31 Comforting December Recipes That'll Help You Combat Those Winter Blues

    Comfort food is an absolute must this time of year.

    Claudia Santos
    by Claudia Santos

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Well, it's official: The days are getting shorter and the weather chillier. You might be starting to feel the winter blues settle in, but I'm a firm believer that comfort food this time of year can cure all (and is absolutely necessary). So from make-ahead breakfasts to cozy cocktails, here are a few recipes to get you through the cold December days.

    A list of seasonal December produce, including spinach, rutabaga, kale, leeks, grapefruit, cranberries, escarole, tangerines, winter squash, fennel, dates, potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, pears, pomegranates, cabbage, broccoli, apples, and persimmons
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    1. Carrot Cake Pancakes

    A stack of pancakes being drizzled with maple syrup
    Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

    Who says you can't have cake for breakfast? Not only are these pancakes gluten- and dairy-free, but they also come together in your blender in just 10 minutes.

    Recipe: Carrot Cake Pancakes

    2. Apple Cheddar Biscuits

    Apple cheddar biscuits on a sheet of white parchment paper
    Two Peas and Their Pod / Via twopeasandtheirpod.com

    This sweet-and-salty combo will surely make for the best brunch. You can even add some fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to take this up a notch.

    Recipe: Apple Cheddar Biscuits

    3. Chocolate Orange Morning Rolls

    Chocolate-filled rolls covered in icing
    A Cozy Kitchen / Via acozykitchen.com

    It might seem a little labor intensive to make your own dough, but these can easily be rolled out and put in the fridge overnight to rise, giving you an effortless breakfast in the morning.

    Recipe: Chocolate Orange Morning Rolls

    4. Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake

    Joy the Baker / Via joythebaker.com

    Call it dessert, call it breakfast. Whenever you choose to eat this cake, you'll be greeted with the classic flavor pairing of tart cranberries and sweet oranges.

    Recipe: Cranberry Orange Loaf Cake

    5. Breakfast Strata With Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions

    An egg strata in a large casserole dish topped with mushrooms and thyme
    Feasting at Home / Via feastingathome.com

    This decadent mixture of bread, eggs, and veggies is the perfect Sunday make-ahead brunch, especially if you're feeding a crowd.

    Recipe: Breakfast Strata With Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions

    6. Savory Pear Galette With Goat Cheese and Walnuts

    A round galette with sliced pears and chopped walnuts
    Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

    Consider this your one-and-done appetizer for the holidays. Make your own piecrust or even use store-bought puff pastry to keep this one as easy as possible.

    Recipe: Savory Pear Galette With Goat Cheese and Walnuts

    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    I'm a firm believer that appetizers should remain as simple as possible, with the illusion that you've put a ton of effort in. Between roasting the apples and baking the Brie, most of the cooking here is hands-off so you have time to focus elsewhere.

    Recipe: Pastry Wrapped Baked Brie With Maple Roasted Apples

    8. Pomegranate and Pear Green Salad With Ginger Dressing

    Sliced pears, pomegranate seeds, pecans, and goat cheese atop a bed of arugula
    Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

    If you're looking for a salad to perfectly complement all of those hearty winter meals, look no further. Freshly toasted pecans and goat cheese give this a rich feel without overwhelming your main meal.

    Recipe: Pomegranate and Pear Green Salad With Ginger Dressing

    9. Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Whipped Feta

    A whole cauliflower head with a slice taken out on top of whipped feta and pomegranate seeds
    The Mediterranean Dish / Via themediterraneandish.com

    Gone are the days of bland cauliflower. This one gets boiled with spices and roasted to help it get golden and crispy.

    Recipe: Whole Roasted Cauliflower With Lemony Whipped Feta

    10. Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin

    Ambitious Kitchen / Via ambitiouskitchen.com

    This delicious side has all of the traditional comforting flavors you love, plus a crispy Parmesan-and-walnut topping that you cannot skip.

    Recipe: Mushroom and Brussels Sprouts Au Gratin

    11. Caramelized Leek Pizza With Spicy Honey

    A caramelized leek pizza cut into six slices and topped with fresh basil
    The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com

    You can use store-bought dough to make this pizza more weeknight-friendly, or try your hand at making simple pizza dough if you have some time to spare.

    Recipe: Caramelized Leek Pizza With Spicy Honey

    12. Pear and Buttermilk Bisque

    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    Sweet pears, tangy buttermilk, and leeks make this soup an easy and comforting choice for those chilly days.

    Recipe: Pear and Buttermilk Bisque

    13. Roasted Butternut Squash With Feta and Spinach

    Two slices of roasted butternut squash stuffed with feta, spinach, and pine nuts
    Julia's Album / Via juliasalbum.com

    Make this your centerpiece for a stunning vegetarian main, or serve it as a side dish. Whichever you choose, this minimal-effort meal will be sure to turn some heads.

    Recipe: Roasted Butternut Squash With Feta and Spinach

    14. Spicy Sausage and Kale Skillet Lasagna

    Kale, sausage, and lasagna noodles in a cast-iron skillet with dollops of ricotta
    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    Skip the tedious layering and stacking of traditional lasagna with this skillet version that simply combines everything together in one pan.

