Holiday Baking Trends: This Seasons Hottest Festive Flavors
Baking during the holidays always comes with a sweet dose of nostalgia – who doesn’t have a favorite family recipe remembered fondly from childhood? When it comes to flavors, chocolate chip and peanut butter might still reign supreme, but unique takes on the classics such as peppermint, ginger or spicy ingredients are also making an appearance this holiday season. Several of our expert chefs have teamed up with The American Egg Board to share their suggestions on how to turn an ordinary every day dessert into a new holiday classic.
#1: Chef Bernhard Mairinger of BierBeisl Imbiss, Los Angeles recommends using winter fruits like pomegranate to add festive color and seasonal flavor to desserts. “We are making Punschkrapferl (a classic Austrian confection similar to French petit fours) the week before Christmas. Apricot jam and dark chocolate creates a beautiful flavor bite in the rum sponge cake filling, while we use a pomegranate reduction to color the pink glazed icing”.
#2: Chef Christina Fitzgerald, Season 11 Finalist of The Next Food Network Star, has a great suggestion for adding seasonal flavors to basic holiday recipes. “Eggnog is always a festively sweet way to celebrate the holidays. How about an eggnog custard, or eggnog crème brûlée instead of the regular versions”. While eggnog might not be to everyone’s taste, you can never go wrong with a classic gingerbread man. “They’re my favorite holiday dessert to bake and are nostalgic for me now that I can decorate them with my daughter and pass on the tradition”.
#3: Chef Terry French, Season 2 Winner of Food Network’s Extreme Chef, says the secret to turning a basic recipe into a holiday classic is the ingredients. “It’s all about cranberries, nuts, citrus, and candies like chocolate and peppermint. Try adding cinnamon, candied orange slices and ginger to your baked desserts. It’s like mixing Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga – a classic recipe with a bit of spice”. Other suggestions: coconut pineapple spiced rum cake with caramel swirl and 24 carat gold is festive with an unexpected, but refreshing, tropical twist.
#4: Chef Mareya Ibrahim, Founder of Eat Cleaner and Winner of CBS’s “Recipe Rehab“, uses antique dinnerware for a festive touch when plating her desserts during the holidays, but has a great tip for those who don’t own decorative dishes themselves. “Melt dark chocolate and pipe festive designs onto a non-stick baking mat — when the chocolate hardens you can use these to garnish your holiday cakes, cookies and desserts instead”.
#5: Pastry Chef Brooke Martin, Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, Calif., uses Grand Marnier with a touch of vanilla and nutmeg to make a Surprise Holiday Eggnog. It adds a festive flair to the traditional eggnog recipe.
#6: Pastry Chef Michael Romano, Winner of Food Network’s Sweet Genius, says turning an ordinary dessert into a holiday dessert isn’t so much about the flavors you infuse, but the feelings you inspire in those enjoying it. “Christmas is about nostalgia and bringing people back to that warm feeling from childhood. More than just peppermint and gingerbread, desserts should be as rich in flavor as they are in love.” This holiday season he’ll be making eggnog ice cream and chai spiced brownies for his loved ones. “At the restaurant (The Sweet Sovereign, NY) I’ll do my own interpretations of classics I remember having as a child with modern twists like brown butter coconut cream pies with dulce de leche gelato, and mocha annisette tiramisu with sorbet”.
#7: Pastry Chef Dustin Charbonneau, Michelin-starred moto Restaurant Chicago, recommends incorporating classic holiday spices into normal desserts and recipes for some festive flare. “Add cloves, nutmeg or allspice to a basic cheesecake – these exotic flavor profiles will take it from a simple summer dessert to a Christmas classic in no time”.
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