Okay, these aren’t quite sugar plums. They are some of my favorite holiday treats that I make and give as gifts. I wish I could share these with you; I’ll have to settle for a virtual cafe. Can you smell the coffee brewing and the fragrance of steeping tea bags?
These are French truffles (the history of the name “truffles” is interesting), which means they’re soft
I use note card boxes with clear lids for packaging them. Six truffles fit perfectly in most note card boxes. Use the highest quality ingredients when you make these — it’s worth it!ganache gently rolled in cocoa powder or nuts instead of the chocolate-coated varieties we find more often in the shops. Let’s just say they melt in your mouth — and they’ll melt in your hands if you don’t eat them quickly. Now that’s incentive!
I usually make speculaas, rosettes, springerle and walnut cookies. This year I returned to childhood favorites: palmiers (I added cinnamon to the sugar to bring a bit of holiday spice); sour-cream spritz; and raspberry, apricot and nut-filled kolaczki (pronounced ko-LAch-key) my grandmother used to make every year.
I’ve recently discovered these tiny gingerbread houses for setting on the rim of a tea cup or coffee mug. They’re on the list for next year’s treat-making day.
Bon appetit! Good friends, good drinks, good treats, let’s eat!
What are some of your favorite holiday treats?
