Thinly sliced cappocola (spicy cured pork) from the deli counter adds colourful curls to the top of this spinach-and-red-pepper quiche. In a pinch, you can use chopped prosciutto instead.
This show-stopping creation is guaranteed to impress your guests this holiday season.
We've added a subtle blend of spices to basic shortbread for extra festive flavour. If you wish, omit the spice to adapt the dough to an endless number of recipes.
Even in Nanaimo, B.C., the origin of the Nanaimo bar is contested. One thing we can all agree on, though, is that Canadians love this triple-layered treat. Over the years, creative Canucks have used the traditional elements of this dessert in Nanaimo bar–flavoured martinis, cupcakes and more. We've married it here with an éclair to create an especially rich pastry.
Picture this: a rich, brownie-like chocolate cake topped with chocolate mousse, whipped topping and garnished with even more chocolate. Sound divine? It is! Italian meringue gives the mousse a light, fluffy texture without the addition of gelatin. If you can include dairy in your dessert, substitute whipped cream for the nondairy whipped topping.
This cake gets a whimsical touch with easy-to-make marzipan figures. Fondant is available at cake-decorating stores and some craft stores. Use your favourite ice cream flavour for the filling.
All over eastern Europe, the poppy seed and honey combination is ubiquitous in breads and pastries during the holiday season. The trick to maximizing the unique flavour of the poppy seeds is to boil and then grind them in a food processor. This brings out the oils in the seeds and turns the filling into a paste. This wreath brings that one-of-a-kind filling to the surface to shine. Moving the rolled-up dough can be difficult, so be sure to roll it up and shape it on the pan that will go into the oven.
This twist on strawberry shortcake uses sweetened mini versions of bannock, a traditional aboriginal bread, in place of the usual biscuits. The maple-kissed toffee sauce adds an extra Canadian touch.
The contrast of buttery cream and red wine–poached pears makes these tarts a stunning addition to your holiday spread. For the prettiest presentation, prepare the pastry, cream and poached pears in advance, then assemble the tarts just before serving. Use a small melon baller or a metal measuring spoon to easily core the pears.
This pull-apart monkey bread tastes just like apple fritters, and it conveniently separates into little doughnut holes for shareable bite-size treats! Get the kids involved in rolling the dough pieces into balls and building the bread in the Bundt pan.
