz Dark Chocolate, Finely Chopped
  • 1 Tbsp Cocoa Powder
  • 1–2 Tbsp Sugar
  • ¼ Tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • ⅛ Tsp Cayenne Pepper (Adjust To Heat Preference)
  • ⅛ Tsp Chili Powder Or Ancho Chili Powder (Optional)
  • Pinch Of Salt
  • ½ Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • Vanilla Sea Salt (Optional)

Method

  1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the milk until steaming but not boiling. Whisk in cocoa powder, cinnamon, cayenne, chili powder (if using), and salt until smooth.
  2. Lower heat and add chopped dark chocolate. Stir gently until fully melted and silky. Add sugar or honey and vanilla. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice.
  3. Pour into mugs and enjoy immediately. Top with vanilla sea salt and whipped cream if desired.

Sweets

Chili Tamarind Apple Fritters

Recipe: Natallia Nice

Ingredients

Fritter Batter

  • 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
  • ¼ Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 Tsp Chili Tamarind Seasoning
  • ½ Tsp Kosher Salt
  • ½ Tsp Cinnamon
  • ¾ Cup Whole Milk
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 2 Tbsp Melted Butter
  • 2 Cups Apples, Peeled, Diced Small
  • Neutral Frying Oil

Chili Tamarind Glaze

  • 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
  • 2-4 Tbsp Milk Or Water (As Needed)
  • 1-2 Tsp Chili Tamarind Seasoning
  • 1 Tbsp Honey Or Agave (For Gloss And Roundness)
  • Pinch Of Salt

Method

Fritters

  1. Carefully heat oil in a large pot to 350°F/177°C.
  2. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter.
  3. Fold wet into dry just until just combined. Gently fold in apples.
  4. Scoop batter (¼ cup portions) and carefully drop into hot oil.
  5. Fry 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden brown and cooked through. Drain on rack or paper towel.

Chili Tamarind Glaze

  1. Whisk all ingredients until smooth and pourable.
  2. Adjust thickness with milk/water.
  3. Taste and balance heat vs. sweetness.
  4. Drizzle or dip warm fritters in glaze.
  5. Optional final touch: light sprinkle of chili tamarind seasoning or flaky salt.

Citrusy Cinnamon Rolls

Recipe: Natallia Nice

Ingredients

Dough

  • 238 g Whole Milk (Room Temp)
  • 38 g Water
  • 6 g Instant Yeast
  • 1 each Whole Egg
  • 9 g Sugar
  • 545 g Bread Flour
  • 48 g Vanilla Pudding Mix
  • 3 g Salt
  • 57 g Butter (Softened)

Filling

  • 113 g Butter (Soft)
  • 113 g Dark Brown Sugar
  • 113 g Light Brown Sugar
  • 4.25 g Cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp Salt

Frosting

  • 85 g Cream Cheese
  • 262 g Powdered Sugar
  • 42 g Butter (Soft)
  • 10 g Whole Milk
  • 5 g Vanilla
  • 48 g Maple Syrup
  • Pinch Salt
  • Zest Of 1 Orange

Method

Dough

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine milk, water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. Mix together the egg and sugar. Whisk in the egg mix into yeast mix until smooth. Add bread flour, salt and vanilla pudding. Mix with a stand mixer on low speed until combined.
  3. Add softened butter and knead until dough is smooth and elastic (8–10 minutes). Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (60–90 minutes).

Filling

  1. Combine all the ingredients and mix until smooth.

Frosting

  1. Beat cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer until smooth and fluffy.
  2. Gradually add powdered sugar and mix until incorporated.
  3. Add milk, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt. Mix until creamy and spreadable.

Assemble & Bake

  1. Roll dough into a rectangle about 10×14 inches, ½ inch thick.
  2. Spread the filling onto the rolled dough. Roll dough tightly into a log. Cut into 12 equal pieces.
  3. Arrange rolls in a greased pan, leaving space between them. Cover and proof until puffy (45–60 minutes).
  4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 18–22 minutes, until golden brown.
  5. For gooey effect, spread a thin layer of frosting on warm rolls (10–15 min after baking). For thick layer, frost after rolls are completely cooled.

Savory

Shakshouka

Recipe: Renan Lopes

Ingredients

  • 1 Shallot, brunoise
  • 1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
  • 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 Whole Tomato can, peeled
  • 5 Eggs
  • 1 tbsp. Honey Harissa Seasoning
  • 1 Cilantro Bunch, chopped
  • 1 Parsley Bunch, chopped
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method

  1. Heat up saute pan over medium heat, add oil
  2. Saute shallot, garlic and pepper
  3. Add seasoning and can of whole tomatoes
  4. Cook tomatoes down while breaking it up with a spatula
  5. One mixture is cooked, make 5 wells with a spoon and crack eggs
  6. Place a lid over the pan and steam eggs for 4 minutes
  7. Garnish with chopped herbs

Awesome Short Ribs

Recipe: Lifespice Chefs

Ingredients

  • LifeSpice Awesome Anything Seasoning
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 2 lbs. Bone In Short Rib
  • 1 head Garlic
  • 1 Small Onion, diced
  • 1 Carrot, chopped
  • 2 ribs Celery, chopped
  • 1.5 Tbs. Tomato Paste
  • 1 cup Dry Red Wine
  • 1 cup Beef Broth or Stock
  • 4 sprigs Thyme
  • Chives and Lemon Zest to garnish

Method

  1. Heat oven to 275°F. Season short ribs generously with Awesome Anything seasoning plus a little salt and pepper. In a Dutch oven, heat neutral oil over medium-high heat and sear ribs on all sides in batches; remove and set aside.
  2. Halve garlic crosswise and cook cut-side down in the same pot until golden. Add onion, celery, and carrot; cook until softened. Stir in tomato paste and cook until caramelized. Deglaze with red wine, scraping up browned bits, and simmer 2 minutes. Add beef stock, return ribs to the pot, add thyme, and bring to a simmer. Cover, remove from heat, and transfer to oven.
  3. Cook undisturbed until fall-off-the-bone tender, 3½–4 hours. Serve over mashed potatoes with broth, chives, and lemon zest.