11 Kitchen Pantry Essentials for The Holiday Season
With the holiday season around the corner, it’s that time of year where you will be entertaining friends and family. Maybe you’re cooking more than one holiday dinner this year. You might even have guests drop in unannounced. How do you avoid a thousand trips to the grocery store this holiday season? What do you do when your kids want cookies for Santa now?
Don’t lose your holiday cheer! Here are eleven essentials to keep your kitchen pantry ready for your next holiday gathering!
- Spices
- Wine
- Nuts
- Cranberries
- Broth
- Cookie Making Essentials
- Chocolate
- Crackers
- Hot Chocolate
- Apple Cider
- Butcher’s Twine
Already craving a cup of warm apple cider? Then pull up a chair & learn how easy it is to prepare your pantry for the most wonderful time of the year!
Spices
Spices rule the holiday season and are prevalent in almost every holiday recipe. From cookies to cakes, there are several spices you should keep on hand. Pumpkin spice is a must for pumpkin pie lovers. Pumpkin spice can also be added to your favorite coffee or tea to give it a fragrant holiday smell and flavor!
Most holiday cookies and cakes will require all-spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. Keep these on hand, ready to bake your favorite goodies. If you are wondering what in the world you would use clove in, here are a few ideas:
- Mulled Apple Cider
- Apple Butter
- Old Fashion Ginger Bread
- Pumpkin Pie
- Sugar Cookies
Add a dash of cinnamon to your favorite muffin recipe for a quick and cheerful breakfast for those last-minute guests. Keep the party going by spicing up the eggnog with cinnamon & nutmeg for additional holiday flare!
Wine
Invited to a last-minute party? Did unexpected family just ring your doorbell? Always keep a bottle of wine on hand. Many people often forget that wine is also an essential ingredient in a number of holiday dishes. Sauté your choice of meat in your favorite spices, add in some wine, and dinner is done! Keep a bottle or two tucked away to ensure you are always prepared!
Nuts
Walnuts, cashews, peanuts, almonds, the list is endless! Keep an assortment of your favorite nuts nearby.
- Great to add in cookies
- What's a charcuterie board without an assortment of glazed almonds and walnuts?
- Sprinkle on top of your famous Chicken Almondine
- Super quick snack to set out with that bottle of wine!
Cranberries
Both fresh and canned, go with a classic when delighting in a holiday feast or arranging a beautiful centerpiece! Whip up your grandmother's famous cranberry sauce! This is a great addition to any holiday meal. Add crackers & cheese and you have an instant appetizer!
Broth
Keep some chicken and/or vegetable broth on hand for making quick soups. The perfect way to create a quick dinner when those unexpected friends drop by unannounced? A delicious soup made with your favorite ingredients, broth, and plenty of love!
Cookie Making Essentials
Santa will be here soon and that means COOKIES! Keep flour, sugar, eggs, milk, and plenty of spices handy. Don't worry about keeping everything organized. If anything, take some time before the holiday season to reorganize your pantry and then stock it full of essentials.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a great and quick way to add something sweet to that charcuterie board you’re putting together for a last-minute holiday party. Chocolate candies are a great addition to centerpieces as well! Need cookies? Grab that chocolate bar or chocolate morsels and with your stash of cookie ingredients, you'll be everybody’s hero!
Crackers
A quick addition for any gathering during the holiday season. Did you forget to grab that pie crust for your grandmother's famous pie? In a pinch, grinding up crackers with a little melted butter will work as a pie crust.
Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is a must-have in any kitchen pantry! Light the fire and serve up some hot chocolate for a cozy intimate gathering. Be the hero mom and invite the neighborhood kids over for something warm after a day in the snow!
Serve after dinner with a sprinkle of cinnamon for an extra holiday flare at your next party! My Recipes even suggests making hot chocolate brownies! The possibilities are endless!
Apple Cider
Out of wine? No problem! Pull out some apple cider, warm, and serve. It's an instant lifesaver! Apple cider is a perfect way to add more holiday cheer to any meal. Looking for something festive for those that don’t drink wine? Serve apple cider! Take it one step further and add a stick of cinnamon or apple slice as a garnish.
Butcher’s Twine
Holiday parties and family get-togethers mean lots of turkey, chicken, & duck – keep butcher’s twine on hand to tame your holiday meals. Wrapping a last-minute gift and out of tape? Grab the butcher’s twine and give your gift a unique look.
Add some butcher’s twine around your favorite vase to add some flare for your centerpiece this holiday season. Looking for a way to hang that mistletoe in the door frame? Grab your butcher’s twine! You’ll have no shortage of uses for butcher’s twine this holiday season!
Final Thoughts
Whatever you decide to keep in your kitchen pantry, include things that will help eliminate any unneeded stress. Think about your favorite meals, especially those that you cook on a weekly basis. What ingredients do you go through so fast you wonder where they went? Do you attend a lot of parties? What do you wish you had on hand? These are the items you'll want to keep stashed away so you're always ready for action, whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the 4th of July!