Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Daily News Staff

(Family Features) With stay-at-home holidays a thing of the past for many families, they’re now busy preparing for full-blown celebrations. The return of traditional festivities brings seemingly never-ending to-do lists and pressure to be the perfect host.

From mastering a mouthwatering menu and donning your home with decadent decor to ensuring guests enjoy the evening to the fullest, hosting duties bring plenty of responsibilities. This year, though, you can avoid those anxious feelings with some preparation ahead of the big day.

To help pull off a sensational seasonal soiree, consider these tips from the entertaining experts at Sun-Maid to make the holidays brighter and more manageable so you can navigate the stresses of hosting.

Invite Others to Share Favorite Traditions
Especially with stay-at-home holidays in recent years, some friends and family members may have developed their own special traditions from new recipes and foods to seasonal games and activities. Inviting your guests to bring or share something that represents their favorite part of the holidays can help everyone feel welcome.

Take Time for Yourself
Remember to make time for yourself so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor right alongside guests. The busyness of this time of year can add stress but reflecting on the true meaning of the season and reveling in your favorite parts of the holidays can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Add New Ingredients to Your Menu
While pairing this year’s turkey or ham with the classics provides comfort and calls to mind holiday memories of the past, cooking with new ingredients and adding fresh recipes to the menu can put a fun spin on the season and maybe even create your own traditions to carry forward.  

For example, baking with an option like Sun-Maid Raisins provides a whole fruit option with zero grams of added sugars per 1/4-cup serving. They’re an easy, better-for-you substitution to reduce overall sugar intake without compromising flavor or texture when compared with dried cranberries, which contain 27 grams of added sugars per 1/4-cup serving. The natural sugars of raisins make them a versatile, useful addition to a wide variety of holiday-worthy dishes.

Hop On Hot Food Trends
One of this year’s most popular trends in the kitchen is food boards, a fun and easy way to elevate flavor while incorporating favorites like cured meats, cold cuts, cheese slices and cubes, dips, nuts and more. Plus, you can keep your board balanced with nutritious items like vegetables and fruit, such as raisins, which provide sweet flavor without the added sugars.

A Time for Truce
Gathering for the holidays is about coming together with loved ones, family, friends and neighbors – and pulling it off means catering to everyone’s needs and wants. It’s a time for compromises and truces. To help add a little extra spark this year, try incorporating a theme to the party or coordinate fun activities and games that can be enjoyed by all. For example, holiday-themed charades, a seasonal “name that tune” game and gift exchanges all give guests ways to get in on the excitement.

To find more holiday entertaining inspiration and recipe ideas, visit SunMaid.com/PullOffTheHolidays .

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Photos courtesy of Getty Images

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Sun-Maid Raisins

12 Days of Whatacheer: Festive Deals for Rewards Members

How It Works

• Who: Whataburger Rewards members (sign up in the app if you’re not already!)
• When: December 12–23, with a new offer every day
• How: Open the Whataburger App, claim the day’s deal, and enjoy with your next order

Holiday-themed graphic reading ‘12 Days of WhataCheer’ on a red background with white dots. Below the text are images of Whataburger menu items: a Cinnamon Roll, Onion Rings, a Whataburger, a Whatafresher, a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit, and a Strawberry Shake.

Why Join the Whataburger Rewards Fun?

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Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Rod Washington

Holiday Desserts Just Got a Dairy-Forward Upgrade

Santa Cookies

• 1          cup (2 sticks) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
• 1/2       cup brown sugar
• 1          tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1          large egg, at room temperature
• 2 1/4    cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4       teaspoon salt
• 1          teaspoon red food coloring
• mini chocolate chips
• mini red chocolate-coated candies

• 1/2       cup (1 stick) Maple Hill Salted Butter, at room temperature
• 4          ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1          teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2    cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In large mixing bowl, beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add egg and beat until combined. Add flour and salt; mix until dough begins to form ball.
3. Remove 1 cup dough and set aside. Add red food coloring to remaining dough.
4. From red cookie dough, make one 1-inch ball and five 1/2-inch balls. From plain cookie dough, make one 3/4-inch ball and five 1/4-inch balls.
5. On prepared baking sheet, place red 1-inch ball and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach four red 1/2-inch balls for arms and legs. Attach plain 3/4-inch ball for head and gently flatten until 1/2-inch thick. Attach plain 1/4-inch balls for hands and feet. Shape remaining red 1/2-inch ball into triangle for hat and attach. Repeat with remaining dough, arranging cookies 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Add chocolate candies for eyes and buttons.
6. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
7. To make frosting: In medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add vanilla and powdered sugar; mix until combined.
8. To decorate: Place half of frosting in piping bag with small tip to line Santa’s arms and legs. Place other half in second piping bag with small star tip to add Santa’s beard, hat and hands. Put small dot of icing between eyes and beard and place red mini chocolate-coated candy on face for nose.

Gingerbread Dip

• 4          ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/4       cup brown sugar
• 1/4       cup powdered sugar
• 3          tablespoons molasses
• 1          container (16 ounces) Maple Hill Vanilla Greek Yogurt
• 1          teaspoon ground ginger
• 1          teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1          teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2          cups whipped cream
• graham crackers
• fruit

1. In medium bowl using electric mixer on medium speed, beat cream cheese and sugars about 1 minute. Add molasses and mix until combined.
2. Add Greek yogurt, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg; beat until combined. Fold in whipped cream and mix until fully incorporated. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving or overnight.
3. Serve with graham crackers and fruit.

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