The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones, reflect on the past year, and of course, indulge in delicious fare. And for many, the weeks leading up to Christmas are packed with parties, work events, and get-togethers. Whether you’re hosting friends and family, or you want to make a thoughtful homemade gift, this list of the best Christmas desserts has something for everyone. Are you drooling yet? Here are the most delicious desserts that are worth celebrating this holiday season.
White Chocolate Pomegranate Cheesecake
Credit:
Victor Protasio
This Christmas cheesecake is absolutely stunning and will no doubt be the centerpiece dessert at your holiday dinner. Adorning the outer rim of the cake are pomegranate arils, pistachios, and lime zest. For extra elegance, white chocolate is zested atop the middle of the cake, appearing as freshly fallen snow.
Brown Butter Jam Tarts
Credit:
Fred Hardy
Brown butter is the main event in this sweet holiday dessert recipe. Glazing the tart and enriching the dough, its earthy, slightly sweet taste pairs perfectly with the sweet apricot or strawberry jam filling. Garnish with crunchy almond halves for the ideal nutty companion to brown butter.
Mint Chocolate Cookie Bars
Credit:
Fred Hardy
There’s nothing quite as reminiscent of Christmastime as peppermint. That is why we are breaking out this crave-worthy confection. The base of this three-layer dessert is a soft, fudgy cookie. Next, fluffy and minty buttercream frosting is spooned on into an even layer across the cookie. A rich, dark chocolate ganache tops it all off, making this dessert bar simply immaculate.
Sparkling Gingerbread Star Cookies
Credit:
Fred Hardy
This Christmas cookie will surely be the star of the dessert table. Wintry spices lead the flavor profile of these gingerbread cookies: Think brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Lemon zest adds a pleasant pop of flavor. After cooling, the cookies are dipped in a sweet glaze and sprinkled with your choice of sparkling sugar that will really make them shimmer.
Sweet Tahini and Date Truffles
Credit:
Victor Protasio
Looking for an easy Christmas treat? You can whip up these fudgy truffles in less than an hour! A mixture of processed dates, tahini, and almond flour creates the truffles’ sweet, fruity center. Then, they are dipped in a melted blend of chocolate and coconut oil. Sprinkle with flaky salt after a final drizzling of chocolate for an ideal balance of flavors.
Pistachio and White Chocolate Cookie Bark
Credit:
Fred Hardy
Cookie meets holiday bark in this charming confection combo. The cookie recipe utilizes bold flavors such as pistachio and orange zest, yet it is grounded in a sugar and vanilla base. Though we garnished with chopped pistachios and freeze-dried raspberries for a holiday flair, feel free to get creative with your topping selections.
Ruffled Cranberry-Almond Milk Pie
Credit:
Fred Hardy
This gorgeous custard-based pie is made for the holidays with its delicious array of flavors: cinnamon, citrus, almond, and cranberry, just to name a few. The pie’s showstopping rosettes are made from phyllo dough, which gives a texture that closely resembles bread pudding. Loosely shape the dough into rosettes to encourage growth.
Peppermint Checkerboard Cookies
Take your standard sugar cookie up a notch with these impressive checkerboard treats. Grab some red food coloring and peppermint extract from the store and make these festive holiday cookies with a batch of homemade hot chocolate.
Chai-Flavored Snowball Cookies
Credit:
Fred Hardy
There is a flurry of flavors in these adorable snowball cookies. Cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and black pepper create a delightful spiced cookie. A dusting of powdered sugar and pink and green gel food coloring gives this heavenly treat a holiday twist.
Chocolate Ganache Tart
Credit: Victor Protasio
Chocolate lovers, this is the dessert for you. Picture this: a buttery, salty Ritz Cracker crust filled with silky, decadent chocolate, and finished with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt. Christmas just got so much sweeter.
Ginger Apple Tarte Tatin
Credit:
Christopher Testani
Gala and Granny Smith apples are baked until soft and caramelized in this elegant tarte Tatin. The best part? Store-bought puff pastry makes this one of the easiest desserts to prepare. Serve with a cold glass of milk.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Swirl Cake
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
This marbled chocolate hazelnut cake is just as beautiful as it is delicious. It’s light and delicate, with the most heavenly crunchy hazelnut topping. While it’s traditional to serve Santa milk and cookies, we’re sure he wouldn’t mind a slice of this cake instead.
Chocolate Peppermint Shortbreads
Credit: Johnny Miller
Put your stash of candy canes to good use by making a batch of these chocolate peppermint shortbreads. You’ve got an unbeatable combination of buttery cocoa-infused shortbread covered in chocolate, along with a sprinkle of crushed peppermint.
