It is the Festive Season and for this time of year, I always love to try new recipes as well as traditional recipes. In my post, Festive baking reminds me of my Mum, I wrote about memories of growing up and Mum making the Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding.
I’ve made them again this year and kept the tradition going. This year I’ve found some new Festive Season Baking ideas and I’ve shared the links to the recipes below.
New Festive Season Baking Ideas in 2022
Please note: I like to call myself a ‘rustic chef’ so my efforts may not be perfect to look at but they do taste good.
Mince Pies
I used the Paul Hollywood Recipe and I’ve shared the link below . I was pretty proud of the pastry results. I also bought the Fruit Mince already made which saved some time and made mini versions rather than in a muffin pan.
Paul Hollywood’s Mince Pies Recipe
Salame di Cioccolato (Chocolate Salami)
This is a traditional Italian/European recipe which I had not heard of before. It was so easy to make and tasted delicious. I’ve included the link below from Pretty, Simple, Sweet which I used for the recipe. I used the same biscotti as I used in the Baked Ricotta Cheesecake.
Pretty, Simple, Sweet – Chocolate Salami
Baked Ricotta Cheesecake
For the biscuit base I used some Biscotti which were flavoured with Amaretto. I decided to cut back on the calories and used light cream cheese and light ricotta ad even though the recipe suggested I should use the full cream versions mine tasted yummy. In fact, at our family gathering everyone wanted seconds.
This is the recipe I used and then I cut out the centre to make a wreath and decorated (or over did it really) with fruit around the wreath and in the centre. The centre piece of the cheesecake which I removed I cut into smaller pieces.
Baked Ricotta Cheesecake
My attempts in pictures
Have you tried some new recipes this year or have you stayed with the traditional ones or maybe not baked at all?
16 Comments
These look amazing Sue! I’ve been over to look at the Chocolate Salami recipe and it sounds great, I might even give it a go at some stage although I’m not a huge fan of nuts. I love cheesecake but no-one else does so I don’t make it as I’d have to eat it all! I remember making mince pies with my grandmother and great-aunt and it was always fun. Thanks for sharing these great recipes and your traditions. You are a talented and creative cook, nothing rustic about you at all!
Thanks Deb! I had never heard of Chocolate Salami and surprised Mike’s Mum didn’t make it. It is so easy to make and you can put in what you want you don’t need to add nuts. We love cheesecake too but come January Mike and I need to start back on our health track again! I enjoy this time of year though so don’t deprive myself. x
Hi, Sue – Shamefully, I have not baked at all this Christmas (other than a delicious gingercake baked with friends and a couple of pans of muffins). But your post has inspired me. Christmas baking could still happen! 😀
Hi Donna, some people enjoy baking and others don’t. You also don’t have family close by to bake for so that makes a difference too. The gingercake was delicious wasn’t it?
Not baked at all for this season, and time is fast running out! Looks like it will be next year for fruit cakes and cookies at this point. My neighbour brought over 2 lovely plates of Christmas treats for us though, and I am really enjoying the fruits of others’ labours for a change. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sue 💕
Deb
Hi Deb, I think it is different if you have family close by. If it was just Mike and I, I probably wouldn’t be bothered either. People are so generous aren’t they and it is lovely that you have settled in and have good neighbours. Merry Christmas to you, Deb and your family xx
This looks amazing, Sue – I hope you have a wonderful Christmas x
Thanks Toni, I enjoy baking at this time of the year. have a lovely Christmas with your family xx
I’m not a fan of traditional Christmas food. I don’t like turkey or mince pies or pudding or christmas cake. (I mean I’m coeliac but I’ve never liked to eat things with fruit in them, so…..)
I do however LOVE cheesecake and that chocolate salami looks good…..
My kids surprisingly don’t like fruit cake or mince pies or Christmas pudding but I still make them as they are my link to my Mum xx The Cheesecake was delicious and so was the Chocolate Salame – both so easy to make. Merry Christmas and have a fabulous 2023. x
Mince pies were originally invented to cover the taste (and smell) of tainted meat (off meat). Then eventually the meat disappeared completely…HA! Merry Christmas to you! See you next year #WWandP
Oh that’s interesting about the origins of mince pies Lydia. Merry Christmas to you and your family and yes, see you in 2023! x
Sue, all of your desserts look wonderful. Malcolm and I (mostly Malcolm) baked way too much this December. Everything in moderation is out the window until January…
I did the same Suzanne, but hey it is only once a year and as you say we can get back on track in January. Best wishes for the Festive season and have a fabulous 2023. x
I did my labour of love Christmas cooking yesterday…a traditional biscuit that has been part of our Christmasses since 1990s. Our daughter loves them and as she is hosting our Christmas lunch, they are my gift (of love and labour) to her. Thanks as always for being part of the Wednesday’s Words and Pics group with your post this week. It’s been great to know this link up has people joining in and I am delighted to have you here as one valued blogger! The link up returns on Wednesday 4 January 2023. Warmest wishes and season’s greetings, Denyse.
That is so lovely isn’t it Denyse to have this special tradition. I look forward to linking up with you for WWandP and also have you join us for WOYBS and What’s Been On Your Calendar? Best wishes to you and Mr B – exciting times ahead x