Last Minute Christmas Shopping (Part 2): Holiday Sweets

I only tried some of the decorative shortbread cookies (pictured above) and they were tasty and quite cute. I should add, though, that their yule log (pictured at beginning of report) is the coolest looking one I’ve seen this year.

Traditional Yule Log: Vanilla genoise rolled with chocolate ganache, whipped cream, frosted with chocolate buttercream. Festively decorated with meringue mushrooms, chocolate holly leaves, candied cranberries. Serves 12-15. $40.

Flourless Chocolate Yule Log: Flourless chocolate cake rolled with whipped cream, frosted with coffee buttercream. Festively decorated with meringue mushrooms, chocolate holly leaves, candied cranberries. Serves 12-15. $40.

Gingerbread Roulade: Spicy gingerbread genoise rolled with a mascarpone mousse, festively decorated with gingerbread stars. Serves 12-15. $32.

Harvest Torta: A rustic deep dish tart filled with vanilla pastry cream, pears, apples, and cranberries, topped with a ginger crumb. 9″ serves 8-12. $25.

Seasonal Pies: Our pies are loaded with local fruits and berries and encased with our all butter flaky crust. Spicy Pumpkin Pie – $14.50. Double Crusted Apple – $17.50. Double Crusted Pear Raspberry – $17.50.

Holiday Treats: Hazelnut crusted caramel and chocolate Caramelized pecan. 6″ serves 4 – $10. 9″ serves 8-12 – $25.

Savory Butternut Squash Galette: Roasted squash, leeks, gruyere cheese and thyme make this a great pastry for an appetizer or an elegant meal. 9.5″ serves 8-12. $20.

Holiday Bundts: Try our moist orange glazed spicy gingerbread or brandy glazed eggnog cake. 7″ $10.

Stollen: Lightly spiced and sweetened yeasted German specialty is laden with brandy soaked golden raisins and cranberries, candied citrus peel and almonds. After baking each is glazed with butter and showered with sugar. 1.25 lb $12.

Holiday Cookies: Seasonal selections include rugelach, gingerbread snowflakes, Italian fig, chocolate and peppermint cream sandwich, decorated holiday cut-outs, hazelnut and pecan clouds and peppermint meringues. Individually priced.

I tried the stollen, which was moist, fragrant, and delicious, and the eggnog cheesecake (pictured above) which was very light and creamy and tasted exactly like eggnog. Not on this list is also a quince danish, which was tasty. I love that Criollo is using quince, a great winter flavoring. I don’t know if it truly counts as a holiday item, but they also had a persimmon “fritter”, which looked great. Criollo also has a variety of shortbread cookies.

Pecan Pie with browned butter and Bourbon pecan filling. $22.

Caramel Vanilla Bean Tart with bittersweet chocolate glaze. $30.

Apple & Quince Tart with poached quince, tart apples, & lattice crust. $30.

Pear & Almond Galette with a cornmeal crust and almond frangipane. $30.

Marjolaine hazelnut meringue, chocolate ganache & praline buttercream. $32.

Guiness Stout Gingerbread soaked in ginger syrup for extra gingery goodness! $18.

Mocha Marble Cheesecake with chocolate crumb crust. $32.

Eggnog Cheesecake with walnut crumb crust. $32.

Chocolate Peppermint Cake chocolate buttermilk cake with peppermint cream cheese frosting. $42.

Stollen with almond paste, dried cherries, orange and cardamon. $17.50.

Mel’s Spiced Nuts hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, peanuts & pecans. $8.99.

Presentation can be a little homestyle but most everything I’ve tasted from Di Prima has been delicious. Not on the menu were colorfully frosted cookies (pictured above) and pomegranate mascarpone tarts. I tried the cucidati which looked…quaint, but were actually yummy, fragrant with holiday spices and sweet with figs.

Holiday Cakes

Cake Sizes/Prices: 7″: $21, 9″: $35, 10″, $45, 12″: $59, 1/4 Sheet: $48, 1/2 Sheet: $95, Whole Sheet: $210

Cannoli Cream Cake (Cassata): Orange sponge cake (or chocolate cake) in three layers soaked in orange liqueur and filled with sweetened ricotta, covered in whipped cream and dotted with candied cherry and pistachios.

Chocolate Espresso Fudge Cake: Rich chocolate cake with espresso ganache and chocolate espresso buttercream.

