Delightful Holiday Recipes to Elevate Your Festive Table

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Delightful Holiday Recipes to Elevate Your Festive Table

Welcome to a culinary journey with Arina Lisetskaya, a renowned culinary blogger, chef, and author of “Holiday Recipes.” Discover these incredibly delicious dishes that will become the centerpiece of any festive table!

Vanilla Shortbread Cookies

In the spirit of holiday traditions, these vanilla shortbread cookies are perfect for creating lasting memories with family. Baking and decorating these cookies can lift everyone’s spirits, making them a classic treat for any winter celebration.

Ingredients:

  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 100 g unsalted butter
  • 6 tbsp cold water
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and mix until a dough forms.
  2. Shape the dough into a ball and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  3. Roll out the dough to a thickness of 0.7 cm.
  4. Use a glass to cut out circular shapes.
  5. Decorate the cookies with a baking stamp.
  6. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 15 minutes.

Classic Christmas Cake with Sea Buckthorn

A classic Christmas cake is traditionally prepared 6 weeks before Christmas and stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. Each week, it is brushed with rum or cognac, infusing the cake with a rich, festive flavor. This recipe makes two cakes, ensuring you have enough for the holiday season.

Ingredients:

  • 150 g unsalted butter
  • 120 g brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 120 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 50 g dried sea buckthorn
  • 100 g pumpkin candied fruit
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 70 ml orange liqueur
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for greasing)
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions:

  1. Soak the dried fruits in liqueur and powdered sugar for 2-3 hours.
  2. Melt the butter in a pan, add the rosemary sprig, and lightly sauté the dried fruits with the liqueur for 3-4 minutes until the alcohol evaporates. Let it cool.
  3. For the cake batter, beat the sugar and butter until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Add the flour and baking powder, mixing until well combined.
  5. Fold in the dried fruits.
  6. Grease a baking pan with butter and dust with flour. Pour in the cake batter.
  7. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 60 minutes. Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Chocolate Cake with Prunes and Walnuts

This chocolate cake with prunes and walnuts is a delightful addition to any holiday table. The prunes are simmered in butter with rum, powdered sugar, and rosemary, adding a unique flavor to the cake. In Europe, such cakes are often prepared two weeks in advance and brushed with rum or cognac for added richness.

Ingredients:

  • 150 g unsalted butter
  • 120 g brown sugar
  • 50 g cocoa powder
  • 3 eggs
  • 120 g all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 50 g walnuts
  • 100 g prunes
  • 1 sprig rosemary
  • 70 ml rum or cognac
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for greasing)
  • 2 tbsp powdered sugar

Instructions:

  1. Melt the butter in a pan, add the cognac, powdered sugar, prunes, walnuts, and rosemary sprig. Flambe if desired, or wait until the alcohol evaporates.
  2. Beat the sugar, butter, and cocoa powder until creamy.
  3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Sift the flour and gently fold it into the batter with the baking powder.
  5. Combine the batter, walnuts, and prunes.
  6. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Cherry and Apple Pie

Indulge in the aromatic delight of this cherry and apple pie. The combination of flavors and the inviting appearance make it a perfect holiday treat, especially when paired with a cup of coffee.

Ingredients:

For the Crust:
  • 150 g all-purpose flour
  • 80 g melted unsalted butter
  • 50 g granulated sugar
  • 25 ml (5 tbsp) strong coffee
For the Filling:
  • 100 g cherries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 60 g brown sugar
  • 2 ripe apples
  • 200 g sour cream
  • 30 ml brewed coffee
  • 50 g granulated sugar
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions:

  1. Combine all crust ingredients, shape into a ball, and place on parchment paper in a baking pan.
  2. Cook the cherries and sugar with the cinnamon stick in their own juice for 5 minutes. Blend until smooth.
  3. Peel and core the apples, then slice them thinly.
  4. Pour the cherry mixture over the crust and arrange the apple slices on top.
  5. Mix the sour cream, coffee, sugar, and flour. Pour over the filling.
  6. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 30 minutes.

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