‘Tis the Season for New Flavors with Holiday Classics

Join us on a flavorful, unique journey from the comfort of home. We’ve partnered with The Spice Hunter to come up with some ideas for adding unexpected upgrades to your favorite classic holiday dishes. And for a special treat: Use code SPRUCEEATS25 to receive 25% off and free shipping with orders over $25 (Expires 12/31/20). 

There’s something comforting about holiday traditions. Sharing familiar, delicious meals with friends and family is reassuring, especially after a year as tumultuous and unprecedented as this one. Repeat any tradition long enough, however, and it will eventually grow stale. But instead of abandoning your seasonal staples and starting from scratch, we’re here to give you some ideas for spicing up those holiday favorites. And yes, we mean that literally.  

A single spice can keep traditional dishes from feeling tiresome. Not only that, but the unexpected flavor can transport you to somewhere else entirely, whether that’s to a memory or a far-flung corner of the globe. This year, it might be as close to world travel as you can get. With these versatile ingredients and simple tips, you can revamp holiday classics or create new ones.

1. Original Turkey Brine

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Nothing signals the holiday season quite like carving a turkey for your guests. If you want to serve turkey that’s juicy and flavorful—and who doesn’t?—this original turkey brine from The Spice Hunter is your new secret weapon. If you didn’t know, brine is an ancient global tradition in which people used salt, water, and herbs. The Spice Hunter’s brine, however, includes that and much more! Featuring a savory blend of fruit and rosemary, it will make sure that the sides don’t steal the spotlight during your holiday feast.

2. Pure Vanilla Extract

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Dinner might be the marquee meal during the holiday season, but there are plenty of other opportunities to add extra flavor to your signature dishes. Whether you’re fixing French Toast for breakfast or are making cookies or cake for dessert, you’re going to want some vanilla extract on hand to elevate the recipe. And there’s no better version of it than The Spice Hunter Pure Vanilla Extract, made with pure vanilla beans from Madagascar to give it a fragrant and authentic sweetness.

3. Highland Harvested Saigon Cinnamon

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While vanilla extract can elevate your current holiday favorites, you can also reach for the cinnamon to make a series of more unexpected desserts. We recommend using cinnamon to prepare Baklava. The rich pastry fits the mold of sweet and comforting seasonal desserts, but will also introduce some Middle-Eastern flavor to your holiday celebration. The quality of cinnamon will determine the taste of the dish, so be sure to use The Spice Hunter Highland Harvested Saigon Cinnamon, which comes straight from the mountains of Vietnam and features the warm, reddish-brown shade and rich, sweet flavor you expect from the spice.

4. Rubbed Dalmatian Sage

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Let’s take a pit-stop to the Mediterranean . If you want to enliven a traditional holiday meal, no herb or spice is going to be as effective as sage. It can brighten up pretty much any dish, from dinner staples like pork and stuffing to vegetables and dips you’re planning to lay out as an appetizer. The Spice Hunter Rubbed Dalmatian Sage is also amazing because it’s more subtle than other forms of sage, allowing you to use it in a variety of ways without worrying about overpowering the palate. It’s an item that you’re going to want to keep at the center of your spice rack as we enter the holiday season.

5. Hot Buttered Rum 

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Holiday hosts usually put more thought into the food they’ll be serving, but the drink selection is every bit as important. And what could be better than cozying up on a cold winter night with a warm drink? Pick up The Spice Hunter Hot Buttered Rum mix to easily make an often under-appreciated classic. Fun fact: While rum is naturally from the Caribbean, Hot Buttered Rum dates back to colonial days where many families believed rum to be nutritious and strengthening. We can’t promise this will give you strong bones, but we highly recommend using this rum and enjoying time by a crackling fireplace.

6. Mulling Spices

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Want another seasonal treat on the drink menu? Round out your holidays with the taste of Rome -- the home of the Mulling Spice tradition. All you need is a bottle of red wine and The Spice Hunter Mulling Spices, including flavorful ingredients like cinnamon chips, orange rind, allspice, cloves, cinnamon oil and orange oil—and no added sugar or preservatives. Mix it all together and heat it up to start enjoying Mulled Wine in the comfort of your own home. We’re pretty sure you’ll want to make this a new holiday tradition once you take the first sip. 

‘Tis the season to celebrate with our favorite’s from The Spice Hunter. Don’t forget to use code SPRUCEEATS25 to receive 25% off and free shipping with orders over $25 (Expires 12/31/20).