With all of the trendy desserts on social media, it’s tempting to leave behind the holiday flavors Grandma loved.
But there’s something homey and comforting in the classics from yesteryear.
Today, we’re digging out our favorite recipes to recreate Grandma’s holiday desserts. Get out your Betty Crocker cookbook and join us.
Let’s bake!
Treat Grandma to Her Favorite Holiday Desserts
Food is one of those things that’s tied to the past. Every special event comes with casseroles and homemade rolls steaming on the table. In fact, if you close your eyes, you can probably conjure up a flavor that reminds you of the season.
For most of us, the holidays are steeped in memories of desserts made with love by Grandma. Gingerbread and sugar cookies are just a couple of must-haves at Christmas. Of course, many of these recipes were passed down from kitchen to kitchen over generations. Others, believe it or not, were marketing gimmicks that caught on in the 1950s and 60s.
Winter celebrations are a little different than Thanksgiving, with its roast turkey centerpiece. Instead of adult-centered dishes, they’re all about kid-friendly cakes, cookies, and bars. Decorating these sweet treats is always a highlight and usually involves the whole family.
Getting children interested helps preserve these traditions, too. Flour-covered faces and chocolatey fingers are a right of passage during December.
You can find plenty of complicated ways to wow the gathered masses at dinner. But these simple Christmas desserts are sure to please.
7 Easy Holiday Desserts Grandma Will Love
We rummaged through Grandma’s holiday recipes to find some of our favorite desserts. See if any of these strike your fancy as you start your baking for the season.
#1 Gingerbread Cookies
These spicy, dark brown delights are a chewy and flavorful addition to the cookie canon. While they might seem like something from the 1950s, they’re actually much older. The history behind these tasty treasures goes back to the 11th century.
Crusaders returning from the Middle East brought back spices, including ginger. A mixture of the rhizome, breadcrumbs, and honey was a typical treat at the time. Then, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, gingerbread men were all the rage. She had her bakers shape them like courtiers to pass out at parties.
In America, it’s most likely that the Brothers Grimm and their tales inspired this simple Christmas dessert. Published in 1875, they told stories that included this confection. When German immigrants came to the United States, they brought traditional lebkuchen with them.
Today, it’s common to add rich molasses and chewy brown sugar for a deep, earthy flavor. But Grandmas all over have their own secrets to make these holiday desserts just a bit sweeter. Whether you make them in the traditional shape or get creative, they’re a telltale sign of the holidays.
Make it fast with Krusteaz Gingerbread Cookie Mix!
#2 Lemon Bars
Zippy, sweet lemon bars are a welcome guest on our dessert board. This tangy combination of lemon curd and shortbread is a portable confection you’re sure to love. Even though the earliest recipes date from the 1960s, they’ve probably been around much longer than that.
The crumbly cookie base dates back to the 12th century in Scotland. Lemon curd comes to us from English baking books dating to the 1800s. But combining these two and adding a dusting of powdered sugar makes a perfectly simple Christmas dessert.
#3 Chocolate Pudding
In America, British and German traditions deeply influence how we celebrate the season. But chocolate pudding is likely a US tradition when it comes to Grandma’s holiday desserts.
The term in England refers to a steamed dish that can be savory or sweet. It’s more closely related to fruitcake than what we’re used to at home.
We’ll bet that what you grew up with is more of a Betty Crocker-style confection. Made from a combination of eggy custard and dark, Dutch-processed cocoa, it’s a delight. Usually served cold with whipped cream, it’s a great way to involve little hands in the kitchen. Jell-O even has easy, no-bake versions too.
#4 Sugar Cookies
Pull out your box of cookie cutters for this simple Christmas dessert. While some people go all out with decorations, it’s a matter of opinion. These are probably one of the best options on the list for getting kids involved. They can help make the dough and roll it out before the cutting begins. And they’ll love helping you ice them.
When working with littles, try to avoid complicated shapes with small parts. They’re harder to unmold and can lead to frustration. Instead, pick a few simple forms and squeeze them as closely together as possible while cutting. After all, the more times you roll out your dough, the more flour you’ll add, which changes the texture.
While Grandma might’ve made these holiday desserts as part of a platter of baked goods, they’re perfect on their own. Whip up some royal icing and use food coloring to make them pop.
These are ideal to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Don’t forget the drinks! 5 Beverages Your Grandma Drinks That You’ve Never Tried
#5 Baked Apples
Baked apples might be one of the earliest holiday desserts made by Grandmas in America. Colonial cookbooks have recipes for this cinnamon and nutmeg-heavy confection. Usually, the fruit is cored and filled with raisins, dates, and prunes. Occasionally, we top them with oats for a bit of crunch.
If pie doesn’t do it for you, this is a great way to include fresh fruit on your Christmas table. Served warm, they’re the perfect vehicle for vanilla ice cream. You can also drizzle on some bourbon for an after-dark treat.
#6 Banana Bread
This dessert bread is a Grandma staple, especially when you’ve stayed up too late the night before decorating for the holiday. Easy to dress up or down, recipes for this warm, buttery, quick bread abound. If you have bananas sitting on the counter that you swore you’d eat, it’s time to admit defeat.
While it’s nice any time of year, just a few ingredients can infuse it with holiday spice. Use cinnamon or pumpkin pie seasoning to warm your breakfast table. You can slather it with cream cheese icing or drizzle it with chocolate ganache. It’s always a winner.
Take the treats camping! 5 Best Campfire Dessert Recipes
#7 Ginger Snaps
These sophisticated cookies are the perfect antidote when you can’t stomach one more candy cane or chocolate orange. Like gingerbread, they’re a crisp, chewy, unfussy way to celebrate the holiday.
You don’t need cookie cutters for these. Just roll them in a ball, and you’re all set. We also love tossing them in sugar before baking for a crisp snap when cooled.
They get much of their flavor from molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining. Stay away from blackstrap molasses for these. It’s too intense. Instead, use the light variety since it has the brightest flavor.
Grandma-Inspired Holiday Desserts are a Piece of Cake
If you’re lucky enough to have your Grandma still around, surprise her with her favorite holiday desserts. This year, you can take the lead and bring some Christmas cheer to the table. And because these recipes are simple, you can get the kids involved.
They’ll love creating something special that everyone can enjoy!
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