Christmas Cake

With exam season approaching quickly the atmosphere around campus will certainly change. More late-night study sessions, more practice assignments and tests and more stress. Its no big secret that exam season is the most stressful time of the year for university students. The good news is that once that stressful period passes, the holiday season officially begins. That's right, Christmas will soon be here with holiday lights, family gatherings and freshly baked treats becoming the norm. When it comes to Christmas treats, few things beat a fresh Christmas cake. From cheesecakes to carrot cake or even plain, old fashioned marble, whatever your preference is your bound to find it on the dinner table at Christmas time. Listed below are two Christmas cake recipes my family always uses during the holiday season 

Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake 

Ingredients ​​

  • 2 cups of chocolate cookie crumbs​​

  • 2 tablespoons of butter, melted ​​

  • 1/4 cup of packed brown sugar ​​

  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon ​​

  • 2 packages of cream cheese​​

  • 1 1/4 cups of white sugar ​​

  • 1/2 cup of whipping cream ​​

  • 2 tablespoons of white flour ​​

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ​​

  • 4 eggs ​​

  • 1 1/2 cups of chocolate cookie crumbs ​​

  • 2 cups of sour cream ​​

  • 1/4 cup of white sugar ​​

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ​​

  • 1 cup of whipping cream​​

  • 2 cups of chocolate chips ​​

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ​​

Directions ​​

Baking this cake is quite the task. However, the end result is priceless. When your finished baking this Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake you'll have the ultimate Christmas treat. Being made from scratch, makes it that much better! ​​

To begin combine the 2 cups of chocolate cookie crumbs with the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl. Firmly press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan. Bake this mixture at 350 F for five minutes. In a different large bowl beat the cream cheese together with the 1 1/4 cups of sugar, 1/2 of whipping cream, white four and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. This mixture should be smooth and creamy. Once the mixture has reached the desired texture begin to beat in each of the eggs one at a time. Then proceed to pour 1/3 of this batter into the prepared pan and top it with 1 1/2 cups of chocolate cookie crumbs. Bake at 350 F for 45 minutes and remove cake from the oven. Proceed to combine the sour cream, 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Spread this mixture evenly over the cake and continue to bake the cake for another 7 minutes. Following this, turn off the oven and leave the cake in there for 20 minutes. Meanwhile combine 1 cup of whipping cream and 2 cups of chocolate chips in a saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the chocolate chips melt, then stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Take the cheesecake out of the oven and pour this mixture over the cake. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 8 hours. Cut, serve and enjoy! ​​

Red Velvet Christmas Cake ​

Ingredients ​

  • 1/2 cup of shortening ​

  • 1 1/2 cups of white sugar ​

  • 2 eggs​

  • 2 tablespoons of cocoa​

  • 4 tablespoons of red food colouring ​

  • 1 teaspoon of salt ​

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ​

  • 1 cup of buttermilk ​

  • 2 1/2 cups of white flour ​

  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda ​

  • 5 tablespoons of white flour ​

  • 1 cup of milk ​

  • 1 cup of white sugar ​

  • 1 cup of butter ​

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract ​

Directions ​

Nothing says Christmas like a nice red cake with white icing. This red velvet Christmas cake will be that dessert everyone remembers. Don't be surprised if you get a few requests for the recipe. To start off preheat your oven to 350 F. Proceed to grease two 9-inch round pans with butter. Beat shortening and 1 1/2 cups of white sugar together in a large bowl. Once the mixture is light and smooth add in the eggs and beat well. Add in the cocoa and red food colouring. Mix in the salt, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 cup of buttermilk into the batter. Stir well. Then proceed to add the flour and baking soda gradually into the batter. Pour the cake batter into the two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 minutes and let the cakes cool. To make the icing combine the 5 tablespoons of flour and 1 cup of milk in a saucepan. Heat the mixture over low heat. Remove the pan from the heat and let the mixture cool. Once it is cool proceed to add in the sugar, butter and vanilla extract. Mix until the icing becomes light and smooth. Then proceed to icing the cake with a butter knife. Cut the cake into slices and enjoy with ice cream!  ​

For generations families have celebrated Christmas with a variety of cakes. From that abomination called fruit cake to fluffy red velvet cakes and creamy cheesecakes, Christmas cakes have become almost a must have at the dinner table. Although the main course of Christmas dinner is always great, its the dessert that takes the cake! ​