A Sweet Surprise
Since everything looks a little different this year, why not mix it up with your holiday baking, too? Read on for a couple of classic recipes with funky twists.
Chocolate Cinnamon Cake with Spiced Orange Whipped Cream
This cake showcases an underrated holiday flavor trifecta—chocolate, orange, and cinnamon. These flavors work well together because they have different strengths. Chocolate is foundational; it carries the cake with fudgy confidence. Orange is light and citrusy, which gives the whipped cream an ethereal quality that softens the density of the cake. Cinnamon is the ribbon of spice on your tongue, tying every crumb of cake to its fluffy cream counterpart. Equal parts warm and fruity, this cake works just as well for your grand finale holiday dinner dessert as it does for a decadent afternoon treat with a cup of coffee the next day.
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Espresso Nut Shortbread with White Chocolate Ganache
In my family, sugar cookies are king during the holiday season. Or should I say queen--my grandmother’s pale cookies, just barely browned on the bottom and topped with flawless royal icing, were staples in our house. I’m all for tradition, but my culinary experience has taught me that a little experimentation never hurts. So this year, I’ll be making room on my table for these espresso nut shortbreads, too. They’re the perfect balance of nutty and sweet, rustic and luxurious. The toasted hazelnuts and bitter espresso will hit your taste buds first, closely followed by a rich wave of white chocolate. You might even find they’re the ideal complement to a classic sugar cookie.
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