White cakes, Christmas cookies, classic candies…we all look forward to holiday sweets, and we want to use our kitchen time on the most delicious, most beautiful, popular Christmas dessert recipes. Whether you’re looking for after-dinner showstoppers or cookies to leave by the tree, these reader favorites will surely be a hit with the kids, adults, and Santa. Here are our most popular Christmas dessert recipes to enjoy this season.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Prepare the family because there’s a new recipe in town. This thick, buttery shortbread is topped with chocolate ganache and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and is ready for its holiday spotlight.
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Santa has never seen Christmas cookies so beautiful! This recipe is a labor of love that any guests will appreciate this season.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Digital Editor Mary Shannon Hodes and her mom make this classic layer cake every Christmas. A simple decoration of pecans is pretty and easy.
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
The reviews of this dreamy chocolate Bundt cake are glowing. “Super easy and so delicious!” wrote one reader who left the recipe five stars. “The chocolate glaze is utterly decadent. I’d give it 10 stars if I were allowed!”
Jessica Furniss
These bite-sized treats are ideal for transporting to any holiday party or cookie swap. Each ball is packed with rich chocolate cake with hints of coffee and peppermint and coated with a chocolate shell.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
Cookbook author Vallery Lomas grew up baking the December cover cake every holiday season with her mom. This time around, she got to develop the actual recipe! This beautiful red velvet cake is a labor of love and one that’s well worth it.
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
This traditional yule log cake is a photo-worthy affair. If you’re going to make it ahead of time, our Test Kitchen suggests swapping out the whipped cream filling for something that will hold up for longer, like buttercream frosting.
Butter Cookie Wreaths
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
We topped these precious wreath cookies with red candy sprinkles, but you could also dust them with powdered sugar for a snowy look.
Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This fun fudge flavor will be such a nice surprise for neighbors, teachers, and friends when gifted in a precious little Christmas tin!
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Giulietta Pinna; Food Styling: Ali Ramee
We reimagined Southern-favorite ambrosia salad as a dreamy cheesecake that’s a great make-ahead option for busy holiday hosts.
Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Layer cakes get all the attention during the holiday baking season, but these brownies are so much easier to serve to a crowd, and they’re just as festive.
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Our Test Kitchen gives three filling options for this coconut cake: Lemon Curd Filling, Cranberry Filling, or Whipped Chocolate Ganache Filling. Pick which one you think your family will enjoy most!
Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
Just like your favorite red velvet layer cake, this creamy cheesecake has a decadent cream cheese topping.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
The reviews for this recipe are simply incredible. “This is the BEST GINGERBREAD RECIPE I’ve encountered in the 50+ years I’ve been baking!” wrote one reader. “I will add that I’ve found several very good gingerbread recipes, but lost my “go to” and only found this because I thought looking on the internet was faster than searching through my extensive recipe files. Never been happier to have lost a recipe!”
Frederick Hardy II; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mat Gibilisco
Senior Producer Ivy Odom’s secret to her favorite pound cake is more about the method than the ingredients. Trust her on this: Start your pound cake in a cold oven instead of a preheated one.
Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
A wreath of rosemary, sugared cranberries, and orange slices make for a photo-worthy cake topper. You can add ground ginger, nutmeg, or cloves in with the cinnamon for a stronger spice cake flavor.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
We decorated these chocolate bars to mimic fun ugly Christmas sweaters, but you can let the kids decorate them however they please.
Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Cranberry and orange are a festive flavor pairing that was made for the holidays. Don’t skip the step of tossing the cranberries in flour before adding them to the batter—this ensures they won’t sink in the cake.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
This is one dessert that eggnog lovers have to make. Freezing the cake layers ahead of time makes frosting them much easier.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Add colorful sprinkles or decorative frosting to the top of these Red Velvet Brownies for an even more festive look.
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This festive holiday cake achieves perfect texture from baking in your cast-iron skillet. Wait until right before serving to dust the top with powdered sugar.
Dotdash Meredith
This towering cake is not for the faint of heart, but trust us when we say the work is worth the results! Everyone will be amazed at the presentation and the taste.
Molly Bolton
A moist Bundt cake is much more enjoyable than dry cookies, y’all! If you bake this cake in advance and store it in the fridge, let it come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before serving.
ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: GIULIETTA PINNA; FOOD STYLING: ALI RAMEE
Nothing looks prettier as a holiday centerpiece than a layered and colorful trifle. Store-bought angel food cake saves you time without sacrificing flavor.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Calling all bakers who like a challenge: Add this stunner to your holiday lineup. The gelée layer is an ode to our favorite retro Jell-O desserts of the past.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell
Bourbon balls are in many Southerners’ Christmas candy tins, so we dressed them up for a holiday dinner with a gorgeous chocolate ganache tart.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If cake decorating isn’t your best skill, bake a Bundt! This beauty has all the red velvet flavor you love, including a cream cheese glaze, without any frosting skills necessary.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
How pretty are these perfectly portioned pavlovas? (Say that five times fast.) This make-ahead dessert needs time to sit in the oven after baking, so don’t try to squeeze it in between other holiday dishes.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Old-fashioned gingerbread gets gussied up with a layer cake version that’s topped with an easy caramel frosting that doesn’t require a candy thermometer.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
Make this classic holiday treat even more shareable with these spiced pecan pie bars. With only 10 minutes of active time and 32 servings, this dessert is an easy way to get your pecan pie fix without the effort.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Much like a famous kitchenware store, you can make peppermint bark at home with just a handful of ingredients. Peppermint bark makes a great food gift or a quick and easy dessert you can sprinkle in cookie tins or dessert displays.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
At the holidays, there are people who loathe fruitcake—and there are the people who love them. They love them so much, they look forward to them all year and make multiple loaves. Once you try this recipe, you’ll understand why.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
We gave our classic Hummingbird Cake a holiday upgrade with the addition of cherries and named it after the special bird that many Southerners associate with the memory of loved ones. It’s a special cake, but it is incredibly easy.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
There’s nothing boring about vanilla, and this trifle is proof of that. Vanilla cake, vanilla custard, and whipped cream are perfect together in this holiday treat.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Instead of the more traditional chocolate, give your holiday yule log a snowy (vanilla) makeover. With vanilla buttercream frosting and custard, and adorable meringue mushrooms, this sweet cake will surely impress.
Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Simple and easy, peanut butter balls are wonderful amid other Christmas desserts. They can also be packaged up as a gift for others.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Don’t let the torch terrify you (you can also use your oven’s broiler). This really is an incredibly easy dessert—and it’s super impressive, so work up the courage to serve this at your holiday dinner.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
No holiday cookie tin is complete without rum balls, and this recipe comes straight from the Southern Living archives. Made with dark rum and bourbon, these Danish delicacies are for adults only
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Sugared cranberries and fresh citrus are the perfect combination, whether in this cake, muffins, or quick bread. And this cake is beautiful on a sidebar, amid all the other desserts.
Frederick Hardy II; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Ugly Christmas sweaters are an adorably unstylish holiday tradition, and this cake honors that in a delicious way. This red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting (and plenty of sprinkles!) is sure to impress your guests this holiday.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This pie’s creamy texture is reminiscent of a custard pie, but it’s a decadent and rich caramel filling instead.
Emily Laurae
Add a show-stopping Christmas cookie to your spread this year with these cream cheese cookies. The made with tangy cream cheese and nutty pecans, these are sure to catch the eyes of all your guests.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
These adorable cookies are a labor of love that will wow all of your guests at Christmas dinner. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this festive treat you’ll want to eat right off the cookie sheet.
Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
If you’re up for a baking challenge this holiday, give this Battenberg cake a whirl. This classic British cake features an almond-laced sponge held together with jam and covered in marzipan. When cut, you’ll see a stunning check pattern.
Southern Living
Every holiday season, Southerners look forward to the Christmas-inspired Little Debbie’s to hit the shelves. Make them even better by using this recipe for the homemade version of these treats.
What better way to show your appreciation for friends and family than by giving packages of these delicious holiday confections? For best results, make your divinity on a dry, cool day.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
It’s Christmas, so let’s not skimp on the buttercream or the sprinkles, please! If you give someone a box of these amazing cookies, you’ll have a friend for life.
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Bake the cake a couple of days ahead, wrap it tightly, and then add the glaze on Christmas morning. Enjoy this special breakfast treat with the family while unwrapping your gifts.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Kitchen sink cookies can come in a multitude of flavors, but we think that Santa (wink, wink) will absolutely love this cheerful version with his big glass of milk.
Jim Franco
The iced snowflake on top might be the showstopper, but it’s the decadent chocolate flavor that will have people coming back for more.
Southern Living
Simple enough for even the littlest hands to make, these charmers are perfect for a kids’ Christmas party. Save a few for Santa.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
Billowy Italian meringue frosting and moist devil’s food cake make this peppermint-accented knockout fun to serve and eat.
Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy
Colorful, full of marshmallows, and no baking required—sounds like the perfect Christmas cookie to make with little ones. These take a few hours in the refrigerator to firm up, so plan accordingly.
Courtney West
One of our most popular cake recipes of all time, the seasonal flavors and dramatic filling color in this showstopper make it a true classic.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Whether you want to relive childhood memories or start a new tradition with your own kids, these wreath cookies are so much fun to make.
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
What could be prettier at Christmas than a coconut cake? Readers say this version is fluffy, flavorful, and simply lovely.
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ
There’s nothing like serving elegant individual desserts to make your guests feel special. And when they put their fork in the red velvet cake and discover the melted chocolate, it’s like finding an extra present under the tree.
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett
Snow might not be in the forecast for December 25, but we’ll gladly take our White Christmas in the form of a sweet treat covered in powdered sugar.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Kelly
Break away from the red and green with this surprise holiday hue: pretty pink. The secret to the delicate color is freeze-dried strawberries.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Rich and creamy, colorful, and studded with cherries and nuts: old-time favorite Millionaire Pie (which was born in the South) looks like a retro Christmas ornament and tastes divine.
Will Dickey; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee
Think of these ultra-rich gems as brownies dressed as cookies. Made without flour, a batch of these takes only one bowl and 15 minutes to prepare.
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox
A snowy white cake is the perfect ending to any holiday dinner. We topped this one with cute cookies and rosemary trees to create a scenic setting.
Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
A layered dessert just looks holiday-special. You can make and chill these elegant cakes a day ahead.
Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
A fun centerpiece cake makes everyone happy. Creative decorating ideas make this Christmas tree a tasty and charming dessert that will have everyone cheering.
Hannah Zimmerman
Pecan pie but make it handheld! We love these bars as food gifts or on a tray of cookies.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Every cookie tin should have some spritz cookies inside. They are tender, sparkly, and oh-so-simple.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell
This one has it all: silky-smooth cheesecake, delectable pralines, and a boozy note of bourbon. It’s an elegant dessert that’s a nice change-up from holiday chocolate.
Katie Strasberg Rousso
When you need a straight-up, no-fail chocolate winner for your cookie tray, go with these.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Nothing can beat a Bundt cake for tenderness and richness, and this Christmas version is extra-special because it tastes like everyone’s favorite holiday sip. It’s delicious fresh out of the oven, and even tastier the next day.
Jennifer Davick
Great things come in small packages. These pecan pie bites are small but full of flavor and just the right size for pass-along party desserts.
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
It’s at once comforting and extra-special: a caramel layer cake brings back memories and helps your family create new ones.
Caitlin Bensel
We’ve captured all the flavor of a decadent treat in a two-bite delight. Put a platter of these beauties out at the neighborhood cookie exchange and watch them disappear.
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Who doesn’t need more coffee during the whirl of the holiday season? These unique cookies give you that perfect cappuccino taste, and they’re easy to make.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones
This beauty is scrumptious and easy, thanks to our upgraded boxed-mix shortcut. The frosting’s blend of white chocolate and cream cheese makes it the perfect sweet and rich topping.
GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS
Everyone should have a no-bake option in their Christmas cookie repertoire, and this glossy, candy-topped confection is a stunner.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
These are definitely going on our Christmas list. It’s a perfect recipe to showcase one of our favorite flavor combinations.
Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Delicious, quick, and just so cute—this pretty-in-pink peppermint and chocolate pie is a crowd-pleaser, and easy on the cook too.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Even simple sandwich cookies get dressed up for the holidays. Red and white swirls of peppermint filling are all the decoration these chocolaty cookies need.
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley
When you don’t want to spend precious holiday time baking but still need dessert for the holiday party, head to the kitchen to whip up a batch of bourbon balls. You need just 30 minutes of hands-on time to make these four-ingredient bites.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Cutout cookies are a Christmas tradition and you don’t need to be an expert to make these. Armed with simple icing and lots of sprinkles, your crew will have fun decorating these.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
There’s no fruit to be found in this cobbler. Just layer the ingredients and bake. No need to stir—that’s what creates those gooey pudding pockets.
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
Eggnog lovers, rejoice! This boozy layer cake is simple to make. Don’t be intimidated by the frosting technique. The directions make this fancy look easy to do, or you can simply apply the frosting however you like.