What to Make to Celebrate Every Food Holiday in January

It's no surprise that January 1 is National Black-Eyed Peas Day. According to folklore, those who eat them on New Year's Day will have good luck for the rest of the year. 

Bonus: Bottoms up! It's also National Bloody Mary Day. Try our Classic Bloody Mary recipe. 

Chef John's take on cream puffs (or profiteroles) was inspired by his favorite Netflix binge: The Great British Baking Show. Celebrate the second day of the year with the creamy, decadent balls. 

Bonus: Happy National Buffet Day! Celebrate at home with one of our 14 Most Popular Potluck Recipes. 

Sure, you could go to the store and buy a box of chocolate-covered cherries — but where's the fun in that? Make the indulgent bite-sized treat from scratch with just five easy-to-find ingredients. 

Make restaurant-worthy spaghetti and meatballs in record time with the help of your trusty Instant Pot. You can use frozen meatballs or try Chef John's top-rated recipe for Italian Meatballs. 

You can whip heavy cream and sugar any old day of the year, but National Whipped Cream Day calls for something special. Here's an idea: Pipe this five-ingredient Whipped Cream-Cream Cheese Frosting onto Moist Vanilla Cupcakes.

More than 2,000 Allrecipes home cooks have given this cookie recipe glowing five-star reviews, so you know it's good enough for your National Shortbread Day celebration. 

Bonus: It's also National Bean Day. Make one of these Quick Protein-Packed Dinners with Canned Beans.

Fact: Tempura batter makes pretty much everything better. This version of vegetable tempura is cooked in an air fryer, so it's a bit healthier for you than the traditional deep-fried stuff. 

"This candy tastes wonderful and takes about 15 minutes to make," says recipe creator nora. "My sister and I did three batches in an hour one year for Christmas. I use a cast iron skillet and some times just a few of the almonds to help gauge the readiness."

There are plenty of ways to observe National Apricot Day (here are a few hundred of our favorite recipes using the fruit), but it doesn't get much better than this lavendar-infused apricot jam. Spread it on toast or eat it straight out of the jar. 

Indulge in this Costa Rican-inspired panna cotta, flavored with instant espresso powder and topped with a decadent chocolate rum sauce, on National Bittersweet Chocolate Day. 

What better way to celebrate National Milk Day than with a Tres Leches cake, which is made with three different types of milk (evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream)?

Bonus: Warm up with this cozy cocktail on National Hot Toddy Day. 

Skip the lines at your local bakery and make soft and crispy glazed doughnuts at home on National Doughnut Day. This recipe is a labor of love, but oh-so worth it. 

Double bonus: January 12 is also National Curried Chicken Day and National Marzipan Day. Celebrate with a Curried Coconut Chicken dinner followed by Homemade Marzipan Candy. 

No gluten? No problem! January 13 is National Gluten-Free Day, and we've got tons of GF recipes for your menu. Start your day with this spicy and flavorful flourless breakfast casserole. 

Bonus: It's also Peach Melba Day, so try Chef John's take on the classy dessert. 

Make this delicious deli-style sandwich with sliced pastrami, Swiss cheese, spicy mustard, and sauerkraut on January 14 to celebrate National Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day. 

"I accidentally stumbled upon a method for making bagels that were structurally and texturally superior, I decided to take advantage of that fact, and the San Francisco-style bagel was born," says Chef John. 

Double bonus: Celebrate National Fresh-Squeezed Juice Day with Fresh Homemade Orange Juice and National Strawberry Ice Cream Day with this Easy Eggless Strawberry Ice Cream. 

"This is a dark, not very sweet, fig-filled cookie, basically a homemade Fig Newton," according to recipe creator Kim. "The crust gets a toasty flavor from whole wheat flour and walnuts, while the fig filling really lets the dark flavor of the fruit come through."

Bonus: Spice up your International Hot and Spicy Food Day with some Homemade Hot Sauce. 

Frosty January weather got you feeling chilly? You're in luck! January 17 is National Hot Buttered Rum day, so you have the perfect excuse to warm up with a mug of the cozy drink. 

"I absolutely love duck," says reviewer Kara Davidson. "I was so excited to see this on here. Followed exactly and it turned out wonderful. If you really like duck I would get a little bigger duck for more servings."

Bonus: It's National Gourmet Coffee Day! Head to your favorite local coffee shop for a cup of joe. 

Celebrate National Popcorn Day by making the snack the old-fashioned way. It only takes about 10 minutes to make 10 whole cups! Once you try this method, you'll never go back to the store-bought stuff. 

Smile and say "cheese" — it's National Cheese Lovers Day! This easy and one-pot comfort food, which has Parmesan and Cheddar, is the perfect way to celebrate. 

Bonus: National Buttercrunch Day is the perfect excuse to make this irresistible Almond Buttercrunch Candy. 

Creamy and hearty soup is the perfect way to warm up on a cold January night, so it makes perfect sense that National New England Clam Chowder Day falls in the dead of winter. 

Bonus: January 21 is also National Granola Bar Day, so it's the perfect time to try this top-rated Chewy Granola Bar recipe. 

"OMG! These are fantastic," reviewer SUSSYA says of these white chocolate blondies, which are perfect for National Blonde Brownie Day. "I am a huge white chocolate fan and I couldn't stop eating these!"

Bonus: What better way to celebrate National Southern Food Day than with Easy Southern Fried Green Tomatoes? 

January 23 is not only National Pie Day — it's also National Rhubarb Pie Day. Celebrate with this deliciously tart and sweet fruit pie (and a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream). 

You only need six easy-to-find ingredients to make this incredibly easy top-rated fudge recipe on National Peanut Butter Day. 

Bonus: Did you know there was a National Lobster Thermidor Day? Well, there is — and it's today. Here's a recipe for Chef John's Lobster Thermidor. 

Happy National Irish Coffee Day! You don't necessarily need a recipe for two-ingredient Irish cream and coffee, but we have one just in case you do. 

"This is a wonderful peanut brittle that is easy to make and wows everyone," says recipe creator Amanda. "Have all the ingredients for this recipe measured out and ready. This recipe requires that you react quickly."

This isn't a regular chocolate cake recipe — it's extreme. Rich and decadent, National Chocolate Cake Day won't know what hit it. Recipe creator RACH56 calls it the "best cake in the world."

This pancake recipes is basic, but it's anything but boring. Topped with butter and your favorite maple syrup, the absolutely perfect way to kick off National Blueberry Pancake Day.  

Fritos topped with chili and cheese? Yes, please! This indulgent dish is comfort food incarnate. Recipe creator arjones2009 says this "simple, fast, and cheap" recipe yields leftovers for days. 

"I wouldn't describe making homemade croissants as easy since there are multiple steps, and it does take at least half a day. But it's really not that hard either; and certainly simpler than flying to Paris, which is the only other way to enjoy these amazing pastries," according to Chef John.

Finish the month strong with a creamy and cozy cup of hot cocoa on National Hot Chocolate Day. This three-ingredient recipe, made with leftover candy, will warm you up from the inside out.