Everyone knows Santa loves cookies on Christmas Eve. Any sugar cookie is made perfect with a nice dusting of sprinkles. But we heard from visiting elves that Santa also enjoys a few helpings of over desserts from time to time.
When you’re laying out your cookies for Santa this month, consider preparing some of these other desserts. Your holiday guests or upcoming office parties are also sure to enjoy them.
Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes
This year, whip up this Lines+Angles recipe for “Chocolate Christmas Cupcakes” to make the holiday season a little more flavorful. This recipe makes 12 cupcakes.
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
For the chocolate topping:
1 cup chopped plain dark chocolate, 70 percent
8 ounces white sugarpaste
8 ounces green sugarpaste
1. For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Place 12 cupcake liners in a muffin tin.
2. Beat the butter in a mixing bowl until soft and light. Beat in both sugars and beat until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs, one at a time until well blended. Sift in the flour, baking powder and cocoa and fold in gently until incorporated. Stir in the milk and chocolate chips.
4. Spoon into the paper cases and bake for 25 minutes until firm to the touch. Leave in the tins for 5 minutes, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.
5. For the chocolate topping: Put the cream and chocolate in a pan over a low heat until melted. Remove from the heat and allow to cool and thicken slightly.
6. Spoon onto the cupcakes and leave until almost set.
7. Roll out the white sugarpaste on a surface dusted with icing sugar. Cut out shapes to resemble snow and place on the cakes.
8. Roll out the green sugarpaste on a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar. Cut out 2 holly leaves for each cake with a holly shaped cutter or card template. Brush lightly with water and attach to the white sugarpaste.
9. Roll pieces of red sugarpaste into small balls for the “berries” and place on the cakes, as in the photo, attaching with a little water.
Cake on a stick is a classic treat that Santa, kids and adults all enjoy. Light up your holiday menu with these “Christmas Tree Cake Pops” from Lines+Angles. This recipe makes 24 cake pops.
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
31/2 cups green candy melts
1. Prepare cake according to package instructions, adding 3/4 cup canola oil to the cake mix before baking.
2. Once cake is cool to the touch, transfer to a large mixing bowl and break up into crumbs. Allow to cool completely.
3. In a medium bowl, add the butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk. Use an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for about 4 minutes until light and fluffy.
4. Add 3/4 of the frosting to the cake crumbs and mix until mixture can hold together well. Refrigerate for at least an hour.
5. Using your hands, shape the cake pop mixture into 24 conical shapes.
6. Melt the green candy melts. Dip one end of each of the cake pop sticks into the melted chocolate before inserting into the bottom of the cake pops. Dip each cake pop into the melted chocolate, making sure to cover completely, allowing excess to drip back into bowl.
7. Use a toothpick to create the textured look of the tree and decorate with the icing dots and stars before standing upright to dry completely.
Dining and Cooking