Holiday Treats

 Each year as it nears December 25^th, my mom and I have the tradition of spending an entire Saturday baking holiday treats.  This is something I always look forward to, especially as the stress of finals seems to be taking over my life.  We tend to make the same desserts yearly, and then throw in one or two new recipes to experiment with.  Here are some that I suggest that you try!   

The Classic: Sugar Cookie Cutouts
What is the holiday season without your classic sugar cookies shaped and decorated as snowmen, reindeer and gingerbread men?  This recipe is simple and all you need are some cookie cutouts, icing and sprinkles to decorate as you please! 
 
Ingredients:
¾ cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
 
Directions:

1. Mix thoroughly shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; stir into first mixture.
3. Chill for at least an hour.
4. Heat oven to 400°.
5. Roll out 1/8” thick of dough on a lightly floured board.
6. Cut with desired cookie cutters. 
7. Place on ungreased baking sheet.  Bake for 6 to 8 minutes (or until golden).

The Family Favorite: Turtle Bars
The mix of salty and sweet in this crunchy bar is irresistible.  These are great around the holidays and go great with a glass of milk!  
 
Ingredients:
36 caramels
3 tablespoons evaporated milk or whipping cream
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup flour
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup rolled oats
¾ cup melted butter
¾ teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips
½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
 
Directions:

1. Combine caramels, whipping cream and 3 tablespoons of butter in double boiler.  Cook over hot water until caramels and butter are melted, stirring frequently.
2. Mix flour, brown sugar, oats, melted butter and salt in bowl.
3. Dot ¾ of the oat mixture in nonstick 9×13 inch baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.
4. Pour caramel mixture over crust.  Spring with chocolate chips and pecans. Top with remaining oat mixture.
5. Bake for 12 minutes longer.
6. Cool in pan, cut into bars and enjoy!

 The Challenge: Spiced Chocolate Torte Wrapped in Chocolate Ribbons
This recipe is one that I saw on the cover of last December’s Bon Appétit and have been dying to try it.  I think the look of the cake is more appealing to me than the actual cake (even though it does sound delicious as well!) but, it is a challenge I am interested in trying!
 
Ingredients:
Cake
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
8 eggs,  separated, room temperature
10 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (do not exceed 61% cacao), melted, lukewarm
1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, sifted (measured, then sifted)
Pinch of salt
Pinch of cream of tartar

Buttercream
 3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
4 jumbo egg yolks
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter, cut into small pieces, room temperature
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (do not exceed 61% cacao), melted and cooled (but still pourable)
1/4 cup dark rum
 
Glaze
12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (do not exceed 61% cacao), chopped
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 12 pieces
2 tablespoons honey
3/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee powder
 
Chocolate ribbons
7 ounces high-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Perugina), chopped
1/2 cup light corn syrup, divided
7 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (do not exceed 61% cacao), broken into pieces
 
Directions:
Cake

1. Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 11/2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of each cake pan with waxed paper; butter and flour waxed paper.
2. Using electric mixer, cream butter in large bowl. Gradually beat in sugar until smooth. Beat in egg yolks 1 at a time. Blend in melted chocolate. Slowly mix in pecans, vanilla, and spices. Gently fold in flour in 4 batches (batter will be very thick and dense).
3. Using electric mixer fitted with clean dry beaters, beat egg whites with salt and cream of tartar in another large bowl until medium peaks form. Gently fold 1/4 of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites. Divide batter among prepared pans, spreading evenly. Bake until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Run knife around sides of each cake. Let stand 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks. Cool to room temperature. 

 
Buttercream

1. Stir sugar and corn syrup in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil 1 minute. Meanwhile, using electric mixer, beat egg yolks in medium bowl until pale and thick. Gradually beat in hot sugar syrup; continue beating until mixture is completely cool, about 5 minutes. Beat in butter 1 piece at a time, incorporating each piece completely before adding next. Blend in melted chocolate, then rum. (If buttercream looks broken or curdled, place bowl with buttercream over medium heat on stove burner and whisk 5 to 10 seconds to warm mixture slightly, then remove from heat and beat mixture again on medium speed. Repeat warming and beating as many times as needed until buttercream is smooth.)
2. Reserve 1/2 cup buttercream. Set 1 cake layer, flat side up, on rack; spread with half of remaining buttercream. Top with second cake layer; spread with remaining buttercream. Top with third cake layer; use reserved 1/2 cup buttercream to fill in seam where cake layers meet. Freeze cake until buttercream is firm, about 2 hours.

 
Glaze

1. Stir all ingredients in top of double boiler over gently simmering water until mixture is smooth. Remove from over water. Stir until glaze is thickened, about 5 minutes (do not allow glaze to set).
2. Pour 3/4 of glaze over top of cake. Carefully and quickly tilt cake back and forth so glaze coats sides; smooth sides with spatula, adding some of remaining glaze where necessary. Chill cake until glaze is set.

 
Chocolate ribbons

1. Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over gently simmering water; stir until smooth. Stir in 1/4 cup corn syrup. Pour onto baking sheet. Chill until firm, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer white chocolate to work surface and knead several minutes. Shape white chocolate dough into ball. Wrap in plastic. Let white chocolate dough stand at room temperature 1 hour.
2. Repeat with bittersweet chocolate and remaining 1/4 cup corn syrup.
3. Cut white chocolate dough into 4 pieces. Flatten 1 piece into rectangle. Turn pasta machine to widest setting. Run chocolate through 3 times, folding into thirds before each run. Adjust machine to next narrower setting. Run chocolate through machine without folding. If chocolate is more than 1/16 inch thick, run through next narrower setting. Lay chocolate piece on rimless baking sheet. Repeat flattening, folding, and rolling with remaining chocolate pieces. Repeat process with bittersweet chocolate dough.
4. Cut four 8×1-inch strips from rolled white chocolate dough and four 8×1/2-inch strips from rolled bittersweet chocolate dough. Center bittersweet chocolate strips atop white chocolate strips to form 4 ribbons. Run 1 ribbon from base of cake to center. Arrange remaining 3 chocolate ribbons equidistant from each other in same fashion so ribbons meet in center (Step 1).
5. Cut ten 6 1/2×1-inch strips from rolled white chocolate dough and ten 61/2×1/2-inch strips from rolled bittersweet chocolate dough. Center bittersweet chocolate strips atop white chocolate strips to form 10 ribbons. Cut ends off 2 ribbons on diagonal. Starting at center, drape ribbons over top and sides of cake to form trailers. To form loops for bows, fold remaining 8 ribbons in half, layered side out. Cut ends into V shapes (Step 2). Arrange ribbon halves with V shapes at center of cake to form bow (Step 3).
6. Cut one 3×1-inch strip of white chocolate and one 3×1/2-inch strip of bittersweet chocolate. Center bittersweet chocolate strip atop white chocolate strip. Fold in ends of chocolate strips and pinch to resemble knot; place in center of bow. Carefully transfer cake to serving platter or cake stand

 
Leave a comment below if you try any of these recipes or if you have some holiday treats of your own!
 
Sources:
Sugar Cookies– Betty Crocker’s Cookbook
Turtle Bars– Exchanging Tastes, The Depot Cookbook
Chocolate Torte– Bon Appétit