The newest season of The Great British Bake Off: Holiday Edition premiered this week, which means that our dreams will be filled with visions of beautiful festive pastries for the foreseeable future. And while not everyone has the culinary talent to pull off the bakes you see on TV, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a stunning showstopper holiday dessert for your festive gathering — you’ll just have to outsource to the experts. Here’s where to find festive treats that will look lovely on your holiday table.
Mile High Chocolate Pie from Livin’ the Pie Life
This Arlington bakery, run by two Arlington moms, specializes in decadent pies that make for great holiday desserts. Try the Mile-High Chocolate Pie for an impressive presence on the dessert table. The cold dessert comes topped with a heaping of fresh whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder atop the chocolate mousse and Oreo crust. It can be made regular or gluten-free. 2166 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington
Yule Logs from the Swiss Bakery
A yule log is a classic Christmas dessert that always impresses. The sweet, rolled cake is decorated with a layer of chocolate to imitate a real log. At The Swiss Bakery, you can try an Amaretto swirl version with vanilla cake, Amaretto syrup, raspberry preserves, and Amaretto buttercream. Or, try the dark chocolate version with rum syrup and chocolate buttercream. They’re even adorned with sweet holiday decorations. 5224 Port Royal Rd., Springfield
Cranberry Cheesecake from Cheesetique
A decadent cheesecake will always impress. Order from Cheesetique for a spin on the classic with a vibrant red cranberry swirl and an Oreo crust. It comes topped with fresh sugared cranberries for an extra special touch. 2411 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Pavlova Cake from Pastries by Randolph
For something delicate and sweet, go for a Pavlova cake. The base of this dessert is a light, fluffy meringue that’s topped with fresh whipped cream and an assortment of fruit. It’s a visually vibrant dessert fit for a special occasion. Order by December 19 for pickup on December 23 or 24. 4500 Cherry Hill Rd., Arlington
Creole Kringle Cake from Bayou Bakery
For a less-flashy dessert that still makes an impression, Bayou Bakery serves a Creole-style kringle cake. This Danish-style pastry comes with a layer of frosting and is filled with crumbled pralines and cream cheese. 1515 N. Courthouse Rd., Arlington
Croquembouche Christmas Tree from Pâtisserie Poupon
You’ll have to travel to Georgetown for this dessert, but it’s worth the drive. It’s a tower of caramel-dipped cream puffs, filled with vanilla pastry cream and meticulously arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree. It’s the kind of dessert that is almost too impressive to eat, and it will stun as a centerpiece to any holiday gathering. Just remember that it must be eaten the same day you pick it up. Orders for the week of Christmas must be placed by December 19. 1645 Wisconsin Ave., Washington, DC
Feature image courtesy Cheesetique
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