I am talking about desserts people! I love sharing ideas for gluten and dairy free “healthy” desserts. I like finding keeper recipes that I found for Thanksgiving, since my husband can’t eat dairy or gluten, but baking this way is finicky. But all nice and no naughty makes Jack a dull boy. Come holiday time, all bets are off and I delve into the gluten and dairy FULL playground I have temporarily missed whilst baking. Poor hubby! He does get some side baking projects though! This time of year, breaking out of our good habits, temporarily, can get us more focused and ready for the beginning of 2021. Indulging for the next two weeks might be the perfect vacation in a year of no vacations. It may be the perfect vacation away from your own rules, knowing you can and will come back home to them when it’s all over. I am going to give you 4 of my favorite desserts I have made for Hanukkah and Christmas. They range from easy to a baking adventure.

Chocolate Cherry Trifle

Baking level: Easy

This is definitely one of those desserts that is a crowd pleasure and the shiny treasure of the dessert table. I have made this 3 times for Christmas gatherings. You will need a trifle bowl. I don’t use chocolate pound cake, but buy Sara Lee’s pound cakes in the frozen section. It’s a cheat, but you can’t go wrong with Sara Lee - they have the pound cake down! I get the sour Morello cherries from Trader Joe’s. They are in the baking section in a glass bottle. So all you really have to make is the chocolate custard and the whipped cream and assemble it all together. And when your family's jaws drop at the sight of this bounty, you don’t have to admit how easy it was!

Marbled Icing Holiday Cookies

Baking level: Easy

I made these for the first time this week as a family Hanukkah tradition. Cookie cutting and decorating has been an Auntie Hanukkah project for my niece and nephew since they were tiny. But sprinkles are fun until you are still finding the ones who jumped ship months later. Icing is easy. Swirl a little food coloring in, and it becomes marvelously marbled. This is a recipe for Chaunkah, but it can be applied to Christmas or any holiday cookies if you have the cutters. The icing can be any color you want it to be, divide it into two bowls for more marbled color options. Be careful not to over mix the food coloring or it will lose the marbled effect. Most of all, it’s a fun project for the kids and an easy clean up as well. My biggest tip not mentioned in the recipe is you need to sift the powdered sugar for the icing or you will have white little lumps hanging out uninvited on your cookies. It’s an unnecessary eye sore on a beautiful marbled cookie, and such an easy fix. The dough does require an hour of chilling so take that time into account, but it is delicious and one bowl only needed to mix. I would also recommend subtracting at least half a cup less sugar from the dough too.

Rainbow Cookies / Seven Layer Cookies

Baking level: Adventure

These cookies remind me of my childhood. And still to this day, they hold a big place in my cookie heart. Making them is a process, thus considered a baking adventure. It takes 2 days but most of that time is inactive time. I will be making these for the final night of Hanukkah. I am even considering changing the colors to blue and white too. I always look at a couple of different recipes, but thankfully a client showed me this one and I like it the best. Her recipes work as well. She gives great tips, and we learn from her mistakes. Cutting them into squares is a challenge and all the comments (always read the comments!) on the other recipes I read made a note of that challenge, but she has the solution. Freeze them and cut while frozen. This ensures the chocolate layer doesn’t crack and the spongy/jammy layers don't smoosh. Brilliant!

Meyer Lemon Crepe Cake

Baking level: Choose your own adventure!

I made this for Mother’s Day one year and again for Christmas. It’s a very special dessert that is actually quite easy but labor intensive, thus making it an adventure recipe. Making the crepes alone will take an hour. But you can choose your own adventure and make it easier by buying already made lemon curd, that takes a good couple miles out of the fun if you don’t have the time. The candied lemons on top are an easy must and quite magical.

Enjoy your holiday season! The last two Movers of the year will be called Throw Your Hands up in the Air! Not only to celebrate with jubilation this crazy year coming to a close, but we will explore arms overhead mechanics. FUN!!!