The holidays call for special treats, do they not? This is the only time of year, after all, that we dress up cakes to look like bark-skimmed logs and pipe out endless lacy patterns on cookies that will shortly be consumed. (Although, who actually eats all those gingerbread houses?) But all this work is worth it for the delight that a special treat can bring, not to mention the pleasure of carrying on tradition.

Today we are going back into our archives to bring you some of our most special holiday treats — treats like Duchess potatoes piped out into Christmas trees, and peppermint ice cream flecked with chocolate. There is homemade eggnog, and pretty peppermint-filled cookies, gingerbread latte and an honest-to-goodness croquemboche.

FOR THE HOLIDAY TABLE
• 1 Duchess Potato Christmas Trees
• 2 Frozen Peppermint Cake
• 3 Peppermint Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Flecks
• 4 Baked Eggnog Custards
• 5 Christmas Croquembouche

FOR THE MUG OR THE PUNCH BOWL
• 6 Gingerbread, Eggnog, Peppermint and Pumpkin Lattes
• 7 Homemade Eggnog
• 8 Pumpkin Buttered Rum
• 9 Wassail Punch
• 10 Mardi Gras Milk Punch

FOR THE TREAT DISH
• 11 Skillet Toffee
• 12 Nutmeg-Lemon Pfeffernusse
• 13 Marge's Yule Cake
• 14 Festive Ginger Christmas Cookies and Ornaments
• 15 Peppermint Cream-Filled Butter Cookies

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Welcome to The Kitchn's Best of 2011 roundup! From December 19 through January 1 we are rounding up some of our favorite (and your favorite) posts from the past year.

More of the Best of 2011

(Images: See linked posts for full image credits)

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