Preparation for fruitcake is now a lot faster given today's quality diced candied peel and seeded raisins. Thank goodness the flavour is still as good as it was in my mother's day.
With its pattern of almonds on top, this easy-to-make, fruit-laden Christmas cake from Dundee, Scotland, is famous throughout the British Isles.
This is a vegetarian take on a traditional Greek and Turkish finger food. Grape leaves are available at Middle Eastern, Greek, Italian and most supermarkets.
Carry a finely seasoned stew to your table in a handsome pumpkin for a unique presentation. Remove the lid and serve the stew with a portion of tender pumpkin straight from the shell. Your guests will savour the tasty combination and you don't have to worry about your pumpkin tureen turning into a coach!
These adorable individual fruitcakes make perfect gifts. Dust the cookie cutter with icing sugar to prevent the marzipan from sticking.
These German honey gingerbread cookies are like Christmas cake: They need time to develop flavour. Store in a cookie tin or wrapped in foil in a cool place for at least 3 weeks or for up to 3 months.
Enjoyed at breakfast in Alsace, this bread is also seen on the dessert table. Baba au Rhum is a derivative, and when baked in a kugelhopf or Bundt pan then soaked in rum syrup, it's a spectacular dessert.
This dessert combines rich chocolate flavour with dried fruit to create a tart that is special enough for any gathering.
These invitingly spicy glazed German cookies, which can be baked ahead, are what many holiday cooks like best. Roll and cut out rectangles, fun gingerbread folk, trees, stars, or — in the northern European holiday tradition — hearts.
