It’s time for apple, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice desserts to take a backseat – Christmas desserts with peppermint and spiked sweets are here to shine. Festive food gets us in even more of a holiday mood than we’re already in, and you really can’t decorate your space or watch a holiday movie marathon without some sweet treats, can you? Get ready to yank your baking supplies out of the pantry at least once or twice this holiday season.
Here are 60 festive Christmas desserts for a magical holiday!
apple cobbler recipe | Vanilla and Bean
Apple and Cranberry Cobbler
This egg-free Apple Cranberry Cobbler recipe is infused with vanilla, star anise, and optional bourbon, and served well with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! (via Vanilla and Bean)
christmas cake | Vanilla and Bean
White Christmas Truffle Cake
Turn this fluffy sponge cake with white chocolate truffle topping into a stunning dessert centerpiece with edible pearls and a sweet pine decoration. (via Vikalinka)
slice and bake cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Slice and Bake Christmas Cookies
These homemade slice and bake Christmas cookies are surprisingly easy to make, taste better than the ones in the tube, and are customizable so you can choose your favorite holiday shapes! (via Crowded Kitchen)
chocolate beet cake | Vanilla and Bean
Chocolate Beet Cake
For a healthier spin on Christmas dessert, try this unique Chocolate Beet Cake. It’s so moist and delicious, your guests won’t even know you used beets! (via Give Recipe)
peppermint mocha | Vanilla and Bean
Skinny Peppermint Mocha
Try a low-calorie version of this Starbucks favorite you can make at home! (via The Girl on Bloor)
cranberry cake | Vanilla and Bean
Spiced Mascarpone Cranberry Cake
In charge of dessert this year? This stunning spiced cake will wow your guests in terms of taste and looks. It makes a delicious breakfast too! (via The Original Dish)
dessert board | Vanilla and Bean
Christmas Frosting Board
What a fun idea! Swap your charcuterie for a dessert board where guests can pick and dip! (via Kathryn’s Kitchen)
vegan cheesecake | Vanilla and Bean
Vegan Chocolate Orange Cheesecake
This no-bake cheesecake, made with cashew and coconut, is so delicious and stunning they won’t believe there’s actually no cheese. (via The First Mess)
Vegan Mini Chocolate Pies with Pecan Caramel christmas desserts | Vanilla and Bean
Vegan Mini Chocolate Pies with Pecan Caramel
Mini pies are the perfect Christmas dessert because they’re hand-held and bite-sized, plus these feature chocolate, pecan, and caramel flavors! They’re also vegan, which just makes us love them even more. (via Brit + Co)
The Best Sugar Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
The Best Sugar Cookies
These sugar cookies are so good, they don’t really need any embellishments, but would it really be a Christmas party without reindeer cookies?! Save a few to leave out for Santa, too. (via Brit + Co)
Peppermint Macarons with White Chocolate Ganache | Vanilla and Bean
Peppermint Macarons with White Chocolate Ganache
Find a new way to enjoy the minty flavor of peppermint with this macarons recipe. Covered in white chocolate, it’s a nod to the traditional French pastry. (via Brit + Co)
Chocolate Pumpkin Tart with Gingersnap Crust | Vanilla and Bean
Chocolate Pumpkin Tart with Gingersnap Crust
Move over white chocolate ganache, because this pumpkin tart is ready for its turn in the spotlight. We love that the gingersnap crust helps balance the rich taste of dark chocolate. (via Brit + Co)
Puff Pastry Apple Roses | Vanilla and Bean
Puff Pastry Apple Roses
These roses look good enough to eat – because they are indeed edible! It’s the one time you’ll enjoy stopping to smell the roses. (via Brit + Co)
Sweet Chai Latte Cupcakes | Vanilla and Bean
Sweet Chai Latte Cupcakes
Turn your favorite morning beverage into a sweet treat with these cupcakes. The flavors and spices make for the perfect holiday season dessert. (via Brit + Co)
Paleo Christmas Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Paleo Christmas Cookies
Cookies will never be totally healthy, but there are definitely ways that you can make them healthier. Check out this easy Christmas dessert that’s paleo-friendly. (via Brit + Co)
