Most Requested Family Recipes: 13 Holiday Dishes Relatives Beg For Every Year, Starting With Grandma’s Party Potatoes

These most requested family recipes are the dishes relatives ask for by name the moment a holiday date is set. Every family has them: the potato casserole that has to be on the table, the coffee cake someone always wraps up to take home, the pie an aunt is not allowed to skip. Reader’s Digest even gathered dozens of secret family recipes that get requested again and again, proof that the classics never go out of style. We picked 13 of the most loved, from creamy party potatoes and fluffy ambrosia to Italian beef sandwiches for the day after, cherry delight and a towering hummingbird cake. Each one comes with a simple ingredient list and easy steps, so this year you can be the one everybody calls for the recipe..

Most Requested Family Recipes: Grandma’s Party Potatoes

If one dish defines the most requested family recipes, it is this one. Party potatoes are mashed potatoes dressed up for company, whipped with cream cheese, sour cream and butter, then baked under a blanket of cheddar until the top turns golden. They can be made a day ahead and slid into the oven while the turkey rests, which is exactly why grandmothers loved them. Leave them off the menu once and you will hear about it for years..

You will need: 5 lb Yukon Gold potatoes peeled and cubed, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 cup sour cream, 6 tablespoons butter, 1/2 cup milk, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 2 cups shredded cheddar, 1/2 cup buttery cracker crumbs, chopped chives, salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Boil the potatoes in salted water for 15 to 18 minutes until very tender, then drain well. 2. Mash with cream cheese, sour cream, butter, milk, garlic powder, salt and pepper until smooth. 3. Spread in a buttered 9×13 dish and top with cheddar and cracker crumbs. 4. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes until bubbly and golden. 5. Sprinkle with chives and serve hot.

Aunt’s Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Ambrosia showed up on Southern tables in the late 1800s, when oranges and coconut were a rare Christmas treat. The modern version adds mini marshmallows, pineapple and a creamy sour cream dressing, and somehow every family has one aunt who makes it best. It is sweet enough to pass as dessert yet bright enough to sit next to ham. Make it the night before so the marshmallows soften, and watch it join your most requested family recipes.

You will need: 2 cans mandarin oranges drained, 1 can pineapple tidbits drained, 1 cup maraschino cherries halved, 2 cups mini marshmallows, 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup sour cream, 1 cup whipped topping, 1/2 cup chopped pecans.

How to make it: 1. Pat the drained fruit dry with paper towels so the salad stays thick. 2. Fold the sour cream and whipped topping together in a large bowl. 3. Gently stir in the oranges, pineapple, cherries, marshmallows, coconut and pecans. 4. Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.

Mom’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This is the cake that disappears from the counter on holiday mornings before anyone has even finished their coffee. Sour cream makes the crumb incredibly moist, and a ribbon of cinnamon sugar runs through the middle and across the top. It keeps for days, travels well and tastes even better the second morning, which is why it lands on so many lists of secret family recipes requested again and again. Bake it in a tube pan for a tall, bakery-style look.

You will need: 3 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3/4 cup butter softened, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups sour cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla. Topping: 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 cup flour, 4 tablespoons cold butter.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 10-inch tube pan. 2. Beat butter and sugar until fluffy, add eggs one at a time, then the sour cream and vanilla. 3. Mix in the dry ingredients just until combined. 4. Rub the topping ingredients together into crumbs. 5. Layer half the batter, half the crumbs, the rest of the batter and the remaining crumbs, then bake 55 to 60 minutes.

Italian Beef Sandwiches for the Day After

Chicago families swear by Italian beef, thin slices of seasoned roast soaked in garlicky juice and piled into crusty rolls. It is the dish relatives request for the day after the big feast, when everyone is still in town and nobody wants to cook. A slow cooker does all the work while you watch the game. Top each sandwich with giardiniera or sweet peppers; it belongs on any list of most requested family recipes.

You will need: 3 lb beef chuck roast, 1 packet Italian dressing mix, 2 cups beef broth, 1 cup sliced pepperoncini plus 1/2 cup of their juice, 4 garlic cloves minced, 1 teaspoon oregano, 8 crusty Italian rolls, giardiniera or roasted sweet peppers.

How to make it: 1. Place the roast in a slow cooker and sprinkle with dressing mix, garlic and oregano. 2. Pour in the broth, pepperoncini and juice. 3. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours until the beef shreds easily. 4. Shred or thinly slice the beef and return it to the juices. 5. Pile onto split rolls, top with giardiniera and spoon over extra juice.

