Food

45+ Sweet Treats To Bake This Season!

By Alexandra Whyte On December 16th, 2022

From spiced gingerbread cookies with a rosewater cream cheese glaze to hazelnut amaretti and dark chocolate and toffee-filled shortbread, here are the best recipes from the House & Home archives to add to your holiday sweet list.

Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies

What’s Christmas without cookies? This recipe comes from the Island Eats cookbook, which celebrates chefs from Vancouver Island and their delicious recipes.

Try pastry chef Kristine Morrow’s recipe here.

Excerpted from Island Eats: Signature Chefs’ Recipes from Vancouver Island and the Salish Sea by Dawn Postnikoff and Joanne Sasvari. Photographs by Gabriel Cabrera and Danika McDowell. Recipes copyright © 2021 by individual restaurants. Excerpted with permission from Figure 1 Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Salty Chocolate Pretzel Rye Cookies

These cookies have it all! They are nutty, rich, salty, sweet.

Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest’s Tieghan Gerard here.

Half Baked Harvest: Every Day by Tieghan Gerard

Victoria Sandwich

This classic British dessert is quite simple and would make a great accompaniment to your holiday feast.

Find Paul Hollywood’s recipe here.

Reprinted by permission of Bloomsbury Publishing. Copyright Paul Hollywood.

Chouxnuts

If you’re looking to experiment with a bit more of a difficult recipe this holiday season, try out Paul Hollywood’s cross between choux pastry and a doughnut.

Get the recipe here.

Reprinted by permission of Bloomsbury Publishing. Copyright Paul Hollywood.

Apple Cranberry Crumble

The sweet tangy fruit of this crumble is complemented with a crispy topping.

Get Lidia Bastianich’s recipe here.

Excerpted from Lidia’s a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Copyright ©2021 Tutti a Tavola. Photography by Armando Rafael. Published by Appetite by Random House, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved

Almond Cake with Caramelized Pears

This delicious cake is easy to make and topped with tasty caramelized fruit.

Get Bonnie Stern and Anna Rupert’s recipe here.

Recipe excerpted from Don’t Worry, Just Cook by Bonnie Stern and Anna Rupert, published by Appetite by Random House, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada. ©2022 Bonnie Stern Cooking Schools and Anna Rupert. Food photography by Tyler Anderson. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.

Eggnog Basque Cheesecake

With flavors of eggnog, spiced rum and nutmeg, this recipe for basque cheesecake is the perfect end to your holiday meal.

Get the recipe here.

Recipes excerpted from Well Seasoned, by Mary Berg. ©2021 Mary Berg. Published by Appetite by Random House, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Cream Puffs With Cider-Caramelized Apples & Bourbon Cream

Making cream puffs is easier than you think! This festive dessert is the perfect ending to your holiday meal. The cream is lightly sweetened and flavored with bourbon.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Lemon Angel Cake

“We’re a huge chocolate family, but once you find something really good that’s lemon, it’s hard to beat,” says chef and cookbook author Trish Magwood. “It’s an airy angel cake with my grandmother’s lemon glaze, and then fresh or cooked fruit on top. In the fall, I don’t love eating raw plums, blackberries and currants, but once you quickly cook them, they’re so delicious. Then you have leftovers to put on ice cream.”

Get the recipe here.

Eggnog Tiramisu

Celebrate this holiday season with a festive twist on a creamy and delicious classic. This eggnog tiramisu not only tastes delicious, but visually stuns with its intricate layers.

Get the recipe here.

Jim’s Pi Pie

This salty, sweet and fluffy pie was invented by Queer Eye culinary expert Antoni Porowski. With its sentimental origin and delectable taste, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Get the recipe here.

Spiced Rum Chocolate Caramel Eggnog

While no baking is required, what better way to warm up this winter than with a festive drink in hand! Keep cozy this holiday season with a sweet and spicy spin on this classic holiday cocktail from chef Lynn Crawford.

Get the recipe here.

Semolina & Coconut Cake

Nammoura is a fudgy, moist coconut cake with semolina and yogurt as a base. Don’t be afraid of the syrup quantity. The cake will absorb it and it creates the essential nammoura texture without being overly sweet.

Get the recipe here.

Bayrut: The Cookbook, by Hisham Asaad, published by Smith Street Books

Eggnog & Caramel Holiday Pancakes

Take the time to make this decadent pancake recipe, complete with homemade eggnog and caramel sauce. It’s perfect for a holiday brunch.

Get the recipe here.

Pistachio Olive Oil Cake

“Anyone who’s been to Emmer or seen our Instagram feed knows that pistachio is probably my favorite thing in the world. We go through hundreds of pounds a month. This cake is a showstopper for its simplicity. It’s decadent, bordering on a custard, and lasts for a good week without changing texture,” says bakery owner Philip Haddad.