Vegan Apple Cake | Vanilla and Bean
Vegan Apple Cake
If puff pastry apple roses feel like too much of a lite dessert, you’ll want to keep this vegan apple cake recipe handy. (via Brit + Co)
Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts | Vanilla and Bean
Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts
We have a *major* sweet tooth for anything that involves gooey chocolate, so combining our love of doughnuts and hot chocolate sounds like a dream come true. (via Brit + Co)
Eggnog with Sugared Rosemary | Vanilla and Bean
Eggnog with Sugared Rosemary
Who says desserts have to be food? This sweet drink is a classic Christmas dessert, whether you’re decorating the tree or curling up for a movie night. Our favorite detail is definitely the sugared rosemary. (via Brit + Co)
Oreo Red Velvet Cheesecake | Vanilla and Bean
Oreo Red Velvet Cheesecake
If you love red velvet cake and you love cheesecake, then this is the dessert for you. The crust, cheesecake filling, and whipped cream come together beautifully so that every bite you take is better than the last! Plus, the Oreos on top are the perfect finishing touch. (via Brit + Co)
Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Cups | Vanilla and Bean
Frozen Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt Cups
Take a break from traditional Christmas desserts and make candy recipes instead! Who knows, someone may request that you make frozen chocolate peanut butter yogurt cups for their birthday next year. (via Brit + Co)
Mini Gingerbread Cheesecakes | Vanilla and Bean
Mini Gingerbread Cheesecakes
If regular slices of cheesecake are too rich for you, try these mini bite-sized options for your next get-together. They’re a little bit spicy, a little bit sweet, and just the right amount of creamy. (via Brit + Co)
Even Santa Will Want A Bite Of These Christmas Desserts!
Peppermint Bark Cannoli christmas desserts | Vanilla and Bean
Peppermint Bark Cannoli
You just can’t get through the snowy season without indulging in some sweet and cool peppermint bark. No surprise, it’s amazing in cannolis. (via Sugar and Cloth)
Mott’s Gingerbread Cups | Vanilla and Bean
Mott’s Gingerbread Cups
These lil cups are a fun, festive, and fabulous treat to make with and for your little ones — or for anyone else, frankly! Just look how cute they are! (via Mott’s)
Rum and Eggnog Bundt Cake | Vanilla and Bean
Rum and Eggnog Bundt Cake
We like big bundts and we cannot lie; a slice of this, we can’t deny! Flavored with rum and eggnog, this luscious cake is slathered with a generous coating of eggnog cream cheese icing that will make your tastebuds sing. (via Liv for Cake)
vegan cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Vegan Christmas Cookies Recipe
Packed with nutty almonds and made without butter, eggs or oil, these gluten-free cookies are actually delicious and easy to make. Powdered sugar for the win! (via Veggie Society)
crinkle cookie recipe | Vanilla and Bean
Chocolate Molasses Crinkle Cookies
Serve up a plate of melt-in-your-mouth crinkle cookies with a rich chocolate flavor. (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)
trifle cake recipe | Vanilla and Bean
Black Forest Trifle Cake
Get creative with this trifle cake made with Black Forest layers. (via Woman Scribbles)
coconut cookie recipe | Vanilla and Bean
Coconut Balls
Make it snow with these easy and delicious coconut balls! (via The Fast Recipe)
Eggnog Cheesecake Brownies | Vanilla and Bean
Eggnog Cheesecake Brownies
With creamy eggnog cheesecake swirling into fudgy goodness, these brownies will make even eggnog naysayers fall in love with the soft and chewy bites. (via A Cookie Named Desire)
Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake | Vanilla and Bean
Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
We know you’re thinking it because we’re thinking it — be still, my heart! This rich, minty, and chocolatey cake is dripping with glaze and topped with crushed candy canes. Can you say flavor bomb? (via Two Peas & Their Pod)
Champagne Donuts With White Chocolate Glaze | Vanilla and Bean
Champagne Donuts With White Chocolate Glaze
