Inspiration for Holiday Desserts

Fruit & Nut Chocolate Bark with Fleur de Sel

At recent events for Farmers’ Market Desserts, the most common questions I am hearing are about what to make for the various upcoming holidays. Here’s my compendium of holiday desserts and gifts to share.

Thanksgiving

  • Roasted-Pumpkin Pie in a Maple-Pecan Crust
  • Cranberry-Pecan Tart in a Cocoa Crust
  • Persimmon Swirl Cheesecake in a Gingersnap Crust
  • Grilled Fig Sundaes with Balsamic “Fudge”

Christmas

  • Oven-Steamed Persimmon Pudding with Honey-Lemon Hard Sauce
  • Amaretti-Filled Caramel Roasted Pears
  • Baked Apple Dumplings with Cinnamon Caramel
  • Meyer Lemon Pudding
  • Meyer Lemon–Goat Cheese Soufflé Cakes

Chanukkah

  • Apples & Honey Bundt Cake
  • Chocolate-Prune-Walnut Torte
  • Apple, Pear & Quince Galette
  • Individual Apple-Pear Crisps
  • Ginger-Pear Skillet Cake
Cherry-Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Cherry-Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Hazelnut-Almond Biscotti

Hazelnut-Almond Biscotti

Better-Than-Typical Holiday Fruitcake

fruitcake batter; photo by rachel boller

Gift-able Treats and Hostess Gifts

  • Fruit & Nut Chocolate Bark with Fleur de Sel
  • Hazelnut-Almond Biscotti
  • Lavender-Walnut Sandies
  • Candied Citrus Peels
  • Cherry–Chocolate Chunk Cookies
  • Not-Your-Typical Holiday Fruitcake

Drop-in Holiday Guests

  • Market Jam Gems
  • Fresh Fig Bars
  • Petite Salted Caramel Apples
  • Tangerine-sicle Ice Cream

New Year’s Eve

  • Honeycomb Cheese Plate with Rosemary Cornmeal Crisps
  • Pink Grapefruit & Campari Granita with Fresh Mint
  • Farmer’s Secret Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • Maple Syrup–Coffee Pots de Crème

Mojito Melon Balls

New Year’s Day

  • Dates & Figs with Fromage Blanc & Toasted Nuts
  • Spiced Citrus Compote with Pomegranate Seeds
  • Mojito Melon Balls
  • Orange Cupcakes with White Chocolate–Orange Buttercream

I’ll be headed to Maui for a part of the holidays, where I’ll be baking the Maui Pineapple-Macadamia Upside-Down Cake I dreamed up the last time I was there.

Maui Pineapple Macadamia Upside-Down Cake

May all of your holiday celebrations be filled with delicious food, family, and friends around the table!

xo Jennie

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