Get the recipe here.

Strawberry Mousse On Pistachio Sponge

Widely considered the bible of authentic Italian cuisine, The Silver Spoon has sold more than three million copies in Italy and is now translated into 12 languages. From the same authors, The Italian Bakery shares the secrets of Italian pastry chefs in a collection of 140 delicious recipes from bakeries across Italy. Try this Strawberry Mousse On Pistachio Sponge from the new cookbook.

Get the recipe here.

The Italian Bakery, Phaidon Press, 2021

Chocolate Cake With Cherries In Barolo Chinato

Try this decadent chocolate cake which is also from the new cookbook, The Italian Bakery. It has a smooth sponge, festive cherry-red syrup and rich mousse.

Get the recipe here.

The Italian Bakery, Phaidon Press, 2021

Sesame Challah Monkey Bread

“Balls of (not overly sweet) challah are rolled in butter and a cinnamon sugar and very-lightly-toasted sesame mix before getting packed into a Bundt pan so it develops a deeply sweet caramelized shell as it bakes,” says Top Chef Canada host and cookbook author Eden Grinshpan.

Get the recipe for Sesame Challah Monkey Bread.

Excerpted from Eating Out Loud by Eden Grinshpan. Copyright ©2020 by Eden Grinshpan. Photography by Aubrie Pick. Published in the U.S. by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, N.Y. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved

Yotam Ottolenghi’s Mont Blanc Tarts

Named after the snowy mountain they resemble, Mont Blanc tarts — with their white meringue, whipped cream and tan-colored chestnut purée can often taste more fabulous than they look, with all that beige and white.

Get the recipe here.

Nutty Tart

“Try this spin on a classic pecan pie,” says celebrity chef Lynn Crawford. “Our version has a buttery, toffee-like, gooey filling with a variety of toasted nuts in a sweet dough crust. Sometimes we vary the recipe by adding a 1⁄2 cup of chocolate chips — very acceptable, in our opinion!”

Get the recipe here.

Recipes excerpted from Hearth & Home by Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk. ©2021 by Lynn Crawford and Lora Kirk. Published by Penguin Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Ginger Florentines

Studded with almonds, hazelnuts, crystallized ginger and sultanas (golden raisins) they are a delicious nutty treat to serve alongside a fresh fruit salad or simply to eat on their own.

Get the recipe here.

Salted Fudge

Fudge can be finicky; the success is in the time and temperature to get the right consistency. Bring the mixture to about 112°C on your candy thermometer, or drop a bit into a cup of cold water — it’s ready when it forms into a soft ball.

Get the recipe here.

Recipes courtesy of trishmagwood.ca and excerpted from My New Table by Trish Magwood. ©2021 Trish Magwood. Photography by Ksenija Hotić. Published by Appetite by Random House, a division of Penguin Random House Canada. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Blueberry Nut Butter Cookies

This is a simple yet delicious recipe for a chewy cookie recipe without any leavening agents, wheat or eggs. Occasionally Eggs author Alexandra Daum suggests using chocolate if you don’t have blueberries on hand.

Get the recipe here.

Excerpted from Occasionally Eggs: Simple Vegetarian Recipes for Every Season by Alexandra Daum. Copyright © 2021 Alexandra Daum. Photography by Alexandra Daum. Published by Appetite by Random House®, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Earl Grey Shorties

These delicate and delicious shortbread sandwich cookies are lightly flavored with Earl Grey tea leaves. Use a highly flavored tea for the best results. If you have a silicone baking mat with a textured surface, roll your dough out on the mat to “stamp” a simple design on top of your cookies.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Toffee Pecan Dark Chocolate Shortbread

This shortbread is very buttery and is baked in a mould. Roselle uses round silicone moulds that are about 6.5 cm wide and 1.5 cm deep. If you have a similar mould, you can make individual round shortbreads using lightly flattened 2.5 cm balls of dough (bake for 12 to 14 minutes). Otherwise, bake shortbread in one big pan and cut into small bars.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Gingerbread With Rosewater Cream Cheese Glaze

This is an adult gingerbread! Cocoa powder and spices make for a dark and flavorful dough that isn’t overly sweet. The cream cheese glaze is a perfect counterpoint, but it will soften the cookies slightly. Glaze the cookies the day before you plan to serve them.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Speculaas

Speculaas are crisp Dutch spice cookies often embossed with a windmill design. Blackbird Baking Co. makes its version as small rounds and etches them with a windmill-like pattern, but you can use the tines of a fork to make a simpler design.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Hazelnut Amaretti

This is a delicious and satisfying cookie that’s very simple to make! If you want to keep the sugar content down, don’t roll the cookies in icing sugar. Decorate instead by pressing a whole almond into the center of each cookie before baking.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Frollini Cannella

These crisp and lightly spiced cookies are studded with sliced almonds. Cut them into rectangles or into whatever shape you desire. Let this cookie get deeply golden for the best flavor.

