12 Adorable Christmas Petit Fours To Make

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to spread cheer than with a delightful array of Christmas petit fours? These bite-sized treats are perfect for parties, gift exchanges, and festive gatherings. In this article, we'll delve into the world of Christmas petit fours, exploring the benefits of making your own, and providing you with 12 adorable recipes to try.

The benefits of making your own Christmas petit fours are numerous. Not only do they make for a thoughtful and personalized gift, but they also allow you to get creative with flavors, decorations, and presentation. Homemade petit fours are perfect for impressing friends and family, and they can be tailored to suit any dietary requirement or preference.

Benefits of Making Your Own Christmas Petit Fours

Making your own Christmas petit fours offers a range of benefits, from cost-effectiveness to customization. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider making your own:

• Cost-effective: Store-bought petit fours can be expensive, especially if you're looking for high-quality ingredients and unique flavor combinations. By making your own, you can save money and allocate it to other holiday expenses.
• Customization: With homemade petit fours, you can experiment with different flavors, decorations, and presentation styles to create truly unique treats.
• Personal touch: Homemade petit fours make for a thoughtful and personalized gift, perfect for friends, family, and coworkers.
• Dietary flexibility: By making your own petit fours, you can cater to specific dietary requirements, such as gluten-free, vegan, or sugar-free.

12 Adorable Christmas Petit Fours to Make

Now that we've explored the benefits of making your own Christmas petit fours, it's time to get baking! Here are 12 adorable recipes to try:

1. Snowflake Sugar Cookies

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Colored sugar or sprinkles for decoration

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into snowflake shapes using a cookie cutter. Decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles.

2. Cranberry Orange Bliss Bites

• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 1 cup orange marmalade
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix together cranberries and orange marmalade. In a separate bowl, beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Beat in vanilla extract. Gradually add cranberry mixture to cream cheese mixture. Stir in chopped nuts. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly golden.

3. Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Stars

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp shortening (optional)

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together flour and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into star shapes using a cookie cutter. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second increments. Dip shortbread stars into melted chocolate, using shortening if necessary.

4. Peppermint Bark Brownies

• 1 and 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8-inch square baking pan with butter. Line with parchment paper. Whisk together sugar, eggs, and cocoa powder. Beat in peppermint extract. Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second increments. Pour into prepared baking pan. Top with crushed candy canes. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs.

5. Gingerbread Men

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• Decorations of your choice

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into gingerbread men shapes using a cookie cutter. Decorate with icing, candies, and sprinkles.

6. Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

• 1 and 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 pounds cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup eggnog
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Whisk together graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Pour in melted butter and stir until combined. Press into prepared baking pan. Beat together cream cheese and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in eggnog and vanilla extract. Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until set.

7. Peppermint Mocha Cake Pops

• 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and eggs. Beat in peppermint extract. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Pour into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Crumb cake into a large bowl. Mix in crushed candy canes. Dip into melted chocolate and decorate with sprinkles.

8. Chocolate Yule Log

• 1 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and eggs. Beat in vanilla extract. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Pour into prepared jelly roll pan. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool. Spread with chocolate ganache and roll into a log shape.

9. Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Stir in white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. Drop by spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden.

10. Gingerbread Trifle

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Pour into prepared baking dish. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Allow to cool. Layer with heavy cream and whipped cream.

11. Peppermint Chocolate Dipped Oreos

• 1 package Oreos
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 1 cup crushed candy canes

Melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second increments. Stir in peppermint extract. Dip Oreos into melted chocolate, using a fork to coat completely. Tap off excess chocolate. Roll in crushed candy canes. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate until set.

12. Snowman Oreo Truffles

• 1 package Oreos
• 1 cup cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup black gel icing
• 1 cup orange gel icing
• 1 cup coconut flakes

Crush Oreos in a food processor. Mix with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Roll into balls. Melt semisweet chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second increments. Dip Oreo balls into melted chocolate, using a fork to coat completely. Tap off excess chocolate. Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave in 30-second increments. Drizzle over chocolate-covered Oreo balls. Use black gel icing to draw on eyes and mouth. Use orange gel icing to draw on nose. Roll in coconut flakes.

With these 12 adorable Christmas petit fours recipes, you'll be sure to impress friends and family this holiday season. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a beginner, these recipes are easy to follow and require minimal ingredients. So go ahead, get baking, and spread some holiday cheer!