Do you need a great dessert for Christmas? This No Bake Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake is perfect. This makes a spectacular centrepiece, feeds at heaps of people and tastes delicious! I’m sure you’ve seen the Pandoro Christmas Tree before but with a filling (similar to my cannoli filling) of ricotta and mascarpone there is no cooking involved with this recipe and you can make it a day or two before. In fact, the flavour even improves after a couple of days!
The first thing you must do, if you haven’t already, is go out and buy yourself a Pandoro Classic. That’s the Italian Christmas cake with no filling or fruit just a beautiful, golden cake in the shape of a star. While you are shopping, pick up some good ricotta and mascarpone. I’m sure you will have chocolate and cinnamon in the house and maybe even some almonds and Amaretto. If you don’t have candied orange peel add in the finely grated zest of one orange. Then make sure you have some colourful fruits and sparkles to decorate and you are set to go. Finally, the best thing about this No Bake Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake (apart from the fact that it’s no bake!) is that it is best made in advance because the flavours meld and develop.
Did I tell you how easy this cake is to make and even adapt? While it does contain alcohol you can make a non-alcoholic version by brushing with some fruit juice instead. Orange juice would complement the flavours beautifully.
So, maybe this No Bake Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake will just become a tradition in your family for Christmas. Post a photo of your creation in the comments below. I’d love to see!
Baci,
Marcellina xx
A delicious No Bake dessert for Christmas that is spectacular to look at and delicious to eat. Using the Italian Christmas cake Pandoro and Ricotta and Mascarpone this cake is sure to please everyone!
- 1 35.20z Pandoro (1kg)
- 375 g /13.2oz smooth ricotta
- 250 g /8.8oz mascarpone
- 100 g /3.5oz dark chocolate finely chopped
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon candied orange peel finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons amaretto liqueur approx
- 60 g /2oz roasted almonds,finely chopped
- candied cherries blueberries and silver balls to decorate
- powdered sugar to dust
To prepare the filling, combine ricotta, mascarpone, powdered sugar, dark chocolate, orange peel and cinnamon in a medium bowl until well mixed.
- Pour amaretto into a small bowl.
- Remove Pandoro from packaging and slice horizontally into 6 even slices being careful to keep the slices in order.
- On a serving platter begin assembling by place the bottom and largest slice. Drizzle or brush some of the Amaretto over the cut surface of the Pandoro.
- Spread on some of the prepared filling. Sprinkle with finely chopped almonds.
- Place the next largest slice over the filling and nuts so that the points of the stars are staggered to create the effect of the Christmas tree.
Continue with the Amaretto, filling and nuts and repeat alternating the slices until the Christmas tree is complete. Be sure to leave about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of filling to decorate.
Using the leftover filling, either pipe or spoon blobs on the end of each tree "branch".
Decorate the "branches" with candied cherries, blueberries and silver balls.
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- if you have no candied orange peel use the finely grated zest of one orange
- substitute orange juice (or any fruit juice) for alcohol for a non-alcoholic version
- can be made 2 days in advance, wrapped well with plastic wrap and refrigerated
- leftover cake will keep for a couple of days if wrapped well in plastic and refrigerated
A veritable culinary work of art! And it actually sounds pretty easy to make.
Sadly, candied oranges are difficult to find around here. I’ve looked for them when I’ve wanted to make pastiera for Easter and have never managed….
Thank you Frank! Yes, it is very easy and delicious!. I too, have trouble finding candied oranges. I used some that I had bought while on holidays. That’s always my holiday momentos – food that I can’t find at home. Buon Natale!