Christmas is a time of joy, laughter and celebration. It’s a time to gather with family and friends, exchange gifts and indulge in delicious food.
And what better way to end a hearty Christmas meal than with a mouth-watering dessert? In this article, we’ll explore some of the most popular desserts that people eat during Christmas vacation.
1. Fruit Cake
One of the most traditional desserts during Christmas is fruitcake. This cake is made with dried fruits like raisins, currants, cherries, and nuts, mixed with spices and soaked in rum or brandy for several weeks. The moist and dense cake is then baked till it turns golden brown.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup brandy or rum
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, cherries)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds)
Baking Instructions:
- Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time until well blended.
- Sift together dry ingredients and add to the creamed mixture slowly.
- Mix in dried fruits, nuts, and brandy until well combined.
2. Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are a must-have during Christmas. These spiced cookies are made with molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. They can be cut into fun shapes like snowflakes, Christmas trees, or gingerbread men.
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- Cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Add egg and molasses to the mixture.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in batches until well combined.
Divide the dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap; chill for at least an hour or overnight. - 6 large eggs, separated
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups heavy cream, chilled
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3. Yule Log Cake (Bûche de Noël)
Yule log cake is a French dessert that is popular during Christmas. It’s made by rolling a sponge cake with cream filling into a log shape and frosting it with chocolate buttercream to resemble a tree bark.
In a bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar and salt until thick and pale yellow.
In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture using a spatula.
Sift flour and cocoa powder over the egg mixture in batches and fold gently until well combined.
Pour the batter into a greased jelly roll pan and bake at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes or until it’s done. Frosting Instructions:
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Whip the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, cream butter with sifted cocoa powder. Fold in whipped cream to make chocolate buttercream. Spread the frosting over the cake evenly.
Roll up the cake from one end to create a log shape. Cut one end of the cake diagonally and attach it to the side of the cake to make it look like a branch. Frost it with chocolate buttercream and make small lines with a fork to resemble bark.
These are just a few of the many desserts that you can enjoy during Christmas vacation. So why not try making one of these delicious treats yourself and add some extra sweetness to your holiday celebrations.