
4 Indulgent Desserts to Make This Holiday Season
Does a scrumptious berry crumble tickle your fancy?
The holiday season is the time to let loose and indulge in some delicious food. Here, we're leaning into the sweet side with a selection of divine treats that are sure to lift everyone's spirits.
Whether you're in need of something to take to a party or you want a tasty final dish to serve at your Christmas feast, give one (or all) of these four delicious desserts – that probably aren't in your repertoire – a go.
1. Sara Ramen's Swedish Cinnamon Cake
Ingredients
- 250g filmjölk (can substitute with sour cream)
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 175g unsalted butter, room temperature
- 125g rapadura sugar
- 180g spelt flour
- 2 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla sugar
- 1 heaped tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Cinnamon sugar for the layers and topping
- 70g raw sugar
- 1 heaped tsp cinnamon
Method
- Mix the filmjölk with bicarbonate of soda in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together. Add one egg at a time and beat well. - Mix in the flour, vanilla sugar, baking powder and salt followed by the filmjölk mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 175 C and line a round springform cake tin (about 22cm).
- In a small bowl mix the raw sugar and cinnamon together.
- Start by spreading a third of the mixture across the base of the cake tin, sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar over the mixture, repeat this two more times. There should be three layers with a generous amount of cinnamon sugar remaining to be sprinkled over the top layer.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes.
2. Maryah Ananda's Berry Crumble
Ingredients
Topping:
- 1 cup of oats
- ⅔ cup almond flour
- 1 cup of dark brown sugar
- 4 tbsp cold butter
- 2 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ cup coconut oil, 1 tbsp for greasing
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Filling:
- 3 cups of strawberries
- 3 cups of cherries
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tbsp vanilla extract
Method
- Preheat oven to 200 C.
- In a large bowl add fruit and cornstarch. Toss until distributed then add vanilla. Add to a 20cm by 20cm baking dish greased with coconut oil. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine oats, almond flour, cinnamon, salt and brown sugar. Add the butter and break it up with a pastry cutter, fork, or use your hands. Toss the butter in the dry mixture then add the coconut oil. Use a rubber spatula to combine. The mixture should resemble something similar to wet sand.
- Crumble the topping over the berries until completely covered. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
3. Katherine Sabbath's Vegan Sticky Chocolate Cakenuts
Ingredients
Dry
- 200g (1 1/2 cups) all purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- Pinch sea salt flakes
- 150g (3/4 cup) dark brown sugar
Wet
- 180ml (3/4 cup) vegan milk
- 40g (2 Tbsp) unsweetened coconut yogurt
- 50g (4 Tbsp) vegan butter
- 70g dark chocolate (dairy free)
Chocolate Glaze
- 85g chopped dark chocolate (dairy free)
- 1 Tbsp coconut oil
- 25g (2 tsp) vegan butter
Method
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (350°F) fan-forced. Lightly spray a donut tray with cooking oil.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large mixing bowl.
- Place the wet ingredients into a heat-proof bowl, and gently melt together using the microwave (in 30-second intervals, stirring in between) or double-boiler method, allow to cool.
- Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and whisk to combine, being careful not to over-mix.
- Transfer the donut batter into the donut tray with a spoon or a piping bag.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until donuts spring back when gently pressed.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before transferring the donuts to a wire cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before glazing.
- While the donuts are cooling, make the glaze. Melt the chocolate, coconut oil, and butter gently in the microwave or double-boiler method until smooth. Dip the tops of the donuts into the chocolate glaze, and place on a cooling rack to set.
4. Sara Ramen Sablés' Bretons French Butter Biscuits
Ingredients
- 100g salted butter, room temperature
- 100g rapadura sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- The seeds of 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 generous teaspoon of baking powder
- 250g spelt flour
For the glaze - 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon of fresh espresso
Method
- Beat the sugar and butter together in a large mixing bowl or mixer. The consistency should be very creamy.
- Add the beaten egg and vanilla to the bowl.
- Combine the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder together and slowly mix in with the butter mixture.
- Gently knead the dough into a ball (add a little bit of flour to the surface if the dough is slightly sticky). Place the ball on top of a large piece of cling wrap and flatten the shape with your palm. Cover with the remaining plastic and place on a flat surface in the fridge for at least one hour.
- Cover a baking tray with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 180 C.
- Roll out the dough to just under 0.5cm and start to cut out the biscuit rounds making sure there is space between each.
- Mix the egg and espresso together in a small bowl and brush over the biscuit tops. Finish off by dragging the back of a fork across the tops to create vertical and horizontal lines that cross over.
- Bake for about 12 minutes, until golden brown.
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