YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Christmas Sweets

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Christmas Sweets https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:11:55 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php AviaMariah on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets/page/2#post-1097926 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 00:01:54 +0000 AviaMariah 1097926@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I just had to throw in a traditional desert from my DH's side because I had never heard of it before.  Grape nut pie.  It's basically Pecan Pie but replacing the pecans with Grapenuts.  I ignore most holiday deserts as much as possible because I am gluten intolerant but some of your traditions are making my mouth water!! Marillen on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets/page/2#post-1092939 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 09:05:34 +0000 Marillen 1092939@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Every year my aunt makes frosted sugar cookies and those jam-drop butter cookies that have a million different names :)  Dainty powdered sugar drop cookies, fudge and peppermint bark are always present.  Some distant relative usually brings obligatory store-bought cheesecake.  Too bad everyone at the reunion is stuffed with X-Mas Eve dinner to have much dessert haha! Last year I (after plenty of 'kitchen testing') made a bunch of Peppermint Brownie Mix-in-a-Jar for Christmas gifts and was really well received, so probably doing that again! I make a mean strudel, and might do that for Christmas; I'm thinking a cheese and walnut filling, or maybe pear--or both.  And someday....bûche de Noël.  It will happen! JulieJohn on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets/page/2#post-1092622 Thu, 21 Nov 2013 01:38:25 +0000 JulieJohn 1092622@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Just found this thread, you all are my personal Xmas treat, I must say! We differ every year, but every year is good. This year I have started making cookies and freezing half the dough. Made pumpkin cookies with maple frosting, and something called "stained glass" candy with colored mini marshmallows. That last one sounds so trailer park, like you should have it with a glass of Tang while wearing your special Christmas flip-flops. I plan to make gingerbread men but realized I have no men cookie cutters (or women for that matter), so perhaps I will make gingerbread stars or bats, for which I do have cutters. I learned so much on this thread, you gals have some sweets I have never heard of! Off to look at the toffee pudding, not sure what it is but it sounds dreamy. Sanet on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets/page/2#post-1087947 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 13:50:31 +0000 Sanet 1087947@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ All these recipes and ideas are wonderful! For tea time, I normally bake a fruit/christmas cake in advance and then scones when we feel like it. DH usually makes Chelsea buns at some point and MIL makes date balls, short bread and mince pies. (I also prefer the store bought mince pies but can't have them when MIL's ones are around for obvious reasons. I don't mind the Woolies ones, but will definitely try the Pick-n-Pay ones soon.) Hil, I am going to try your cinnamon buns this year. For dessert, DH makes delicious ice-cream and I like a very specific tiramisu pudding. (This is in fact the only tiramisu pudding I ever eat. I am always disappointed with what they serve in restaurants. Not enough oomph!) And in January we can all share our diet ideas! :-) Carla on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1087767 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 04:00:24 +0000 Carla 1087767@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Drool! German traditions growing up, so 3 kuchen for am consumption on Christmas Day! My favourite was a yeasty one with dried fruits that was baked in a cast iron bundt pan. I'm a mad baker and when the boys (2) are home it is like feeding the mongol hordes. Christmas always includes Holiday Spice Cookies (my signature cookie!), Empire Cakes (my late MIL recipe for DH), traditional sugar cookies, Millionaire's Shortbread, PB balls (with rice crisps to keep them light), and a cake like puffy ginger bread. I leave the cookies to the men, and treat myself to fruit cake. I've got to score a Shriner's every year, they are the best! We also eat a lot of mandarin oranges, and I pick up a crate of grape fruits for the Holidays. We peel and eat them like oranges. I've got Bird's in the cupboard and make runny custard for apple crisp and peach cobbler. #1 son lived on the stuff when he had his wisdom teeth out. I only take tiny servings, but boy-oh-boy are those servings delish! Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086571 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 21:53:28 +0000 Angie 1086571@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ He does, Hil. It's me who is not the fan. Poor Greg never gets those desserts because I don't make them. I'll send him over your way with melk tert in hand.  Rachy, I quite like pumpkin when it's roasted and sweet.  