The Holiday season is upon us, and it's time to think about gifts and treats. Maybe you automatically think about the food and desserts you made last year… it's the simplest thing to make again. What about trying something different that is just as easy and special?

Keep reading for a few dessert ideas for the holidays to try out this year below.  

German Apple Cake 

In many respects, Christmas originates in Germany; there is the classic story of St Nicolas, the tradition of Christmas trees, plenty of Christmas carols, and of course, the traditional baking. German apple cake is a firm part of the German Christmas tradition, and it can be for you too. 

To make a German apple cake, you will need 2 dessert apples,1 tbsp lemon juice, 125 g butter, 140 g castor sugar, 3 eggs, 225g plain flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 5 tbsp milk. Cut the apples and mix a batter. Place the apples on top and bake for 45 mins at 170 degrees C. 

Gingerbread Men 

Whether you want to entertain a seasonal guest or treat yourself after a long day at the office, gingerbread men are a welcome addition to your kitchen cupboards. Gingerbread men are super easy to make and taste delicious - why not make a batch on the weekend for a change. 

If you want to make a batch of gingerbread men this year, you will need some ingredients: these include 225g flour, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp cinnamon,50g  butter, 100g sugar, and 100g golden syrup. Heat the oven to 19 degrees C and bake the men for around 15 mins. 

Mince Pie Brownies 

These days you need to mix the classics with something new to keep them interesting, and that's certainly the case with mince pie brownies. This festive treat gives you the best of both worlds by combining the classic mince pie flavor with the brownie form to make a hybrid sweet. 

The ingredients you will need for mince pie brownies include 185g chocolate, 185g butter, 3 eggs, 275g sugar, 85g flour, and mincemeat. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C and begin mixing the ingredients together, the brownie and filling are made separately. Bake for 25 mins.

The Snickerdoodle Cookie 

Once again, you need something original these days to keep people's interest; in this regard, the snickerdoodle delivers on all fronts. The snickerdoodle is a new-ish invention that combines the delicious flavors of the classic chocolate bar with the form of a cookie; what's not to love? 

You will love this snickerdoodle cookie recipe! To make it you need 230g butter, 1tsp baking powder, 267g sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp salt, 375g flour, and 2 tsp vanilla extract. Mix the base ingredients together and roll into balls, then flatten the balls and bake. Bake at 190 degrees C for 10 minutes. 

Chocolate Eclairs

"Eclair" comes from the French meaning "disappears like lightning," that's because eclairs are so delicious they don't stick around for long. Eclairs are loved the world over as a decadent sweet after meals, but they also make an excellent addition to the Christmas dinner table. 

The good news is that it's not as difficult as you think to make a chocolate eclair. First, gather the ingredients together; you need 140g flour, a pinch of sugar, 125ml milk, 100g butter, and 4 eggs. Mix the ingredients to make a light batter and bake. Bake at 225 degrees C for 25 mins.

Oreo Balls 

Oreo Balls are another exciting addition to the modern Christmas menu; they combine the world's favorite biscuit with a cookie to make a festive treat that is sure to become a seasonal classic. If you love Oreos and you love to treat yourself with cookies and hot drinks, think Oreo. 

To make Oreo Balls, you're going to need a bar of chocolate, a bag of candy melts, some cream cheese, and a bag of Oreo cookies. First, put the Oreo cookies in your food processor, then combine the crumbs with the cream cheese. Now, make balls out of the mix cool for 25 mins.

Homemade Mince Pies  

Maybe you've had enough of the new-fangled Christmas treat and want something a bit more traditional instead, cue homemade mince pies. These Christmas favorites are the perfect treat to have in the evening or on Christmas morning, and it makes a difference if they're homemade. 

If you want to make delicious mince pies this Christmas, you will need 1 jar of mincemeat, 2 satsumas, 1 apple,1 lemon, 125g sugar, 375g flour, 260g butter, and 1 egg. Mix the basic ingredients together and put them on a pie tray. Bake at 220 degrees C for 20 mins.

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