It seems like a lot of our holiday traditions are based on foods. Probably the most popular dishes with a lot of emotions attached are the desserts. Whether it’s the fruitcake, holiday cookies, or a pumpkin pie, they all seem to bring back memories of home and family. It could be though that our classic desserts are really due for fresh ideas. Here are just a few creative variations on some classic holiday desserts.
I’ll start with pumpkin pie since it’s not always been a favorite of mine. When I came across a great variation on this dessert I was really happy. It uses pumpkin ice cream as the filling instead of pumpkin puree. Another great thing about it is how easy it is to make, especially if you use a store-bought graham crust. Simply mix a can of pumpkin puree with a pint of your favorite vanilla ice cream and add a dash of allspice, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Then pour into your crust, add a layer of whipped cream, and place in the freezer. What a wonderful treat! It’s not nearly as heavy as pumpkin pie and just delicious.
Fruitcake is a strange phenomenon in the hierarchy of holiday desserts. They have a terrible reputation, most of them are sweet enough to cause diabetic shock in healthy people, and yet they are a beloved symbol of the holiday season. Fruitcake is a dessert in desperate need of a makeover! So instead of a heavy, overly sweet cake made with candied fruits why not something really different? How about a heavy, chewy, dark bread studded with fresh fruits? Or denser oatmeal bread baked with caramelized fresh cherries, coconut shavings, and pineapple would be delicious. It could be covered in white chocolate cream cheese icing. True, it won’t have the staying power of traditional fruitcake but people will actually eat it.
Now here’s a really creative fruitcake - it’s actually a fruitcake sushi! Just buy some phyllo dough and chop up some of your favorite fresh fruits like strawberries, cherries, or grapes. Roll your fruits in the dough and place it on a baking sheet. Your dessert sushi should look like typical sushi with the phyllo substituted for seaweed and the fruit in place of fish. Place the baking sheet in a hot oven and bake for 10-15 minutes. Once it’s cooled, slice the fruitcake sushi into rounds and add a white chocolate icing on top for a delightful decadent dessert that is sure to be a hit!
Can you ever have enough holiday cookie ideas? Not me! I like to bring a variety of cookies to different holiday events - whether it’s the office party, the neighborhood gathering, or the family dinner. A friend shared this old style recipe with me that I was originally reluctant to try. First, mix up a batch of rolled oats, flour, butter, salt, allspice, and brown sugar. Layer this mixture into a baking pan or ceramic baking dish. Here’s where it was odd for me - you then add a layer of mincemeat on top! Follow that with a layer of roasted pecans and bake for about forty minutes at 350 degrees. It turns out this is quite a tasty dessert treat! Once it cools, cut it into squares for individual servings.
So while everyone likes seeing their favorite desserts served at the holidays, it’s also a lot of fun to add some new treats to try. It’s possible that some of your new creations will become the new family favorites and start a whole new tradition. It’s fun to experiment and you’ll probably be surprised at the how much enjoyment your reinvented classics bring to your loved ones!
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