Elevated Recipes, Effortless Entertaining - The Kitchen Prep Blog

Cranberry Jalapeno Dip in a white serving dish placed on top of a green and red plaid napkin surrounded by cranberries, jalapenos & crackers.

Cranberry Jalapeno Dip

Mint Cookies & Cream Dessert Cheese Ball! Crushed creme-filled chocolate cookies stud a sweet and creamy cheesecake "ornament". A hint of mint gives it a holiday twist! This last minute holiday dessert couldn't get any easier or cuter! Serve with fruit or cookies for a festive treat.

Oreo Cheese Ball

Spiced acorn squash, pears and quinoa cook simultaneously in the oven before being tossed with dried cranberries, pecans, goat cheese, and fresh arugula.

Roasted Acorn Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad

Gingerbread Crusted Baked Brie! This gorgeous appetizer may be simple, but it isn't lacking one bit of warm, festive flavors for your holidays gatherings!

Gingerbread Crusted Baked Brie with Cranberry Sauce

Marinated Zucchini & Tortellini Skewers! Looking for an easy appetizer to serve up at a party or bring along to a gathering? These incredibly simple skewers are just the thing! They're crowd-pleasing, easy to make and appealing to the eye, too!

appetizers

Strawberry & Goat Cheese Salad in a blue bowl.

salads

Overhead shot of Lemon Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts on a porcelain plate surrounded by lemons and a striped kitchen towel.

side dishes

Vanilla Bean Citrus Bars! A crisp, shortbread crust is topped with a layer of sweet, citrusy filling speckled with fragrant vanilla beans. These are the stuff of potluck dreams!

desserts

holidays & special occasions

Close up of Italian Knot Cookies on a white cake plate.

cookies

Hi, I’m Dianna!

Elevated Recipes. Effortless Entertaining.

Here at The Kitchen Prep, you’ll find approachable, seasonal recipes that are easy to make & impossible to forget! Everyday entertaining — elevated.

Christmas Tree Appetizer made out of cheese puffs (gougeres) on a plate.

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Christmas Tree Appetizer

Whipped Feta Dip in a bowl surrounded by pita chips.

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Whipped Feta Dip

Close up shot of Sausage Reuben Puffs.

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Sausage Reuben Puffs

More Appetizers

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Christmas Cookie Recipes

A variety of No Spread Sugar Cookies on a cooling rack, with one being lifted by a cookie spatula.

No Spread Sugar Cookies

Close up of chocolate dipped Maraschino Cherry Cookies on marble counter.

Maraschino Cherry Cookies

Gingerbread Madeleines. Delicate, cake-like cookies infused with the flavors of gingerbread! A perfect holiday treat.

Gingerbread Madeleines

Raspberry Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies on a white plate with holiday ornament in background.

Raspberry Cheesecake Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies

Bow Tie Cookies (Kolaczki) on a Christmas plate with a glass of milk beside it.

Bow Tie Cookies (Kolaczki Cookies)

Caramel Eggnog Split Second Cookies

Peppermint Mocha Truffle Thumbprint Cookies! Chocolaty with a smooth truffle center, they're a festive addition to a cookie exchange or holiday buffet!

Peppermint Mocha Cookies

Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers piled on top of each other on a marble background.

Chocolate Covered Graham Crackers

Holiday Hosting Recipes

A pumpkin cheesecake bar on a white dessert plate.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars with Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust

Balsamic Glazed Asparagus

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars stacked on top of a red and white striped napkin.

Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars

A silver spoon scooping a serving of Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole from a white casserole dish.

Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

A close up of Boursin Mashed Potatoes in a gray serving bowl.

Boursin Mashed Potatoes

Sour Cream & Chive Corn Casserole in a skillet on a table with white plates.

Sour Cream & Chive Corn Casserole

Vegetarian Sheet Pan Stuffing! If you've got a family who fights over the crispy parts of the Thanksgiving stuffing, this recipe will ensure everyone gets what they want! Baking on a sheet pan creates extra texture on this wonderful {vegetarian!} twist on a beloved holiday recipe.

Vegetarian Sheet Pan Stuffing

Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash & Ricotta Salad

Maple-Roasted Acorn Squash & Ricotta Salad

Warming Seasonal Sips

Coconut Latte on a saucer with holiday decor surrounding it.

Coconut Mocha Latte

Fluffernutter Latte! This sweet, creamy homemade latte is perfect for enjoying when the temperatures drop. Made with a simple peanut butter syrup and topped off with a swirl of marshmallow fluff, you'll find yourself skipping the coffee shops and making this unique beverage at home.

Fluffernutter Latte

"Apple Pie" White Hot Chocolate! Sweet and creamy, with undertones of apple pie, this might just become your favorite way to warm up during the cold weather months!

“Apple Pie” White Hot Chocolate

Graham Cracker Latte

Graham Cracker Latte

Trending (But Always Classic)

A silver spoon scooping a serving of Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole from a white casserole dish.

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Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

A variety of No Spread Sugar Cookies on a cooling rack, with one being lifted by a cookie spatula.

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No Spread Sugar Cookies

A large skillet filled with Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta with a yellow and white striped dish towel underneath.

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Creamy Mushroom & Chicken Sausage Florentine Pasta

Honey-Cinnamon Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates! Sweet, sticky dates are stuffed full of honey-sweetened, cinnamon-spiced cream cheese, then rolled in crunchy roasted pecans. A perfect snack or appetizer to prepare last minute holiday entertaining!

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Honey-Cinnamon Cream Cheese Stuffed Dates

Close up of Italian Knot Cookies on a white cake plate.

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Italian Knot Cookies

Lifting a scoop of Irish Cheddar & Cabbage Hash Browns out of a cast iron skillet.

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Irish Cheddar & Cabbage Hash Brown Skillet

Benedictine Spread for Kentucky Derby in a white bowl with a piece of pumpernickel toast in the foreground slathered with spread.

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Benedictine Spread – A Derby Classic

Polish Chrusciki or Faworki dusted with powdered sugar on a white plate.

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Chrusciki

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Chocolate, Caramel, Marshmallow, Whiskey & Bacon Bark