5 Holiday Desserts That Aren't Pies
Image credit: Pixabay
The countdown is on! Thanksgiving is over, December is here, holiday music is on the radio and Freeform is playing their 25 Days of Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year is here, and what better way is there to get in the holiday mood than by baking festive desserts?
Here are some for you to try!
Hershey Dreidels
Senior psychology major Emma Margolis’ family has an annual tradition of incorporating Hanukkah into bite-sized snacks.
“Growing up, I knew it was the start of the holiday season when my mom would get everything together to make hershey dreidels. My brothers and I loved making them together every year,” Margolis said.
These tiny but fun snacks are perfect for celebrating Hanukkah with your family, and only require Hershey Kisses, marshmallows, pretzels and icing.
Click here for the recipe.
Christmas Wreath Cookies
If you are looking for a colorful dessert to put on your table, try Christmas wreath cookies. Sophomore computer science and criminal justice double major Ashlynn Grawehr said they are her favorite holiday dessert.
“Every year on the night of Christmas Eve, my family would make these before going to bed so we could enjoy them with our extended family the next day,” Grawehr said. “They also made for great snacks to leave out for Santa when I was little.”
These radiant green cookies are bound to brighten up any dessert table at Christmastime.
Click here for the recipe.
Red Velvet Holiday Trifle
Remember the infamous Thanksgiving trifle Rachel Green made on “Friends”? The one that featured beef? Don’t worry, this red velvet holiday trifle is nothing like that. Red velvet cake is a delicious staple on many dessert tables, but why not take it up a notch?
This recipe features chocolate chips, icing and cream, all on top of red velvet cake mix. When this is out on your table, your guests will certainly be in for a pleasant surprise.
Click here for the recipe.
Pignoli Cookies
Senior kinesiology major Ronnie Gottilla has a family tradition that goes back years, and she loves that every Christmas, it reminds her how important it is to carry on her ancestor’s traditions.
“When I was little, my mom told me the story of how my grande bisnonna would make her special pignoli cookies with my bisnonna. She then passed the recipe down to my nonna*, and I watched the recipe travel from Italy to my home when my mom would make the cookies with my nonna. The holidays are my absolute favorite time to continue this tradition,” Gottilla said.
Click here for the recipe.
*nonna = grandmother
Plain Ol’ Christmas Cookies
While it is always fun to think of new and exciting desserts for the holidays, one can never go wrong with classic Christmas cookies, especially if you have holiday cookie cutters.
Simply make regular sugar cookies, but before baking them, cut them out in your favorite holiday designs. Try for Christmas trees, stars, gingerbread people, reindeer--the list goes on. Once they are done cooking, coat them with colorful icing for that extra festive feel. And if you are feeling crazy, add some designs in white icing, or sprinkles.
Click here for the recipe.
If You’re not Super Talented in the Kitchen...
Not the best with baking in general? Head to your local store and grab a gingerbread house kit. It is fun to make with your family, and the best part? You get to feast on it after.
Image credit: Pixabay
The holidays are not only a time for being with your family and celebrating all you have to be thankful for, they are also a time for enjoying delicious treats. So feel free to fill your stomach with all the season has to offer. Happy Holidays!
