fbpx

Tips and Recipes for a Homemade Holiday

There’s something meaningful about taking time during the holidays to create items with your own hands. Whether it’s a bowl of cookie dough, a fancy drink, charcuterie board or a unique decoration, add some homemade festive cheer with these tips, recipes and inspiration.

The holidays are a great time to bring out the flour and bake some homemade treats. We asked Allison Sides, Owner of COBS Bread University District & Kingsland for her best tips and tricks for baking this season.

3 Baking Tips

  1. Give yourself time! Many treats can be made ahead of time and frozen, which takes some pressure off of you, and ensures you have access to delicious baked goods and holiday spirit all season long. A quick defrost and holiday plate will have you entertaining ready.
  2. Preheat your oven. Preheat your oven at the temperature you are planning on baking at for a minimum of 15 minutes. If you are baking multiple pans, consider preheating your oven 10-15 degrees hotter than your bake temperature to allow for the drop in temperature from opening the oven door while you load your baked goods. Be sure to keep an eye on your baking so it doesn’t burn!
  3. Leave perfection to the professionals. Have fun, have some laughs and don’t sweat the perfect outcome. Not all recipes are foolproof, so give yourself some holiday grace if your treats are less than magazine cover worth. We bet they’ll still taste amazing!

3 Baking Best Practices

  1. Follow the recipe. Baking is a science and cooking is art. Every ingredient plays a very specific role in baking. Let the ingredients do their jobs in the correct ratios so that science can create delicious magic!
  2. Be prepared! Set out all of your tools before you start. Think of your tools as part of your recipe. This includes everything you might need like mixing spoons, bowls, pans, parchment paper, etc. No one wants to be digging for a spatula when your hands are covered with raw dough.
  3. Clean as you go. There is nothing more deflating than staring at your gorgeous creations while out of the corner of your eye you see a mountain of mess that you have to conquer. Start with a sink full of warm soapy water and drop your used tools in as you go.

Bonus Tip:

If you want to maximize your holiday treat offerings without maxing out the bank or the clock, consider an exchange with friends. Gather your crew equipped with their own baking and do a swap! This is a great way to have a variety of treats over the holidays and connect with family and friends. 

If you still don’t feel ready to take on baking at home, stop by COBS Bread in U/D to take home their freshly made breads and pastries.

DIY Gift Wrappings

Wrapping and unwrapping gifts is a big part of the fun over the holidays! Instead of traditional patterned paper and bows, try some of these unique DIY gift wrapping options.

  1. Find reusable options. Go green! Use a tote bag, scarf, burlap or other items that can be reused. Think of the gift wrapping as an extra little present!
  2. Decorate your own wrapping paper. This wrapping option is a fun way to get the whole family involved, and make your gift even more personalized. Pick up some white or brown paper and some markers, stamps, tape, and other stationery and get creative. Find all the materials you need from the Staples on Retail Main Street in U/D.

Add a natural touch. Use dehydrated fruit slices, a berry branch, or wooden tags as part of your gift wrapping – they look beautiful and can easily be displayed as holiday decor, composted or reused.

Delectable Dessert and Fireside Sipper Recipes from Borough Bar + Grill

The holidays are the perfect time to cozy up inside with a delicious snack and a toasty beverage. Alejandro, the Chef de Cuisine of Borough Bar and Grill in U/D, has shared a trifecta of easy to make recipes that can be enjoyed on their own, or all together! 

Alejandro explained, “For a delectable dessert and fireside sipper (cold or hot!) we put together a classic crème brulee recipe with our spiced cookie, and our mulled red wine, which we are currently featuring at our bar.”

Levente Sarkozi’s Mulled Wine

2 x 750 ml fruity, young, inexpensive red wine

1 x 500ml orange Juice (or squeeze your own! We do!)

2 cinnamon sticks

2 star anise pods

1 tsp of allspice

1 tsp nutmeg

4 whole cloves

75g sugar

Combine all ingredients in a stainless steel pot, and bring up to a simmer, turn off and let the spices infuse for an hour, strain and serve either warm or chilled over ice.

