Christmas Baking Made Easy

AS THE END OF the year approaches, many people will be making preparations for Christmas.There are many traditions to enjoy, such as decorating a tree, buying presents, sending cards, and the singing of carols, but one of the world’s favourites is the baking of festive goodies such as cookies, puddings, and gingerbread houses.

While originally designed to be hung on the tree as decorations, Christmas cookies are now seen as treats to be consumed during the holidays and are often left out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Traditional festive cookies include shortbread and gingerbread, both of which are fun and easy for children to decorate.

Gingerbread has a long history and, though the origins are debatable, it is believed to have been bought to Europe from the Middle East by an Armenian monk in the late 10th century, before spreading throughout the world. Gingerbread houses became popular in Germany after the publication of the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, in which a gingerbread house was featured, and the practice of creating these edible houses subsequently spread to other parts of Europe, North America, and Australia.

No Christmas celebration would be complete without a Christmas pudding.Though these traditional desserts are often referred to as plum puddings, most modern recipes extend to include many other fruits. Sweet spices are an essential inclusion to develop the rich aroma, and some people even slip in small coins to bring wealth to the person who gets them. Often prepared weeks (if not months) in advance, the pudding is steamed for many hours and served hot, often in flaming alcohol, with custard, cream, or ice cream.

Eurochef stocks many fun cookie cutters and other items, including pudding steamers, to make Christmas baking a breeze, so why not pay them a visit? Mention this article and get 15% discount on selected items.

Merry Christmas from all the friendly staff at Eurochef!

Eurochef (M) Sdn Bhd; P-1-21,
Block P, Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas;
03.6201 8863

First published December, 2012