5 Ingredients or Fewer

A touch of sugar blended with tamari creates a rich, salty coating for whole almonds. They're ideal for holiday parties — just set them out in festive dishes and watch them disappear.

Festive and beautiful, this creation of editor Nichol Nelson is packed with real cranberry flavor. Forcing some of the berries through a sieve into the syrup intensifies the drink's fruitiness.

Buttery and crunchy, with a rich, oozy center, these little sandwiches (a cross between panini and chocolate croissants) provide a sweet ending that can be prepared in just minutes.

Egg whites give these quick, cheesy nibbles their exceptionally light texture. Bite-size portions make them the perfect mouth-popping accompaniment to an aperitif.

You'll want to mix up a pitcher of this bubbly drink for its gorgeous ruby hue alone. It's a refreshing prelude to any holiday meal, and it goes so well with the parmesan puffs .

Caramelized by high-heat roasting, all that these parsnips needed was a hint of sage to make fans of us all.

Sweet caramelized onions and a tart Granny Smith apple are a perfect balancing act, especially when combined with rich smoked sausage.

Roasting the wings before tossing them with this tangy glaze is our secret to getting crisp skin.

The red stems and green leaves of Swiss chard may hint at Christmas, but once you taste them with feta and currants, you'll want to cook this dish throughout the winter.

These spoons add a hint of peppermint when stirred into a cup of hot cocoa.

These buttery, crisp tuiles are made with tea and honey — the Earl Grey lends a sophisticated note of bergamot — and taste wonderful with an afternoon cuppa.

This recipe originally accompanied five-spice gingersnaps.

This traditional Italian liqueur looks beautiful in decorative glass bottles that show off its bright-yellow color. For added effect, tuck in some lemon leaves, which are available at many florist shops (just be sure to wash them well before blanching). If you're giving the limoncello as a gift, you'll want to start it well in advance, since it requires a week of steeping. It's best drunk cold, so you may want to refrigerate the bottle before handing it over, in case the recipient wants to crack it open on the spot. It's also delicious poured over fresh strawberries.

Wonderfully festive and fun, these candied star-shaped chips — a favorite among children — have a slight tropical flavor that makes them a sunny treat with or without the strudel.

We were surprised at how many different varieties of gorgeous red lettuces and red greens we were able to find to create this visually stunning salad. Tossed with a simple vinaigrette, it is a lovely counterpoint to the richness of the meat and potatoes.

Salty, crunchy bites, tasting of the sea, complement the lobster gelées' delicate, melting texture.

Beautifully bright green, this herbaceous oil really enhances the anise flavor in the lobster gelées.

No time to heat up a pizza stone? This easy alternative method yields a crisp crust in just minutes. Good-quality cheese, olive oil, and prosciutto go a long way toward making the pie truly memorable.