7 easy last-minute baking ideas for the holidays
Canadians across the country have been channelling their inner master chef selves this year without ever realizing the impact it would have on the holiday season.
Consider every sourdough loaf, classic banana bread, and all those delicious family meals prepared — we’ve been getting ready for this all year. Christmas also tends to be one of the busiest periods, so recipes that let you save time without compromising on taste are always worth trying.
Better yet, if they contain amazing ingredients, it means you can get everything you need in one order from Save-On-Foods and have it delivered right to your door, or take advantage of their free curbside pick-up option. Remember, holiday baking with your bubble — whether in-person or over Zoom — should be more fun than anything else (ingredient spills included).
It’s easy to make every memory count this season with these no-nonsense baking ideas (that double-up as decadent gift ideas) at your disposal.
Gingerbread cookies
Nothing says Christmas like a stack of freshly-baked gingerbread cookies. To make them, all you need is one egg, three tablespoons of flour, a half cup of melted butter, and a box of spice cake mix. When everything is transformed into a dough and rolled out, cut your desired cookie shapes and place them in the oven for up to 12 minutes at 350°F. (We’re big fans of the ugly Christmas sweater cookie option — simply add sprinkles and icing for the finish.)
Vegan chocolate pots
Keep it simple with something that everyone at your dinner table will drool over. These sweet delights require six ounces of 100% cacao, two cups of almond milk, and a cup of dates. Combine the dates and milk in a blender, melt the chocolate, and mix it all one last time before pouring the ingredients into small jars. Pop the jars into the fridge for four hours, and you’re done. Before serving, garnish with cherries or red candies.
Christmas tree cones
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If you’re stuck for time, why not try a no-bake recipe? For this one, you’ll need two cups of powdered icing sugar, three cups of shredded coconut, a half cup of butter, two teaspoons of milk, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, just under one cup of white chocolate chips, and M&Ms. Mix everything (except the last two ingredients), work the dough into tree-shaped cones, and place them into the freezer for an hour to set. In the meantime, melt the white chocolate chips to cover the cones. When the chocolate is poured on top, decorate the cones with M&Ms and set them in the freezer once more.
Simple sugar cookies
Anyone planning to make a big batch of holiday sugar cookies in a short space of time can do so with six key ingredients. Combine three cups of all-purpose flour, one egg, a quarter cup of sugar, one cup of unsalted butter, a teaspoon of baking powder, and a dash of vanilla extract into a mixing bowl until you’ve got a decent consistency. Roll out the dough and use a cookie cutter with the holiday shape of your choice. After 10 minutes in the oven (at 350°F) and five on a cooling rack, you’ve got the perfect pairings for endless cups of hot chocolate.
Vanilla almond snowball bites
It doesn’t have to be snowing outside for you to have a white Christmas when these cookie bites are around. Comprising two cups of all-purpose flour, a half cup of powdered sugar, a cup of unsalted butter, two teaspoons of vanilla extract, and chopped almonds, these treats are a dessert lover’s dream. Bake small scoops of the mix for up to 16 minutes at 400°F, followed by cooling on a wire rack.
Holiday fruit cake
It’s hard to find a cake recipe that doesn’t take three hours out of your Sunday afternoon to complete, but this one is just half of that. Once you’ve mixed three cups of self-rising flour, two cups of dried fruit, two cups of almond milk, and spices (a quarter teaspoon of ground cloves, a half teaspoon of cinnamon, and a quarter teaspoon of ground nutmeg) in a bowl, add the mix to a pre-heated and greased baking tin. Let the oven do the hard work for the next hour and 15 minutes at 350°F, then decorate with icing sugar once the cake has cooled.
Oreo chocolate truffles
Wondering what to do with that package of Oreos in your cupboard? We suggest throwing them into a food blender. Next, mix the crumbs with eight ounces of cream cheese. After you’ve rolled the mix into balls, place them on a tray in the fridge for 40 minutes or until firm. For the icing, choose between festive coloured sprinkles or simply melted chocolate — it’s up to you!
Already thinking about which tasty treat you’re going to whip up first? You can find the ingredients you need for the aforementioned recipes at your nearest Save-On-Foods location or by ordering them online at saveonfoods.com for home delivery or free curbside pick-up.
If you’re ready to #LetTheHolidaysBegin, share your baking creations on Instagram and be sure to tag @saveonfoods.
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