The Best Sugar Cookie
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Whether you’re gathering your friends for a cookie decorating party, or making Christmas cookies with the family, this is the recipe to use. Making the dough takes 30 minutes and yields 20 delicious cookies. Easy enough, right?
Cherry-Vanilla Bundt Cake
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
This holiday dessert reveals a hidden present in every slice: a burst of cherries. Among other gifts from this Bundt recipe is that you can make it a day ahead. Fortunately, there’s no icing to mess with—just a snow-like dusting of powdered sugar—and it makes a dramatic holiday-worthy presentation.
Malted Chocolate Brownies
Credit:
Victor Protasio
These aren’t your typical chocolate brownies. No, these are rich and decadent brownies baked with a generous portion of malted milk balls. You’re gonna need a glass of cold milk for these!
Dark Chocolate Coconut Tartlets
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Going to a holiday party or potluck? Impress the group with these bite-sized chocolate coconut tartlets. They’re the perfect little sweet treat, and take less than 30 minutes to make.
No-Bake Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies
Credit: Romulo Yanes
A simple no-bake dessert that calls for just seven ingredients? Sign us up! The festive flavors of peppermint and chocolate will surely be a hit amongst your family and friends.
Pine Nut Drops
Credit: Laurie Frankel
Here’s another classic Christmas cookie that everyone loves. Spread some holiday cheer by making a double batch and gifting them to your coworkers, neighbors, and friends. You’ll make 40 cookies in less than an hour!
Chocolate Linzer Cookies
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
There’s a reason why every dessert platter has Linzer cookies on it. They’re elegant, beautiful, and most importantly—they’re easy to devour. Almost any type of jam or marmalade works with these, but we recommend a tart berry variety to pair with the rich chocolate.
Gingerbread Cookies
Credit: Lucas Allen
Nothing beats homemade gingerbread dough, and it’s incredibly easy to make. Use your favorite cookie cutters to make different shapes to decorate! The best part is, your house will smell better than any Christmas candle you’ve ever had.
Jam Sandwich Cookies
Credit: Raymond Hom
These delicate, buttery jam-filled cookies look like they’re covered in snow. Serve them alongside a variety of Christmas favorites, or a simple bowl of fresh raspberries. It’ll be a Christmas miracle if they last long.
Break and Bake Kitchen Sink Cookies
Santa wouldn’t turn up his nose at these cookies, even if it was his last stop on Christmas Eve. Want to know the secret to these irresistible kitchen sink cookies? The recipe calls for two extra egg yolks, which makes the dough rich in flavor and texture.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Credit: Getty Images
There’s something so special and elegant about chocolate-covered strawberries. And they’re perhaps the easiest and most affordable dessert to make. You can even make a platter a day or two before your holiday event for convenience. Just sprinkle with holiday-themed sprinkles before the chocolate solidifies for added holiday cheer.
Mini S’mores Cookie Cups
Credit: Grace Elkus
Enjoy the heavenly combo of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate with these bite-sized s’mores cookie cups. They’re the perfect treat to eat while cozying up by the fire. It wouldn’t be Christmas without eating a cookie with a Hersey Kiss baked in.
Winter Citrus Pavlova
Credit:
Greg DuPree
This winter citrus pavlova is an Australian dessert that is full of fresh flavors reminiscent of the warmer months but with a wintery twist. That’s thanks to homemade lime curd (you can also use store-bought lime curd if you’re in a pinch). The egg whites and plentiful sugar combine to create thick ribbons of meringue that you’ll top with whipped cream and citrus.
Gingerbread and Chocolate Sandwiches
Credit: Beatriz da Costa
When it comes to holiday cooking, time-saving dessert recipes like this one are a welcome gift. With just three additional ingredients, it elevates store-bought cookies to homemade treats in minutes. Wrap these up and gift them to your friends or neighbors,
Marshmallow and Chocolate Shortbread Slices
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Is there anything more delicious than the combination of silky chocolate and fluffy marshmallows? The answer is no, especially when they’re spread on a soft yet chewy shortbread cookie. This Christmas dessert looks complicated, but it’s really quite easy to assemble.
Gingersnap Cherry Cheesecake
Credit: José Picayo
Prepare for twinkling eyes and gasps of awe as you present this Christmas dessert to your guests. The recipe is easier than it looks, calling for a simple gingersnap cookie crust, a jar of cherry preserves for the topping and 20 minutes of hands-on prep. The only hard part is remembering where you stowed your 9-inch springform pan.
Mixed Berry Biscuit Cobbler
Credit: Kelsey Hansen
Don’t let on to the berries, but the biscuits are the real star of this dessert. This quick recipe mounds an easy homemade biscuit dough atop a mixed berry mixture and bakes it to a golden brown. For an even easier go, use a biscuit mix or refrigerated dough.
