As the holidays are upon us and we are busy baking on our newly prettified kitchen for a big Nutcracker’s Sweets dessert party, I thought I would round up some of our favorite dessert recipes that will be making an appearance in case anyone is looking for inspiration!
Make-ahead Dessert Baking Strategy
Because I bake a large amount for this party, I have learned that many of the items can be made a little ahead and frozen without affecting the final product.
Cheesecake, many cookies and bars, and cake layers are all great candidates for make-ahead status. Then, in the days right before the party, I make and install most of the frostings and toppings.
BONUS: Frosting a partially frozen cake layer is actually easier in that it doesn’t require the usual crumb coat step and it’s less delicate to handle!
Candy-like desserts can easily be made up to a week in advance…candy lives a really long time….well, not in our house specifically LOL, but in terms of keeping fresh.
Dessert Party Menu
For most buffet parties, I like to offer a mix of textures and flavors so there is the proverbial “something for everyone”! For this dessert party I have a mixture of creamy and crunchy, and chocolate, assorted fruit, and caramel flavors.
I’ve hosted this annual holiday party for many years and there are always fan favorites that make the menu every year, but this year we altered some of the standards and substituted in a few new ones.
I like to have a mix of show-stopping full size cakes and miniature individual size desserts for a pretty table display. (More tips on creating a beautiful buffet table and a peek at this party in years past HERE.)
Individual deserts are easy to replenish to keep the platters looking full and fresh throughout the night.
The full size cakes sometimes turn into a bit of a train wreck by the end of the party, but they allow guests to take just the size portion they want.
I also always have a supply of ‘to-go” bakery boxes and wax paper sheets on hand so that guests can take home some of the fun!
The current “working” party menu looks like this (click highlighted texts for links to the recipes we’ve covered):
Mini Toffee Cheesecakes with Caramel
This one is one of those non-negotiable and is my favorite cheesecake option. Creamy texture topped with caramel and toffee? Yes please!
Not only is this the best gingerbread you will ever eat, this pan makes the cutest little house shapes out of it for an adorable display!
Chocolate Black Forest Trifle
This is a new invention for me and is on the menu because of a chocolate cake fail that is in the freezer! I forgot to add the oil in the recipe and the cake, while still tasty, was a train wreck coming out of the pans so couldn’t be frosted into a proper cake.
Rather than throwing it away, I decided to repurpose it into a new dessert. The ultimate in upcycling! It will feature layers of chocolate cake, chocolate mousse (which was a staple item at this party in prior years), cherries, and whipped cream. I’ll include the recipe in a future post!
Chocolate Cake with Mocha Swiss Buttercream
This is a new favorite in our house as a birthday celebration cake and I’m sure our guests will love it as much as we do!
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This is also a favorite in our family and this year will get the basketweave frosting treatment usually reserved for the Banana Cake. The Banana cake has been reinvented as mini cupcakes for this year 😁.
Banana Mini Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
This was our go-to celebration cake for many years. It works as a cake, cupcakes, OR unfrosted, the best banana bread! A very versatile recipe!
This humble cake is absolutely delicious. A perfect lemony tea cake.
I keep trying to make it in a shaped pan to give it some of the visual pizzazz that matches the tastiness. It always looks less exciting than the other options on the table even though it is one of the best flavored ones!
I have had mixed success with getting it out of a shaped pan - the sticky sugar syrup that I add extra of makes it very fragile.
Raspberry Shortbread Crumble Squares
Oh my, these are frighteningly addictive. And they are a pretty, fruit flavored alternative to chocolate offerings.
Toffee lovers unite! This is the easiest candy to make and SOOOO delicious it is hard to stop at one piece! Great for serving to guests or packaging as gifts!
An easy one-bowl recipe, these will ruin you for ordinary brownies. You are welcome.
Creme Caramel Flan
Creamy and delicious, this one disappears quickly. I have a few regular guests that hover by this one guarding it (you know who you are!) so I rarely have leftovers.
I haven’t attempted to do a make-ahead version of this lovely apple tea cake, but I may try this year as it would be a delicious addition to the buffet.
Chocolate Coconut Almond Tart
This is one of the fan favorites that has appeared at every Nutcracker Sweets party for as long as I can remember!
If you love Almond Joy candy bars, this is for you. It is the grown up, gourmet version of the grocery store candy. And the marbled design on the top looks appealing and way more impressive than it should for how simple it is to create.
Appetizer Nibbles
In addition to the bakers dozen of dessert offerings, we also do a table with a fruit and charcuterie spread for some savory respite between sugar hits!
This year the appetizer table will include our favorite Parmesan Dip.
For more delicious holiday appetizer ideas, check out THESE!
Aaaand, one more dessert
Whilst we are baking, I’ve been tasked with bringing the dessert for Christmas dinner and needed something easy and portable that pairs well with a roast pork dinner…so my favorite Peach Cobbler is the winning choice!
Other posts you might enjoy:
Nutcracker Sweets Party of years past
Another season of Nutcracker Sweets
