Have a No-Bake Christmas

If you are running short on time but want to make an impression with your Christmas deserts and cakes here are some no-bake Christmas ideas.

Mini Christmas Puddings

This is a quick non-bake recipe which the kids enjoy helping with.  You crumble a store bought Christmas cake, add ingredients so that it stays in a ball shape and decorate with white chocolate and holly made from green and red jelly lollies..

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I vary this recipe. Instead of white chocolate I use white icing and, before adding this, I dip the balls into melted dark chocolate. Another variation, if your balls are firm enough, is to make cake pops by putting them onto lolly sticks.

Image: Beeveggie

Image: Beeveggie

Base

• Store bought dark fruit cake
• 1/3 cup orange juice (or brandy)
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup,honey or jam

Crumble the cake and add the other ingredients. Form into small balls.

Toppings

• White icing sugar
• Dark Chocolate Melts
• Red and Green Jelly lollies

Dip the balls into melted dark chocolate. Once the chocolate has set drizzle over with white icing. Decorate with red and green lollies to create the holly.

Strawberries

Strawberries and cream make realistic looking Santa hats and there are many cute looking cakes and desserts you can make with them.

Santa Hat Brownies

Here is a simple but seasonal method of decorating store bought slices. An alternative is to use the crumbled Christmas Cake idea from the Mini Christmas Puddings and use pastry cutters to create the shapes.

Source Punchbowl

Santa Strawberries

A simple but effective Christmas treat. Use low fat cream to reduce the effect on your waistline.

Image: from Bill lovethispic.com

 Strawberry Santa Christmas Cake

Fruit With A Difference

Fruit Salad Christmas Tree

This fruit on this Christmas Tree is added with toothpicks and a styrofoam cone. You can see the full instructions on the Ginger and Garlic blog

Christmas Cupcakes

Buy some plain cupcakes and use your imagination to decorate them. Here are some simple ideas.

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I hope that this has given you some inspiration for quickly preparing festive looking cakes and deserts.