We Asked Marin Farmers for Their Most Conversation-Sparking Holiday Recipes
By Matt Dolkas,
Senior Manager, Marketing
November 14, 2025
The best holiday recipes break all the rules. Beef in pecan pie. Gingersnap cookies thickening gravy. These Marin County farmers aren’t following tradition—they’re making new ones.
This holiday season, we reached out to local farmers and ranchers to share their most unexpected culinary traditions—the kind that sound surprising at first, but make perfect sense once you taste them. These aren’t gimmicks. They’re time-tested preparations and creative combinations that highlight the quality of local ingredients in ways you might not expect.
From elegant farm-to-table dinners to cherished family recipes passed down through generations, here are some ideas that just might change how you think about holiday cooking.
When Beef Becomes Dessert
It might sound unconventional, but some of the most interesting holiday recipes come from exploring savory ingredients in sweet applications.
Mandy Schmidt from the Marin Coast Ranch shared two remarkable creations from Chef Lloyd Norton, who featured their beef in a recent elegant farm-to-table dinner—including the final course. The result? Guests couldn’t stop talking about it.
Caramel Apple in a Smoked Brisket Shell
Imagine a caramel-covered apple wrapped in thin slices of smoked brisket, creating an edible shell that combines sweet, salty, smoky, and tart all in one bite.
It’s the salty-sweet combination you already love in salted caramel, taken to a new level. The smokiness adds depth, the apple provides freshness and crunch, and the caramel ties it all together.
“The brisket was the perfect texture,” Mandy reports. “Literally a flavor explosion.”
Here’s a similar recipe to follow without the unique addition of a brisket shell.
Osso Buco Pecan Pie
For those who find traditional pecan pie too sweet, here’s an intriguing solution: minced osso buco infused into the filling.
The beef adds a savory umami element that balances the sweetness, creating a more complex, layered dessert that’s both familiar and surprising.
According to Marin Coast Ranch: “It added such a unique texture and a beefy umami to pecan pie that I never knew it needed! I am not a huge pecan pie eater—it is just too sweet—but the beef tempered it into more of a flavor forward, less ‘pure sugar’ situation that was fabulous.”
Ready to give it a try? Here’s a more basic recipe to get you started.
A German Grandmother’s Secret Ingredient
When Marissa Silva from the Marshall Home Ranch shared Grandma Hillendahl’s Brisket Sauerbraten recipe (pictured at the top of the article)—a perfect centerpiece for holiday entertaining—one ingredient caught our attention: gingersnap cookies in the gravy.
It might sound unusual, but this is an authentic German preparation that’s been perfected over generations. Ten gingersnap cookies are crumbled into the braising liquid to create a rich, slightly sweet, warmly spiced sauce that beautifully complements the tender beef.
The gingersnaps serve multiple purposes: they add body to the sauce, provide a subtle sweetness that balances the vinegar in the marinade, and contribute warm spice notes without overwhelming the dish. It’s the kind of family secret that gets passed down because it’s just ridiculously delicious.
Find the full recipe on this ranch’s website.
Elevated Entertaining: Caviar Meets Chèvre
Tamara Hicks at Toluma Farms likes to showcase how local food can be luxurious with this simple but conversation-starting appetizer: ruffle potato chips topped with their fresh Liwa chèvre and Tsar Nicolai caviar—the only eco-certified caviar in the country. It’s an unexpected combination that brings together Marin terroir with sustainable luxury.
More Unexpected Pairings and Preparations
Our staff at MALT also shared some of their favorite surprising food traditions and techniques. Some are historical preparations that have stood the test of time, others are creative adaptations that have become personal favorites.
Egg Coffee – A Scandinavian tradition where a raw egg is mixed with coffee grounds before brewing, creating an incredibly smooth, clarified brew. Perfect for serving a crowd at holiday brunch.
Butter or Ghee in Your Coffee – The original bulletproof coffee. A rich, warming start to cold holiday mornings.
Gin Fizz with Egg White – Raw egg in your cocktail for that signature silky foam. An elegant addition to holiday cocktail parties that Prohibition-era bartenders perfected.
Real Spaghetti Carbonara (No Cream!) – The authentic Roman version uses only eggs, cheese, guanciale, and pasta water to create its signature creamy texture. A lighter alternative to heavy holiday meals that’s still incredibly satisfying.
Tomato Bacon Jam – Tomatoes cooked down with bacon into jam. Sweet, savory, and the perfect accompaniment to holiday cheese boards and leftover turkey sandwiches.
Gushy Mushy Persimmons – When Hachiya persimmons are perfectly ripe and jelly-like inside, add them to holiday pumpkin bread, pies, or muffins for extra sweetness and moisture.
Olive Oil and Salt on Ice Cream – This Italian finishing touch transforms simple vanilla ice cream into an elegant holiday dessert that looks and tastes restaurant-worthy.
Your Turn to Experiment
These holiday recipes might sound unconventional at first, but that’s often where the most memorable meals begin. Whether you’re curious about adding a savory element to dessert or intrigued by a century-old German technique, the holidays are the perfect time to try something new.
The best holiday recipes are often the ones that surprise us—and the ones that get everyone around the table talking. These creative preparations celebrate the quality and versatility of Marin County’s agricultural bounty, showing that great ingredients can shine in unexpected ways.
Ready to source ingredients for your own culinary adventure? Visit our Buy Local page to connect with Marin County farms and ranches.
Happy holidays!
If you try any of these recipes, we’d love to hear how it goes. Share your experience on social media and tag us—we’re curious to see what sparks the best conversations at your table.