As the holiday season approaches,watching Christmas movies on TV curled up by a warm fire sounds very inviting. What better way to complete that cozy environment than with a batch of freshly baked sugar cookies or warm chocolate cake. After all, the holiday treats happen area large part of what makes the holidays such an exciting time.
Sugar cookies seem like one of the most popular holiday desserts. Whether the cookies are made at home or bought in a store, they are found almost everywhere around the holidays. A fun holiday tradition for some families include these festive desserts. Emilio Ergueta ’16 shared, “Every year my family makes German sugar cookies in all different shapes and sizes. We decorate them with sprinkles and glaze and eat them Sunday after church.” As Emilio explained, the cookies usually come in various shapes whether they be reindeer, ornaments, snowflakes, or Santa heads. Cookie cutters can be found at most grocery stores around this time of year, so be sure to pick some up to test out this tasty holiday treat.
While many people enjoy sugar cookies during this season, people also make many more desserts in celebration of the holidays. For example, Sarah Balick ’17 describes her family’s holiday tradition, which also happens to be her favorite holiday dessert. “A chocolate cake that my grandmother makes every year. The recipe has been in my family for years.” Like Sarah’s family, many families have traditional holiday recipes.
Another crowd favorite is peppermint bark: chocolate with bits of crushed up candy cane inside. There tends to be a ton of variation in the different styles of peppermint bark. Depending on the baker, the dessert may include white, milk, or dark chocolate. Sometimes there is even a combination of all three in different artistic ways. Either in the center or around the chocolate there are pieces of crushed-up candy cane. Ranging from flakes to solid chunks of candy cane, the size of the bits depend, again, on the baker. Grace Para ’18 voiced her opinion, “Peppermint bark is my favorite! White chocolate is the best! I think the smaller pieces of candy cane is better.”
Looking for a Christmas specific snack? There are a load of popular recipes circulating. Pop a freshly cooked ham with a side of lasagna for entrees down on the table. Not only are they tasty, but they’ll warm you from inside out on a cold winter evening. To enliven your dessert table this Christmas, try the tres leches cake. This Spanish recipe is considered one of the tastiest. Take one bite of the cake, and it will become clear. Christmas is not the only holiday with delicious looking sets of food for dinner. A glimpse of a typical dinner table during Hanukkah might include brisket or chicken, served with various sides of either potato latkes, spinach tidbit, grilled salmon, and sugared pecan salad. Looking for a sweet dessert for your Hanukkah table? Be sure to test out the traditional Hanukkah donut (or Sufganiot) recipes which can be deep-fried, jelly-filled, or honey-filled.
Last but certainly not least, what might a traditional Kwanzaa dinner table look like? A popular meal is a large bowl of chicken or sausage gumbo, a thick stew-like dish consisting of meat, stock, and vegetables. It is often accompanied by different sides like mashed sweet potatoes, biscuits, and crusty cornbread. For dessert, a delicious sweet such as potato pie, topped with whipped cream is often prefered.
Each culture and religion has its own subset of recipes that are special to the holiday season. Trying foods from different cultures can be another way to make the holidays interesting and unique. So before sitting by the fire this coming holiday season, stop by the grocery store to pick up any ingredients needed for these delicious holiday dishes. Remember, festive treats or delicious entrees will bring the holiday feel to the dinner table.