Thanks to Duncan Hines for sponsoring my writing. There’s no limit to the baking possibilities, so grab your favorite Duncan Hines mix and Comstock or Wilderness fruit fillings and Bake On! www.duncanhines.com.
It’s a glorious time of year. Yeah, giving, spirit, holidays, yada yada. Not gonna lie, I love it in large part because of all the desserts. I am definitely a sweet tooth kind of girl. (…And salt tooth. I’m kind of a sweet and salty-toothed gal.)
As a kid I was chocolate-obsessed. The chocolaty-ier the better. Straight up candy, fudge, all that jazz. But the best, hands-down, was chocolate baked goods. Ooey, gooey brownies, rich chocolate layer cakes, and chocolate chip cookies (even better if they were chocolate-chocolate chip cookies… yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus).
Some things never change, and while I no longer indulge as frequently in delicious baked goods, the holidays are definitely an excuse to partake. Now that I’m an adult, I especially enjoy adding tasty beverages to my dessert-indulging moments.
I give to you, my top 5 dessert and drink pairings for your own holiday festivities (or, you know, next Tuesday or whatever):
- Brownies and Port. Deee-lightful. The rich chocolaty-ness of the brownies together with the sweetness of the wine makes for an awesome flavor combo. Plus, Port makes everyone feel fancy. It’s a true fact.
- Cheesecake and Champagne. Okay, maybe not Champagne…I’m not that fancy. I usually go with an Italian or Spanish sparkling wine (Prosecco or Cava, anyone?) But, the rich creaminess of cheesecake is balanced nicely by a crisp glass of bubbly. They’re both subtly sweet and the pale hues even look nice together. (Side note: this cheesecake is drool-worthy and looks a lot like the ones I still get my mom to make for my birthday every year. Yum.)
- Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk. Duh. This one is a classic and the perfect treat to leave for Mr. Claus to help sustain him on his rounds.
- Red Velvet Cake and Mexican Hot Chocolate. This pick is what I’m all about. I’ve had multiple friends tell me over the years that they immediately think of me when they see red velvet cake. I love the stuff. I also love Mexican hot chocolate. Both goodies are slightly unusual takes on “traditional” chocolate treats (I put that in quotes, because they’re both very traditional in their own right). And neither is so sweet that you can’t still have the other.
- Gingerbread (or Gingersnaps) and Egg Nog. This is another long-time favorite. My late Aunt Vivian used to make gingersnaps every Christmas and send them to us from 1,000 miles away. To me, they epitomize Christmas cookies. And Egg Nog is the traditional Christmas drink around my house. (Not the boozy stuff, the kind that comes in a carton from the dairy aisle at the grocery store. But the “adult” version would be sooo good here, too.) Both treats have a little spice to them and totally remind me of childhood.
Mmm, are you drooling yet? I think I need to go hit up a dessert table somewhere. I promised my family I’d make plenty of Christmas cookies for our holiday this year, but I’m thinking I might need to get an early start in order to satisfy this sweet tooth.
What are your favorite holiday desserts? What drinks do you like to pair with them?
Remember to check out Duncan Hines’ website www.duncanhines.com to find some great recipes for your holiday get-together! I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective.
