Plunder Flechten, a traditional German twisted pastry filled with candied fruit and cinnamon sugar, brushed with apricot preserves. Made from Plunderteig, an enriched laminated dough.
White chocolate orange buttercream for a holiday Buche de Noel, made with egg yolks, half-and-half, and Grand Marnier. Part 1 of a stunning Christmas log cake topped with toasted almonds and cranberries.
Traditional saffron cake with whole wheat flour, currants, candied peel, and nutmeg. A Cornish-style yeasted fruit bread infused with overnight saffron water for golden color and floral depth.
Plunderhornchen, German almond crescents made from flaky laminated Danish dough wrapped around homemade almond paste and candied fruit, baked golden and brushed with apricot glaze. A buttery bakery-style treat.
A festive bread machine loaf studded with maraschino cherries, candied fruit, dates, and walnuts in a rich buttery egg dough. Holiday baking made effortless. One loaf, zero fuss.
Holiday hermit cookies with raisins, candied fruit, walnuts, and oats spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg. A chewy, old-fashioned drop cookie perfect for Christmas baking.
Fruitcake drop cookies with brandy, candied cherries, dates, candied pineapple, and nuts. All the holiday fruitcake flavor in a bite-sized cookie that bakes in 12 minutes.
A traditional British Easter fruitcake with a hidden almond paste layer, golden raisins, currants, and candied cherries. Topped with 11 marzipan balls for the Apostles.
Festive yeast coffee cake shaped like Christmas trees, studded with candied fruit and rolled oats. Pull apart the golden buttery balls for a stunning holiday brunch centerpiece.
A no-bake dessert pizza spread with whipped ricotta cannoli cream, chocolate chips, candied fruit, and crushed pistachios. No oven needed for the topping, just chill and assemble.
No-bake chocolate cake with melted chocolate, butter, crushed cookies, candied fruit, cherries, and almonds. Refrigerate overnight for a dense, fudgy slice.
In a Cretan zacharoplasteion (sweet shop), we were so intrigued by these coconut pastries (among the newer breed) that I tried them at home. You can expect the potato pastry to be a bit difficult to manipulate, and you can also anticipate compliments on the results. Attractive and tasty, not excessively sweet.
Victorian jewels mini fruitcakes: brandy-soaked candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts baked into tender two-bite cakes. A glossy jelly glaze gives each one its jewel-box shine. Holiday gifting star.
A moist Christmas quick bread with orange juice, mashed banana, prune puree, candied fruit, raisins, and nuts, topped with a thin powdered sugar icing and glacé cherries. Freezes beautifully for gifting.
Mandelbreit is a Jewish almond bread sliced twice-baked style with three fillings: cocoa, walnuts, and candied fruit. Aging the rolls in foil for a week deepens the flavor.
Southern jam cake with blackberry jam, buttermilk, raisins, and pecans baked low and slow in three spiced layers. Topped with a boiled cream frosting that drips down the sides just like it should.