Don’t panic [mostly a note to self], but the calendar is in a last-lap, sprint situation with Christmas. It’s time to finalize gift ideas, dot the i’s and cross the t’s on the menu, and put the shopping list in motion. Here’s a Holiday Recipe Roundup of some of my favorite edible gifts and desserts from holidays past! 

Oven Dehydrated Citrus 

Top presents with fragrant fresh greens, cinnamon sticks and homemade Dehydrated Citrus Slices, or add a slice to your tea for a burst of flavor.

Extra Idea: Drying citrus in your oven will make your whole home smell like Christmas.  

Whole Wheat Chocolate Matcha Bundt Cake with Matcha Buttercream

This Chocolate Matcha Bundt Cake swirls colorful matcha and chocolate cake batters, topped with a Matcha Peppermint Buttercream and the sweet, tart burst of sugared cranberries. 

Mulled Wine Compote

‘Tis the season for mulled wine, which means it should be the season for Mulled Wine Compote, a way to use up the wine-simmered fruit.

Bonus Idea: Package up the compote for an edible holiday gift. 

A Whole Grain Apple Cider Layer Cake Forest (Gluten Free)

Classic holiday spices combine and a hint of whiskey combine in this moist Apple Cider Layer Cake with a dark chocolate frosting.

Bonus: This cake is gluten free, so it’s ideal for pleasing a holiday crowd. 

Whole Wheat Chocolate Layer Cake with Chestnut Cream & Dark Chocolate Ganache

Forger roasting over an open fire. You’ll need a large sheet pan (18”x13”) to bake this spongey, chocolate cake, which is then simply cut into fourths and stacked with layers of delicious chestnut cream as a filler. 

Whole Wheat Chocolate Gingerbread Layer Cake

Skip the gingerbread house construction, and construct layers of Chocolate Gingerbread Cake with Spiced Buttercream Frosting. 

Flourless Fallen Chocolate Peppermint Cake with Whipped Neufchâtel Topping (Gluten Free)

Nestle into those p.j.’s, ignore the cake on the cooling rack, and let those rich, chocolate layers just sink into the crackly goodness that is this Flourless Fallen Chocolate Peppermint Cake. 

Whole Wheat Pistachio Cardamom Cake with Dark Chocolate Ganache

You’ll need a food processor to grind pistachios into the flour, but the resulting Pistachio Cardamom Cake is a dense, moist, nutty cake complemented by a rich, dark chocolate ganache.

---

Here’s hoping this Holiday Recipe Roundup helped you to finalize some plans and gift-giving ideas! If it stressed you out, I apologize. Could I offer you some Peppermint Hot Chocolate to make amends? Or better yet, spiked eggnog?

Happy Holidays!