    Recipe: Spicy Sausage and Kale Skillet Lasagna

    15. Pumpkin Polenta With Balsamic Roasted Beets

    A bowl of pumpkin polenta with roasted beets sitting on top
    With Food and Love / Via withfoodandlove.com

    Canned pumpkin puree simplifies this comforting vegan dish, but if you've reached your pumpkin limit for this year, try roasting and blending your favorite winter squash instead.

    Recipe: Pumpkin Polenta With Balsamic Roasted Beets

    16. Chicken Poblano White Bean Chili

    Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

    Make this chili on a cold weeknight for a healthy and hearty dinner, and definitely don't skip the toppings.

    Recipe: Chicken Poblano White Bean Chili

    Minimalist Baker / Via minimalistbaker.com

    With only four ingredients and one pan, you've got yourself a stunning veggie side (and get to use that head of cabbage that I know is wilting in your fridge).

    Recipe: Shawarma Roasted Cabbage Wedges With Green Chutney

    18. One-Pot Chicken and Rice

    The Modern Proper / Via themodernproper.com

    This classic, minimal-effort dinner gets brightened up with charred lemons and a fresh herb yogurt sauce.

    Recipe: One-Pot Chicken and Rice

    19. Creamy Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

    A bowl of Thai carrot sweet potato soup topped with almonds and fresh herbs
    Cookie and Kate / Via cookieandkate.com

    This creamy, Thai-spiced soup will be your go-to for treating that inevitable nasty winter cold we all get this time of year.

    Recipe: Creamy Thai Carrot Sweet Potato Soup

    20. Creamy Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

    Chicken and whole mushrooms in a white pot topped with fresh herbs
    How Sweet Eats / Via howsweeteats.com

    This easy yet decadent dinner will instantly become part of your meal rotation. Plus, everything gets made in the same pot for a super-quick cleanup.

    Recipe: Creamy Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

    21. Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

    Shaved Brussels sprouts tossed in Caesar dressing topped with bread crumbs
    Simply Recipes / Via simplyrecipes.com

    Winter salads can be so much more than a side dish. If you don't believe me, just let this twist on a classic topped with lemony bread crumbs convince you.

    Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

    22. Fennel Orange Pork Meatballs With Sweet Chili Glaze

    Meatballs plated on top a bed of vegetables and feta
    The Original Dish / Via theoriginaldish.com

    This fresh twist on a traditional meatball with have you going in for seconds. Serve over a bed of crisp winter veggies or with your favorite grain or pasta.

    Recipe: Fennel Orange Pork Meatballs With Sweet Chili Glaze

    The First Mess / Via thefirstmess.com

    This vegan risotto uses miso in place of Parmesan for a salty, umami-forward dish. It's the perfect opportunity to utilize all those gorgeous bitter vegetables this time of year.

    Recipe: Broccoli Rabe Risotto With Balsamic Roasted Radicchio

    24. Orecchiette With Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce

    Carrot miso orecchiette in a bowl topped with carrot top gremolata
    Feasting at Home / Via feastingathome.com

    This creamy pasta helps you reduce food waste by utilizing the tops of your carrots to make an herby gremolata topping.

    Recipe: Orecchiette With Creamy Carrot Miso Sauce

    25. Persimmon Pie

    A slice of persimmon pie topped with whipped cream and surrounded by whole persimmons
    Love and Olive Oil / Via loveandoliveoil.com

    It may look like pumpkin, but this persimmon pie delivers a winter twist on some classic fall flavors. Look for ripened Fuyu persimmons for the best (and sweetest) results.

    Recipe: Persimmon Pie

    26. Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread Cake

    Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

    Layers of pears, brown sugar caramel, and spiced gingerbread cake make this a dessert worth showing off. Serve warm with a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and you're in for a treat.

    Recipe: Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread Cake

    27. Soft Gingerbread Cookies With Maple Glaze

    round gingerbread cookies on a sheet tray with glaze and sprinkle decorations covering one half of each cookie
    Pinch of Yum / Via pinchofyum.com

    These holiday showstoppers give you all the warm flavors of gingerbread without the effort of rolling and breaking out the cookie cutter. 

    Recipe: Soft Gingerbread Cookies With Maple Glaze

    28. Sticky Toffee Persimmon Pudding

    A Cozy Kitchen / Via acozykitchen.com

    This take on a traditional toffee pudding uses Hachiya persimmon pulp in place of the standard dates for a creative seasonal twist on a classic.

    Recipe: Sticky Toffee Persimmon Pudding

    With Food and Love / Via withfoodandlove.com

    Don't let the black pepper scare you off from trying this festive cocktail (or mocktail, if you prefer) — it's really there to help mellow out the tart cranberries and provide some earthiness.

    Recipe: Cranberry Shrub With Black Pepper and Maple

    30. Cranberry, Clementine, and Rosemary Cocktail

    a cocktail in a glass topped with fresh cranberries and sprig of rosemary
    Coley Cooks / Via coleycooks.com

    This cocktail is super easy to batch ahead of time for all of your holiday gatherings; just make your base and top with bubbles as you serve.

    Recipe: Cranberry, Clementine, and Rosemary Cocktail

    31. Cinnamon Apple Bourbon Smash

    A cinnamon apple bourbon small in a glass with a smoked cinnamon stick and apple garnish
    Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

    The spicy cinnamon maple syrup gives this cocktail a unique kick that's sure to warm you up. Garnishes (including a smoked cinnamon stick) are, of course, optional but add even more of a "wow" factor.

    Recipe: Cinnamon Apple Bourbon Smash