Hannah Agran

Old-world traditions shape cookies like kringla, sandbakkels and pepparkakor, flavored with ingredients that have long brightened Scandinavian winters. Recipes for these and other Christmas treats came to the Midwest with immigrants from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland more than a century ago.

Our all-time favorite recipes for homemade Christmas food gifts include peppermint bark, cinnamon pretzels, truffles, fudge, snack mix and candy—and many are easy enough to make even if you aren't an avid cook.

Make special holiday and Christmas gifts with our recipes for chocolate bark, caramels, toffee, fudge, marshmallows and truffles.

When the fall weather hits, our editors are cooking these cozy recipes for chili, apple crisp, bourbon cocktails, pumpkin bread, chocolate chip cookies and hash brown casserole.

We chose our all-time favorite fall drives, the ones showcasing the best of the season and the region. All our drives deliver memorable scenery, towns, restaurants and lodgings. You'll see familiar routes, plus a few surprises.

Embrace flavors old and new with Thanksgiving recipes from Jason Qureshi, executive chef at River Roast in Chicago.

The James Beard Award winner dishes on eating out, honoring roots and upping your burger game. (Hint: There’s a fried egg and bacon involved.)