Italian Alpine Cake: Four layers of white sponge cake soaked with maraschino liquor, layered with mascarpone cream, iced with white buttercream and dusted with shards of white chocolate.

Lemon Heaven: Sponge cake soaked in Limoncello liqueur and layered with our fresh lemon curd, iced with lemon buttercream.

Chocolate Flourless Torte: Decadent fudge-like cake of simply chocolate, eggs, and butter, topped with white chocolate shavings or chocolate glaze 7″: $15, 9″: $25, 10″: $35.

Chocolate Ricotta Souffle: Hazelnut and almond sponge cake layered with light ricotta cream and orange liqueur all encased in molded chocolate. 7″ only: $48.

Panforte di Siena: Very rich traditional holiday torte originating in Siena with honey, cinnamon, cloves, and other spices, nuts, and candied fruit. 7″ only: $25.

Rum Cake: A moist cake soaked in rum with a rum glaze (bundt cake) or layered with custard and whipped cream. 1″: $1.50, 3″ $3.50, 6″: $5, 9″: $12.

Strudel di Mele: Apple strudel Italian style with thin pastry around a sweet apple, raisin, and pine nut filling. Individual: $4, 12″: $15.

Tiramisu: Classic chocolate sponge cake drenched in amaretto and espresso and layered with mascarpone flavored with rum and garnished with chocolate. (Ladyfingers also available.) 1/6 Sheet: $45, 1/2 Sheet: $125.

Holiday Biscotti & Specialties

Cucidati: fig and spice cookies. $.75.

Florentines: candied fruit, nuts, and chocolate cookies. $1.50.

Mostaciolli Baresi: spice cookies. $1.25.

Pizelle: anise wafers. $5.50/packet of 6.

Cheesecakes: Lemon swirl or Italian ricotta (anise, orange, or chocolate chip). 7″: $15, 9″: $27, 10″: $37, 12″: $55.

Tarts: Lemon Curd & Pine Nut Tart, Orange Custard; Poached Pear with Cornmeal Crust. 3″: $3.75, 9″: $18, 10″: $25.

Pastries: Cannoli, $1.75/$3.25. Pasta Bigne, $4.25. Pasta Ciotta, $3. Sfogliatelle, $3.95.

Holiday Breads

Pandoro: Called “Golden Bread” because of the many eggs in the recipe, it’s ultra light in texture taking many hours to prepare, and it’s buttery on the tongue as it melts in your mouth. $20.

Panettone: Called “Big Bread” or “Tony’s Bread” this raisin and fruit studded bread takes more than 12 hours to prepare and is worth every second! $4.50 small/$15 large.

1936 N Killingsworth St
Portland, OR
503.283.5936

I’ve tried two holiday items from Grand Central, the fig rugelach and and the gingerbread cupcakes, which, along with the chocolate ganache cupcakes (each $1.95, pictured above) are not listed on their holiday menu. The former has a gingerbread muffin with sour cream frosting and candied ginger and is delicious. The latter has chocolate with chocolate frosting and crushed candy canes.

Holiday Cookies

Enjoy a “Grand Central Baker’s Dozen” and get 2 free cookies when you buy twelve!

Snowflake Shortbread: These buttery shortbread snowflakes shimmer with crystal sugar and royal icing. $1.95 each.

Fig Rugelach: Our holiday twist on this traditional Jewish cookie features flaky cream cheese dough filled with orange zest, Black Mission and Calmyrna figs. $1.50.

Speculaas Stars: Spicy Dutch stars dusted with powdered sugar. $.75.

Vanilla Crescents: Rich almond shortbread formed into a Viennese crescent and dusted with powdered sugar. $1.25.

Double Chocolate Mint Cookies: Minty chocolate ganache sandwiched between dark chocolate shortbread. $1.50.

Holiday Cookie Gift Bags

Packed in a cellophane bag and tied with a festive tag these gift bags make a perfect gift or stocking stuffer.

Snowflake Shortbread: Pack of 4 for $6.95.

Fig Rugelach: Pack of 4 for $5.50.

Orange Nutmeg Shortbread: Pack of 7 for $5.50.

Holiday Bread

Panettone: Our traditional Panettone is leavened naturally with a wild yeast starter and developed slowly over days. Panettone is flavored with plump raisins, candied citrus, and vanilla. $10.95.

Pumpernickel: A dense, rich traditional German loaf made with dark rye flour and molasses. Perfect for party platters. $2.60.