Hil on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086491 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 20:04:07 +0000 Hil 1086491@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ahhhh yum! Thanks for the recipe Diana - I'm always searching for a good scone recipe. Scones with jam and cream are simply the best treat! Rebekah - last week I made a tres leches cake for a party. It was amazing! One of my best friends is married to a New Yorker and she does a pretty good pumpkin pie for their Thanksgiving in South Africa celebration. It's not one of my favourite textures but it's tasty and her husband loves it. DianeG - I like the way you think - stock up when the stuff is on sale!!! All this talk of sticky toffee pudding made me think of the other best ever pudding... Angie - does Greg love a Malva pudding? rachylou on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086481 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 19:55:09 +0000 rachylou 1086481@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Lol. No pumpkin for Angie. Hehe. Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086382 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:44:43 +0000 Angie 1086382@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Rachy, pumpkin pie is about the only thing I refuse to eat - along with mammals and a blanket of melted cheese. Since you love it so much, I hope you have lots of it - specially made by your Mama.  High five, Diane. Birds custard is delish. I love it hot and extra sweet. Those cadburys chocolate biscuits are heavenly. I love the orange flavoured ones in the foil wrappers best.  Diana, I love, love scones with butter and marmalade. Must try your recipe, Ceit, Greg loves sticky toffee pudding, so he's coming over to have it at your house.  Anonymous on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086371 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:34:12 +0000 Anonymous 1086371@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh heavens! such lovely recipes! I always love mince pies, and Christmas pudding. I like Cadbury's chocolate biscuits too Angie Me and DH adore Christmas pudding with Birds custard. In fact we like it so much that each Christmas we buy loads of puddings when they are on offer and have it until march!! rachylou on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086318 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 18:01:09 +0000 rachylou 1086318@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ We don't have any particular x-mass sweets, but Thanksgiving - it has got to be Libby's canned pumpkin pies. My poor mum has to make them for me, my brother, and her brother. It's got to be mum. Sadly, we can't get the pie-dough sticks anymore. I guess that was because they were pure trans-fat or something, lol. None of that from scratch stuff for us. Lol. And I'm a baker. We do panettone at the bakery... oh I take it back, we do have a sweet for x-mas: stollen Duh! rebekahphoto on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086289 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 17:41:55 +0000 rebekahphoto 1086289@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ mmm! all your sweets sound amazing! This year I would like to make some mince pie, as I never have I love to cook & bake! My DH was a baker for 10+ yrs, last summer we built a wood fired oven at my parents & he taught my father to bake, which is not helping the waistline much, but oh so good.... We combine our mexican & scandinavian/german heritages for our sweets. For the holidays, we always have stollen on christmas, as well as other Scandinavian treats like krumkake and lefse with butter & cinnamon sugar! Fresh lefse is so good! I also make German pfeffernsusse cookies--they are spicy sweet and so good with warm glogg. DH also loves to bake brioche & used to make panettone at the bakery.  We always make sweet tins to share as well for christmas, and in them include fudge, mexican wedding cookies, gingerbread, chocolate truffles & other treats. DH & my father also bake hot cross buns, but that is mostly at easter, DH has lots of fun making many traditional breads for each of the holiday meals!  Diana on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086257 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 17:20:36 +0000 Diana 1086257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ooh, thank you!  They look amazing. Anonymous on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086250 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 17:16:30 +0000 Anonymous 1086250@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Do I ever! Delia Smith does a superb one: <a href="http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/little-sticky-toffee-puddings-with-pecan-toffee-sauce.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.deliaonline.com/rec.....with-pecan</a> Diana on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086247 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 17:13:13 +0000 Diana 1086247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This thread is making me SO HUNGRY.  I actually don't bake much (although for whatever reason a lot of people think of me as a good baker?) but now I really want to go home and bake something. Ceit (or anyone else) do you have a good recipe for sticky toffee pudding? ETA: I feel like I should share a recipe.  