Any ideas for an elegant Christmas Dessert?

I am making an egg nog cheesecake and I have many different kinds of cookies, but I would like another dessert to offer as I am serving 18 people. The dinner is very elegant and I would like an elegant dessert to accompany. Any ideas?|||try making a chocolate cake then when it is done let it cool. then cut in half length wise so you have a place to put filling make a chocolate ganache and add peppermint flavoring and place that inbetween the two cake layers. Then make some more ganache and pour over top of the cake of a sleek finish.





ganache


1 pound bittesweet chocolate


1 cup heavy whipping cream


cut chocolate into pieces


place whipping cream in a pot on med-low heat until it starts to boil then pour over the chocolate let sit for 60 to 90 seconds then stir vigirously until the chocolate is melted you should have something that looks like runny chocolate. (you now have ganche which hardens as it sits) (does need to be fridged)|||You could made Tera Misu. It is an Italian dessert and is really yummy and since you can serve it in a trifle bowl, it looks wonderful.|||White chocolate creme brulee with fresh raspberries. Simple and elegant (and not too heavy!) ending to a formal meal that can be made in advance and baked in just a few minutes between courses.|||How about a pumpkin "dunk" Cake, very delicious not hard to make, and is very elegant, if you need to recipe let me know.|||Parfait. Best thing is you can make it days in advance. Take creme de menthe or other liquor. Put a little at the bottom of a white wine glass. layer with vanilla ice cream and put them in the freezer. I did a buffet dinner for 20 people and brought a dozen out on a tray as people were starting on desserts. It was a big hit. If I had done 20 I would have had some left over as not everyone likes alcohol or creme de menthe. My mother used to serve them at her dinner parties|||CHOCOLATE PRALINE LAYER CAKE





鈥?1/2 cup butter


鈥?1/4 cup whipping cream


鈥?1 cup brown sugar


鈥?3/4 cup chopped pecans


鈥?1 pkg. Devil鈥檚 food cake mix


鈥? 1/4 cup water


鈥?1/3 cup oil


鈥?3 eggs


鈥?1 3/4 cup whipping cream


鈥?1/4 cup powdered sugar


鈥?1/4 tsp vanilla


鈥?toasted pecans, choc curls for garnish





Combine butter, whipping cream and brown sugar. Cook over low hear until butter is melted, stirring, Pour into 2 8-9 in round pans. Sprinkle with chopped nuts. In bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs at low speed until moistened, then beat at high speed for two min. Spoon over pecan mixture.





BAKE 325潞F for 35-40 min. Cool 5 min. Remove, cool completely.





TOPPING: Beat cream to soft peaks. Blend in powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form.





ASSEMBLE: Place on plate praline side up. Spread 1/2 topping. Repeat with 2 cake. Garnish with whole pecans and chocolate curls.





--1988 Pillsbury Bake-Off Winner|||trifle|||You could make crepes or cannolis and fill them with different types of things from berries, chocolate, cream etc..|||make different kinds of truffles...you can roll them in different nuts or make all different flavors with liquer. set each of them in colored foil and I guarantee they are going to be a hit.|||I would do something for the chocolate lovers...of which I am one, haha....How about a plain dark chocolate cake served with raspberry sauce and raspberry liquor whipped cream? The BEST homemade chocolate cake I've ever had is on the back of the Hersheys cocoa powder box. To make it look fancy, you can put it in a bundt pan. Cook fresh or frozen raspberries in a small pan with a little water and enough sugar to taste for a fancy sauce to pour over the top before serving. Keep a few fresh raspberries on the side to garnish. A fancy crystal side dish of homemade raspberry liquor whipped cream...when making whipped cream, simply substitute the vanilla for the liquor...so your guests can add a dollop or two as they like. This is a really simple thing to make, and if you put it on a fancy cake pedestal, it looks elegant and festive at the same time! Hope this helps!!|||A REAL English, Sherry Trifle:


http://www.gourmet-food-revolution.com/E鈥?/a>