Recipes Christmas Desserts

Cranberry Phyllo Baskets

Phyllo Baskets:

• 8 phyllo pastry sheets
• 20 tablespoons (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 6 tablespoons finely ground dry breadcrumbs

Cranberry Topping:

• 1 (12 ounce package cranberries
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 6 tablespoons water

Cream Cheese Filling

• 10 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 8 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 1/4 tablespoons grated lemon peel
• 2 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped toasted husked hazelnuts (or sliced almonds )

FOR BASKETS:
Place 1 phyllo sheet on work surface. (Cover remaining sheets with damp towel to prevent drying). Brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon breadcrumbs. Repeat with 3 more sheets. Do not sprinkle fourth sheet with breadcrumbs. Repeat entire process 1 more time for a total of 2 stacks of 4 sheets each. Mark off twenty 3 inch squares on each stack using ruler. Cut into squares using scissors or pizza cutter.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush 40 miniature muffin cups with remaining butter. Press 1 stacked phyllo square into each muffin cup, forming basket. Bake until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Transfer baskets to rack and cool to room temperature. (Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Store at room temperature)

Kahlua Black Russian Pie

• 1 c oreo cookie crumbs (app 14)
• 2 T butter, melted
• 24 marshmallows, large
• 1/2 c milk, cold
• 1/8 t salt
• 3 oz kahlua
• 1 c whipping cream
• 1 Baker's solid semi-sweet
• 1 chocolate for curls (optional)

Combine cookie crumbs and butter in and 8-inch pie pan. Mix well and press firmly in an even layer over bottom and sides of pan to form a crust. Place in freezer until firm. Meanwhile, melt marshmallows with milk and salt over hot water. Cool until mixture will mound on a spoon.Stir in Kahlua. Beat cream stiff and fold into marshmallow mixture. Chill about 30 minutes, until mixture holds ripples when stirred lightly. Turn into chilled cookie shell and freeze firm. Before serving, arrange a circle of chocolate curls in the center (optional) and cut into wedges.