Classic Crème Brulee

800g whipping cream

200g whole milk

1 vanilla bean

240g sugar

12 egg yolks

Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the milk and cream in a stainless steel pot. Bring to scald over medium heat, remove vanilla bean. Mix together sugar and egg yolks, and gently temper in the milk and cream by pouring in a little at a time into the yolk mixture and mixing completely before adding more until it is all mixed in. Divide evenly into ramekins about ¾ full, and place into a deep baking dish. Fill the baking dish with hot water ½ way up the ramekins and place into a preheated 325 F oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until the center is barely set and jiggles like jello. Place in a fridge for a minimum of 6 hours, top with extra sugar, and brulee with a small butane torch. Let the sugar fully cool before digging in!

Mini Cardamom Prinz

Step 1

219g sugar

288g soft butter

Step 2

75g egg yolks

½ tsp Vanilla extract

Step 3

350g flour

5g cardamom

2g salt

Cream together ingredients under step 1, add ingredients under step 2 to mixture, fold ingredients under step 3 in slowly to make a soft dough. Do not overwork. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 1 hour. Roll out ½ an inch thick and punch out into little 2 inch rounds. Bake at 350F for 8-10 min or until just brown on the edges.

For more culinary delights from Borough Bar + Grill, visit their restaurant along Retail Mail Street in U/D and experience their full menu. Enjoy half priced bottles of wine on Wednesdays (under $100), and a list of rotating seasonal features.

Decoration Inspiration at the U/D Discovery Centre

If you’re looking for some inspiration for your holiday decor, stop by the Discovery Centre in U/D to explore the Aly Velji tree installation. This Calgary designer has curated three unique tree decorating designs: Modern Moody, Floral Fantasy and Natural Nordic. Let us know which one is your favourite. 

This installation can be visited until December 21 at the Discovery Centre: 

4410 University Ave NW

Tue-Fri: 1-7 PM

Sat-Sun: 12-5M

We hope these tips and recipes inspire you during your time at home this holiday season! You can find all the ingredients you need on Retail Main Street in U/D, as well as plenty of shopping and dining options to get you holiday ready.


Join the Discussion

Comments are moderated before being posted. Your email address is required but will not be published.

