Bring Joy to the World with Mango: Festive Recipes for Holiday Hosting
Picture this. It is a key holiday week, every burner on the stove is lit, someone is licking icing off the spoon and at least one relative keeps wandering into the kitchen “just to check.” Hosting a holiday meal is one of those noble quests that demands equal parts courage and caffeine. Yet we do it year after year because sharing food brings genuine joy.
A recent study found that 76 percent of consumers said their fondest childhood holiday memories involve food whether it is gathering for a festive dinner, enjoying homemade treats or receiving food gifts. There is something magical about tasteful flavors that trigger memories. Food holds history and offers connection. When you place a dish on the table you are not only feeding folks, but you are also gifting them an experience.
Joy to the Table
Oh! Oh! Oh! Mango is sunshine you can eat. Sometimes sweet, sometimes tangy, always juicy joyful and tasty. In many cultures it symbolizes love, prosperity and good fortune. It shows up in holiday cooking around the world, both savory and sweet.
Think vibrant tropical punches and mango gingerbread cake. Think roasted red pepper and mango dip. With more than 20 vitamins and minerals, mango does more than look pretty on a plate. It nourishes you while adding color to your holiday table.
Food is often the heart of the celebration. Get the food right and everything else falls into place. Mangos make that easier. They brighten a dish in both flavor and spirit and often spark the “ooh what is that” moment that every host loves to see.
If there is anything that deserves a starring role in a brand-new tradition, it is mango.
Another survey by the New York Post reported that 71 percent of people believe the holiday season is the perfect time to start new traditions. So, what are you waiting for? Your new favorite tradition might be waiting.
Below are recipe ideas that help you bring joy, color and a playful surprise to your holiday hosting.
Drinks to Toast the Season
Heat in the Fall Mocktail
Cozy spice, fresh mango and zero stress. The spice and fresh mango come together like a perfect fall sweater moment.
A bold twist on classic eggnog. It is creamy and comforting with just enough joy to feel like a fresh start to the season.
Parrot Mango Punch
This drink is pure main character energy. Mango syrup plus cranberry and lime for a hit of bright holiday color. A splash of bourbon and suddenly the whole room is like “wait what is that.”
The Main Event
Mango Glazed Pork Loin with Mango Cranberry Sauce
The glaze caramelizes into sweet tangy perfection, and the cranberry sauce adds just the right sparkle like the dish already knows it will be the most replayed moment on your holiday highlight reel.
Honey Glazed Chicken with Mango & Cranberries
Tender chicken with juicy mango and bright cranberries creates a chorus of flavor that hits all the right notes. It feels classic yet brand new at the same time.
Mango Jalapeño Cornbread Stuffing
This stuffing does not walk it sleighs. Sweet mango meets a little jalapeño heat and the whole thing becomes one of your new favorite things.
Sourdough Bread Pudding with Mango and Pumpkin Seeds
Warm fall comfort topped with mango. Prepare to watch people go back for seconds.
It’s the kind of dessert that tastes like the moment the bridge hits in a Taylor song and suddenly everyone at the table believes in happy endings again.
Breakfast, Lunch or Whenever People Wander Back Into the Kitchen
Fresh mangos add such a bright, sweet flavor to this classic fall breakfast. A rich and satisfying molten mango and white chocolate center topped with warm spices and toasty pistachios to add flavor and crunch.
Buttery and gooey with sticky caramel sauce and mango tucked in every layer.
Mango Chipotle Brussels with Bacon and Pumpkin Seeds
A colorful side dish that delivers smoky sweet flavor with crunchy toppings.
Glazed Pork Loin with Cranberry Mango Sauce
A tender pork loin coated in a glossy glaze that caramelizes as it roasts, then finished with a cranberry mango sauce that brings a bright tangy lift. It’s the kind of dish that feels special without trying too hard.
Mango Jalapeño Cornbread Stuffing
Legendary. A familiar holiday favorite gets a fresh twist with tasty, juicy mango and a gentle kick of jalapeño. It is still warm and comforting like classic cornbread stuffing only brighter and a little surprising in the best way.
Holiday Desserts Part Two Because Dessert Deserves Its Own Encore
Mango Gluten-free Gingerbread Cake
Indulge in this creamy, luscious gingerbread cake. Full of flavor, this holiday cake is the perfect dessert to brighten up your holidays.
Layers of light mango mousse with a fresh mango mousse come together in a trifle that looks elegant but feels effortless.
Gluten-free and vegan with homemade mango jam. Perfect for cookie swaps or nibbling while wrapping gifts.
Raise a Glass
Mango Mary
A fresh take on a Bloody Mary with soulful savory mango flavor. One sip and you will be simply having a wonderful holiday time.
Mango Tequila Cider Cocktail
Tequila mango and cider with a Tajín rim. It’s a holiday hug with a little attitude.
Holiday Hosting Made Simple
For a smoother holiday prep, we have simple step-by-step guides on how to choose a mango when you are shopping and how to cut one once you are home. If you are new to the magic of mangos, you will be surprised at how quick it becomes second nature.
Holiday traditions start somewhere. Maybe this year it begins with a splash of color on the menu, a new flavor on the plate and some mango joy in the kitchen.