Lemon-Lime Soda Pound Cake

Southern church cookbooks are full of this golden pound cake, which gets its tender crumb and gentle lift from a cup of lemon-lime soda. The bubbles lighten the dense batter, and a simple lemon glaze soaks into the warm crust. It is one of those most requested family recipes that people ask for at every funeral lunch, baby shower and Christmas open house. Slice it thick and serve it with fresh berries or a cup of strong coffee.

You will need: 1 1/2 cups butter softened, 3 cups sugar, 5 eggs, 3 cups flour, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 3/4 cup lemon-lime soda. Glaze: 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons lemon juice.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees F and grease and flour a 10-inch bundt pan. 2. Beat the butter and sugar for 5 minutes until pale, then add eggs one at a time. 3. Add the flour in three parts, alternating with the soda, then the lemon juice and vanilla. 4. Bake 70 to 80 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. 5. Cool 15 minutes, turn out and drizzle with the lemon glaze.

Lemon Icebox Pie

Before air conditioning, Southern cooks made this tangy pie without ever turning on the stove for long. Sweetened condensed milk, egg yolks and fresh lemon juice set into a silky custard in a graham cracker crust. Today most families bake it for 15 minutes for safety, then chill it until it slices cleanly. Piled with whipped cream, it is the bright, cold finish everyone wants after a heavy holiday dinner, and among the most requested family recipes, the pie plate always comes back empty.

You will need: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1/3 cup sugar, 6 tablespoons melted butter, 2 cans sweetened condensed milk, 4 egg yolks, 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, whipped cream.

How to make it: 1. Mix crumbs, sugar and butter, press into a 9-inch pie plate and bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees F. 2. Whisk condensed milk, egg yolks, lemon juice and zest until smooth. 3. Pour into the crust and bake 15 minutes until just set. 4. Cool, then chill at least 6 hours. 5. Top with whipped cream and extra zest before slicing.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

This creamy casserole has been on potluck tables since the 1970s, and it still earns a spot among the most requested family recipes. Tender broccoli and rice are folded into a rich cheese sauce, then baked until bubbly with a crisp, buttery top. Kids who claim they hate broccoli go back for seconds. It pairs with turkey, ham or roast chicken, and you can assemble it a day early and bake it straight from the fridge.

You will need: 3 cups cooked long grain rice, 4 cups chopped broccoli florets, 3 tablespoons butter, 1 small onion diced, 3 tablespoons flour, 2 cups milk, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, 4 oz cream cheese, salt and pepper, 1/2 cup buttered breadcrumbs.

How to make it: 1. Steam the broccoli for 3 minutes until bright green. 2. Cook the onion in butter, stir in the flour, then whisk in the milk until thick. 3. Melt in the cream cheese and 1 1/2 cups cheddar and season. 4. Fold in the rice and broccoli and spread in a buttered 9×13 dish. 5. Top with remaining cheese and breadcrumbs and bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Old-Fashioned Cherry Delight

Cherry delight is the no-fuss layered dessert that grandmothers carried to every church supper, and it still vanishes first. A buttery graham crust holds a cloud of sweetened cream cheese and whipped cream, crowned with glossy cherry pie filling. There is almost no baking involved, which makes it perfect for busy holidays when the oven is full. Make it the day before so the layers set into neat squares, one of those most requested family recipes nobody forgets.

You will need: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar, 8 oz cream cheese softened, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 8 oz whipped topping, 2 cans cherry pie filling.

How to make it: 1. Mix the crumbs, butter and sugar and press into a 9×13 dish; bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees F and cool. 2. Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth, then fold in the whipped topping. 3. Spread over the crust. 4. Spoon the cherry filling over the top. 5. Chill at least 4 hours before cutting into squares.

Most Requested Family Recipes: Homemade Banana Pudding

Banana pudding from a box is fine, but the version relatives beg for is made with a real stovetop custard. Layers of vanilla wafers, ripe banana slices and warm pudding soften together overnight into something close to cake. Some families top it with meringue, others with whipped cream, and both camps defend their choice fiercely. Among the most requested family recipes in the South, it is the dish people quietly scrape from the bottom of the dish.

You will need: 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3 cups whole milk, 4 egg yolks, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 box vanilla wafers, 5 ripe bananas sliced, 2 cups whipped cream.