Get the recipe here.

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Honey Madeleines

These pretty mini cakes are a perfect way to wow your guests. Use flavorful wildflower honey, if possible, and dust with icing sugar right before serving, if desired. It’s best to have two pans so you don’t need to clean and re-grease pans while making a single batch.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

PB Thumbprints With Mocha Ganache

Peanut butter and chocolate — need we say more? Think of these thumbprints as peanut butter cookies for adults (like we need an excuse). A rich, sophisticated ganache complements the peanut butter flavor in these melt-in-your-mouth bites.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Tahini Shortbread

An intoxicating, nutty aroma will fill your kitchen when you bake this recipe. Dried rose petals (edible, of course) add a touch of elegance, making this shortbread ideal for a hostess gift or cookie exchange.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Peppermint Brownie Cookies

These cookies are like eating a cookie and brownie all at once! A touch of peppermint extract and crushed candy cane make these chocolate treats extra festive for the holidays.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Coconut Snowballs

The flavor combination of orange and coconut is the winter version of a piña colada — in other words, perfect for the holidays. Beware: these snowballs are deliciously addictive.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Cherry Snowflake Pie

Intimidated by all the gorgeous pies you see on Instagram? Here’s a little secret: they aren’t hard to master. All you need is a fantastic, fruit-packed recipe (like this one), some cookie cutters and, before you know it, this dessert will be Insta-worthy, too.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Grandma Julie’s Date & Walnut Maamouls

This Lebanese recipe is from Lynda Reeves’ grandma Julie. “Grandma would fill big movie-reel tins with these powdery cookies and hide them under a bed until Christmas Eve (I always found them!). Buttery, flaky and delicious, these cookies say Christmas to me,” says Lynda.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Carol’s Cocoa Caramel Brownies

These old-fashioned cocoa brownies, from former food editor Kristen Eppich’s mom, are fudgy and decadent. The batter comes together easily in one pot — much appreciated when home cooks are at the height of holiday baking.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Granny Thelma’s Christmas Fruitcake

A traditional British cake, this festive treat comes from editorial director Alice Lawlor’s grandmother! It cooks more evenly in a wooden box, which results in a cake that’s just as moist at the edges as it is in the center.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Pearl’s Scottish Shortbread

Originally from food writer and columnist Lucy Waverman’s grandmother, this shortbread cookie has a crispy bottom and melt-in-your-mouth center. Get creative and mix flavors into your shortbread, like finely chopped ginger, chocolate or crushed candy canes.

Get the recipe here.

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Raspberry Cream Cheese Pastries

The rich, flaky and slightly tangy pastry of these crescents works perfectly with the brightness of the raspberry jam.

Get the recipe here.

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Salted Chocolate Caramel Bars

These bars deliver a decadent contrast of delicate shortbread and chewy caramel under a roof of bitter salted chocolate.

Get the recipe here.

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Spitzbuben

Their little windows, along with their generous dusting of icing sugar, make these Swiss cookies a pretty and delicious addition to any holiday spread.

Get the recipe here.

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Mexican Wedding Balls

Lynda Reeves loves these holiday shortbread-style cookies with a sweet cherry inside. Bake these up to serve at seasonal events or to give as Christmas gifts.

Watch Lynda whip up this festive dessert on H&H TV and get the recipe here.

House & Home

Cinnamon Rugelach

This traditional Jewish pastry can be served at any time of day, from a brunch, to an afternoon coffee break, to dessert.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Salted Ginger Caramels

The ginger in this recipe leaves a lovely residual warmth on the palate. These caramels can be cut into any shape you want and wrapped individually for gifting or served on a tray along with your Christmas cookies.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

Eggnog Nanaimo Bars

This recipe takes classic Nanaimo bars up a notch with a base that tastes like a dense brownie and an eggnog-spiced custard filling, which gives you a nice hit of nutmeg and cinnamon with every bite.

Get the recipe on H&H TV.

House & Home

Chocolate-Dipped Sponge Toffee

The magic of sponge toffee happens when you add the baking soda to the golden sugar syrup and it puffs and expands, creating this airy delight. The slightly bitter tones of dark chocolate complement the sweet toffee.

Get the recipe here.

House & Home

After Eight Shortbread Thins

Think of a peppermint chocolate, made better by the crunchy, buttery texture of a shortbread cookie. The shortbreads are topped with the chocolates for the last minute of baking, just enough to slightly melt and adhere to the cookies. These are great served after dinner with coffee.

Get the recipe here.

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