Recipes to Celebrate Lammas

To honor this grain harvest festival, I've got 100 awesome recipes to celebrate Lammas or Lughnasadh. It seems only right that we have a feast of bread and carbs. Let's make some magic.

For the next turn in the wheel of the year, Lammas or Lughnasadh on August 1st, I've got a collection of recipes that are easy to make and taste totally awesome while still being perfect for your witchy feast. My kitchen witchcraft philosophy is "It's not what you make, it's how you make it." We can modernize our sabbat recipes and still hold the intention of honoring our ancestors. I mean, they wouldn't want us to eat sad food, would they?

And if you're still in the broom closet, you could serve any of these recipes without anyone asking questions. Except maybe asking you for the recipe. Let's get into these 100 totally awesome recipes to celebrate Lammas and Lughnasadh.

What is Lammas?

Lammas can be translated as loaf mass, and it's traditionally celebrated around August 1st. This Christianized (and much easier to spell and pronounce) holiday is believed to be The Church's version of Lughnasadh, which is still celebrated today by some witches, neo-pagans, and wiccans.

Lughnasadh was a festival to honor the god Lugh who was revered throughout much of Europe and brought to Britain and Ireland. But this late summer harvest festival was probably already being celebrated there before Lugh came along. It was originally a time to honor the Corn Mother who sacrified her son so that humans could survive.

Hundreds of years ago, it would have been celebrated for up to four weeks, stretching all the way across Leo season. Think county fair today, when people come together to show their wares, trade their goods, eat, celebrate, and just have fun.

Lammas or Lughnasadh is all about celebrating the harvesting of corn, wheat, and other grains. It's also a fire festival since it honors the fading of the sun. So naturally, we have a bonfire and eat a lot. Guys, the wheel of the year is just full of feast and fire. What's not to love? (Source: The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes)

Wheat & Bread

Wheat and grain were a major part of this festival. Being a dedicated carb lover, I'm totally down with that. This is the perfect time to make your own bread, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Obviously, I've not shared every recipe that contains flour, but that's really all you need for recipes to celebrate Lammas.

Wheat is a symbol of abundance and fertility, so knead or stir your intention for a prosperous season into everything you make.

• Savoury Sausage Bread Pudding - You can serve this anytime of day with homemade or bought bread.
• Sour Cream Scones - These are delicate and delicious, the perfect combination of American biscuit and British scone.
• Pork Puff Pastry Pockets - Delicious ground pork and gravy wrapped in a flaky pastry crust is absolutely awesome.
• Chocolate Orange Scones - A touch of sunny energy for an afternoon tea treat.
• Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels - Sacred spirals of bread and spicy chicken.
• Buttermilk Soda Bread - Make a beautiful, rustic loaf without waiting for yeast to rise.
• Smoked Cheddar & Sage Biscuits - Call in the cleansing energy of sage with these beautiful bits of bread.
• Pork & Onion Hand Pies - Use storebought pie crust to make these sweet little snacks.
• Cornish Pasties - Meat, potatoes, and carrots are encased in flaky pastry for a hearty English meal.
• Whipped Feta on Toast - Make this creamy cheese spread to top your toast Lammas loaf.
• Brie Grilled Cheese with Ham & Cherry Jam - Bring some summer fruits to your Lammas celebration.
• Queen of Puddings - This vintage British dessert is made with a base of bread crumbs and custard.
• Chocolate Kahlua Bread Pudding - A truly indulgent way to use up leftover bread.
• Dutch Baby - Here's an opportunity to honor the rest of the harvest by topping your Dutch Baby with your favorite fruits.
• Madeira Cake - When I think of the sabbats, I can't help but take my mind to Britain. So while you could definitely make your favorite pound cake, a Madeira Cake would be a lovely way to celebate with wheat and also honor the fresh fruits of the season.
• Whole Wheat Lemon Chia Seed Waffles - A healthier breakfast that celebrates the wheat harvest.
• Parmesan Oregano Bread - This soft and flavorful bread would be awesome for sandwiches at a Lammas picnic.
• Goat Cheese Crostini with Macadamia Nuts and Honey - Use fresh summer herbs to top some crunchy toast.

Corn

Corn is another important grain being harvested at this time of year. Really, is there anything better than an ear of sweet summer corn, steaming hot with salted butter and fresh cracked black pepper? Now that's a spiritual experience to be grateful for. If you also want to cook with corn in all its forms, here are a few ideas.

