YAY Christmas! Such a wonderful, festive and exciting time of year. It’s also a stressful, exhausting and calorie-laden time of year as well. Things have been a bit busy for my lately, so I don’t have a new recipe today. Instead I wanted to kick off a series of fun Christmas Countdown posts. For my first one, I wanted to feature some yummy, easy desserts that could be whiped up quicky and easily.
Now I spend a lot of time talking about how I am not a baker. Well, checking my archives that is VERY apparent. I think for 2013 I need to add some sweets on this website!
Anyway, here is a quick list of my Top 5 favorite sweet treats. This random assortment consists of things that can be made easily and brought to all your holiday parties. These also make great hostess gifts as well, something I sometimes forget about this time of year.
1. Pumpkin Ale Cupcakes with Maple Bacon Frosting
Adding beer to cupcake batter probably sounds pretty crazy, but give it a try and you won’t be sorry. Here, some seasonal pumpkin ale adds a lovely pumpkin flavor and a light, fluffy texture. I think blueberry beer would make for a fabulous blueberry cupcake as well! This is the first and only cupcake recipe on this site and I am so proud of how they came out. These will be a hit at any holiday party.
2. Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tart cranberries and dark chocolate make a great seasonal cookie combination! These tasty treats would make a perfect hostess gift for any party you are attending. Super simple, you can whip up a few batches of these to last you throughout the holiday season.
3. Apple Cranberry Slab Pie
This low calorie pie/tart is the perfect holiday dessert. Sweet and satisfying without being too indulgent. This tasty seasonal dessert has only 149 calories per slice! This simple make-ahead dessert will be the hit of the holidays.
4. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
I LOVE peanut butter. My dog loves it too. It is one of the world’s most delicious foods. It also makes amazing cookies, evidenced by this healthier version. Bourne out of a sick day, this recipe is one of my favorites. Chewy, crispy and sweet, these cookies are high in fiber and low in sugar. A perfect holiday treat!
5. Pumpkin Cacao Bread
While this is not a decadent dessert, it is one of my favorite treats, especially in the morning. These mini loaves of tasty goodness make for perfect hostess gifts or just a quick Christmas morning breakfast. I like to bake up a few and freeze them for future use.
Looking for some other amazing holiday treats?
Try some of these recipes from my favorite bloggers:
- Peppermint Marshmallows from Kim at Cravings of a Lunatic
- Holiday Truffle Cookies courtesy of Liz at That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Cookie Almond Clusters from Kristina at Whipped
- Double Chocolate Cranberry Gingerbread Muffins from Anuradha over at Baker Street
- Chocolate Orange Pie courtesy of Kate from Kate From Scratch
What is your favorite holiday dessert? Anything you make only around the holidays? Tell me in the comments.
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Mmmmm….for not being a baker, you’ve whipped up some fantastic baked goods! I want to try your cranberry chocolate chip cookies!
PS…thanks for the mention
everything looks so so good, and it is 11 pm here and I now have the sudden urge to bake those cranberry chocolate chip cookies!
Thanks for including me in your list Dara! And I don’t know who you’re kidding – you are definitely a baker girl! That apple cranberry slab pie looks fabulous!
Everything looks so tempting! I want to try that pumpkin bread!
I’m intrigued by the bacon muffins and I love that pumpkin cocoa bread!
That slab pie looks so awesome–I can’t believe it’s low calorie too! I definitely do more cooking on my blog too and whenever I post a baking recipe, no one is interested. I guess I have my niche.
what a nice collection of treats to make during the holidays! i really like that pumkin cocoa bread… i have never had it but it looks like something i would enjoy!
happy holidays hun
Hi Dara! Great compilation of holiday desserts! Love the variety AND that bacon topped cupcake!!
Wishing you a fabulous 2013 and a very merry Christmas!
LL