The holiday season is all about tradition, togetherness, and the moments that bring us back to what matters most. At White Elm, our community means everything to us, and this time of year gives us the chance to slow down, reflect, and celebrate the traditions that make the holidays special.
Below, members of the White Elm Team share their favorite holiday recipes and memories—many passed down through generations. From classic desserts to meaningful family gatherings, these traditions reflect the heart behind our brand.
For the holidays, I always bake a pumpkin pie using the classic Libby’s recipe—with a few personal tweaks. I double the cinnamon, skip the cloves, and always make my crust from scratch.
I use the Williams Sonoma pie crust recipe, and it never fails to impress. On Christmas Eve, our family tradition is enjoying tamales together—a meal I look forward to every year.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed
3 to 5 tablespoons very cold water
Directions:
Combine flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until coarse. Add water gradually until dough forms. Roll immediately for best results.
A favorite tradition with my immediate family is baking sugar cookies and decorating them.
At the very end everyone makes a crazy cookie using up the remaining decorations and frosting. These end up being the ugliest cookies, frosting ends up a brown mess, but they get the most laughs.
One of my fondest holiday memories, as a proud Latina, begins with our Christmas Eve dinners, where turkey was always the star of the meal. Uncles and cousins would visit our home to celebrate, and neighbors would stop by to share their good wishes.
As I grew older, I began creating a new memory around this tradition. I would spend the entire day—and part of the day before—in the kitchen with my dad, learning how to prepare the turkey and all the accompanying dishes, surrounded by laughter and the joyful chaos of cooking together.
Without a doubt, it’s the most treasured memory I have, and it’s one I get to relive every time I cook the turkey now for my own children.
This pumpkin cake recipe has been in my family for generations—my dad makes it every year, and it wouldn’t feel like the holidays without it.
Pumpkin Cake Batter:
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
One 15 oz can of pumpkin
Beat eggs and sugar, add oil and dry ingredients, then mix in pumpkin. Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes.
Cream Cheese Icing:
3 oz cream cheese
1 stick butter
1 lb powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
In true Southern fashion, my family makes ambrosia salad every year for Christmas. I’ve officially inherited the responsibility, which is lucky for everyone because the recipe is foolproof—and as the youngest, I’m definitely not the cook of the family.
We only make this dish twice a year, on Thanksgiving and Christmas, yet it’s always the first thing gone from the table. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and surprisingly beloved.
Ambrosia Salad Ingredients:
Mini marshmallows
Sweetened shredded coconut
Sour cream (yes, I know)
Mandarin oranges (drained)
Pineapple chunks (drained)
Mix everything together, chill, and enjoy a classic holiday recipe that never fails to bring smiles.
From cherished family recipes to traditions passed down through generations, these moments are what make the holiday season so meaningful.
From all of us at White Elm, thank you for supporting our small business and being part of our community. We wish you a warm, joyful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and memories that last long after the season ends.
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