5 Christmas Desserts You Can Make with Household Ingredients
The holiday season is here, and nothing spreads joy quite like homemade desserts! Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, these five Christmas desserts will help you create magical moments without requiring a trip to the specialty grocery store.
Recipe 1:
Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients Needed for Gingerbread Cookies
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup molasses
Step-by-Step Recipe for Festive Gingerbread Cookies
- Mix dry ingredients in a bowl
- Cream butter and sugar
- Add egg and molasses
- Combine wet and dry ingredients
- Chill dough for 1 hour
- Roll out and cut into shapes
- Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes
- Cool and decorate as desired
Recipe 2:
Plum Cake
Ingredients Needed for Christmas Plum Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup dried fruits (raisins, currants)
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ cup rum (optional)
- Zest of one orange
Step-by-Step Recipe for Christmas Plum Cake
- Soak dried fruits in rum overnight
- Cream butter and sugar
- Add eggs one at a time
- Fold in flour and spices
- Add soaked fruits
- Bake in a greased pan at 325°F for 1 hour
- Cool and dust with powdered sugar
Recipe 3:
Christmas Buttercream Cupcakes
Ingredients Needed for Christmas Buttercream Cupcakes
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Buttercream frosting ingredients
- Food colouring (red and green)
Step-by-Step Recipe for Christmas Buttercream Cupcakes
- Mix dry ingredients
- Add wet ingredients
- Bake cupcakes at 350°F for 18-20 minutes
- Prepare buttercream frosting
- Decorate with festive colours
Recipe 4:
Chocolate Truffles
Ingredients Needed for Chocolate Truffles
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- Cocoa powder for coating
- Optional: nuts, coconut
Step-by-Step Recipe for Chocolate Truffles
- Heat cream
- Pour over chocolate chips
- Add butter, mix until smooth
- Chill for 2 hours
- Roll into balls
- Coat in cocoa powder
Recipe 5:
Pecan Pie
Ingredients Needed for Pecan Pie
- 1 pre-made pie crust
- 1 cup corn syrup
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 1 cup pecans
- 1 tsp vanilla
Step-by-Step Recipe for Pecan Pie
- Mix eggs, syrup, sugar
- Add melted butter and vanilla
- Arrange pecans in pie crust
- Pour mixture over pecans
- Bake at 375°F for 40-50 minutes
Common Substitutions in Your Ingredients
- No molasses? Use honey
- Out of pecans? Try walnuts
- No rum? Use apple juice
- Dairy-free? Use plant-based alternatives
Serving Suggestions
- Gingerbread Cookies: Serve with hot chocolate
- Plum Cake: Pair with coffee or tea
- Cupcakes: Decorate with festive sprinkles
- Chocolate Truffles: Gift in small boxes
- Pecan Pie: Top with vanilla ice cream
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing batter
- Not preheating oven
- Incorrect measuring
- Overbaking
- Not allowing cakes to cool
These simple recipes are guaranteed to ring in the festive season with joy and flavour. At Celesteyum Academy, we offer a range of short and long-term courses that teach you everything from the basics such as baking different types of breads and preparing buttercream from scratch, to creating a range of exotic chocolates and the expert techniques used by European culinary chefs and bakers. Check out this link to learn more.
Happy baking and Merry Christmas!
Shobha Bhat
Celesteyum Academy is the culmination of years of passionate baking and Shobha‘s dedication to teaching the best practices in the world of baking. Coming from a family deeply entrenched in the hospitality industry, her journey into the world of baking began a decade ago.
