Our Favorite Holiday Desserts

Who doesn’t love a delicious dessert during these fall and winter months? Holiday-inspired desserts not only fill our bellies but they fill our hearts with memories of years past. During this time of year, Olin and I love gathering with friends and family, and there’s nothing that makes a get-together more festive than whipping up some of our favorite holiday desserts.

Here is a collection of our most time-honored and treasured recipes that are sure to add “oohs,” “aahs,” and “yums” to your table this year. From our table to yours… enjoy!

Aunt Susan’s Blueberry Salad

This delicious dessert “salad” brings a fun pop of color to your table. It’s so easy to make, but you can prep it a day ahead of time since it does need a few hours in the refrigerator. Serve with your after-dinner coffee or cocoa for a treat that your family will ask for year after year!

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. blackberry or raspberry Jell-O mix
• oz. crushed pineapple
• 1 can blueberry pie filling
• 8 oz. softened cream cheese
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 16 oz. whipped topping

Dissolve 2 cups of boiling water into your desired Jell-O mix flavor. Add the drained pineapple and blueberry pie filling; mix well. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

While the Jell-O/fruit mixture is in the refrigerator, prepare the topping. Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and whipped topping with a hand mixer on Low. After removing the refrigerated portion, pour the topping over it and place it back in the refrigerator for 1-2 more hours. Serve chilled.

Regina’s Crock Pot Delight

Crock Pots have been making our lives easier for decades, and it doesn’t get any easier than this recipe! Certainly, this pie filling will make your home smell amazing while it’s cooking, and you can relax with your loved ones instead of standing over a hot stove.

Ingredients:

• 1 can apple or cherry pie filling
• 1 package yellow cake mix
• ½ c. butter
• 1/3 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Empty the pie filling into a slow cooker. (You can add a pot liner for easy cleanup, too!) Combine the cake mix and butter in a separate bowl, using a hand mixer on low if necessary. The mixture should be crumbly; don’t overmix. Sprinkle the cake batter/butter mixture over the pie filling and add nuts if desired. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours. Serve warm.

Southern Comfort Caramel Cake (our family favorite holiday dessert!)

This caramel cake is a classic year-round in the South, but no holiday event would be complete without it! You can make this cake ahead of time and keep it covered, but it’s best served freshly iced.  (Don’t like to make cakes, then try this recipe for caramel pie)

Ingredients:

• 1 box white cake mix (plus specified ingredients on the cake box)
• ¾ c. butter
• 1 ½ c. light or dark brown sugar
• ¼ c. + 2. Tbsp. milk
• 3 c. confectioner’s sugar (powdered sugar)

Cake: Preheat the oven to 350°. Follow the directions to prepare the white cake. Separate the batter into 4 cake pans (layers will be thin) and bake for 12 minutes. Cool layers separately on wire racks.

Icing: Melt butter in a saucepan on medium heat. Add brown sugar and milk. Raise heat to high and stir constantly until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool. Add confectioner’s sugar to a mixing bowl and pour the cooled butter mixture on top. Mix on low until incorporated, then on medium until all lumps are gone. Spread the icing onto each layer, one at a time. Stack layers and ice the top and sides. If the icing hardens, add a tablespoon of hot water one at a time until it softens.

Kentucky Pecan Pie

This recipe hails from the staff at Moore Elementary where my daughter went to school. For me, it brings back memories of cake walks and PTA meetings, but your family will associate it with the laughter, hugs, and memories of your kitchen and living room, I’m sure.

Ingredients:

• 1 c. sugar
• ½ c. dark corn syrup
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 3 eggs
• ¼ c. melted butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 c. chopped pecans
• 1 unbaked pie shell (premade is fine, but if you want to make your own it will add a special touch!)

Preheat oven to 400°. Combine all ingredients (except pecans) in a bowl; mix well by hand. Stir in the pecans and pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes and then lower the temperature to 350°. Bake for an additional 25-30 minutes until set and golden brown.

After you taste this pecan pie, you will see why it’s one of our absolute favorite desserts!

Glenda’s Microwave Chocolate Pie

You don’t need to heat up your kitchen for this heartwarming dessert! This one is even easy enough for the kids to make while you’ve got your hands full with another culinary masterpiece. Nothing says “holiday dessert” like a rich and delicious chocolate pie!

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp. flour
• 1 ½ c. sugar
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 1 ½ c. evaporated milk
• ¼ heaping cup of cocoa powder
• 3 egg yolks
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• Pre-baked pie shell
• Homemade whipped cream or another whipped topping

Spray a large glass mixing bowl with oil. Stir together flour, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder. Microwave on high for 4 minutes, whisking halfway through. Add a little of the hot chocolate mixture into the egg yolks and stir lightly to incorporate. Pour the egg yolks into the rest of the mixture and stir. Microwave for an additional 2 minutes. Whisk again, then add butter and vanilla. Microwave for 90 seconds. If the mixture isn’t thick yet, microwave for another 30 seconds. Pour the cooled mixture into the pie shell and top with whipped cream.

Running out of time and need a similar dessert, but really quick?  Try this chocolate pie recipe!

The Cherry on Top

Stoney Creek Farm loves to cook all the year through, but the holidays are our favorite time to make memories in the kitchen. For more of our treasured holiday recipes, from Thanksgiving to Christmas and beyond, visit our blog. Let us know which are your favorites, how you’ve spiced up the recipes to make them your own, and what things your family loves to share around your holiday table.