Rediscovering Timeless Joy: Vintage Christmas Desserts to Sweeten Your Celebrations

The holiday season is a time for cherished traditions, and what better way to celebrate than with delicious desserts passed down through generations? This year, dust off your grandmother’s recipe box and whip up some classic Christmas treats that will warm your heart and tantalize your taste buds.

As the holiday season unfurls its festive charm, revisit the cherished traditions that define Christmas. Among these are timeless desserts that evoke nostalgia and delight, adding an extra layer of warmth to your gatherings. At Cal Mart, we invite you to rediscover the magic of classic Christmas desserts with these vintage recipes.

 

A Taste of Tradition: 5 Vintage Christmas Desserts to Make This Holiday Season

The holiday season is a time for cherished traditions, and what better way to celebrate than with delicious desserts passed down through generations? This year, dust off your grandmother’s recipe box and whip up some classic Christmas treats that will warm your heart and tantalize your taste buds.

Here are five vintage Christmas desserts that are sure to become new favorites:

 

 Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a quintessential Christmas treat, and for good reason. Their warm, spicy flavor and festive shapes are the epitome of holiday cheer. This cookie recipe from delish.com is surprisingly easy to make, and the process can be a fun activity for the whole family.

Gingerbread cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses until well combined.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Roll dough out onto a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters.
6. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
7. Let cookies cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Decorate with icing, candies, or sprinkles as desired.

Stollen

Stollen is a German Christmas bread that is traditionally filled with dried fruits and nuts. It is a dense and flavorful cake that is perfect for slicing and serving with coffee or tea. This classic recipe from daringgourmet.com will provide you with a delicious and traditional treat!

Stollen

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 (1/4-ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4-5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chopped dried fruits, such as raisins, cranberries, and apricots
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, such as almonds and walnuts
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine warm milk and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes, or until frothy.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, salt, egg, and butter. Stir in yeast mixture until combined.
3. Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
5. In a small bowl, combine chopped dried fruits, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
6. Punch down dough and roll out into a rectangle about 12×18 inches.
7. Sprinkle fruit mixture over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
8. Roll dough up tightly, starting from the long side. Pinch the ends to seal.
9. Place dough on a greased baking sheet, seam side down. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for another 30 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake stollen for 45-50 minutes, or until golden brown.
11. Let cool slightly before dusting with powdered sugar.

Eggnog

Eggnog is a rich and creamy holiday beverage that is typically made with eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and spices. It is a decadent treat that is perfect for enjoying on a cold winter night. Here’s a simple and classic take on eggnog by biggerbolderbaking.com:

Eggnog

Ingredients

• 6 large egg yolks
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 4 cups

Buche de Noël (Yule Log)

Buche de Noël, or the Yule Log cake, is a quintessential French Christmas dessert resembling a log, symbolizing the ancient tradition of burning yule logs during the holiday season. This rolled sponge cake from sallysbakingaddiction.com, is filled with cream and often adorned with chocolate frosting, and reflects the spirit of the season in its visual presentation.

Buche de Noel

Buche de Noel is a French Christmas cake that is shaped like a log and decorated to resemble bark. It is typically made with a chocolate sponge cake filled with whipped cream and chocolate ganache.

Ingredients

For the sponge cake:

• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sour cream
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

For the filling:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the ganache:

• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

For the decorations:

• Powdered sugar
• Sprigs of rosemary
• Sugared cranberries
• Meringue mushrooms (optional)

Instructions

For the sponge cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 17×12 inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and oil. Fold sour cream mixture into batter.
5. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Immediately loosen cake from pan by running a knife around the edges. Dust a clean tea towel with powdered sugar. Invert cake onto the tea towel and carefully peel off parchment paper.
7. Starting from a short end, roll up cake tightly in the tea towel. Let cool completely.

For the filling:

1. In a large bowl, whip heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.

For the ganache:

1. Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat heavy cream until simmering. Pour hot cream over chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth.

To assemble:

1. Unroll cake and spread with whipped cream filling. Reroll cake and place seam side down on a serving platter.
2. Pour ganache over the top of the cake, allowing it to drip down the sides.
3. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with sprigs of rosemary, sugared cranberries, and meringue mushrooms (optional).

Tips:

• For a richer flavor, soak the dried fruits in brandy or rum for several hours before adding them to the batter.

 

Classic Fruitcake

Often the subject of playful banter, the classic fruitcake holds a special place in holiday traditions. Laden with candied fruits, nuts, and spices, this dense and moist cake is typically aged to perfection, soaked in alcohol, and wrapped in nostalgia. Its flavors mature over time, making it a beloved centerpiece of Christmas celebrations.

Classic Fruitcake

Fruitcake is a traditional Christmas dessert that is packed with dried fruits, nuts, and spices. This suitably dense and flavorful cake from a recipe by epicurious.com is perfect for slicing and serving with coffee or tea.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chopped dried fruits, such as raisins, cranberries, and apricots
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts, such as almonds and walnuts
• 1/4 cup chopped candied fruit, such as citron and cherries
• 1/4 cup brandy or rum (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
4. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Stir in chopped dried fruits, nuts, and candied fruit. If using, add brandy or rum.
6. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Wrap fruitcake in cheesecloth or parchment paper and store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.

 

Why Embrace Vintage Christmas Desserts?

Beyond their deliciousness, these vintage Christmas desserts encapsulate the spirit of togetherness and tradition. They invite us to slow down, savor moments with loved ones, and relish the joyous simplicity of the season. Their preparation often involves time-honored techniques, creating opportunities for family bonding and sharing stories passed down through generations.

 

Embrace Tradition, Create Memories

This holiday season, delve into the tradition and nostalgia of Christmas with these vintage desserts. Prepare them with love, share them with family and friends, and savor the joy they bring to your festive table. At Cal Mart, we’ll help you celebrate with these timeless recipes and create new memories while honoring cherished traditions.

Whether you’re an avid baker or a beginner in the kitchen, these vintage Christmas desserts offer a delightful journey into the heart of holiday traditions. Capture the essence of the season and spread the joy with these time-honored treats.

Wishing you a season filled with warmth, happiness, and the sweet delights of cherished traditions from all of us at Cal Mart!