Nothing brings people together like food — especially in the Lowcountry, where holiday gatherings spill over to backyard fires, sunset oyster roasts and festive feasts. We bake treats with the kids, creating flour-dusted memories, and eggnog flows as Christmas music fills the air. Hosting here means juggling roles as cook, decorator and tour guide — pointing out favorite spots between basting the turkey and topping off eggnog. But it’s worth every moment. For gatherings big or small, we’ve rounded up a couple of holiday recipes to help make the season as tasty and memorable as can be.

Carolina Coffee & Crumbs 

Sugar Cookie Truffles

There’s something special about holiday treats that are as easy as they are festive — and Erika Waronsky knows how to make them just that. At her popular spots, Carolina Coffee & Crumbs and The Sandbar Beach Eats, Erika has a knack for bringing family friendly recipes to life. This holiday she’s sharing one of her family’s favorites: Sugar Cookie Truffles. These simple, no-bake treats are fun to make with kids and perfect for holiday parties or as a sweet snack to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients

Sugar cookies: Use hard sugar cookies. I used store-bought (the Pepperidge Farm ones) because they had the right texture, but I’ve also used homemade shortbread cookies that were a few days old.

Cream cheese: Make sure it’s softened. I let mine sit out on the counter for about 30 minutes to an hour before getting started.

Vanilla: The boost of vanilla flavor pairs perfectly with the sweetness from the sugar cookies and the tang from the cream cheese.

Chocolate: It’s important to use high-quality chocolate. I love using melting wafers for dipping. I don’t love melting down white chocolate chips for these. They never seem to have the super smooth consistency I want. I also used these red candy melts from Wilton to get the bright red color.

Directions

[1] Start by blending the cookies in a blender or food processor. You want them to turn into super fine crumbs. Add the cream cheese and vanilla and pulse until the mixture is combined. [2] Scoop out the mixture with a small cookie scoop or spoon and roll into balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm (usually takes about 20 minutes). [3] Melt the chocolate until smooth, then place the truffle on a fork and dip it into the bowl of melted chocolate. Tap the fork on the side of the bowl to remove any excess chocolate. Then place on the baking sheet and immediately add sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Work fast — they harden quickly!

LOCAL Life Test Kitchen 

Holiday Cranberry-Glazed Ham

This cranberry-glazed ham is the perfect centerpiece for your feast, bringing together the rich, savory flavor of roasted ham with a sweet and tangy cranberry glaze. Infused with hints of warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, this easy-to-make main dish is as aromatic as it is beautiful, with a glossy, caramelized finish that’s sure to impress. 

Ingredients

1 (8-10 pound) fully cooked ham (spiral-cut or whole)

1 1/2 cups cranberry sauce (homemade or store-bought)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Garnish: Rosemary, bay leaves, cranberries

Directions

[1] Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place the ham in a roasting pan, cut side down if using a spiral-cut ham, and cover loosely with foil. [2] In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberry sauce, brown sugar, honey (or maple syrup), Dijon mustard, cinnamon and cloves. Heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is smooth and syrupy (about 5-7 minutes). [3] Brush about half of the cranberry glaze over the ham, covering as much of the surface as possible. Cover the ham with foil and bake for 1 hour. [4] After 1 hour, remove the foil, brush more glaze over the ham and increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees. Continue baking for an additional 20-30 minutes, basting with the remaining glaze every 10 minutes, until the ham is caramelized and heated through. [5] Let the ham rest for 20 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh rosemary, bay leaves and cranberries for an impressive presentation.