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.
