Holiday Recipes 2023

JCR Monthly - Holiday Recipe Exchange

December 2023

Sixteen years have passed since we published our very first JCR holiday cookie exchange. Now an annual tradition, we look forward — every year — to gathering, baking, taste-testing, and serving delectable holiday recipes from our hotels and chefs across the globe. This year’s cookie exchange brings traditional yummies (chocolate chip cookies and Scottish shortbread) together with new, can’t-wait-to-try delicacies like French Madeleines from Paris. The famed Cifelli coconut cream pie (Anthony’s fave) which I make twice a year, Christmas and his birthday, is also included. 


So make space on those kitchen islands, gather your ingredients, measuring spoons, and most festive aprons. Happy baking and be sure to send us a photo of your creations. Happy holiday season. 


-Jaj



Truevail
: Coconut Custard Pie

Hands down, a favorite holiday (and birthday) recipe in the Cifelli house: Janine’s famous coconut custard pie.


Ballyfin, Ireland
: Festive Biscuits

What is tea in Ireland without these festive holiday biscuits? 


The Safari Collection Kenya
: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn’t savor a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookie, especially this classic recipe from Kenya. 


The Aerial, British Virgin Islands:
Raw Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Slice

From the isle of wellness, try this amazing peanut butter cookie dough slice. A great source of plant-based protein, peanut butter is also known to help lower high cholesterol levels.


Glenapp Castle, Scotland:
Scottish Tablet

Cherished for its rich, sweet flavor and crumbly texture, the Scottish Tablet is crafted with care in kitchens across Scotland, especially at Christmas time.


HL Adventure, Iceland
: Icelandic Gingerbread

Festive to both the eye and palate, we love these homemade gingerbread cakes.


Hotel Esprit Saint Germain, Paris
: Madeleines with Christmas Spices

Bring a taste of Paris to your holiday table with madeleines, typical French cup cakes, spiced with Christmas cheer. 


La Nauve, Hôtel + Jardin, Cognac, France
: Christmas Cookies

These lovely cookies are the favorite of La Nauve’s pastry Chef Simon Souchaud.


Soneva Jani, Maldives
:  Orange Blossom Snowflake Cookies

Bite into Soneva’s orange blossom snowflake cookies and be instantly transported to the Maldives. Yum. 


Kisawa Sanctuary, Mozambique
: Baobab Chocolate Chip Cookie

This decadent cookie may require a trip to an African specialty store (for Baobab) but the effort is worth it. 


White Elephant, Nantucket:
Spiced Molasses Brownies

Nothing speaks (or smells) of the holiday season more than White Elephant’s spiced molasses brownies. So good. 


SION:
BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie

Chocolate chip cookies are always a good idea, so we are excited to debut Sion’s version of the classic. 


Grantley Hall, UK
:  Speculoos Fingers

Cookies are not as much a holiday tradition in the UK as in the US, but Grantley Hall’s festive afternoon tea cakes are always a seasonal favorite.


Katikies Resorts, Greece
: Cinnamon Cookies

We can smell these delectable cinnamon cookies all the way from Greece. If the holidays had a fragrance, this is it. 


Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barth
: Chocolate Chip Cookies

From Hotel Le Toiny’s new chef comes this variation on the classic chocolate chip cookie, perfect for the holiday season. 


The Greenwich Hotel, New York
: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

While these sumptuous pumpkin cakes first appear around Thanksgiving, they remain popular throughout the festive season. 


Sheen Falls Lodge, Ireland
: Mistletoe Mix Manhattan

From the Emerald Isle, a taste of Manhattan with Sheen Falls Lodge’s festive Mistletoe Mix Manhattan cocktail. 


Family Twist
: Chocolate Almond Twice-Baked Cookies from Provence

This decadent croquants (chocolate almond twice-baked cookies) from Provence  recipe comes from our European friends at Family Twist. Merci. 


Hotel Chelsea, New York City
: Best French Toast

Inspired by Cafe Chelsea’s Pain Perdu, try this dreamy French toast, ideal for holiday brunch. Though in France, it is typically served as dessert.


St. Barth Connection
: Truffle Croque Monsieur

Not a cookie or sweet, but a savory truffle croque monsieur apéritif, French style. 


Castlemartyr, Ireland
: Terre New Year’s Cocktail

The perfect libation to ring in the New year, this festive cocktail is the creation of Filip, sommelier at Castlemartyr’s Michelin star restaurant, Terre. 


Lodge Lorien, New Zealand: Divine White Chocolate Berry & Limoncello Tiramisu
Our newest client, Lodge Lorien, is sharing the holiday spirit with this festive (and divine)
white chocolate berry & limoncello tiramisu.



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