Holiday Treats Worth Preheating For

When the air gets chilly and the calendar starts screaming potlucks, parties, and people dropping by unannounced, it’s officially time for holiday treats. The kitchen becomes mission control, cinnamon takes over every surface, and suddenly everyone has an opinion about dessert.

Because during the holidays, baking isn’t just baking—it’s therapy, tradition, and a little chaos rolled into one. The oven finally gets used, cinnamon is suddenly everywhere, and no one remembers who started the mess—but everyone remembers who made the dessert.

These holiday treats are cozy, nostalgic, and slightly dramatic (as all good holiday things should be). Think rich Mexican chocolate fudge with a kick, polvorones that melt the second they hit your mouth, and candy cane–shaped churros that scream festive overachiever. Let’s get into it.

Mexican Chocolate Fudge That Brings the Drama

Ever bite into something sweet and immediately go, “Wait… what was THAT?” That’s this fudge. Rich, smooth, chocolatey, and packing just enough heat to keep things interesting, it’s the kind of holiday treat people hover around pretending not to take another piece.

Ingredients

• ½ lb semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
  
  
• ½ lb Mexican chocolate
  
  
• 3 tbsp butter
  
  
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  
  
• 2–3 tbsp brewed espresso
  
  
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  
  
• ⅛ tsp chili powder
  
  
• ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
  
  
• Sea salt
  
  
• Walnuts
  
  

How to Make the Best Mexican Chocolate Fudge

1. Spray and line an 8x8-inch pan; spray again.
   
   
2. Bring water (2 inches deep) to a simmer in a saucepan.
   
   
3. In a bowl larger than the saucepan, combine the chocolates, butter, condensed milk, and espresso.
   
   
4. Place the bowl over the saucepan without touching the water.
   
   
5. Stir frequently until silky smooth.
   
   
6. Add cinnamon, chili powder, and cayenne.
   
   
7. Pour into the pan and sprinkle with sea salt.
   
   
8. Chill 4 hours (overnight if you’ve got the patience).
   
   
9. Cut into squares and immediately regret not making two pans.
   

 

 

 

 

 

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Una publicación compartida de COCINA (@wearecocina)

Sweet, spicy, cozy, and unforgettable—this holiday treat is not here to play it safe.
Read the full recipe here: https://wearecocina.com/blog/mexican-chocolate-fudge

Polvorones: Holiday Treats That Disappear “Mysteriously”

You know these cookies. The kind that crumble softly, coat your fingers in sugar, and somehow vanish when you leave the room. Polvorones are classic holiday treats that feel like they’ve always existed—no notes, no updates needed.

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
  
  
• 1 cup butter
  
  
• 1 cup shortening
  
  
• 1½ cups sugar
  
  
• 1 tbsp almond extract
  
  

How to Make Them

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
   
   
2. Cream the butter and shortening until silky.
   
   
3. Add sugar and almond extract, mixing until your arm gets a workout.
   
   
4. Add flour gradually until the dough gets dense.
   
   
5. Shape the dough into balls or whatever festive shape you prefer.
   
   
6. Bake for 15–20 minutes until lightly golden.
   
   
7. Cool before eating—this is the hardest step.
   

These holiday treats are buttery, crumbly perfection—and yes, one is never enough.
Read the full recipe here: https://wearecocina.com/blog/polvorones

Candy Cane–Shaped Churros With Main-Character Energy

Were regular churros enough? Sure. But holidays are about doing the most. These candy cane–shaped churros are festive, crunchy, and exactly the kind of holiday treat people pull their phones out for before taking a bite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
  
  
• 2½ tbsp sugar
  
  
• ½ tbsp salt
  
  
• 3 tbsp oil
  
  
• 1 cup flour
  
  
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
  
  
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  
  
• Oil for frying
  
  
• Extra sugar + cinnamon
  
  

How to Make Them

1. Heat water with sugar, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla.
   
   
2. Mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
   
   
3. Pipe into candy-cane shapes and freeze for one hour.
   
   
4. Fry until golden—about a minute.
   
   
5. Coat in cinnamon-sugar like they’re ready for their close-up.
   
   

Crunchy outside, soft inside, and aggressively festive, these holiday treats do not disappoint.
Read the full recipe here: https://wearecocina.com/blog/candy-cane-shaped-churros

Holiday Treats That Make the Mess Worth It

Yes, the kitchen will be a little chaotic. Yes, there will be flour on the counter and sugar on your sleeves. But these holiday treats? Completely worth it.

They’re cozy, nostalgic, and made for sharing—whether that’s at a party, a family gathering, or straight from the pan while standing at the counter. Turn the oven on, lean into the season, and let the holiday treats do the rest.