Your best Christmas desserts

[Bemyclementine]

Homemade suggestions for something really lovely please!

@madaboutmad indeed. But that wasn't what the poster was implying or suggesting, on a perfectly lovely thread about making desserts!

But trifle is an assembly job. I mean you could make your own sponge cake and custard and poach your own fruit but that doesn't make it any tastier or healthier. The point of trifle is that it is easy to make and everyone loves it. The recipe above is a chocolate orange variant of it.

I think making the constituent parts makes it healthier, if you don’t wish to eat UPF. I agree however that trifles tend not to be in that space, so it's slightly splitting hairs if it’s Jaffa cakes or sponge fingers.

@madaboutmad look - we're talking about desserts! There's nothing healthy about ANY of the desserts that have been listed on this thread.

This isn't the time or place to start waffling on about UPFs.

Well that’s your view, but not one held by everyone. There’s no need to be rude about it, I’ve not been, I have just suggested that a dessert could be healthier if one wishes it to be.

Thank you everyone for suggestions and recipes. I now have the problem of deciding which ones to go for as I need 2.

Definitely a first world problem

Even on a dessert thread the claws come out.

@DaveDidIt your cranachan will be even more delicious if you slightly warm the raspberries with a tablespoon of honey and a splash of whiskey. Warm til the raspberries go a bit mushy, the whiskey burns off leaving a lovely raspberry, honey, whiskey mix. Once you’ve used the actual berries for the cranachan, the left over syrup is fabulous poured over vanilla ice cream.

And personally I think the Jaffa cake trifle is a stroke of genius, it’ll definitely be making an appearance Chez Jellycat this year.

Profiteroles following the foolproof Usborne First Cookery book recipe.

Thanks so much for the Cranachan recipe @DaveDidIt and for the warming tip, @Jellycatspyjamas

Do you recommend any specific type of oats?

Obviously, I need them to be hand rolled by virgins on the Isle of Skye, whilst the dew kisses the dawn and the wee bagpipes play. Or is that too UPF?

I just use whatever’s in the cupboard, usually rolled breakfast oats. Watch them carefully when roasting cos they catch easily.

Any ordinary porridge oats will do.
As jellycat says, careful when toasting them as they catch easy.
I once took my eye off them and they ended up flambéed rather than toasted.
It really is quick and easy to make.

When I toast the oats for Cranachan, I scatter some sugar in with the oats so that they are lightly caramelised.
I bruise the raspberries to release some juice, but I like the idea of warming them with honey & whiskey, I'll be trying that next time I make it, probably for Burns Night.

@Elderflower14 I've added Jaffa cakes to my Ocado order, ready to make your trifle!

🍊 🍊 🍊 🍊

I hope you and your lovely son have a wonderful Christmas!

Nigella’s girdle buster pie🥳

There’s a whole HEAP of threads on UPF/ non UPF stuff if anyone wants to discuss the matter further on there… this thread is for the temporary abandonment of such ‘rules’ and a celebration of Christmas and cooking <gavel>

My offering is this:

https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/recipe/upside-down-mincemeat-apple-pudding

It’s a very forgiving recipe. I first made it dairy (using Flora) and GF… subbed some of the GF flour for ground almonds. Have since made it as per the recipe and I give it full marks.

Probably a good way of using up mincemeat.

It tastes even better the day after.

I think we need the recipe!

Here you go - definitely an indulgent dessert!
https://www.nigella.com/recipes/girdlebuster-pie

Calorie, carb and fat-free I assume @hskdnek572?

That sounds amazing.

If I didn't add whisky, which the traditional Cranach calls for, I think my Scottish DH would be disgusted 😂
Whisk the honey and vanilla essence into the cream, not the raspberries, they need to be layered in, unless I've misread you.

Thank you ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Thankyou... He's home tomorrow!! Hope the village is ready!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

Ha ha ha @Elderflower14 ! Let the fun commence! 🥳 🥳 🥳 🥳

Raspberry Mist

My Mum had a tupperware type party in the 70s where dishes were made and shared and this was one of them and became a staple Christmas easy dessert.

Row of sponge fingers
Top with a row of defrosted frozen raspberries
2nd row of sponge fingers on top
2nd row of raspberries
3rd row of sponge fingers
3rd row of frozen raspberries
Cover in whipped double cream
Top with a few fresh raspberries (in summer) or some Christmas decorations.

Put in fridge for a few hours before serving so the juice seeps into the sponge fingers.