Aldi tips make holiday hosting easy on the wallet

Aldi Lifestyle Contributor Vanessa Cohen brought a bundle of budget-friendly hosting ideas to WDIV’s Live in the D, highlighting simple family traditions and the grocer’s breadth of holiday offerings.

Cohen said the holidays are when her household comes together in the kitchen, divvying up dishes to keep prep easy and festive. “My husband’s big staple is the ham,” she said, adding that older kids handle sides like cranberry sauce “fancied up with chopped pecans,” while her 12-year-old twins take charge of dessert.

For a kid-friendly bake, Cohen leans on shortcuts. She said sweet potato pie is a go-to because it’s easier for young cooks to manage. Using canned yams, she said, lets kids be independent and still “be part of the process.”

Drinks get a DIY twist. Cohen builds a hot cocoa bar for kids — with marshmallows, pretzels and kettle corn — and an eggnog setup for adults, complete with cinnamon sticks. “You really show your personality with hot cocoa,” she said.

Cohen noted the Aldi footprint and focus on value during the busy season. With more than 20 locations in the Detroit area, she said the stores make it simple to stock up, and 90% of products are Aldi-exclusive items. She added that the chain emphasizes where it sources its foods and keeps layouts straightforward so shoppers can see everything at a glance.

Aldi is committed to offering the lowest prices of any national grocery store. Store locations can be found at aldi.us.

Here are some of Vanessa’s favorite recipes with Aldi products, so you can enjoy them with your family this holiday season.

1. Honey-Glazed Spiral Ham

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1.5–2 hours (depending on ham size)

Ingredients (ALDI Only)

• 1 Boneless Spiral Sliced Ham
• ½ cup Acacia Honey with Honeycomb
• (Optional) Chef’s Cupboard Gravy Mixes – for serving on the side

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 275°F.
2. Place the spiral ham in a baking dish, cut side down.
3. Warm the Acacia Honey slightly so it pours easily. Brush the honey generously over the entire ham, making sure it settles between slices.
4. Cover the ham with foil and bake according to package instructions (usually 12–15 minutes per pound).
5. During the last 15 minutes, uncover and brush again with honey for a caramelized finish.
6. Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
7. Serve with warm Chef’s Cupboard Gravy if desired.

2. Cranberry Sauce with Toasted Pecans

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Ingredients (ALDI Only)

• 1 can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
• 2–3 tbsp Southern Grove Chopped Pecans

Directions

1. Remove cranberry sauce from the can and place onto a small serving platter.
2. Chop or lightly toast pecans in a dry skillet for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
3. Sprinkle the pecans on top for crunch and garnish.

3. Sweet Potato Pie (Semi-Homemade)

Serves: 1 pie (4–6 servings)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 50–60 minutes

Total Time: ~1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients (ALDI Only)

• 1 can Happy Harvest Yams, drained
• ½ cup sugar (use ALDI pantry brand)
• 1–2 tbsp Stonemill Baking Spices (cinnamon + nutmeg blend)
• 1 tbsp Acacia Honey
• 1 egg
• ½ cup evaporated or whole milk (ALDI brand)
• 1 Bake Shop Pie Crust (if included in your store assortment) or generic ALDI crust

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Mash the drained yams until smooth.
3. Add sugar, Stonemill spices, honey, egg, and milk. Mix well.
4. Pour mixture into the ALDI pie crust.
5. Bake 40–45 minutes until the center is set.
6. Cool before slicing.

4. Holiday Eggnog (Garnished Two Ways)

Serves: 4

Ingredients (ALDI Only)

• 1-quart Seasonal Eggnog
• Stonemill Cinnamon Sticks
• Berryhill Creamy Caramel Dip
• (Optional) Nutmeg from Stonemill Baking Spices

Directions

1. Chill the eggnog in advance.
2. For a simple garnish: pour into glasses and add a cinnamon stick.
3. For an elevated look: lightly warm a tablespoon of the Berryhill Creamy Caramel Dip, dip the rim of your glass, and let it set.
4. Pour eggnog into rimmed glass, garnish with nutmeg if desired.

5. Hot Cocoa Bar for Kids

Serves: 4

Ingredients (ALDI Only)

• Hot Cocoa Mix
• Whipped topping or marshmallows
• Choceur Hot Cocoa Stir Sticks
• Choceur Snowflake Hot Cocoa Bombs
• Benton’s Caramel Stroopwafels
• Clancy’s Peppermint Pretzel Stars
• Dark Chocolate or Peppermint Drizzled Kettle Corn

Directions

1. Prepare the Hot Cocoa Mix according to package instructions.
2. Set up a “build-your-own-cocoa” station with the toppings:
   1. Cocoa stir sticks
   2. Marshmallows or whipped topping
   3. Cocoa bombs for extra fun
   4. Stroopwafels for dipping
   5. Peppermint pretzel stars
   6. Kettle corn for snacking
3. Let each kid (or kid at heart) customize their cup.