5 Sweet Recipes to Spice Up Your Holiday Party

The holidays are a warm and festive time of year full of sweet treats, delicious holiday drinks and ugly sweater parties. It's the perfect time to put on your apron and turn into a master baker or chef.

Whether you are hosting a seasonal soiree or trying to bring a joyous gift to a friend or family members' holiday gathering, we have collected a list of recipes perfect for your celebration of the holiday season!

See also: 7 Festive Cocktails for the Holiday Season

White Chocolate & Peppermint Cakepops

This recipe was created by Andrea Correale, founder of Elegant Affairs Caterers. She's served delicious bites for Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel and others. Treat yourself like a celeb with these chocolate and mint cakepops.

Ingredients:

• 1 package yellow cake mix
• 1 cup water
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 package chocolate frosting
• Lollipop sticks
• 1 bag white chocolate candy melts
• Candy canes

Directions:

1. Beat cake mix, water, eggs and oil in a bowl using an electric mixer.
2. Bake in the preheated 350-degree oven for 28 to 33 minutes.
3. Cool completely.
4. Crumble cake into a large bowl, and add frosting into the cake.
5. Stir until mixture is sticky.
6. Chill in the refrigerator.
7. Roll cake mixture into 1½-inch balls and arrange on a baking sheet. Place 1 lollipop stick into each ball.
8. Melt chocolate and dip each cake pop in the melted chocolate.
9. Roll each cake pop in crushed candy canes.

Hudson Whiskey Apple Pie

There is nothing like making a pie from scratch to get you in the holiday spirit. This apple pie has an unusual ingredient, but the whiskey really elevates the taste of the pie. This recipe comes courtesy of Hudson Whiskey in collaboration with The Bakery in Hudson Valley.

Ingredients:

Crust

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 12 oz unsalted butter
• 4 tablespoons Hudson Whiskey Cider Cask Rye
• 4 tablespoons cold water

Filling

• ⅔ cup water
• 6 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup Hudson Whiskey Short Stack Rye
• 1½ cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 teaspoons – Tuthilltown Basement Bitters
• 4 lb - apples (cored, peeled & sliced)

Directions:

Crust

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Sift together flour, salt and sugar.
3. Cut butter into flour and break up butter into pea-sized pieces.
4. Add whiskey and water, and work by hand just until it comes together. Add more liquid if needed, but it should be a dry dough. Do not overwork.
5. Wrap dough and refrigerate at least an hour, but overnight is best.

Filling

1. Whisk together water and cornstarch, and set aside.
2. Bring whiskey to a boil and reduce to ½ cup.
3. Add water, sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, butter and Tuthilltown Basement Bitter and bring back to a boil.
4. Whisk the cornstarch and water mixture into the boiling filling, and return to boil while whisking.
5. Add the apples and continue simmering a few minutes until apples soften slightly.
6. Allow to cool.
7. Divide the dough (around 8 to 12 oz each for top and bottom shell, depending on size of pie).
8. Roll out the dough and place in a greased pie plate.
9. Add the filling.
10. Roll out the top crust and the cover pie (or form lattice top).
11. Cut off excess crust and pinch to seal.
12. Cut a hole in top of the pie.
13. Bake in 350° preheated oven until crust is golden and filling begins to bubble.

Kombucha Cheesecake Bars

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This is cheesecake like you have never had it before! It's made from coconut milk and Kombucha, a fermented tea packed with health benefits. This recipe served eight and was created by the Dietly healthy snack subscription service.

Ingredients:

• 1 small can of coconut milk
• 1 cup of raw cashews
• ¾ can of Remedy raspberry lemonade kombucha
• 2 tbsp of maple syrup
• ⅛ cup of freeze dried raspberries
• 8 to 10 chocolate cookies (about 1½ cups)
• 3 tbsp of coconut oil melted

Directions:

1. Soak your cashews for more than six hours with Remedy raspberry lemonade kombucha.
2. Mix your cookie crumbles with coconut oil, and press over a lined baking dish (suitable for freezing).
3. Blend your cashews, kombucha and coconut milk.
4. Add your mix of coconut milk over the cookie base, and sprinkle with the dried raspberries.
5. Freeze overnight.
6. Remove from the freezer and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting your bars.

Spiced Pecans

These spiced pecans are a nice addition to any meal as a side or snack. This recipe is also courtesy of Elegant Affairs' Andrea Correale.

Ingredients:

• 2 organic egg whites, pastured
• 2 teaspoons water
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon unrefined sea salt
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1½ pounds raw pecan halves

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, and lightly oil the paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk egg whites with water and vanilla until very frothy.
• Add in the cinnamon, salt and date sugar.
• Add in the pecans, and toss with clean hands to coat.
• Pour the coated pecans over the parchment-lined baking sheets and spread into an even layer.
• Bake pecans for 1 hour and 10 minutes, stirring once after 30 minutes. Remove the nuts from the oven, and allow to cool and harden for 30 minutes.
• Transfer into small glass votives with a sprig of rosemary as garnish.

Champagne Macarons

It's just not the holidays until you have a glass of champagne. Add macarons for a splash of sweet, decorative fun. This is one of Correale's favorite tricks.

Ingredients:

• Macarons
• Champagne glasses
• Champagne

Directions:

• Add your favorite champagne to decorative champagne glasses, and place macarons on top.

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