Easy & Tasty Christmas Cakes

Christmas parties are filled with desserts of many kinds and Christmas cakes are a popular alternative that can be mixed up quickly. They can also be easily adapted to personal tastes. Look for store sales on boxed mixes and stock up when they're on sale.

An easy Christmas cake can be made with a boxed white cake, a box of red or green gelatin and a little creativity. Mix the cake mix according to package directions. Add the package of gelatin. You can use lime for green or cherry or strawberry for red - stir in and beat for about 3 minutes. Bake in a greased, floured tube cake pan for an hour at 350F. When removing from the oven, carefully turn onto a wire rack to cool. Make a glaze with ½ cup milk and 1 ½ cup sifted powdered sugar, drizzle over the cake while hot. You can leave the glaze white or use food coloring to contrast or match the color of your cake.

Many are trying to watch their intake, and strive to increase oatmeal consumption for health. An oatmeal cake helps that in a tasty way! Stir together a cup of quick oatmeal, 1 ¼ cups boiling water and a stick of butter until the butter melts. Allow this to cool then add two beaten eggs, stirring in well. Add a cup each of sugar and brown sugar, beating well again. In a separate bowl sift together 1 ½ cups flour, a teaspoon each baking soda and cinnamon and a half teaspoon salt. Add a teaspoon vanilla and combine the oatmeal mix with the flour mix. Grease and flour a 9x13 pan and pour the cake mix into the pan baking at 350F for about a half hour. While cake is baking combine ¾ cup brown sugar, ¾ cup chopped nuts, 6 tablespoons butter, ½ cup condensed milk and ½ cup coconut. Cream together and cook until thick being careful to not overcook. While cake is still hot pour the mixture over and place under the boiler until topping is bubbly.

Another very easy cake uses a yellow cake mix. Combine with 4 eggs, 2/3 cup oil ¼ cup milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla and an 8 ounce package of softened cream cheese. Beat 4 minutes at medium speed and add in a half cup finely chopped nuts. Grease and flour a 10" tube pan and pour the cake mixture into the pan, baking t 350F for 50-60 minutes or until done clear through. Cool and remove from pan. You can ice this or not, or serve with fruit or ice cream.

Christmas cake recipes don't need to be difficult to be tasty. Make it a homemade Christmas to remember this year!