Traditional Pies

Our flaky all-butter crust and careful hand forming makes Grand Central pie a holiday classic. All pies serve 6-8 and will hold for up to 4 days covered at room temperature. We recommend refreshing your holiday pie in a 350-degree oven for 15 minutes before serving.

Pumpkin Pie: All-butter crust, filled with rich pumpkin custard. $12.95.

Bourbon Pecan Pie: Sweet filling and mammoth pecan halves with a touch of bourbon. $14.95.

Apple Pie: Filled with Willamette Valley Honey Crisp, Jonagold, and Braeburn apples. $13.95.

2230 SE Hawthorne Blvd
Portland, OR
503.232.0575

3425 SW Multnomah Blvd
Portland, OR
503.977.2024

7987 SE 13th Ave
Portland, OR
503.546.3036

1444 NE Weidler St
Portland, OR
503.288.1614

Orange & Cranberry Cheesecake Tart

I’ve only tried the orange and cranberry cheesecake, studded with cranberries and topped with candied orange peel. It has a wonderful glazed shell and a perfect blend of flavors.

Pannetone, holiday bread with bourbon-soaked small fruits. If you’ve never had one of these, they are wonderful and last for weeks. Great toasted. $14.95.

Bouche de Noel, with Chocolate-Grand Marnier mousse, $34.95 (December 21 – 24 only).

Chocolate Advent Cake with a layer of raspberry purée (wreath-shaped with 4 red candles), $24.95

Orange & Cranberry Cheesecake Tart, $24.95. This is a light tart au fromage, with holiday flavors inspired by our new pastry chef, Randy Dorkin.

Pain au Fruits (French Fruit Cake), $14.95. This loaf-sized fruit cake is the first fruit cake I’ve ever enjoyed eating. It’s not heavy. Just delicious!

Poached Pear Tart, 9”, $23.95: pears poached in wine with spices, in almond cream base

Pecan Tart, 9”, $23.95: yum! A light layer of Valrhona chocolate, topped with lots of good pecan flavor.

Normandy Apple Tart, 9”, $21.95: apple tart with almond cream & apple brandy

Caramel-Nut Tart

There was a huge line of people getting their ordered cakes and my wife was waiting, so I haven’t tried any of the holiday items. Except the caramel-nut tarts which is actually in their regular rotation and is one of my favorites. There’s no denying that their stuff is beautiful, though. Not on the menu were shortbread cookies decorated like ornaments. They were some of the most elegant of any I’ve seen.

Croquembouche: French macaroons in a topiary form sitting atop an 8″ cake. Chocolate macaroons with triple chocolate cake or pistachio macaroons with Sicilian cassata cake.

Buche de Noel: Chocolate genoise filled with a light chocolate and Grand Marnier mousse. Decorated with Valrhona chocolate ganache, meringue mushrooms, and chocolate curls. Small $40.50, Large $76.50.

Pumpkin-Gingerbread Torte: A perfectly moist pumpkin-gingerbread cake filled with a maple-mascarpone mousse, iced with sweetened creme chantilly, and decorated to festive perfection. 9″ $40.50.

Cranberry-Nut Tart: Plump red cranberries, toasted walnuts, dried currants, and orange zest coated with a red currant glaze. Served in a golden brown walnut pastry shell and finished with sweetened creme chantilly. This tart will turn the tartest “Scrooge” sweet. 12″ $40.50.

White Chocolate Macadamia Cheesecake: A light and creamy New York style cheesecake spiked with white chocolate and crunchy macadamia nuts. Finished with creme-fraiche, crispy macadamia-coconut streusel. Decorated for the holidays. 10″ $40.50.

Caramel-Nut Tart: Chewy caramel coats perfectly toasted walnuts and pecans to create a flavor explosion. Served in a golden walnut pastry shell and finished with a chocolate ganache border. 12″ $40.50.

701 NW 23rd Ave
Portland, OR
503.228.7317

5829 SE Milwaukie Ave
Portland, OR
503.232.9440

Sicilian Buche de Noel

I’ve tasted all the petit fours, of course, and have a weakness for the delectable Opera. But I’ve also tried the croquembuche, which is good, and the Sicilian buche de noel, which was rich and creamy and nicely balanced by the cherries. Probably the most elegant buche de noel you’re going to find.

