Author Amy Patrick said, “You know what they say about southern cooking. Butter’s the main course, everything else is just a side dish.”

And she’s not wrong! Traditional southern recipes are hearty, filling, full of vegetables yet somehow indulgent. So, there is no better cuisine to cook during the holiday season than the classic dishes of the south.

But if you’ve never cooked southern food before, you might be wondering what the best southern recipes are. And, you might be wondering if southern food is even festive.

Having the option to eat and prepare Southern food is a gift that Southerners ought to never underestimate. You needn’t bother with Mama to remind you—there truly is in no way like. There are a few and others that main prepared Southern cooks can dominate. The Christmas season is when experienced and unpracticed Southern cooks meet up to make culinary sorcery. There aren’t numerous things that unite a family very like a broiled turkey, some exemplary cornbread dressing, or a green bean meal. These Christmas and Thanksgiving plans are the most exemplary ever. From treats like walnut pie and pound cake to collard greens and pureed potatoes, these plans are ageless.

Wonder no more, because here are five top recipes from the south you should cook during this winter season.

1. Beef Tenderloin

Everyone in the south eats turkey for thanksgiving dinner, exactly like the rest of the country. But if you want to shake things up for Christmas dinner, beef tenderloin is the way to go.

Many types of tenderloin are popular in the south, as the people behind makesilo.com will agree.

Recipe

Preheat your oven to 425°. On a wire rack, place 6Ib of trimmed beef tenderloin and rub with three tablespoons of butter, kosher salt, and pepper.

Bake the beef for 25 to 35 minutes and let it rest for 15 minutes in aluminum foil before serving. Make the dish more festive by sprinkling rosemary and whipping up some cranberry sauce.

2. Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

No holiday meal in the south gets served with less than 547 side dishes. Buttermilk mashed potatoes are one of the most quintessential southern recipes and this side dish is super easy to make.

Recipe

Peel and chop three pounds of potatoes and boil them for around 25 minutes. Leave them to drain while you heat up 1/2 cup of whole milk and one cup of salted butter in the microwave for 60 seconds.

Add the milk and butter to the potatoes with eight ounces of crème fraîche, salt, and pepper. Mash well and serve.

3. Delicious Fudge Chunks

You wouldn’t catch any person from the south without delicious treats to hand out to their callers over the holidays. Fudge is perfect because you can cut it up into bite-size pieces. Plus, who doesn’t love fudge?!

Recipe

Line an 8-inch square pan with baking paper. Put 1/2 cup of butter in the microwave in 30-second blasts until it melts. Then, add 16 ounces of powdered sugar, 1/2 cup of cocoa, 1/4 cup of milk, and a pinch of salt to the butter and stir.

Microwave the mixture for 30 seconds and then add one tablespoon of vanilla extract. Put it in a standing mixer until the mixture is smooth then pour it into the pan. Cover and chill in your refrigerator for two hours until the fudge is set.

If you want a topping, mix a four-ounce bar of white chocolate with two tablespoons of whipping cream. Melt them together in the microwave and pour over your fudge before putting it in the fridge.

Festive Southern Recipes to Warm Up Your Winter

Nowhere is more serious about celebrating the holidays right than in the south. Channel your inner southern Grandma by cooking up a storm this winter with these warming southern recipes.

And don’t forget to add butter!

Want to cook festive dishes from other parts of the world this winter? Our website has tons of foodie inspiration so you can travel through your tastebuds.