Christmas is fast approaching and by this point most diets have gone out the window. There are so much Christmas cheer going around and the desserts are the perfect ending to a wonderful get together with friends and family.

What kind of desserts will you make? With thousands of recipes for Christmas Desserts it is so hard to choose the perfect one. However, I have managed to come up with ten wonderfully delicious recipes.

These are the Christmas deserts that most remind me of my childhood and create a warm and happy feeling inside that I love to share with everyone this time of year. As I get older and now have children of my own I realize how important it is to create memories of more then just loads of toys on Christmas. Christmas deserts are a great way to do this.

• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda 
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tbls ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

1.  Mix the flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl.
2. In a seperate bowl beat brown sugar, butter and egg until smooth.
3. Add molasses and vanilla and continue beating until light and fluffy.
4. Stir in flour one sup at a time blending until smooth. The dough should be firm, if it is not firm add 1/2 cup flour.
5. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide it in half.
6. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. The longer it is in the fridge the easier the dough will be to work with later.
7. Preheat oven to 350° F.
8. Place dough back on lightly floured surface and roll to about 1/8 inch thick.
9. Cut out your gingerbread men with a cookie cutter.
10. Place the gingerbread men onto a cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.
11. Bake for 12 minutes or until firm to touch.
12. Cool and decorate. 

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1/3 cup icing sugar
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup flour

1. Cream butter and incing sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add vanilla
3. Fold in the flour
4. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until nice and smooth.
5. Spray a cookie sheet with non stick spray.
6. Firmly press the dough into the pan.
7. Prick all over with a fork.
8. Cook at 325 F for 30 to 35 minutes

Let the shortbread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before removing from pan and cut it while it is still warm.

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 12 Tart shells

1. Cream together butter, sugar and vanilla.
2. Beat in egg and corn syrup.
3. Spoon raisins into tart shells
4. Pour in the filling, two-thirds full.
5. Bake in 375F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until lightly browned

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup butter
• 3 tsp. baking powder 
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla

1. cut butter, flour and baking powder together.
2. Cream eggs, sugar and vanilla in a seperate bowl.
3. Mix together all ingredients.
4. Drop by the spoonful on to cookies sheet.
5. Bake at 375F for 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Cool and enjoy.

• 1 bag of peanuts
• 1 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 3/4 tsp. salt

1. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt.
2. Cook until the sugar is melted.
3. Add in the raw peanuts.
4. Cook mixture, stirring constantly until the peanuts are light brown in color.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Stir in 1 tsp. baking soda.
7. Pour on a greased cookie sheet.
8. Cool and crack into pieces.