Tag: #Dessert

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37 No-Bake Christmas Cookies and Treats

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Baking isn’t everyone’s forte—we get it! But just because you’re oven-averse doesn’t mean you can’t make great desserts at home, especially during the holiday season when every hour is sweets-o’clock. Here’s proof: This list has our best no-bake Christmas cookies and treats that are still indulgent and super festive.

There’s a range of Christmas desserts in this list, so there’s a little something for everyone. Of course, Christmas no-bake cookie recipes dominate the list, with cute reindeer, thumbprints, Christmas wreath cookies and even a no-bake version of the iconic peanut butter blossoms. But there are lots of other treats in store, too, like peppermint pies, fudge and frozen desserts, all sorts of chocolate-covered bites and balls, no-bake bars and even a glorious Christmas trifle that feeds a crowd.

While these are easy no-bake holiday cookies, some require a stovetop or microwave and a few require baking tools like a food processor or mixer. Others are truly no-heat with zero baking tools involved, so read through the recipes that catch your eye before claiming them for Christmas dinner.

Taste of Home

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30 Best Gluten-Free Christmas Cookies

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

One of the best parts of Christmas is the food: decadent Christmas mains and sides, festive appetizers and cocktails, and, of course, Christmas cookies. But if you have a gluten allergy, at times it can feel as if your options are limited or nonexistent.

Our gluten-free Christmas cookies are here to save the day because no one should miss out on the fun of making and decorating cookies because of an allergy! In this collection, you’ll find gluten-free holiday cookies like snowballs, pumpkin cookies and crinkle cookies to bake and enjoy worry-free. You’ll even find allergy-friendly recipes for classic Christmas cookies, including gingerbread men, spritz and shortbread.

These gluten-free festive cookies will be welcome additions to your gluten-free dessert spread and will have even your non-allergic family members coming back for more.

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27 Traditional Holiday Cookies You’ll Want To Bake Every Year

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Traditional Christmas and Holiday Cookie Recipes

If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics.

If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics. We’re talking buttery shortbreads, all different types of sugar cookies and, of course, plenty of gingerbread. If looking for a handful of recipes that rely on classic flavors and tried-and-true techniques, these are the ones to add to your repertoire. You’ll find snowballs, thumbprints, biscotti and more. No matter which cookies you decide to bake, spritz are a holiday must. The green and white tie-dye effect gives these classic cookies a modern-retro look, and the red sprinkles add a bit more holiday cheer.

Food Network

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The 23 Best 5-Ingredient Holiday Treats (That Anyone Can Make!)

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Festive Treats With 5 Ingredients or Less

With ambitious holiday party planning comes the potential to spend the entire time cooking in the kitchen—while your guests wonder where you are. Let’s skip all that. Instead, take the quick-and-easy route: put together something festive and enjoy your limited time together, with treats that only require a handful of ingredients. Each clocks in at just five or fewer—and will fill everyone you love, including you, with holiday cheer. One of our favorites? This reimagined take on the Yule log. Using store-bought Swiss roll cakes ensures this version is a breeze—but still impressive enough to dazzle your family and friends.

Food Network

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Pecan Pralines

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

When traveling in the southern United States, you’ll find pecan pralines as easily as you will find a chocolate bar. Legend has it that this treat originated from nuts accidentally spilling into a vat of caramel. Regardless of how they came to be, they are irresistible and delicious. Pecan pralines offer buttery, sweet and rich flavors that melt in your mouth. It is nearly impossible to eat just one.

Pecan Praline Ingredients

  • Butter: The butter aids in creating a melt-in-your-mouth caramel that envelops the pecans in this recipe.
  • Sugar: We use granulated and brown sugar to prepare the caramel for these pecan pralines.
  • Half-and-half: The half-and-half is essential for creating this recipe’s creamy and rich caramel.
  • Condensed milk: We depend on condensed milk to provide these pecan pralines with a nostalgically sweet and comforting flavor.
  • Corn syrup: The corn syrup helps solidify these pecan pralines so they do not fall apart as soon as you pick them up.
  • Pecans: We mix pecans into the batter of these pralines because they give the confection a necessary crunch.
  • Vanilla extract: The vanilla helps deliver the warm flavor profiles in this pecan praline recipe.

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25 Diabetic-Friendly Christmas Desserts

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Having diabetes can make the holiday season feel more frantic than festive, especially when searching for diabetic Christmas desserts that people actually want to eat. As a dietitian, let me let you in on a little secret: you can enjoy delicious, easy Christmas desserts and treats, even if you’re working hard to manage your blood sugars. While traditional desserts can lead to blood glucose spikes, these diabetic-friendly Christmas treats have all the flavor and fun you need, with a lot less sugar.

