12 Days of Christmas - Day 10 - Holiday Desserts

Now I am getting to the best part! I love a great appetizer but I really LOVE Dessert (as many of you can tell by how often I eat Pie Junkie Pies!). My problem is I am not a baker. I don't know why but I just can't master the chemistry and physics of it all. It's too exact and I'm more of a little of this, and a little of that type of gal! The desserts I make all need to be easy and quick and turn out amazing every time. I also have an amazing trick I love to use! I buy beautiful desserts from people who are masters at what they do! I will share both my favourite recipes and my favourite places to purchase from!

Dessert Recipes

Faye's Half Hour Pudding

Faye is my Mother-in-law and she makes many delicious things (especially baking) but this (in my opinion) is the absolute best dessert she makes!

Photo Courtesy of The Kitchen Magpie

Recipe

Batter Ingredients:

1 tbsp Butter

1/2 cup Sugar

1 cup Flour

1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 cup Milk

3/4 Cup Raisins

1/2 tsp Vanilla

Batter Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar

2. Add dry ingredients alternatively with the milk

3. Add raisins and vanilla

4. Put batter in a greased baking dish (6x8 corning wear)

Sauce Ingredients:

3/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 1/2 cups Boiling Water (this must be boiling when you add it to the baking dish)

3/4 tsp Melted Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

Sauce Directions:

1. Combine all sauce ingredients

2. Pour the sauce over the batter in the baking dish

3. Bake at 350 F for 1/2 hour

Salted Caramel Apple Hand Pies

I realize now that I am typing out these recipes that I really love caramel! These are to-die-for and so easy! The great thing about these individual desserts is they are great for Covid friendly - safe gatherings if we are lucky enough to have family and friends around for the holidays!

Photo Courtesy of Brown Eyed Baker

Ingredients:

Pillsbury Cresent Rolls

1 1/2 cups Peeld + Dice Apples (choose your favourite apple)

12 Kraft Caramels - roughly chopped

1/4 tsp of Cinnamon

1/4 cup of Sugar

2 tsp All-Purpose Flour

2tbsp lemon juice

Finishing Touches

Egg wash

Large Flake Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Combine apples, cinnamon, sugar, flour and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly.

2. Preheat oven to 425 F

3. Place Crescent Rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet

4. Add apple mixture to each crescent roll

5. Add a generous about of chopped Kraft Caramels to each crescent roll

6. Wrap the Crescent roll and secure the edges with a fork

7. Using a knife, cut two or three small vents to the top of each hand pie

8. Brush the top with egg wash and sprinkle with sea salt

9. Bake for approximately 15 minutes or until golden brown

No-Bake Cheesecake Mousse

These are festive, delicious and easy! The best part is they are the ultimate covid friendly dessert!

Photo Courtesy of the Recipe Critic

Recipe

Crust Ingredients:

3/4 cup Shortbread Cookies - crumbled

3 tbsp Unsalted Butter

Cheesecake Filling:

8 oz Cream Cheese

1 tub of Coolwhip

1/2 cup Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Lemon Zest

Berry Topping:

Smuckers Strawberry Jam

Directions:

1. Melt Butter and Combine it with crumbled shortbread until shortbread is moistened

2. Divide evenly between serving dishes - press into the bottom until a crust is formed

3. In a bowl combine cream cheese and sugar until smooth

4. Add Coolwhip to the mixture

5. Fold in Vanilla and Lemon Zest

6. Evenly spoon the mixture into each serving dish

7. Warm strawberry jam over low heat until it can be poured over each cheesecake

AREN'T A BAKER?

Go support your local magic makers! I lean toward always letting professionals do the job so I am an easy sell on buying my desserts from people who know what they are doing! Here are my local Calgary favourites!

Pie Junkie

I know I am repeating myself but if I find another pie that is as good I promise I'll mention it! I need to tell you that until I tried Pie Junkie I actually would say that I don't like pie at all. They have completely changed that. What sets Pie Junkie apart from the rest is the crust. They use a 'Butter Crust" that is completely better and different than anything you have had from other pie shops! Their seasonal pie menu consists of both sweet and savoury pies. I LOVE their Turkey Dinner pie. It has actual chunks of turkey, carrots, peas, stuffing... the entire dang dinner inside a butter crust! You add the gravy on top. A great option for people who are spending Christmas with fewer people than usual and want something delish but not all of the work of the full turkey dinner! I also love their Tourtiere, chicken pot pie and of course their incredible sweet pies (see below for my seasonal fav's). They sell both full-size pies and mini's so they also make great gifts for your friends, family, and teachers. This year they are also selling cookies, brownies and tarts!

Sweet Pies

Maple Pecan Chocolate Hazelnut Salted Honey Blueberry Cranberry

Sugar Baby Cookies

This local gal is a true artist! She makes the most beautiful custom cookies for ANY occasion! I love giving her my ideas for any custom cookie I can possibly think of and she creates the most beautiful design! I am using these as part decor and part Christmas baking, this year! Contact her to create your custom cookie designs!

Whether you make your own desserts or buy them, I hope you enjoy! I absolutely love the holidays and I hope that we are all able to have time with our loved ones this year.

I can't believe we only have two days left! Join me tomorrow for a list of ways to declutter before the holiday's!

Thank you for following along! See you tomorrow.

XO DS