• Frito Chili Cheese Wrap - If you're not much of a cook, get your corn energy from the factory.
• Cornbread Topped Chilli Mac - Sorry, but this is just freakin' delicious!
• Corn & Green Onion Biscuits - A super simple recipe for the witch who's still learning their way around the kitchen.
• Cheddar Habanero Cornbread - It's fiery and so delicious, perfect for the height of summer.
• Chicken Corn Chowder - This hearty soup would be perfect after a long day of harvesting.
• Cheddar Corn Soup - I know most American witches will not want to be getting out the soup pot in August, but here in Scotland, we're just as likely to see rain as sun. I'd definitely go for a bowl of spicy corn soup.
• Jalapeno Hush Puppies - Call in the fiery energy of jalapeno this season.
• Vegan Sweet Corn & Roasted Bell Pepper Soup - This one is a bit lighter and also brings in all the sun colors.
• Bacon & Corn Risotto - This risotto just screams summer. And it's perfect for stirring in your intention.
• White Cheddar Polenta Souffle - Want to make something fancy and impressive for your Lammas feast? This is it.
• Lemon Polenta Cake - This gluten-free cake is soaked in a lemon syrup and has fantastic flavor and texture.
• Chicken Corn Soup - A Lammas recipe with a Chinese influence.
• Italian Roasted Potatoes - These are tossed in cornmeal and cooked with fresh rosemary, so we've got three correspondences of the season in one recipe.
• Orange Polenta Cake - A sunny twist on a gluten-free treat.
• Skillet Cornbread - We're combining corn and bread here. It's perfect.

Potatoes

I read in one of my resources that potatoes were associated with Lughnasadh, and I just stopped looking after that. There's never a wrong time to eat potatoes in my opinion. They'll bring a nice earthy balance to a feast honoring fire. They have a grounding, protective quality which is always a good thing. They simply had to make the cut for recipes to celebrate Lammas.

• Potato Rolls - These little bits of bread are light as air and irresistible.
• Creamy Pesto Gnocchi - Pillowy potato dumplings with summery basil pesto is absolutely awesome.
• Za'atar Potato Salad - The bright flavor of za'atar is truly magical.
• Gnocchi Chili - Little pillows of potato bring a pot of chili to a whole new level.
• Black Pudding Hash - This is a bit spicy and deeply savoury and so satisfying.
• Roasted New Potatoes with Dill - A simple but absolutely beautiful side dish to celebrate the season.
• Grilled Potato Foil Packets with Lemon Dill Creme Fraiche - You can cook these in the embers of your bonfire if you like.
• Breakfast Pizza - Built on a base of crescent roll dough, this pizza is piled high with hash browns, sausages, eggs, and cheese.
• Loaded Baked Potato Salad - What could go wrong with bacon, cheese, and chives?
• Bacon Egg & Cheese Grilled Potatoes - Cook your potatoes over your Lammas fire for this awesome rustic breakfast.
• Dill Potato Salad - Dill brings good fortune.
• Spicy Cheese Fries - Indulge in some fire energy for Lughnasadh.
• Potato & Spinach Curry - Call in the fiery energy of Indian spices.
• Cheesy Potato Soup - This soup is loaded with bacon, so it's extra indulgent.
• Mitraillette - This Belgian sandwich is topped with crispy fries to make it extra awesome.
• Pesto Mashed Potatoes - Bring some summer freshness to this basically awesome side.
• Chorizo & Potato Breakfast Burrito - Something a little spicy to wake you up on the sabbat morning.
• Ham & Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes - Add whatever you've got in the fridge. It's the perfect recipe for the frugal witch.

Garlic

Again, I just saw garlic on a list of Lughnasadh foods and went with it. It has strong protective qualities, but I'm going to guess it made the list because of it's slightly fiery qualities. Plus, it's in season this time of year, so let's eat it while it's flourishing.

• Garlic & Herb Focaccia Bread - If you want to make your own bread, this soft and chewy loaf is topped with roasted garlic and fresh herbs.
• Lemon Garlic Pasta - Use fresh herbs and crumbs from your Lammas loaf.
• Garlic Bread Mac & Cheese - A serious breadcrumb layer infused with garlic and herbs tops this creamy mac & cheese.
• Garlic & Thyme Baked Camembert - Because I love you.
• Garlic Herb Bread - Whether you've baked your own bread or used store-bought, this is a great way to honor your loaf.
• Garlic & Herb Baked Chicken - For the kitchen witch in a hurry.

Apples

We'll see apples again for our Mabon feast, but they're just starting to come into their own in August, so I've included them in the recipes to celebrate Lammas. Apples contain a hidden pentagram for spiritual protection, and they're commonly associated with witchcraft and magic.