One of the best things about donuts is they can be enjoyed as both a dessert *and* as a sweet breakfast option. The Champagne-infused dough and white chocolate glaze create the ultimate holiday treat. (via Sugar and Cloth)
Apple and Mincemeat Filo Wreath christmas desserts | Vanilla and Bean
Apple and Mincemeat Filo Wreath
This swoon-worthy recipe stuffs crisp apples and mincemeat into a flaky filo pastry, resulting in complete dessert heaven. Adorned with cranberries and drizzled with custard, this treat is guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday party. (via Domestic Gothess)
Mexican Wedding Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Mexican Wedding Cookies
These tiny snowballs are slightly salty, nutty, buttery, and downright delish. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)
Cranberry Dark Chocolate Biscotti | Vanilla and Bean
Cranberry Dark Chocolate Biscotti
We hope you’re ready for additional caffeine, because you’ll be brewing an extra cup a day just for an excuse to dip and devour these beauties. Totally addicting, these munchies are packed with nuts and cranberries and drizzled with chocolate. (via Pinch of Yum)
Homemade Marshmallows | Vanilla and Bean
Homemade Marshmallows
Storebought marshmallows will never taste the same after you make these. Dip them in chocolate or add them to your hot cocoa for a truly decadent treat. (via The Real Food Dietitians)
Eggnog Panna Cotta With Spiked Cranberry Sauce | Vanilla and Bean
Eggnog Panna Cotta with Spiked Cranberry Sauce
Silky smooth panna cotta may seem like a summery dessert, but when made with eggnog and topped with orange liqueur-spiked cranberry sauce, it’s completely festive. (via Sprinkle Bakes)
You Won’t Want To Share These Delicious Christmas Desserts
White Christmas Sparkle Cake christmas desserts | Vanilla and Bean
White Christmas Sparkle Cake
If you prefer snowflakes and twinkly lights to bright red and green decorations, you’ll love this fluffy vanilla almond cake with cream cheese frosting. (via How Sweet Eats)
You Won’t Believe How Tasty These Christmas Desserts Are
Meringue Christmas Wreath Cake | Vanilla and Bean
Meringue Christmas Wreath Cake
But if you do love colorful decorations, opt for this wreath cake, decked out with nonpareils and candy canes. (via Sprinkle Bakes)
Holiday Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting | Vanilla and Bean
Holiday Sugar Cookie Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Instead of rolling out dough to make individual cookies, bake up these bars, and have fun making your own sprinkle design on top. (via Averie Cooks)
Marmalade Thumbprint Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Marmalade Thumbprint Cookies
It truly isn’t the holidays without some jam-filled thumbprint cookies to munch on. Though a berry jam is most commonly used, the choice of this orange jam is brilliant. (via The View From Great Island)
Christmas Tree Mousse Cups | Vanilla and Bean
Christmas Tree Mousse Cups
You don’t have to be an artist to make an adorable tree-shaped dollop of mousse in these chocolate cups. (via My Life Cookbook)
Peppermint Cream Puffs | Vanilla and Bean
Peppermint Cream Puffs
Bite-size cream puffs are the ideal treat, and with a light peppermint ganache and festive sprinkles, they’re holiday-ready. (via Best Friends for Frosting)
Chocolate Peppermint Mousse | Vanilla and Bean
Chocolate Peppermint Mousse
We love how fluffy mousse is, and this Christmas dessert (which only needs four ingredients, FYI!!) mixes in peppermint extract for the perfect seasonal flavor. Add some crushed candy canes on top for an extra cute detail. (via Feel Good Foodie)
Funfetti Christmas Cake Roll christmas desserts | Vanilla and Bean
Funfetti Christmas Cake Roll
Don’t be intimidated by the cylindrical shape; this colorful cake is both easy to bake and easy to roll up while hot. (via Passion for Savings)
Italian Pear Cranberry Tart | Vanilla and Bean
Italian Pear Cranberry Tart
If the cranberry sauce at your Thanksgiving dinner didn’t satisfy your cranberry needs, this festive tart will. Fresh cranberries are piled into a shortbread crust over a luscious layer of almond cream, and it’s kind of the best thing ever. (via Just a Little Bit of Bacon)