No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
Credit: Greg DuPree
Give your busy oven a break by adding this no-bake dessert to your holiday menu. A graham cracker crust holds a pumpkin-spiced filling bolstered with white chocolate chips and cream cheese. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, because it’s Christmas!
Sheet Pan Apple Crisp
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
Crowd-pleasing, decadent, and easy to make, this recipe is everything you want in a Christmas dessert. Assemble and bake it the day before and warm it up just before serving to save yourself a little time on the holiday. PSA: It takes so much better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Cranberry Ricotta Cake
Credit: Greg DuPree
Cranberries epitomize the holidays, so this simple dessert recipe fits right in. Light, buttery cake envelopes sugar-coated cranberries for a sweet, tart cake that’s satisfying without icing and sensible enough to serve for breakfast the day after. Drink with a warming mug of tea or hot cocoa.
Pumpkin Bread Trifle With Pepita Streusel
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
If you need a finale to cap the pumpkin spice season (yes, it includes Christmas), let us suggest this showstopping dessert. While it looks complicated, it simply layers chunks of pumpkin bread (homemade or store-bought) with a homemade whipped filling and a crunchy pumpkin-seed streusel. Ta-da!
Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies
Credit:
Antonis Achilleos
You have to try this innovative spin on classic carrot cake. The soft, chewy carrot cake cookies have the perfect amount of sweetness and spice. Plus, they’re filled with a whipped, slightly tangy cream cheese frosting. Absolutely divine!
Hazelnut Swirl Blondies
Credit: Greg DuPree
The blondies are ultra delicious thanks to a chocolate-hazelnut spread that gets swirled in the batter. Chopped hazelnuts add a nutty flavor and crunchy texture throughout, though if that’s not your thing, feel free to leave them out. Make sure to pour yourself a glass of milk with these.
Croissant and Chocolate Bread Pudding
Credit: Con Poulos
For Christmas, this dessert is technically acceptable for breakfast, but it can also be the perfect post-dinner treat. This bread pudding is uber chocolaty and will warm you up from within. Plus, it’s ready in just under an hour. Yum!
Flourless Spiced Hot Chocolate Cake
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
If you’re a Mexican hot chocolate fan, you’ll love this cake which mimics the flavors of the classic Christmas drink. The gluten-free dessert is garnished with gorgeous chocolate shavings and a dollop of crème fraîche. Plus, it only takes 30 minutes to prep it, before the oven takes over.
Apple Fritter Cake
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
This apple fritter cake might just be as good as the inspiration. A cinnamon sugar mixture is mixed into the batter for a delicious, Christmasy flavor. Before serving, drizzle on the sweet and tangy sour cream glaze.
Chocolate-Almond Cake
Credit:
Greg DuPree
This Christmas, why spend hours on a dessert, when you could whip up this fudgy crowd-pleaser in just 30 minutes? The inside is souffle-like, while the exterior has a delectable crunch. Powdered sugar is dusted on the top before serving, resembling freshly fallen snow.
Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
Why settle for just one dessert when you can have three? These peppermint cheesecake brownies combine a rich brownie base, a sweet cheesecake center, and a velvety ganache topping for the ultimate holiday treat.
Cranberry Citrus Bars
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
These tangy bars bring the tartness of cranberries with the sweetness of orange for a bright and flavorful treat. A fluffy sugar cookie crust provides the perfect base, caramelizing for a rich, buttery contrast of the tangy cranberry curd. With a striking color and refreshing taste, they’re bound to catch the attention at any holiday dessert table.
Caramel Apple Hand Pies
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
Buttery, flaky, and oh so cozy. These hand pies deliver all the warm, sweet flavors of caramel apples in the perfect handheld treat. A spiced apple filling paired with gooey caramel makes each bite irresistibly sweet, while a dusting of cinnamon sugar adds the perfect crunchy sparkle.
Cranberry, Chocolate, and Almond Biscotti
Credit:
Greg Dupree, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Emily Hall
These twice-baked delights put a festive twist on the classic Italian treat, with tart cranberries, crunchy almonds, and a drizzle of dark chocolate. They’re an easier bake than you might expect, and still keep that classic biscotti crunch. Whether for gifting, cookie exchanges, or simply enjoying alongside a hot chocolate, these crisp biscotti treats are a holiday must-have.
No-Bake Gingerbread Mousse Pie
Credit:
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
Crushed gingersnaps and cookie butter have come together to make the perfect no-bake pie, bursting with festive gingerbread flavor. Prepare it the day before your holiday gathering and enjoy a delicious, stress-free dessert that tastes just as good as it looks.
Dining and Cooking