From apple desserts to peppermint cookies and eggnog mousse, these blood sugar-friendly sweets are the perfect sweet addition to your diabetic-friendly Christmas recipes. So you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health, I’ve rounded up the best diabetic Christmas desserts that balance sweetness with nutrition, so you can feel good about your macros while joining in on the holiday fun.

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52 Christmas Candy Recipes for a Sweet Holiday

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Christmastime gives you loads to look forward to: decorating the tree, making snow angels, listening to your favorite holiday songs on repeat and breaking out those once-a-year Christmas candy recipes. While we love gooey cinnamon rolls before opening gifts and Christmas cookies with a mug of hot cocoa, there’s nothing like biting into a rich fudge square or snapping off a piece of crunchy, nutty brittle.

This roundup has festive candy treats for all skill levels, whether you have experience cooking sugar for chewy caramels or want a simpler melt-and-mix style candy. You’ll find the holiday flavors you crave around Christmas, like peppermint, cinnamon, eggnog and chocolate. You can also use this holiday season to iron out common chocolate truffle mistakes or teach yourself to make your favorite copycat candy bars for gifts.

Making these homemade Christmas sweets can be a fun activity to do with your friends and family. Spend time creating and decorating the treats together, and then set out supplies for these creative food gift wrapping ideas to package them into delicious and memorable presents!

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24 Christmas Cheesecake Recipes for the Nice List

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Christmas cheesecake recipes bring together everything that makes holiday dessert baking feel magical: decadently creamy textures, nostalgic flavors and festive twists that will shine on any table. This collection has all that and more, spanning from timeless classics like traditional cheesecake and chocolate swirl to more seasonal specialties like peppermint and bourbon pecan. These festive cheesecake recipes are top-tier in taste and visual appeal, so you can wow your guests all season long.

To make preparation simpler during the busy holiday season, many of these holiday cheesecake recipes provide guidance for make-ahead steps, freezing and long-lasting storage, ensuring each dessert stays creamy and fresh. Adaptations are easy to incorporate: Swap in gluten-free graham crackers or cookies for a gluten-free dessert, use a sugar alternative or change up the toppings to what you have on hand. These ingredient swaps work seamlessly with these recipes, so you can rest assured that you’ll be serving up a sweet slice that works for your family and friends. For a thoughtful finishing touch, try serving your seasonal cheesecake desserts with an espresso, a cup of tea or a festive holiday cocktail.

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34 Best Christmas Pie Recipes for a Sweet Holiday Season

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

On Christmas, after indulging in all the Christmas ham and side dishes that can fit on your plate, there’s always a bit more room for dessert. And while Christmas cookies, cakes and homemade candy tend to get all the glory, there’s nothing better than Christmas dessert pies.

These festive Christmas pie recipes include classics like chocolate cream and cranberry pie, plus new favorites like candy cane and eggnog. There’s plenty of variety, whether you’re choosing between an all-butter crust or a crumb crust, a no-bake ice cream pie or a double-crusted slab pie, or a fruit pie or a custard-filled one.

If you need to make any of these holiday pie recipes dietary-friendly, we have gluten-free pie crust and vegan pie crust recipes to help alter as needed. Of course, serve your hot pies with a scoop of the best vanilla ice cream or homemade whipped cream, and save salted caramel sauce or hot fudge for the cold pies. Go ahead and set up that second dessert table, you’re going to need it!

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Fried Sweet Potato Pies

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

Next time you’re planning a party, hosting a game day or taking dessert to a potluck, make an impression (and some new friends) with fried sweet potato pies. These hand-held, personal pies with a creamy sweet potato filling wrapped in crispy fried pie crust and dusted with confectioners’ sugar are so surprisingly delicious that even the staunchest sweet potato critic will be back for seconds.

If you’re from the southern U.S., you’re probably no stranger to sweet potato pie. A Dixieland staple, sweet potato pie is a decadent dessert popular year-round, but especially around the holidays. It’s so indulgent that it may have first-timers asking, “Wait, this used to be a vegetable?” This portable fried version is packed with all that deliciousness, with no slicing or portioning required. Plus, it can even fit in a pocket.

Ingredients for Fried Sweet Potato Pies

  • Self-rising flour
  • Sugar
  • Shortening
  • Eggs
  • 2% milk

Filling:

  • Mashed sweet potatoes
  • Sugar
  • Egg
  • 2% milk
  • Melted butter
  • All-purpose flour
  • Vanilla extract
  • Oil for frying
  • Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Taste of Home