Sweet Holiday Desserts

Sweet Holiday Desserts

Desserts go with the holidays like Christmas kisses go with mistletoe. Both are sweet, one in taste, the other in sentiment.

While reviewing the many recipes submitted to American Profile, these two stood out as great desserts to bake for an office party, Christmas get-together, or New Year’s Eve celebration.

Reader gaël P. Mustapha of Green Valley, Ariz., submitted a new twist on an old standard: her apple crisp contains peanut butter.

“My mother made this wonderful recipe, sort of a cross between a pie and a cobbler,” Mustapha says. “Mom thinks the original came from Ladies’ Home Journal in about 1951.”

If you’re not nuts about peanut butter, you might prefer the taste of coffee and toffee in the Italian-style recipe submitted by Glenna Tucker of Millwood, W.Va.

“This is a great dessert for a special occasion,” says Tucker of her tiramisu (pick-me-up) torte. “It will be the talk of the meal because it is scrumptious.”

The dessert is an ideal finish for a holiday dinner. You can bake it a day ahead. The flavors blend together and improve overnight.

Apple Peanut Butter Crisp

• 6 to 8 green apples, pared and sliced
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange apple slices in bottom of a lightly oiled 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Mix lemon juice and water and pour over apples. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Mix remaining ingredients until crumbly. Spread evenly over the apples. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Tips from our test kitchen: Serve with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Mix two tablespoons of caramel sauce with a tablespoon of peanut butter for a decadent sauce.

Tiramisu Torte

• 1 18-ounce package white cake mix
• 1 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
• 4 egg whites
• 4 Heath candy bars, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. Beat together cake mix, coffee and egg whites on low speed until moistened. Beat on high for two minutes. Fold in chopped candy bars. Pour batter into pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until tested done. Set aside to cool. When cool remove cake from pans and cut horizontally to make four layers.

Frosting

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1/3 cup chocolate syrup
• 1/4 cup, plus 6 tablespoons strong brewed coffee, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 Heath candy bar, chopped

In a chilled bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add whipping cream, syrup and coffee. Whip until thick and creamy. Stir in vanilla. Blend well. Spread frosting equally over each cake layer. Top with the crumbled Heath bar.

Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos

Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.

 Start Uploading Now!

 

Discuss this Article