5 Holiday Desserts You Need This Season
The Holidays are upon us and with them come the always delicious and bountiful array of food that we all love. But the best part of the holiday feasting is the assortment of desserts that await after the main courses and sides have all been cleared away. Holiday desserts are the real reason we have holiday dinners right?!
Usually you see the same few traditional holiday desserts year after year. Desserts like pumpkin and apple pie, while delicious are not going to really stand out in a crowd. This is the year to shake up your grandma’s holiday dessert table with something new, or in some cases forgotten, delicious holiday desserts. Here are 5 holiday desserts that you need to try this holiday season.
Chocolate Chip Pie
This dessert was one that my momma used to make quite a bit when we were kids and as we got older I kind of lost touch with. It will occasionally sneak up randomly, but not nearly as often as it should. When it does I am reminded of why I love this pie so much. I am bringing this one back because of its rich delicious chocolatiness and wonderful texture. It gives the traditional pudding type chocolate pie a run for its money. It is an ooey gooey chocolate chip cookie in pie form. If you haven’t tried it you should! Be warned it is super rich and decadent. You may want to sneak some of Santa’s milk when you bite into this one. Check out the recipe and fall in love with your new annual holiday dessert.
Coconut Cream Trifle
My daddy loves coconut desserts whether it is cake, cookies, or pie. Over the years I have made him numerous coconut desserts, but one has stood the test of time. It is a super easy and delicious coconut filled dessert that looks as pretty as it tastes yummy. The fluffy white coconut is reminiscent of the perfect Christmas snow. If you love coconut, you will love this dessert. And with the ease that this layered holiday dessert comes together, it makes a perfect holiday potluck take along.
To make this trifle you only need a few things from pantry and fridge.
- Yellow cake (Boxed or homemade, cooled)
- Small box of vanilla cook and serve pudding (prepared and cooled)
- Large container of Cool Whip
- 2 Cups shredded coconut
- 1 can coconut milk
I use a tall clear trifle dish, but you can put this dessert in any high sided bowl. You will certainly want to use a clear dish though so you can see all the gorgeous layers.
First you will crumble the cake and place half of the crumbles in the bottom of you dish in an even layer. Push down slightly. Next pour half of the coconut milk evenly over the crumbles. Let this sit while you get your filling mixture together.
In a separate bowl fold the Cool Whip into prepared and cooled pudding until just combined. You will still see some streaks of white. Add in the two cups of coconut and fold gently. Half of this mixture will now go over the crumbles and coconut milk you sat aside earlier.
Repeat this order with the remaining crumbles, milk, and filling. Top with extra Cool Whip and coconut if desired to give it a beautiful snow cap. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate. I prefer to let it sit for a few hours before serving to let all the layers meld together. Delicious and beautiful.
Magic Cookie Bars
Magic Cookie Bars are a delicious combination of sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, coconut, and pecans all over a buttery graham cracker crust. These were one of my favorites as a kid. Momma always made the Eagle Brand recipe found on the back of the can. The recipe again is so simple yet so delicious it makes a great take along dish to holiday dinners.
First you will melt one stick of butter in a 13×9 inch pan at 350 degrees. Once melted sprinkle one and a half cups of graham cracker crumb evenly over the butter. Then top with one 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups of chocolate chips, one and a half cups of shredded sweetened coconut and one cup of chopped pecans. Press down gently and back at 350 for 25 minutes then cool before serving.
This will take you back to your childhood and delight your taste buds.
Pumpkin Cheesecake
This is a newbie to my recipe file. I first had pumpkin cheese cake only about a week ago and I knew that we needed to replace our traditional holiday pumpkin pie with this delicious alternative. I am a huge cheesecake fan and this one did not disappoint. When making cheesecake at home I always use a waterbath to keep the cake moist and creamy.
For this cheesecake’s crust I combine 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs with 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 stick of melted butter, and 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice. Mix well and sprinkle into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan. Press down and bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
Serve this delicious dessert topped with whipped topping. It is like pumpkin pie on steroids. You can also use gingersnaps for the crust instead of graham crackers. That would be equally delicious.
Buttermilk Pie
Although this is the last on the list, it is perhaps my favorite of all. I discovered buttermilk pie when I was about 15 years old looking through my Mawmaw’s old cook books. I had never heard of a buttermilk pie before, and was so intrigued by the concept that I made it for my daddy that weekend. It is a delicious and tangy vanilla custard pie that is hands down one of my favorite pies of all.
This recipe makes one 9 inch pie. You will want to parbake your pie crust and allow to to cool before adding the filling. For the filling you will start by creaming together 1 stick of softened butter and 1 3/4 cup of granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 3 eggs, 1 cup of buttermilk, 4 tablespoons of All Purpose Flour, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Once combined, pour into prepared pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Cool completely before serving.
I know that you will love these five holiday desserts as much as we do. What are some of your favorite holiday desserts? Do you partake in the traditional or shake it up with the unconventional? I would love to hear what your favorites are!
