Holiday Desserts to Celebrate with Family

The holiday season is a magical time of year, filled with joy, togetherness, and, of course, delicious food. One of the best ways to celebrate with family is by sharing festive desserts that bring a touch of sweetness to your gatherings. From traditional classics to modern delights, here are some holiday desserts that will make your celebrations extra special.

Classic Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

The Yule Log, or Bûche de Noël, is a traditional French dessert that resembles a festive log. It's made with a light sponge cake rolled with a creamy filling and decorated to look like a log.

Ingredients:

• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Chocolate ganache (for frosting)
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and granulated sugar until thick and pale.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gently fold into the egg mixture.
• Spread the batter evenly on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes.
• While the cake is still warm, roll it up with the parchment paper and let it cool.
• In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
• Unroll the cooled cake, spread the whipped cream over it, and roll it back up.
• Frost the rolled cake with chocolate ganache and decorate as desired. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday staple, perfect for decorating with family. The combination of warm spices and molasses makes these cookies delicious and festive.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• Royal icing and sprinkles (for decorating)

Instructions:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
• In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the egg and molasses, and mix well.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
• Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and place on the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are firm.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Decorate with royal icing and sprinkles as desired.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Sticky toffee pudding is a classic British dessert that is incredibly indulgent. This moist cake is made with dates and covered in a rich toffee sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pitted dates, chopped
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Toffee Sauce:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8-inch square baking dish.
• In a bowl, combine the dates, boiling water, and baking soda. Let sit for 10 minutes, then mash slightly.
• In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, and mix well.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined. Stir in the date mixture.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, make the toffee sauce by combining the cream, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Serve the warm pudding with the toffee sauce drizzled over the top.

Italian Panettone

Panettone is a sweet bread loaf originally from Italy, enjoyed during the holiday season. It's filled with candied fruits and raisins, making it a festive and delicious treat.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 packet active dry yeast
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup warm milk
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup mixed candied fruits and raisins
• Zest of 1 orange and 1 lemon

Instructions:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it sit until frothy.
• In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture, warm milk, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract.
• Mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
• Punch down the dough and knead in the candied fruits, raisins, and citrus zest.
• Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased panettone mold or a deep cake pan lined with parchment paper.
• Cover and let it rise again until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let it cool before slicing and serving.

American Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie is a beloved dessert during the holiday season in the United States, particularly for Thanksgiving. The smooth and spiced filling is perfect for the festive season.

Ingredients:

• 1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked
• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
• In a large bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, brown sugar, eggs, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until smooth.
• Pour the filling into the pie crust.
• Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Let the pie cool completely before serving. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream if desired.