Recipes for Christmas desserts

1. Gingerbread Cookies

Nothing screams Christmas quite like gingerbread cookies. These classic cookies are easy to make and perfect for decorating with your family. To make gingerbread cookies, you will need:

– 3 cups of all-purpose flour
– 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
– ¾ teaspoon of baking soda
– ¼ teaspoon of salt
– 1 tablespoon of ground ginger
– 1 ¾ teaspoons of ground cinnamon
– ½ teaspoon of ground cloves
– 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, at room temperature
– ¾ cup of brown sugar
– 1 large egg
– ½ cup of molasses
– 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Start by whisking together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a bowl. In a separate large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and mix until fully combined. Next, mix in molasses and vanilla extract. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a dough forms. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.

Preheat your oven to 350°F and take the dough out of the refrigerator. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to ¼ inch thickness and use cookie cutters to shape the cookies. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating with icing.

2. Eggnog Trifle

Eggnog is a staple Christmas drink, but have you ever thought about using it in a dessert? This eggnog trifle is a layered dessert that is sure to impress your guests. For this recipe, you will need:

– 1 ½ cups of heavy cream
– 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar
– ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
– 4 cups of pound cake, cubed
– 1 ½ cups of eggnog
– ½ cup of rum
– 1 package of vanilla instant pudding mix
– 1 teaspoon of nutmeg

In a large bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. Set aside. In another large bowl, mix together the eggnog, rum, pudding mix, and nutmeg until fully combined. In a trifle dish, layer half of the cake cubes followed by half of the pudding mixture and half of the whipped cream. Repeat the layers one more time, ending with the whipped cream on top. Chill the trifle in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

3. Peppermint Brownies

These decadent brownies are perfect for Christmas snacking. The combination of chocolate and peppermint is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. To make peppermint brownies, you will need:

– 1 cup of unsalted butter
– 2 ¼ cups of sugar
– 1 ¼ cups of cocoa powder
– 1 teaspoon of salt
– 1 teaspoon of baking powder
– 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
– 4 large eggs
– 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
– 1 cup of peppermint chips

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add in the sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder and mix together until fully combined. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Add in the eggs, one at a time, stirring vigorously after each addition. Gradually mix in the flour until the batter is smooth. Fold in the peppermint chips.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the brownies to cool before cutting into squares.

4. Cranberry Apple Crisp

This cranberry apple crisp is a perfect dessert for those who prefer fruity desserts over chocolate. The tartness of the cranberries is balanced out by the sweetness of the apples for a perfectly balanced dessert. For this recipe, you will need:

– 1 cup of all-purpose flour
– 1 cup of old-fashioned oats
– ¾ cup of brown sugar
– 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
– ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
– ½ cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature
– 4 cups of apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
– 1 cup of fresh cranberries
– ¼ cup of granulated sugar
– 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
– Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving

Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cut in the butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a separate bowl, mix together the apples, cranberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Pour the fruit mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top.

Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and the fruit is bubbling. Allow the crisp to cool for a few minutes before serving with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

5. Chocolate Peppermint Bark

This no-bake dessert is perfect for those who don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. Chocolate peppermint bark is a festive dessert that is simple to make and fun to eat. For this recipe, you will need:

– 1 pound of dark chocolate, chopped
– 1 teaspoon of peppermint extract
– 1 cup of crushed candy canes

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until fully melted. Stir in the peppermint extract. Pour the melted chocolate onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the top. Allow the bark to cool in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until it is firm. Break the bark into pieces and serve.

In conclusion, these five Christmas dessert recipes are sure to impress your family and friends this holiday season. Whether you prefer chocolate, fruit, or peppermint, there’s a dessert on this list for everyone to enjoy. So get in the kitchen and start baking!