I am really particular about my scones (I think most american ones are too cakey and not biscuit-like enough) so here is my recipe for them: Diana’s English Cream Scones   This makes a flaky English-style biscuity scone.  If you prefer an American style cakey scone, you can replace ¼ cup of the cream with an egg and add a bit more sugar.   2 c. all-purpose flour ¼ c. granulated sugar 1 T. baking powder ½ T. cream of tartar ½ t. salt 6 T. cold butter, cut into pieces 3/4 c. heavy cream (can substitute milk, but the scones will be less rich and will go stale faster) ½ c. dried currants or other flavorings* (optional) extra cream or milk for brushing tops   Makes 8 scones.   Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt.  Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender, two knives, or a food processor until the largest pieces are the size of peas.  Stir in the currants.  Pour in the cream and mix until just combined (the dough will be very crumbly).  Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, and knead it a few times just until it forms a ball; try not to overknead.  Press the ball into a disc about ¾ inch thick.  If you have time, you can wrap the disc in saran wrap and put it in the fridge to rest for an hour or so; this supposedly makes the scones flakier.  When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 425° F.  Use a sharp plain round cutter to cut rounds out of the dough – make sure you press straight down with the cutter and do not twist.  Gather scraps together and continue to cut out circles.  You can also form the dough into a square and use a sharp knife to cut it into eight triangles.  Put scones on a baking sheet and brush the tops with cream.  Bake for approximately 12 minutes, or until golden brown.  Let cool for a few minutes before serving with clotted cream or jam.    *Some ideas for flavorings: any kind of dried fruit, any kind of chopped nuts, candied ginger + lemon zest, dried cranberries + orange zest, small chocolate chips + orange zest, cheddar cheese + chives, parmesan cheese, chopped fresh (or dried) herbs.  Obviously, for savory scones, omit the sugar.    Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1086233 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 16:54:14 +0000 Angie 1086233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ah. Thanks, Hil. I will try to find the same thing this side. Agreed. Woolies make the best hot cross buns. Nothing in the US comes close to that perfection. And high five - I also prefer store bought mince pies - maybe we are spoiled with the glorious ones Pick 'n Pay makes. That crunchy sugary topping is divinely unique. Ceit, we'll have to sample yours too.  L'Abeille, how fun that you celebrate Sinterklaas. I love speculaas. One of my faves.  Making bread & butter from Panetone is a brilliant idea. I use sweet brioche this side.  Oh yes. And I'm making orange scones with white chocolate bits for Thanksgiving Day tea, which we will have at home to kick off the festivities.  I love holiday sweets so much. What a fun thread.  Anonymous on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085997 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:41:51 +0000 Anonymous 1085997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh Panettone! How could I forget that....I decided one year I wanted to learn how to make it. What a glorious year! Hil on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085951 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 08:12:10 +0000 Hil 1085951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Ooooh - I've never eaten rugelach or gevulde spekulaas! I will have to get my bestest dutch friend to rectify this! I agree with Ceit that mince pies are dead easy to make, but I actually prefer the shop bought ones and I would be inclined to agree with Angie that Pick'nPay make the best mince pies (but woollies make the best hot cross buns - which make an amazing bread and butter pudding!) And speaking of bread and butter pudding - one of my favourite things to do, once Christmas is over, is buy Panettone on sale and make a bread and butter pudding out of that. So delish!!! Mochi- those brownies look amaze-balls! I am saving that recipe! Angie - I use a basic white bread dough... I generally find it in the bakery section of the supermarkets. We use it for pizza bases or for Vetkoek but my favourite use for it is this cinnamon bun. I guess it is closest in nature to a Chelsea Bun with a caramel sauce. L'Abeille on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085785 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:17:55 +0000 L'Abeille 1085785@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Slight hijack here: Ceit, how do you make the sweet, buttery short crust ? It's not the same as our Canadian pie crust.  also, Angie, I just may show up at your house for breakfast in December...  Our church is planning a dinner for St Nicholas Day, and I'm trying to explain Spekulaas cookies... Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085717 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:16:57 +0000 Angie 1085717@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hah, Anne. You are a true YLF Golden Oldie.  anne on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085715 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:14:28 +0000 anne 1085715@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh you beat me to it Angie!! Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085713 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:13:30 +0000 Angie 1085713@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ And here's the recipe, Nancy. I typed it out 4 years ago for YLF as per the request: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/south-african-bread-038-butter-pudding">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....er-pudding</a> anne on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085711 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 02:12:57 +0000 anne 1085711@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Angie posted the recipe for it on YLF a few years ago Mochi! I'll try searching for the thread) I like to do Gingerbread men/ biscuits. And DH"s family often want coconut ice (though I kind of hope not this year as it is SOO tempting!) Mochi on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085670 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 01:31:14 +0000 Mochi 1085670@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ "South African bread and butter pudding" (This may be the first time in YLF history for *plonk* to transpire in a non-fashion context) Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085654 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 01:05:44 +0000 Angie 1085654@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Hill, do you use puff pastry or short cake pastry for the ready made dough?  Greg grew up eating Mince Pies in Cape Town, and Pick 'n Pay make the best. Better than Woolies and Marks & Spencer.  I love Rugelach. That makes me want to go back to Tel Aviv. We grew up with Euro Xmas, as far as the sweets go, and I brought the tradition into our marriage. But I also married a South African, so we have a little South African spread too. Here's our holiday sweets list:  <ul> <li>Stollen - most mornings for breakfast in Dec</li> <li>Gevulde Speculaas (which my Papa brings from the Netherlands, although my Mama's homemade version was even better).</li> <li>Crisp sugar cookies (the only cookies I bake)</li> <li>Shortbread (sometimes)</li> <li>Melk Tert</li> <li>Lemon Meringue Pie with ginger biscuit crust (Greg makes the best lemon meringue pie, and nothing has come close to beating it). </li> <li>Cadbury's chocolate biscuits, which I buy. They are flown in from the UK at Xmas time and I stock up for the month. </li> </ul> Any way, that's tradition. We throw in a few different things each year too.  (And it is tradition that I make South African bread & butter pudding for Thanksgiving Day dessert. Our hosts have been requesting it for years and I oblige each time).  Anonymous on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085603 Fri, 15 Nov 2013 00:13:32 +0000 Anonymous 1085603@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh, L'Abeille, little mince tarts are SO easy to make, seriously! You should make that your project this year L'Abeille on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085423 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:07:25 +0000 L'Abeille 1085423@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Wow Hil I'm impressed at all the baking you manage to do in the heat! When I lived in SA my friends baked in July and froze it. I made (still do) a Red and Green fruit salad for Christmas Day breakfast--eg strawberries and honeydew melon, or Kiwifruit; I like to add starfruit (carambola) just because it looks so cool, even though the kids don't care for it, and one year I used a Santa Claus melon (more yellow than green) because, well! Other than that, I used to bake our family's favourite fruitcake, which has just sultanas/golden raisins and pecans, and orange liqueur (it was SO good with Van der Hum when you could get it!) and shortbread, and sugar or gingerbread cookies for the kids to cut out. Mince pies I could buy anywhere so never learned to make them; now back in Canada I can't get them (the little tart kind) since Marks and Spencer left. The other favourites, though we don't make them every year, are Rugelach and Lebkuchen. Mochi on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085367 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 20:30:16 +0000 Mochi 1085367@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ This is in no way connected with any Christmas tradition on my part (I'm Jewish, for one), but I'm making this Argentine-inspired dessert for a tango party this weekend: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2006/06/dulce-de-leche/">http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2.....-de-leche/</a> Looks like Sugarcomaville, but hopefully good. Will report back.  Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085363 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 20:26:47 +0000 Angie 1085363@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Oh yes, Hill. I will take a portion of everything you make for the holidays.  Angie on "Christmas Sweets" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/christmas-sweets#post-1085345 Thu, 14 Nov 2013 20:14:38 +0000 Angie 1085345@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Good grief. Now I feel like cake with my tea. Will be back to comment.