It’s Christmas Time! And as we all know Christmas is all about happening moments, happy faces and sweet emotions filled with fun, music, and food. Planning to throw a Christmas bash at home and wondering what to make? When you lay scrumptious deserts in front of your guests noone will pop up a NO! And, this is why we have come up with some amazing dessert recipes which will quench your sweet cravings and make this season a joyous one!
Festive Gingerbread.
Gingerbread is a delicious treat for the festive season. Traditionally enjoyed as a biscuit, I like to stamp mine into stars and decorate them to give away my nearest and dearest.
Make 8 large stars
For the gingerbread :
40g butter
20g brown sugar
1 tablespoon golden syrup/ golden spread
100g plain flour/maida, plus a little extra for dusting
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 – 1 teaspoon ginger powder ( or more if you love ginger )
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1-2 tablespoons milk may be
For decorating :
25g icing sugar
Sprinkles ( optional )
Parchment paper or a small piping bag (optional )
- Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Gently melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a pan.
- In a bowl sift together the flour, baking soda and spices and pour in the melted butter mixture.
- Mix it until it comes together to form a dough, adding a few tablespoons of milk if the mixture is too crumbly.
- Allow the dough to cool down, before dusting your surface with a little flour.
- Roll out the gingerbread dough to around 5mm thick.
- Using a cookie cutter ( any shape ), stamp out shapes and carefully transfer them to the lined baking tray. Mix together the extra dough and re-roll, stamping out more shapes if you can.
- Bake for 8-10 mins until light golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In the meantime make a proper cone using the parchment paper ( If using ) and make up the icing by mixing together the icing sugar and a few drops of water. The icing should be thick and smooth. Transfer to the piping bag if you wish.
- Once the gingerbread is cool decorate with icing. Allow setting until hard.
- You can store it in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
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SWEET FESTIVE MINCE PIES.
Yummy pies are the mode to actual Christmas feel and this is where you can complete touch of Christmas to your party!
Makes 6
For the sweet dried fruit filling :
85g raisins
1/2 apple, peeled and grated
1/8 teaspoon ginger powder
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1 tablespoon ( 15g ) butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
For the pastry :
150g plain flour/ maida
75g butter, cubed and chilled
Juice of 1/2 orange
Few tablespoons of chilled water
Extra plain flour/maida for dusting
A good pinch of brown sugar, to dust
6 hole muffin tray
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C/ 400 degrees F.
- First, make the sweet dried fruit filling by placing all the ingredients in a small pan and gently heating for 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and allow to cool while you make the pastry.
- Sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the chilled butter, until the mixture resembles the breadcrumbs.
- Pour in the orange juice and add a few tablespoons of chilled water.
- Mix together to form a dough, being careful not to overwork the pastry.
- Dust a flat surface with a little flour and roll out the pastry until a few millimeters thick.
- Using a 10cm cookie cutter, stamp out 6 rings. You may need to bring the dough offcuts together and roll again.
- Fill 6 holes in the muffin tray with the pastry and divide the sweet dried fruit filling amongst them.
- Using your leftover pastry, stamp out the shapes to place on top.
- Dust with a little brown sugar and bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the tin and allow to cool on a wire rack.
- Eat whilst warm or store in an airtight container for u to 3 days.
STRAWBERRY SANTAS.
This is a Christmas recipe which will grab the attention of all the age groups starting from the kids to the elderly.
Serves 6
Strawberries
Black Icing
Vanilla Frosting
- Cut the strawberries into 3/4th parts.
- Apply frosting above on the 3/4th parts.
- Place the 1/4th parts on the frosting.
- Make two dots as eyes on the mid part that is the frosting.
- Tiny Santa’s are ready for the party!
So have a happening bash filled with jingle bells, prayer songs, some good music, greetings, and food. MERRY CHRISTMAS YOU ALL!