Join our email list for more information and our newsletter.
I'm interested in learning more about:
Popular Keywords
Sneak Peek: A First Look at the New CHARCUT Restaurant at Alt Hotel University District
Unveiling Magna: Elevating Urban Living in University District with Jayman BUILT
Save the Date: U/D’s Free Winter Pop-Ups are Back
See All Blog Posts
2018 milestones, 2023, A year in review, active, Activity, Age-friendly community, Aging in place, Alberta, Alberta Children's Hospital, All ages, ALT Hotel, Alt Hotels, amenities, Ana Cummings, Analog Coffee, apartment rental, Aria, Artisan Pizza, Artist, August, August by Avi Urban, Avi Urban, Bakeries, baking tips, Balcony, Balcony Decor, BBQ, beard grooming, Bike routes, BILD Awards, Blaze Pizza, Bliss & Co. Cupcakes and Desserts, Block Party, blockbuster movie night, Bookstores, Bragg Creek, Breakfast, Brenda Stafford Foundation, Brenda Strafford Foundation, Brookfield Residential, Brunch, Bubble Tea, Bucket List, Budget, Budget conscious, Buiders, Building Industry and Land Development, Calgary, Calgary Activities, Calgary Art, Calgary bakeries, Calgary business, Calgary community, Calgary Drinks, Calgary events, Calgary Fitness, Calgary Hearing, Calgary LRT, Calgary Parks, Calgary Real Estate, Calgary restaurants, Calgary staycation, Calgary tourism, Calgary Trails, Calgary Transit, Calgary Women, Calypso's Green Taverna, Cambridge Manor, Canada, Canada Day, Canmore, Capella, Cartwright lighting & furniture, Celebration, centerpieces, Central Commons, Charcut, charity, cineplex, Classes, Cochrane, comfort food, Community, community festival, Community Living, condo life, condos, connections, contest, cookie baking, cookie recipes, cookies, cooking, cooking together, Copper Branch, Creative, Cuisine et Chateau, Curious Hair, Curious Salon, Date Ideas, Date night, Decor, Decor Shops, Decor Tips, Denim & Smith, Dental, dental care, design styles, Dining, Discovery Centre, DIY, DIY Skincare, Do-It-Yourself, dog park, Dogs, Downsize, downsizing, downsizing tips, Easter, Eco decor, eLearning, Entertainment, environment, Esquire by Truman, Euphoria Cafe, events, exercise, Explore, Fall, Fall Decor, fall design, family, family-run wineries, FAQ, Father's Day, Financial, fitness, fitness as we age, food, food waste, Freshii, Functional Fitness, Garden Maintenance, gardening, gift guide, giving back, golf, Green Calgary, Grey Cup, Group Germain Hotels, guide, Guide to Northwest Calgary, gym, hair grooming, Health, Healthy Eating, Healthy Foods, Hearing loss, Helen Youn, Higher Ground, Hillhurst Flea Market, hobbies, holiday, holiday activities, Holiday Budget, holiday memories, Holiday movies, holiday parties, holiday season, holiday traditions, holiday wines, home, Home Automation, home decor, Home Maintenance, home office, Home organization, Home Technology, homemade pizza, Homeowners, honey, hosting the holidays, housing, I Can for Kids, IBI Group, Ice Cream, Ice Cream Shops, Ice Rink, inclusive, Interior Design, Interior Design for your pets, Interior Design Tips, interior lighting, International Womens Day, Isolation, J.Webb Market Wines, James Robertson, Jayman BUILT, Kananaskis, Kananaskis Nordic Spa, keep kids entertained at home, kids learning, KonMari, Level Playing Field, Life at Maple, lighting, local, local business, local good, Love on Main Street, love your pet, Lunch, made in Calgary, Magna, making pizza, Making Pizza Pie, Maple, Maple by Truman, Marie Kondo, Market Wines, McKinley Burkart, meal prep, meals, mens grooming, mental health, mindful spaces, Monogram Coffee, Mother's Day Brunch, Movies at home, moving, multi-generational, National Ice Cream Month, Nature, New at UD, New homes, New Projects, New Resident, Night Market, Noble, North Calgary, North Hill Mall, North Pond, Northwest Bookstores, Northwest Calgary, Northwest Calgary Brunch, Northwest Commons Park, Northwest neighbour, Northwestival, nutrition tips, NW Calgary, OEB Breakfast Co., Office, Olympic Oval, online learning, oolong tea house, Orangetheory, Orangetheory Fitness, orangetheoryfitness, Organization, outdoors, Park n' Play Design, Parks, Partners, party hosting tips, Patio Decor, pet care, pet love, Pet Planet, Pets, Photography, pizza dough, pizza toppings, plant, plant care, play space, Playcore National Demonstration Site, playground, Press'd, Press'd Sandwich Shop, Programs, puppy love, Questions and Answers, rafting, Reading, real estate, recipes, redecorating, rent to own, rentals, restaurant, Retail, Retail Main Street, retailers, Rightsize, Rohit, Romance, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Rosé, Sandwich, Save-On-Foods, Scotiabank, screen time, seasonal maintenance, Secrets, senior health, Senior living, Seniors, sensory gadgets, shop local, single-level residences, Skating, Smaller space living, Smart Home, Smoothie bowl recipe, social media contest, Spark Joy, sparkling wine, Sports, Spring, Staples, Staycation, Summer Activities, Summer Bucket List, Summer Cocktails, Summer Drinks, Summer Food, summer getaways, Summer Mocktails, sustainability, sustainable design, table setting, tablescape, Tailgate Party, Tailgating, Thanksgiving, The IVY, The Space Reclaimers, things to do, tips, tourism calgary, townhome, townhome living, townhouse living, Trails in Northwest Calgary, travel, travel alberta, TREC Dental, Truman, Truman Homes, U/D, UCalgary, UD Life, UDLife, University District, University District Dental, University of Calgary, Urban Balcony, urban dog park, Urban Garden, Urban Patio Decor, Valentines Day, Vegan Cuisine, Vegan Food, Vendors, vermicomposting, Village Ice Cream, Volunteer, Volunteerism, Walking, West Campus Development Trust, Wilco Contractors, Wine, wine experience, Winefest, Winsport Zipline, winter, winter activities, winter festival, Winter Fitness, winter fun, winter memories, winter pet care, winter pet care tips, winter traditions, winter warm up, Winter workout, women grooming, Women Leaders, workouts, Yard, year in review, YYC Cycle, YYC Events, YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

Discover NW Calgary's most interesting places, people and things

Visit Our Channel

Looking for something to do in NW Calgary?

Check Out Our Event Calendar

The University District blog is a resource for Calgarians who want to live, work, play, visit or buy in the northwest. We will provide you with information, stories, news and a closer look at the things that matter so you can live a more inspired, active and connected life in NW Calgary at University District… Life works here.