4 Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes That Can Make A Great Addition To Your Holiday Meal
One of my all-time favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. Baking desserts is the only thing that I don’t like. However, I have found some fairly easy and really neat recipes to help myself and others out. So the following are four great Thanksgiving dessert recipes that can make a great addition to your Thanksgiving feast.
Cherry Nut Squares
***The following recipe is comprised of three layers.***
Your crust is the first layer:
Ingredients
Crust:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Middle Layer/Section
1/2 cup chopped, candied cherries
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 pinch of salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
Top Layer
1 tsp water
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup icing sugar
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
Use parchment paper to line a 9″ x 9″ pan.
Crust: Blend the butter, brown sugar, and flour together, and then press it into the pan and bake it for 15 minutes. Then set aside.
Middle Section/Layer: Lightly beat the eggs, and then mix the other ingredients together. Spread the mixture over the bottom layer and then put back into the oven and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Let completely cool.
Top: Take a small bowl and beat all of the ingredients together; if the mixture isn’t spreadable, then add more water. Spread over the layer. Allow it to set. Cut into squares after is has set for a while.
Sweet Potato Muffins
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups pureed sweet potato (2 to 3 medium-sized sweet potatoes)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (use 1-to gluten-free flour blend for gluten free)
Instructions
To make sweet potato puree, cut and peel sweet potato into fourths. You can also boil the sweet potatoes, but be aware that it will take longer that way.
In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil, then on low boil add the sweet potato and then cook for 10 minutes until soft (use a fork to test). Drain the water after they are softened. Then blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
Cooking Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 F.
In your electric mixer add in the cinnamon, sweet potatoes, eggs, coconut oil, vanilla, and brown sugar. Mix until all is well blended. Next add in the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix together well.
Take out a greased muffin pan, and then take an ice cream scooper to add the muffin mixture into the tins. If all you have is a regular spoon to use, fill up the muffin tins with batter 3/4 of the way.
Let cook until golden brown for around 13-15 minutes. Check them by sticking a toothpick or fork into the center. They are done if it comes out clean.
Mini Pumpkin Pies
Ingredients:
30 tart shells
1 1/8 cups evaporated milk
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup canned pumpkin
2 small eggs
Instructions
With a whisk, beat the eggs.
Blend all of the other ingredients in.
Take the tart shells out and spread them on a cookie sheet.
In each tart shell, pour in 2 tablespoons of pumpkin filling.
Bake at 375 F for around 30 minutes or until the crust is golden. Then to check to see if they are done you can use a toothpick or fork.
German Chocolate Cake
**This is a multi step dessert.***
Ingredients
For Chocolate Cake:
1 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup oil (canola or vegetable oil)
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
For Coconut Frosting:
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup evaporated milk
3 large egg yolks
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
For Chocolate Frosting:
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup evaporated milk
3 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter
Instructions
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Take out two 8 or 9-inch round baking pans and grease them.
For the Cake:
Take out a large bowl and stir together the salt, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa, flour and sugar.
Combine the vanilla, oil, buttermilk and eggs into a separate bowl; mix well.
Add in the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. Combine well.
Stir boiling water in (will make very thin batter). Pour the batter into your prepared greased pans.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes (depending on the size of your cake pan).
It takes less time to bake in 9-inch pans. A toothpick can then be used to see if the cake is cooked.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
For coconut frosting
Take a medium saucepan and add in the evaporated milk, egg yolks, butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Stir together to combine and then over medium bring the mixture up to a low boil. Constantly stir for several mixture until the mixture starts to thicken.
Remove from the heat and then stir in coconut, nuts, and vanilla. Allow it to completely cool before layering it onto the cake.
For Chocolate Frosting:
Melt the butter.
Stir the cocoa powder in.
As an alternative, you can add milk and powdered sugar, and beat it to spreading consistency. If needed, add in small amounts of more milk, in order to thin the frosting, or you can add some extra power, until you have reached the consistency that you desire.
Stir the vanilla in.
Assembling The Cake:
Put one cake round onto your serving plate or stand.
Spread a thin layer of the chocolate frosting over the layer of the cake.
Spoon half of your coconut frosting on the top of the cake, spreading into out in a smooth layer. Between the edge of the cake and the filling, leave around 1/2 inch in between.
Place the second cake round onto the first one. Spread chocolate frosting over the whole cake.
Take a spoon and spread the rest of the coconut frosting on the top part of the cake.
Also see 3 Easy Thanksgiving DIY Decorations