How to make it: 1. Whisk sugar, flour and salt in a saucepan, then whisk in the milk and yolks. 2. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until thick, about 10 minutes; stir in butter and vanilla. 3. Layer wafers, bananas and warm pudding in a dish, repeating twice. 4. Cover and chill at least 4 hours. 5. Top with whipped cream and crushed wafers before serving.

Most Requested Family Recipes: Sunday Sauce Lasagna

Every big family seems to have one lasagna that gets requested for birthdays, Christmas Eve and every reunion in between. This one layers a slow-simmered meat sauce with creamy ricotta, plenty of mozzarella and a dusting of Parmesan. The secret is patience: let it rest 30 minutes after baking so it cuts into tall, tidy squares. Make two pans and freeze one; most requested family recipes like this make the perfect gift for a neighbor.

You will need: 1 lb Italian sausage, 1 lb ground beef, 1 onion, 4 garlic cloves, 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, 12 lasagna noodles cooked, 15 oz ricotta, 1 egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 4 cups shredded mozzarella, fresh basil.

How to make it: 1. Brown the sausage, beef, onion and garlic, then simmer with tomatoes, sauce and seasoning for 30 minutes. 2. Mix ricotta, egg and half the Parmesan. 3. Layer sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture and mozzarella three times in a 9×13 dish, ending with sauce and cheese. 4. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes at 375 degrees F, then uncover for 15 minutes. 5. Rest 30 minutes before slicing and garnish with basil.

Sunday Pot Roast With Vegetables

Ask anyone which dinner reminds them of home and pot roast comes up again and again. A well-browned chuck roast braises slowly with onions, carrots and potatoes until it falls apart at the touch of a fork, and the pan juices turn into silky gravy. It is a forgiving recipe that rewards a lazy afternoon. Many of the most requested family recipes started exactly like this, on a Sunday, with the whole house smelling wonderful.

You will need: 3 to 4 lb beef chuck roast, salt and pepper, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 onions quartered, 4 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 cup red wine or extra broth, 2 cups beef broth, 3 sprigs thyme, 2 sprigs rosemary, 1 1/2 lb baby potatoes, 5 carrots cut in chunks.

How to make it: 1. Season the roast well and sear in hot oil in a Dutch oven until deeply browned on all sides. 2. Add onions, garlic and tomato paste, then pour in the wine and broth and add the herbs. 3. Cover and braise at 325 degrees F for 2 1/2 hours. 4. Add the potatoes and carrots and cook 1 hour more until everything is tender. 5. Rest the meat, then thicken the juices into gravy if you like.

Hummingbird Cake, Queen of the Most Requested Family Recipes

Hummingbird cake was first printed in Southern Living in 1978, and it is often called the most requested recipe in the magazine’s history. Banana, crushed pineapple and pecans make the spiced layers incredibly moist, and a thick cream cheese frosting holds it all together. It looks like a celebration cake but is mixed by hand in one bowl. Bake it for a birthday or Christmas dinner and expect to be asked for the recipe before dessert is over.

You will need: 3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 eggs, 1 cup oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 can (8 oz) crushed pineapple with juice, 2 cups mashed ripe bananas, 1 cup chopped toasted pecans. Frosting: 16 oz cream cheese, 1 cup butter, 6 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease three 9-inch cake pans. 2. Whisk the dry ingredients, then stir in eggs, oil, vanilla, pineapple, bananas and pecans by hand. 3. Divide among the pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes. 4. Beat the frosting ingredients until fluffy. 5. Stack and frost the cooled layers and press extra pecans on top.

Mom’s Pumpkin Bread

When the holidays roll around, a warm loaf of pumpkin bread is the gift neighbors, teachers and cousins hope to find on their doorstep. This recipe makes two moist, deeply spiced loaves, one to keep and one to give away. The batter comes together in a single bowl with no mixer needed. Fold in chocolate chips or walnuts if your family likes them, and wrap the loaves tightly; like most requested family recipes, it tastes even better the next day.

You will need: 3 1/2 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 3 cups sugar, 1 cup oil, 4 eggs, 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree, 2/3 cup water, 1 cup chocolate chips or chopped walnuts (optional).

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease two 9×5 loaf pans. 2. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and spice in a large bowl. 3. Stir in sugar, oil, eggs, pumpkin and water until smooth, then fold in chips or nuts. 4. Divide between the pans and bake 60 to 70 minutes until a skewer comes out clean. 5. Cool 10 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto a rack.