112 jewel recipes

Magic Fruit Cake bakes up tender and jewel-bright with mincemeat, sweetened condensed milk, red and green cherries, and chopped walnuts. A no-fuss holiday tube cake that mixes in one bowl and slices into glossy, fruit-studded rounds.

Upside-down grape and mascarpone cheesecake: red seedless grapes in a glossy sweet-tart sauce under a silky mascarpone filling, inverted to reveal the jewel-like fruit on top.

Homemade cranberry liqueur made with fresh cranberries, vodka, sugar syrup, and orange peel. Steep for 4-5 weeks for a jewel-toned, tart-sweet holiday spirit.

Champagne jelly: a sparkling four-ingredient preserve with bright wine flavor and a clear, jewel-toned set. Brilliant on a cheeseboard or glazing roast chicken.

Lamb stew with chestnuts and pomegranate layers tender braised lamb with saffron, cinnamon, ground walnuts, and tart pomegranate juice. A jewel-toned Persian-style stew, sweet, sour, and savory, spooned over saffron rice.

Authentic crawfish bisque with stuffed crawfish heads, a dark roux, and ground crawfish tails simmered low and slow. The crown jewel of Cajun cooking, served over rice.

Pickled watermelon rind in a spiced cider vinegar syrup with cinnamon, clove, and allspice. Old-Southern preserve that turns kitchen scraps into translucent, sweet-tart jewels.

Classic walnut-crusted thumbprint cookies with tender shortbread base and jewel-toned jelly centers perfect for cookie swaps and holiday gift boxes.

Cranberry-orange gelatin salad mold with red wine, fresh orange puree, and cranberry sauce. A jewel-toned retro side dish for holiday tables.

Pickled Zante grapes (Champagne grapes) in a sweet champagne vinegar brine with allspice. Cocktail garnish and cheese-board jewel that keeps for months.

Pickled sweet green tomatoes turn end-of-season fruit into spiced jewel-toned slices. Brown sugar, vinegar, and a spice bag of mustard seed, allspice, celery seed, and cloves give them a sweet-tart bite for canning.

Home-candied angelica turns young spring stalks into emerald-green confectionery jewels using just sugar and patience. A traditional British technique for decorating cakes, trifles and Christmas puddings.

Pickled figs in a spiced syrup with clove, allspice, cinnamon, and mace. Old-Southern preserve that turns whole figs into glossy, jewel-like jars for cheese boards and roasted meats.

Lightened cranberry cake with whole berries on the bottom and a tender egg-white batter on top. A jewel-toned holiday dessert with naturally sweet-tart bite.

Armenian sweet rice pilaf studded with dates, apricots, prunes, and toasted almonds simmers in honey-butter. Raisins and currants add even more jeweled sweetness.

Dense, jewel-toned fruit cake packed with whole dates, walnuts, and candied cherries held together by just enough batter. A showstopper for holiday giving.