It seems like a lot of our holiday traditions are based on foods. Probably the most popular dishes with a lot of emotions attached are the desserts. Whether it's the fruitcake, holiday cookies, or a pumpkin pie, they all seem to bring back memories of home and family. It could be though that our classic desserts are really due for fresh ideas. Here are just a few creative variations on some classic holiday desserts.
I'll start with pumpkin pie since it's not always been a favorite of mine. When I came across a great variation on this dessert I was really happy. It uses pumpkin ice cream as the filling instead of pumpkin puree. Another great thing about it is how easy it is to make, especially if you use a store-bought graham crust. Simply mix a can of pumpkin puree with a pint of your favorite vanilla ice cream and add a dash of allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Then pour into your crust, add a layer of whipped cream, and place in the freezer. What a wonderful treat! It's not nearly as heavy as pumpkin pie and just delicious.
Another classic that I find a little puzzling is the ever-present fruitcake. The fruitcake does have a bad reputation, and can be so sweet it's quite overpowering, yet they are always present during the holidays. This is one dessert overdue for a makeover. As a substitute for this heavy, sugary cake, why not try something new? You can create rich dessert bread with some added fruits. Or another variation is oatmeal bread with coconut shavings and pineapple baked inside. Spread scrumptious white chocolate cream cheese icing on top and serve with some fresh-brewed coffee.
Another creative variation on fruitcake is something to the effect of a fruitcake sushi. To start you'll need some phyllo dough and finely chopped fresh fruits. You then would roll your fresh fruits into the dough so that it looks just like sushi, with the phyllo dough representing the seaweed on the outside of sushi and the fruit on the inside like the fish. Quickly bake in a hot oven and cut the baked dessert into rounds. Drop white chocolate icing on the tops and there you have it - a very modern version of fruitcake!
Can you ever have enough holiday cookie ideas? Not me! I like to bring a variety of cookies to different holiday events - whether it's the office party, the neighborhood gathering, or the family dinner. A friend shared this old style recipe with me that I was originally reluctant to try. First, mix up a batch of rolled oats, flour, butter, salt, allspice, and brown sugar. Layer this mixture into a baking pan or ceramic baking dish. Here's where it was odd for me - you then add a layer of mincemeat on top! Follow that with a layer of roasted pecans and bake for about forty minutes at 350 degrees. It turns out this is quite a tasty dessert treat! Once it cools, cut it into squares for individual servings.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it's also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It's possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It's fun to experiment and you'll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones!
I'll start with pumpkin pie since it's not always been a favorite of mine. When I came across a great variation on this dessert I was really happy. It uses pumpkin ice cream as the filling instead of pumpkin puree. Another great thing about it is how easy it is to make, especially if you use a store-bought graham crust. Simply mix a can of pumpkin puree with a pint of your favorite vanilla ice cream and add a dash of allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Then pour into your crust, add a layer of whipped cream, and place in the freezer. What a wonderful treat! It's not nearly as heavy as pumpkin pie and just delicious.
Another classic that I find a little puzzling is the ever-present fruitcake. The fruitcake does have a bad reputation, and can be so sweet it's quite overpowering, yet they are always present during the holidays. This is one dessert overdue for a makeover. As a substitute for this heavy, sugary cake, why not try something new? You can create rich dessert bread with some added fruits. Or another variation is oatmeal bread with coconut shavings and pineapple baked inside. Spread scrumptious white chocolate cream cheese icing on top and serve with some fresh-brewed coffee.
Another creative variation on fruitcake is something to the effect of a fruitcake sushi. To start you'll need some phyllo dough and finely chopped fresh fruits. You then would roll your fresh fruits into the dough so that it looks just like sushi, with the phyllo dough representing the seaweed on the outside of sushi and the fruit on the inside like the fish. Quickly bake in a hot oven and cut the baked dessert into rounds. Drop white chocolate icing on the tops and there you have it - a very modern version of fruitcake!
Can you ever have enough holiday cookie ideas? Not me! I like to bring a variety of cookies to different holiday events - whether it's the office party, the neighborhood gathering, or the family dinner. A friend shared this old style recipe with me that I was originally reluctant to try. First, mix up a batch of rolled oats, flour, butter, salt, allspice, and brown sugar. Layer this mixture into a baking pan or ceramic baking dish. Here's where it was odd for me - you then add a layer of mincemeat on top! Follow that with a layer of roasted pecans and bake for about forty minutes at 350 degrees. It turns out this is quite a tasty dessert treat! Once it cools, cut it into squares for individual servings.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it's also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It's possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It's fun to experiment and you'll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones!
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