Make holiday entertaining easy with these styling food hacks that look impressive but are simple to create. If you don't have time to bake a dessert but want to serve something that doesn't look store-bought, simply top it with berries, herbs, a sauce, or a holiday prop to give it a little something extra. We made a trip to Trader Joe’s and purchased most of these items, and after some simple assembling and minimal baking, we were able to create a beautiful, eye-catching holiday spread.
New York Cheesecake
This inexpensive cheesecake was purchased at Trader Joe’s but definitely needed a little something to make it look festive. Candied pecans (we made ours from scratch, but they can be purchased), fresh berries and mint sprigs added color, dimension and interest.
Holiday Charcuterie Board
Why not create a unique holiday charcuterie board in the shape of a Christmas tree or snowman. It looks impressive and was a quick assembly. For this look, a few trimmed evergreen clippings from the backyard served as a great edging for the board. With a variety of cheeses, berries, nuts and olives, this tasty display makes the perfect statement board. For an added touch, use a cookie cutter to add a cheese star to the top.
Double Chocolate Cake
If you don't have time to bake a cake but want your store-bought cake to look special, add berries and a holiday topper to give it that special flair. Fresh raspberries adorn the top of this cake, and to add cascading fresh berries down the side, toothpicks can be used to hold them in place. Not only is it simple and quick to do, but it turns into the perfect entertaining table centerpiece.