14 jewel recipes

Victorian jewels, glistening mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit and raisins in a spiced walnut batter, baked as bite-size muffins and glazed with melted jelly so they shine. A jewel-like holiday gift.

Hidden Jewels are brown sugar bar cookies studded with colorful gumdrops and walnuts, lightened with folded egg whites. A retro candy-filled treat kids love.

Jewel cookies (thumbprint cookies) rolled in chopped pecans, baked with a center depression, and filled with jelly or a maraschino cherry. A vintage Christmas cookie tin staple.

Jeweled relish made from sauerkraut, chopped pimento-stuffed green olives, celery, and honey, blended overnight and served cold. A tangy-sweet no-cook condiment with bright colors and unusual flavor.

Peanut butter thumbprint cookies filled with cherry preserves. Soft, nutty peanut butter dough with a jewel-toned jelly center in every bite.

Victorian jewels mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts baked into tender two-bite cakes. A glossy jelly glaze gives each one its jewel-box shine. Holiday gifting star.

Tangy orange marmalade made from fresh oranges and lemons with a slivered rind that suspends in jewel-like jelly. A classic small-batch preserve recipe with liquid pectin for guaranteed set.

Moroccan chicken with pistachios, dried apricots, pine nuts, and cinnamon over rice, finished with rosewater and edible flower petals. An aromatic, jewel-toned one-dish dinner.

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.

Pisnyi borsch is a traditional Ukrainian meatless beet soup with dried boletus mushrooms, root vegetables, and beet kvas for a tart, jewel-toned broth served with vushka dumplings.

Raspberry cranberry Jello ring mold with crushed pineapple, whole cranberry sauce, fresh raspberries, and walnuts. A festive, make-ahead holiday side or dessert with a jewel-toned shimmer.

Classic boeuf bourguignonne with beef marinated in red wine, braised until fork-tender, then finished with caramelized pearl onions, mushrooms, and ripe tomatoes. The crown jewel of French comfort cooking.

Poached pears in a raspberry-apple juice sauce with lemon zest. An elegant, light fruit dessert served warm or chilled with a jewel-toned syrup that needs no added sugar.

Shereen Polo is a Persian jeweled rice pilau with saffron, julienned carrots, orange peel, almonds, pistachios, and rose water in sugar syrup. Served with crispy tahdig and a side of chicken stew.