9 Easy Sweet Treats for your Festive Table.

Last Updated on: 13th December 2023, 09:29 am

It’s the beginning of December, and I have noticed lots of people have started putting the Christmas lights on their homes and gardens. It is a fun and magical time of year, but it can be overwhelming to think about what to bring to a party or BBQ.  I have got you covered for salads, but what if you’ve been asked to bring dessert? Don’t worry, I have put together some easy sweet treats that are perfect for your festive table, BBQ or party.

Photo by Christiann Koepke on Unsplash

Pavlova

Pavlova is a staple dessert for any festive table. It’s so delicious with the lovely spongy marshmallow centre and crisp meringue shell. Just before serving top your pavlova with generous amounts of whipped cream and a variety of delicious fruits. While you can try different fruit toppings, the classic combination of berries and cream is always a crowd pleaser.

Undecorated the pavlova can be made several days ahead and stored in an airtight container.

Difficulty level: Not too difficult but needs some patience.

Cooking time: 1.5 hours plus cooling time.

Apple Strudel

Apple Strudel or  “Apfelstrudel” is a delicious dessert made with classic ingredients of apples, walnuts and cinnamon.  Making a traditional strudel can be more time consuming if you were to make the pastry from scratch.  To make it easier, this recipe uses store bought puff pastry. I even used pre-rolled pastry, which made it quicker.  This dessert is perfect for traveling too.

This recipe can be made the day ahead, but it may have a different flakiness.  I made it the day before and reheated it in the oven.

Difficulty level: Easy.

Cooking time: 20 minutes to prep and 45 minutes to bake.

Almond Cookies

If you’re looking for a gluten-free and dairy-free dessert, these almond cookies are perfect. They’re easy to make with just 5 ingredients and can be frozen before or after baking. The cookies have a delicious crispy exterior and a chewy centre, making them a delightful treat for any occasion.

Difficulty level: Easy.

Cooking time: 10 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to bake.

Pineapple Mint and Sugar

This dessert is simple and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day. The combination of mint crushed in sugar and sprinkled on sliced pineapple makes it a delightful and refreshing treat.

Difficulty level: Super Easy.

Cooking time: 20 minutes.

Photo by ALEXANDRA TORRO on Unsplash

Tiramisu

This dessert is very easy to make.  It is made from layers of espresso soaked savoiardi biscuits and creamy mascarpone, topped with a dusting of chocolate.

Make ahead 2 to 3 days. Also it can be frozen for up to 3 months.

Difficulty level: Easy.

Cooking time: 10 minutes.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

This dessert is a silky smooth mix between a brownie, cake, truffle, and mousse – a delicious chocolate hit. Serve it with fresh fruit, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a simple dusting of icing sugar.

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Also it can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Difficulty level: Easy.

Cooking time: 40 minutes to prep. 25 minutes to cook. 6 hours to chill. So make it the day before required.  

Photo by Dana Nestorova on Unsplash

Orange and Almond Cake

A mouthwatering dessert made using oranges that have been cooked for 2 hours then pureed whole – skin, pips and all.  Almond meal and no milk make it a great gluten and dairy free option.

Difficulty level: Easy.

Cooking time: 15 minutes to prep. 3 hours to cook.

Affogato

This dessert may pose a challenge when serving for a party since you will need to have a glass for each person. However, you can easily adjust the recipe to make as many servings as you have glasses available.  The simple recipe requires only good quality vanilla ice cream and a pot of freshly brewed espresso coffee.  Other embellishments such as liqueur, chocolate toppings, and biscotti are additional add-ons that enhance the flavour.

Difficulty: Easy.

Cooking time: 5 minutes.

Crème Brûlée

Crème Brûlée is a classic French dessert that consists of a smooth and silky custard made with cream, egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla, which is then topped with a thin layer of crunchy toffee. This dessert is perfect for making ahead of time

If you are making this dessert for a larger group or don’t have ramekins, you could use cups, mugs, small bowls or even porcelain soup spoons.

If you have a blow torch to crispen the top great, if not this recipe includes an oven method.

Difficulty: Pretty Easy.

Cooking time: 10 minutes to prep. 40 minutes to cook.

I hope these simple and sweet treats help you stay organised during the festive season and at your next gathering. Enjoy trying them out and let us know which ones you like best.