|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| Deck the Halls
with Holiday Cakes |
 |
|
Mention "holiday cake" and most people
picture a dense, moist fruitcake studded
with sweet, dried fruits and nuts. This
version of Christmas cake is an old
English tradition that was carried to
the U.S. by the colonists.
A World of Delights
A variety of cakes from airy sponge
confections to luscious tortes are
featured prominently in traditional
holiday meals throughout the world. In
England, some cakes, including fruitcake
or steamed pudding, contain coins, rings
or other trinkets that are supposed to
bring good luck to the people who find
them. In Italy, cake layers are brushed
with Marsala wine then frosted with
ricotta cream cheese frosting. Walnuts
are plentiful in Poland and are used in
holiday tortes. Not surprisingly, cakes
in Brazil are flavoured with nuts and
coffee while Germans are partial to
gingerbread. In Denmark, desserts are
prepared with rasbody2bolderries frozen
from abundant summer crops. Jewish
families throughout the world celebrate
Hanukkah by serving cakes flavoured with
honey, orange and lemon.
Fit for a King
The French take holiday baking to its
highest level. The grand finale to
Christmas dinner is the Buche de Noel,
an elegant cake-roll filled with rich
chestnut puree then frosted and shaped
to resemble a yule log. On Twelfth
Night, the French festival marking the
end of the Christmas season, friends
share in the ritual cutting of the
Kings’ Cake. This decorative almond cake
is topped with a gold paper crown and
contains a bean. Whoever finds the bean
is crowned king or queen for the rest of
the celebration and can command all of
the guests to do his or her bidding.
This royal ritual is also practiced
during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Homegrown Traditions
Americans follow some of these foreign
traditions and have also developed a few
of their own. In the South, a popular
holiday cake is a Red Velvet Cake. This
delectable dessert is topped with cream
cheese or fluffy cooked vanilla butter
frosting. Also popular are white cakes
with coconut-dredged frostings that
resemble the snow Southerners rarely
see. The Southern pineapple-banana-pecan
version of fruitcake, called Hummingbird
Cake, can be found on many dessert
buffets. Midwesterners are likely to
serve a streusel-topped coffeecake for
Christmas breakfast or brunch while
residents of Northern California might
indulge in a dense, dark chocolate cake
after an elegant New Year’s Eve dinner.
Spice cakes pebbled with apples and nuts
are a New England favourite and Carrot
Cake smothered in smooth cream cheese
frosting is a hit in all fifty states.
Piece of Cake
Busy holiday bakers will find that cake
mixes provide a quick and easy way to
make spectacular holiday desserts. Check
the recipe section of the Duncan Hines
web site for cakes that are perfect for
holiday entertaining. Here are some
quick tips for adding a special seasonal
touch to your favourite cake mixes.
Brush warm cake layers with a favourite
spirit—such as brandy, rum, sherry,
Irish cream liqueur, coffee-flavoured
liqueur, and peppermint schnapps. Stir a
teaspoon or two of alcohol or liqueur
into ready-to-spread frosting. Soak
raisins and other dried fruit in brandy,
rum or whiskey then drain and add to
cake batter.
Spread cake layers with jam and garnish
frosted cake with fresh fruit. Spread
layers with nut butters and garnish
lavishly with nuts. And don’t forget
brownie mixes. As a special treat for an
after-caroling or trim-a-tree party, top
brownies with scoops of peppermint ice
cream and drizzle with hot fudge sauce.
With a little added attention, any
dessert can be transformed into a
holiday masterpiece. Establish your own
holiday traditions with desserts that
are a joy to make and share with family
and friends.
Thanks for dropping into Kitchen
Secrets. We hope that you enjoyed this
month's feature on Holiday Cakes. For
mouth-watering cakes, holiday treats and
even more tips, please use our Recipe
Finder at the top of the page. And
remember to visit us next month. We'll
be letting you in on little known
Kitchen Secrets about another featured
ingredient.
Happy Holidays! |
|
|
|
 |
|