Viennese Crescent Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Viennese Crescent Cookies
Popular in Austria, these melt-in-your-mouth Christmas cookies are a simple blend of hazelnuts, butter, and powdered sugar. (via Leite’s Culinaria)
We’d Recommend These Christmas Desserts To Everyone
Mincemeat, Marzipan, and Apple Bread Wreath | Vanilla and Bean
Mincemeat, Marzipan, and Apple Bread Wreath
Filled with mincemeat, marzipan, and apricot jam, this impressive buttery wreath is packed with flavor. And since it’s fruity, you can get away with eating it for breakfast. (via Domestic Gothess)
Sugar Cookie Chocolate Cr\u00e8me Br\u00fbl\u00e9e | Vanilla and Bean
Sugar Cookie Chocolate Crème Brûlée
Have more Christmas cookies than you know what to do with? Use them to top these velvety, chocolate-rich crème brûlées. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Gingerbread Bundt Cake | Vanilla and Bean
Gingerbread Bundt Cake
If you want to get real fancy, haul out your bundt cake pan and try this recipe. The patterned cake looks even more impressive when laden with a shiny glaze. (via The View From Great Island)
Slice and Bake Heart Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Slice and Bake Heart Cookies
These heart-shaped cookies are so much easier to make than you’d think. Impress your Christmas guests with a bout of sugar cookies! (via Crowded Kitchen)
Easy Puppy Chow Recipe | Vanilla and Bean
Easy Puppy Chow Recipe
You probably already have everything you need for this DIY dessert recipe: peanut butter (or another nut butter), chocolate chips, Chex cereal, butter, and powdered sugar. The red and green candies are just a bonus! (via Brit + Co)
\u200bTahini Brownies | Vanilla and Bean
Tahini Brownies
If you can’t handle full-on sweetness, try these brownies that mix in some tahini for a nutty flavor addition. The flaky salt on top adds an edge that you do not want to miss out on. (via Forks and Foliage)
Vegan Peanut Butter Blossoms | Vanilla and Bean
Vegan Peanut Butter Blossoms
Is there a better duo than chocolate and peanut butter? These blossoms feature creamy peanut butter and dark chocolate chips for a rich, smooth take on the classic combo. (via Rachel Mansfield)
Olive Oil Orange Cake christmas desserts | Vanilla and Bean
Olive Oil Orange Cake
This citrusy, just slightly olive-oily cake will brighten up your winter diet, and the touch of Grand Marnier makes it taste extra-elegant. (via Averie Cooks)
Hazelnut Shortbread with Salted Ganache Sandwich Cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Hazelnut Shortbread with Salted Ganache Sandwich Cookies
Okay, regular Oreos. We raise you one with these uniquely delicious (and super festive!) homemade sandwich cookies! (via Vanilla and Bean)
donut christmas tree Chef Genevieve LaMonaca | Vanilla and Bean
Sugar Dusted Donut Christmas Tree by Chef Genevieve LaMonaca
For this delicious Christmas dessert, roll 60 (3lbs) white donut holes in 2.25oz green sugar sprinkles, then cover a 5.5 x 13.5-inch foam cone in plastic wrap. Insert your toothpicks (you’ll need 60) into the foam, then push donut hole on the toothpick. Start from the bottom and work your way up. Add 1/2 cup peanut M&M’s to fill holes to resemble Christmas ornaments. Top with gold star cupcake topper. Cover with saran wrap until ready to use. Make up to 3 days ahead of time!
cookie recipe | Vanilla and Bean
Cookies and Milk Shot Glass Dessert
Made in a shot glass, you can make this cookie dessert boozy or kid-friendly. It’s play on Santa’s milk and cookies, and a cute way to share with friends. (via Clean Cuisine)
peppermint bark | Vanilla and Bean
Dark Chocolate Peppermint Bark
Chocolate bark makes the perfect gift for everyone on your list. (via Hello Little Home)
kiss cookies | Vanilla and Bean
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Try this peppermint twist on the Hershey’s Kiss thumbprint cookies. (via This Wife Cooks)
Follow us on Pinterest and check out our online baking classes for more festive Christmas desserts!
This article has been updated with additional reporting by Justina Huddleston, Dana Sandonato, Meredith Holser, and Chloe Williams.