We are rapidly closing in on one of my favorite times of year– winter holiday baking season! At the time I’m writing this blog (mid-October), I’ve already started daydreaming about my holiday menus and all the fun recipes I’d like to try out. Even if you haven’t yet started planning your holiday menu, there’s no need to panic! Luckily for you, NPL has thousands of cookbooks full of delicious recipes, so no matter what holidays you observe, we’re sure to be able to help you find the perfect festive foods for your celebrations with loved ones.

Have a cookie swap coming up in your office, friend group, or neighborhood? Check out these holiday recipes from Sarah Kieffer, the baking blogger behind The Vanilla Bean Blog and mega-popular 100 Cookies cookbook.

I’ve had good results from all the Kieffer recipes that I’ve tried (I swear by her cinnamon roll recipe!), so I’m really looking forward to trying something from this cookbook for some upcoming holiday parties.

Attending any Hanukkah celebrations this year? You might find your new favorite recipe in this cookbook from the Jewish Food Society, an organization dedicated to preserving global Jewish culinary heritage. Check out over 135 recipes from all around the Jewish diaspora for international perspectives on classic holiday dishes.

Need a new recipe to mark Winter Solstice? On December 21st, 2024, the Northern Hemisphere will experience the Winter Solstice, as the Earth’s poles reach their maximum tilt away from the sun, giving us the shortest day and longest night of the year. For millennia, Winter Solstice has held spiritual significance for cultures across the world, including the northern Germanic people who designated this time to observe the winter festival, Yule. Today, there are still many who celebrate this ancient rite. Explore The Winter Solstice if you’d like to learn more about Yule recipes and traditions, as well as their influence on many modern Christmas customs.

Looking for a new dish to bring to your Karamu feast this year? Consider checking out this cookbook from Eric Coppage, a longtime New York Times reporter and former New York Times Magazine editor. Chock-full of recipes honoring African American family, culture, and community, this book is sure to help make Kwanzaa special for you and your loved ones.

Celebrating Chinese New Year on January 29th? Try a recipe from Mooncakes and Milk Bread, a James Beard Award-winning cookbook from food blogger Kristina Cho, with traditional Chinese dishes and Chinese-American recipes for restaurant chefs and home cooks alike. With a cookbook full of advice on how to plan a Lunar New Year menu with auspicious dishes that symbolize your hopes (harmony, happiness, or wealth) for the coming year, Mooncakes and Milk Bread will make sure you start your New Year on the right foot.