• Pork & Apple Hot Pot - Taking pork chops and apple sauce to the next level.
• Green Apple Martini - Raise a glass with your coven.
• Spiced Sparkling Cider Cocktail - I think this would be a beautiful prosperity spell.
• Apple Butter - If you've got more apples than you can eat, turn them into spiced apple butter and spread them on toast from all that bread you're making.
• Apple Butter & Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese - Apple and cheddar were meant for each other.
• Orange & Amaretto Cider - A sunny way to enjoy your cider. Add a splash of mead if you've got it.
• Cloudy Cider Cup - Hard cider is possibly the most common use for apples here in the UK. Fill your cup with fresh fruits and herbs to heighten the spell.
• Apple Brandy Punch - This frozen punch would make a great low alcohol libation for your feast.
• Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies - These cookies are insanely delicious, even though they're artificially flavored. Remember, it's all about your intention.
• Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuit with Apple Butter - Start your feast day with something delicious.
• Apple Margarita - It's a party, right?

Cinnamon

We're calling in the energy of the sun by sprinkling a little cinnamon into the feast. Great for prosperity and spiritual connection, cinnamon is one of my favorite baking flavors.

• Biscoff Trifle - A seriously impressive cinnamon dessert.
• Cookie Butter Cake - Serve a cake people will never stop talking about.
• Chocolate Cinnamon Cake - If you're looking for something a little more humble, this loaf cake is still completely delicious.
• Double-Glazed Chai Spice Muffins - A little sweet treat to up your bread celebration.
• Chaitini - This creamy cocktail is loaded with prosperity spices.
• Cinnamon Pull-Apart Cake - This is made with a yeasted dough and has a bright, sunny lemon glaze.
• Biscoff Waffles - A little bit of fire energy first thing in the morning never hurt anyone.
• Hint of Cinnamon Chocolate Cake - This showstopper is actually made with boxed cake mix. A coven mate says its the best cake she's ever had.
• No-Bake Biscoff Cheesecake Bars - Too hot to bake? This is an absolutely awesome sweet treat.
• Homemade Cinnamon Rolls - What more do I need to say?
• Cinnamon Ginger Tea - Brew a bit of Lammas tea magick.
• French Toast Muffins - Flavored with cinnamon and sweetened with maple syrup.
• Baci di Ricotta - These tasty fried fritters are dusted with cinnamon. Add a drizzle of honey to bring the sweetness.
• Snickerdoodle Cookies - You don't need to wait until Christmas to eat these.
• Homemade Churros with Chocolate Sauce - Because there really aren't enough excuses to make homemade churros.
• Snickerdoodle Cupcakes - You know, for cakes and ale.
• Biscoff Mug Cake - When you need a Lammas dessert in 5 minutes.

A few more for fun

There are always a few things that I think would be perfect but don't quite seem to fit in anywhere else. Here we're talking oats, blackberries, and rosemary. All of these would be perfect recipes to celebrate Lammas.

• Chicken & Goat Cheese Pasta - The fresh rosemary is the best part of this dish.
• Nutella Oatmeal - Start your day with something sweet and earthy.
• Brie & Blackberry Grilled Cheese - Make your own blackberry jam if you're feeling cottagy.
• Homemade Oat Cakes - Very Scottish and much better than store-bought.
• Rosemary Potato Rolls - Rosemary is known as the herb of fond remembrance.
• Chocolate Porridge - A simple but indulgent breakfast.
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Pancakes - This recipe makes enough for one very hungry witch.
• Chicken & Potato Bake - A simple rustic dish with fresh rosemary and lemon.
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies - Possibly my favorite way to eat whole grains.
• Cinnamon Whole Wheat Pancakes with with Blackberry Brown Butter Syrup - Blackberries are also big this season. And we've come right back to wheat and cinnamon as well.
• Rosemary Potato Soup - A hearty and warming soup to bring a bit of sun magick into your feast.
• Buck Moon Blackberry Bourbon Spritzer - Celebrate the energy of the most recent full moon with this delicious blackberry cocktail.
• White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies - The cranberries evoke the color of the sun.
• Blackberry Syrup - Mix drinks or make pancakes extra awesome.
• Nutella No-Bake Cookies - A delicious and indulgent treat you can make without even turning on your oven.

With all that, I'm sure you've found a few recipes to celebrate Lammas or Lughnasadh in spectacular fashion. If you make one of these recipes, I’d love to see it. Share your photos on Instagram, and hashtag them #awesomeon20.

And be sure to check my Kitchen Magick page for specific correspondences of various ingredients.

Joyous Lammas or Lughnasadh, my friends. May you find abundance in every aspect of your life.