It’s the holidays, and for us at Southern Living, that means it’s baking season. While we can appreciate a towering layer cake or elaborate Bundt, there’s something special about a cookie tin full of tiny treats.
These mini Christmas desserts will make for a beautiful presentation on your favorite cake plates and serving dishes. Plus, mini desserts make incredible homemade Christmas gifts for neighbors, friends, and family members. Instead of cutting uneven slices of cake or spreading a bunch of germs with a big-batch dessert, these small creations are an easy, safe way to serve dessert this season. And do we even have to mention that personal portions mean no sharing is required?
Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle
For our 2024 December Christmas cover cake we decided to make a batter that can be enjoyed multiple ways, including as cupcakes. Rather than serve guests big slices of a layer cake, try these individually portioned cupcakes with charming white chocolate poinsettias on top.
David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero
Sugared cranberries and orange zest make the most festive topping for these mini cheesecakes.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
When fluffy marshmallows are coated in delectable semi-sweet chocolate and sprinkled with your topping of choice, they become quite the irresistible handheld treat. Consider red and green sprinkles, crushed peppermint pieces, or coconut flakes that look like freshly fallen snow for a Christmas-themed topping.
Southern Living
Looking for a baking project that will delight the littlest helpers in your house? Try a homemade version of this store-bought favorite this season.
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley
Bourbon balls are an old-fashioned favorite for the holidays, and this recipe makes two dozen of them to fill those pretty Christmas cookie tins.
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ
Ultra-decadent and just the right size, these cakes are topped with cream cheese whipped cream.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
Test Kitchen Professional Ivy Odom created this fluffy pavlova recipe with an interactive toppings bar in mind.
Caitlin Bensel
Oh-so-tender cookies that bring us back to holidays at Grandma’s.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell
Butterscotch and bourbon? Now those are two flavors that are absolutely meant to be together.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman
Decorated to look like a festive Christmas sweater, these buttercream-topped brownies are pure decadence.
Southern Living
We used a boxed cake mix to make these tiny treats even easier to make.
Iain Bagwell
Anything that has the words “no-bake” in the recipe title grabs our attention, and this sweet and salty creation has everything you need.
Southern Living
Cornflakes and marshmallows come together in this festive treat.
Southern Living
Use peanut butter sandwich cookies as the base for these reindeer-inspired snacks.
Mamie Eisenhower’s Chocolate Fudge
Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
Previously known as “Million Dollar Fudge,” this sweet recipe from the former First Lady deserves a spot at your Christmas celebrations.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
These adorable mini pecan pieces are everything you love about the full-size version, but in a party-perfect bite-size portion.
Micah A. Leal
Powdered sugar brings the snowy feel to these bite-sized beauties.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Use red and green sprinkles to decorate these stockings.
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Red and green candy-coated chocolate pieces turn these cookies into real holiday treats.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Double the cookie, double the fun with these sweet sandwiches.
Jennifer Davick
Get all the flavor of your favorite pecan pie in this one-bite dessert that uses phyllo shells from your freezer.
Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
All eyes are on this delightfully layered dessert that’s the ultimate make-ahead holiday dessert.
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
These caramel-coated marshmallow treats are a sweet-and-buttery addition to your holiday dessert plate.
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
Like their name implies, these buttery, crumbly cookies melt in your mouth.
Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
This creamy, caramel-topped Italian pudding will wow your guests at Christmas dinner.
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
These gooey, caramel-layered brownies are so good, legend has it they’ll knock your clothes right off!
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
What’s better than having your very own personal mini caramel cake? We’ll wait…
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Filled with your choice of jam, lemon curd, or frosting, these sandwich cookies eat like mini desserts.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Drenched in a boozy chocolate glaze, these bourbon-kissed cakes are delicious for Christmas or New Year’s.
Greg Dupree; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall
Bright and bold buttercream icing makes these sugar cookies almost too pretty to eat.
Photographer: Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Erin Merhar; Prop Stylist: Prissy Lee
Who says pumpkin is just for Thanksgiving? These petite cheesecakes are delicious no matter the season!