The festive season is nearly here, that brilliant time of year when you get to relax and indulge with family and friends.
As those of us with a sweet tooth know all too well, when it comes to the Christmas feast, dessert often feels more like an afterthought than the grand finale, but these delicious treats will put dessert firmly back on the menu.
Whether it’s a relaxed Christmas party potluck or a posh sit-down dinner party, here’s seven easy Christmas desserts and sweet treats for every occasion.
Mince pies
Mince pies are a classic for a reason – few things feel more festive than a tray of freshly-baked mince pies.
In a perfect world we’d always opt for homemade, but spare time in December is in short supply. Instead of store bought mince pies you can cheat that home-cooked feel by picking some up from your local bakery instead.
When it comes time to serve, sprinkle over some icing sugar and voila! No one will know you didn’t make them yourself.
Cheesecake
Cheesecake is a crowd pleaser for just about any occasion, and it’s versatile enough that you can make it dozens of different ways.
Adding ingredients like eggnog or cranberry can give your cheesecake a very festive feel, or if you’re looking for a guilt-free version, you can cut down on calories without sacrificing taste by using lighter cheese and even reduced-fat biscuits for your base.
Caramel Chocolate Brownie
When time is of the essence, you can turn your Fibre One Chocolate Fudge Brownie into a decadent dessert by adding a few simple extras.
Our simple caramel chocolate brownie recipe can be pulled together with just a few ingredients and has the added bonus of being delicious, too. That’s what we call a win-win.
Lemon Bar Layer
Picture this scenario: you’re hosting a festive evening with friends, and forgot to make dessert. They’re coming in less than an hour. What do you do?
This lemon bar layer dessert looks chic yet can be made with minimum hassle using ingredients you probably already have to hand.
Cut a Fibre One Lemon Drizzle Square into bite size pieces, put into a glass, top with yogurt and lemon zest and you’re ready to go. Crisis averted!
Poached pears
Poached pears are perfect for a posh Christmas meal – they are sophisticated, delicious and – incredibly – one of your five a day. Now that’s what we call a Christmas miracle.
You can make them the classic way and serve with cream or ice cream, or give them a festive twist by poaching them in mulled wine – they’ll smell as delicious as they taste.
Yule log
A yule log is a classic festive dessert and one that can serve many and be made and frozen up to a month in advance.
The traditional yule log is a chocolate lover’s dream – it’s rich, decadent and very chocolatey. If you want something slightly lighter, you can experiment with your fillings. Chocolate and orange go great together, as do chocolate and mint. So many possibilities…
Trifle
If all you know about this quick and easy dessert is what you’ve seen on TV, you’re missing out on a simple showstopper to impress anyone from your book club to your hard-to-please family members over Christmas lunch.
The classic trifle recipe consists of sponge soaked in brandy, topped off with layers of jelly, custard and whipped cream.
There’s plenty you can do to take your trifle to the next level – like by using gingerbread instead of sponge, or adding baileys to your whipped cream to give it a more decadent flavour.
If you’re watching your waistline there’s lots you can do to cut down on the calories, too, like using lighter whipped cream, mixed fruit instead of jelly, and serving them in individual smaller-size glasses.