Croquembuche Holiday Tree: A 17″ tower of cream puffs filled with Grand Marnier cream and covered in caramel. Finished with a nougatine star and shimmering gold leaf. If you chose, Pix will hide a bottle of Andrew Rich Gewurztraminer ice wine in the center. Limited quantities available each day, so order early! $70 or $85 w/ wine

Buche de Noel: Buche de Noel is the holiday cake in every French household. Traditionally they are made with a rolled sponge cake and buttercream. Some of the best shops offer creations with fresh fruits, mousse, or even ice cream. Choose from Traditional (coffee or hazelnut cream rolled in a chocolate flourless sponge cake to resember the yule log), Sicilian (canoli filling, kirsch cherries, chocolate mousse, and chocolate flourless sponge cake), and Praline (caramelized hazelnuts, chocolate mousse, praline crisp, almond cake, and almond daquoise). 9″ cake $38

Gateau du Roi: This “king cake” is traditionally served during Epiphany. Puff pastry encases an almond filling and a hidden ceramic charm. Find the charm and you are king for the day and get to don the crown. 8” cake $32

Petit Four Platter: A mix of our Opera, Chocolate Nougatine, La Framboise, and Pixie bar. Platter of 24…$34 Platter of 48…$60 Platter of 80… $100

Cocoa Chanel: Our very own hot cocoa mix with serious flavor…this is no Swiss Miss! Simply mix with hot milk. Gift bag $6

Chocolate Caramel Almond Truffles: Chocolate caramel ganache and crushed Marcona almonds rolled in 75% extrabitter chocolate, dusted with cocoa and kissed with gold dust. $15 per dz

3402 SE Division St
Portland, OR
503.232.4407

3901 N Williams Ave
Portland, OR
503.282.6539

Gingerbread Village

The holiday menu they gave me doesn’t have nearly all their offerings. For example, they had a tempting trio chocolate mousse cake decorated with a Santa on top. They also had a white chocolate mousse griottine decorated similarly. Cookies cut and colored to look like ornaments and wreaths of holly joined gingerbread houses in their case as well. I felt like I was in a bakery in the Alps.

Yule Log: Chocolate mousse, mocha, or lemon with whipped cream. Individual: $3.75, Small: $19.95, Medium: $22.95, Large: $29.95.

Raspberry Vanilla Mousse: Individual, $4.25.

White Chocolate Truffle Cake: Individual, $4.25.

Chocolate Vanilla Raspberry Cake: 8″, $24.95.

Christmas Cookies

Angel and Gingerbread Man: Ginger cookie with chocolate and raspberry filling. $1.50.

Christmas Tree, Snowman, Star: Vanilla cookies with caramel and chocolate filling. $1.50

Santa Bread: $14.95.

15964 Boones Ferry Rd
Lake Oswego, OR
503.635.4533

Buches de Noel

I only tried the pain de noel, an almost savory bread studded with candied fruits and nuts. Enjoyable, especially for those who do not want something overly sweet.

Buches de Noel

White Chocolate-Raspberry Jelly: A raspberry jelly roll genoise in a white chocolate butter cream. $26, $32, $40.

Coffee Mocha: A genoise cake soaked with fresh espresso syrup and rolled with a rich espresso mocha butter cream. $26, $32, $40.

Chocolate: A chocolate genoise cake soaked with chocolate syrup and rolled with a rich dark ganache butter cream. $26, $32, $40.

Chocolate Maison

Truffle au Chocolate: Dark chocolate ganache truffle rolled in cocoa powder. $24.50.

Orangette: Candied orange peel coated in dark chocolate. $24.50.

Praline Noisette: Hazelnut crunchy praline rolled in dark or milk chocolate with toasted bits of almonds. $24.50.

Tuiles aux Amandes: Toasted bits of almonds in dark or milk chocolate. $24.50.

Other

Pain de Noel: A traditional Christmas bread with candied fruits, citrus, and bits of almonds. $2.25, $6.95.

Candied Pecans: Crunchy pecan halves with a pinch of cinnamon. 8 oz, $12.50.

Galette des Rois: Light flaky puff pastry filled with frangipane, an almond flavored cream. The galette des rois is a very popular tradition in all French bakeries to celebrate the Epiphany. Eating the galette des rois at the beginning of January is an opportunity for families and friends to gather around the table. Insert the lucky charm in one of the slices and whoever finds the charm in their slice is the King or the Queen of the Day and is given the Golden Crown. $22.50, $30.