Holiday Baking Recipes

Can’t decide on what to bring to the dinner table? Try some of these holiday themed, delicious dessert recipes that the Her Campus Berkeley Staff has gathered across the web, ranging from peppermint mocha cupcakes, pecan squares, and Santa hat brownies that will make you the hit of any party this winter. 

Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes

Ingredients: 

Cupcakes:
1 cup (4.5 ounces) all purpose flour
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (7.3 ounces) sugar
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons (1.5 ounces) SCHARFFEN BERGER Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and warm
2 large eggs
½  teaspoon  peppermint extract
1 tablespoon  instant coffee (recommended: Starbucks Via)
1/2 cup hot coffee
3/4 cup chopped peppermint Andes

Peppermint Swiss Meringue Buttercream:
5 large egg whites
11/2 cup sugar
4 sticks unsalted butter, diced and softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon peppermint extract

Chocolate Pouring Sauce:
2/3 cups dark chocolate
2 tablespoons heavy cream
4 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted
4-5 tablespoons water, warm

Continue to BakersRoyale for the preparation

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Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Ingredients: 

2 cups of flour, plus 2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus 1 tablespoon for divided use
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter, softened, plus 3 tablespoon for divided use
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup light brown sugar, plus ½ cup for divided use
1 egg yolk
¼ cup applesauce
1 tablespoon of light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the glaze
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2-3 tablespoon of milk

Continue to BakersRoyale for the preparations

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Christmas Banana Bread

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup chopped maraschino cherries

Continute to AllRecipes for the preparation
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Triple Chocolate Pepppermint Brownies

Ingredients: 

For the Brownie Layer
8 Tablespoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 extra large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon espresso powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
 
For the Peppermint Layer
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
8 Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
2 Tablespoons whole milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
 
For the Chocolate Layer
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 candy canes, crushed

Continue to The Galley Gourmet for preparations
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Pecan Squares

Ingredients: 

2 cups all-purpose flour 
2/3 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup butter, softened 
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup butter 
3 tablespoons whipping cream
3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans 

Continue to My Recipes for preparation 

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Gingerbread Martini

Ingredients: 

1 ounce vodka
1 ounce Baileys Irish Cream liqueur
1/2 ounce Kahlúa liqueur
1/2 ounce Monin gingerbread syrup
1/2 scoop vanilla ice cream — semi-melted
Whipped cream
Gingerbread cookie 

See the Houston Press for Preparation

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…And for the time-pressed, here are a few quick and simple holiday recipes:

Peppermint Bark

Ingredients: 
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate
Peppermint flavorings, optional 

Continue to Food Network for preparation

Santa Hat Brownies

Ingredients:

1 pan of your favorite brownies, cooled and cut into desired size and shape (I used a round cutter)
12-16 small strawberries, cleaned and hulled
vanilla-mascarpone buttercream (recipe below)
 
Mascarpone Buttercream
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, room temperature
2-1/2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch of salt 

Visit Daisy’s World for preparation

Holiday Fudge

Ingredients: 

Vegetable oil, cooking spray
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
3 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
3 cups semisweet or white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

Go to Martha Stewart for preparations 

Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops

Ingredients:
large marshmallows
mini candy canes
melted chocolate (we use Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate block)
crushed candy canes

Check out preparations at Liv Life

Sources:
http://www.bakersroyale.com/cookies/cinnamon-roll-cookies/
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pecan-squares-10000001023670/
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/christmas-banana-bread/
http://www.bakersroyale.com/cupcakes/peppermint-mocha-cupcakes/
http://daisyt13.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/santa-hat-brownies/
http://www.thegalleygourmet.net/2011/12/triple-chocolate-peppermint-brow…
http://livlifetoo.blogspot.com/2011/12/candy-cane-marshmallow-pops.html
http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread/
http://www.marthastewart.com/350084/foolproof-holiday-fudge
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/peppermint-bark-recipe/ind…
http://www.houstonpress.com/2007-12-27/restaurants/outback-steakhouse-s-…
http://www.outback.com/menu/gingerbread-cookie-martini