It’s the most decadent time of the year! So it only makes sense to end your holiday meal with the most decadent dessert there is: anything with chocolate. This collection of impressive chocolate dessert recipes includes cakes large and single-serving, cheesecakes of many flavors, pies, and a few surprises too. (And many of them are even make-ahead.) The one thing they all have in common is that they are beautiful and delicious, which is exactly what you want in a holiday dessert.
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Grab your prettiest Bundt pan and make this incredibly rich chocolate cake for the holidays. Topped with a smooth chocolate glaze enhanced with coffee, it’s the perfect after-dinner treat.
Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller
This dense mint-chocolate cheesecake is piled high with a fluffy layer of mint whipped cream for a pretty presentation.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Bittersweet chocolate and cocoa powder add complexity to the traditional pecan pie and keep it from tasting overly sweet.
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If your family loves red velvet, try this old-fashioned cake, which has a similar cocoa flavor and light texture (minus the food coloring), and with a silky ermine frosting.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This elegant dessert has a layer of cake, mousse, and ganache which is sure to delight the most serious chocolate lovers.
HECTOR SANCHEZ; STYLING: HEATHER CHADDUCK HILLEGAS
Everyone loves a trifle for the holidays because they feed a crowd, can be make in advance, and make a big impression on the table. This one has layers of spiced chocolate cake, marshmallow topping, and ganache.
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These single-serve mini cakes are petite but they pack a huge amount of flavor and richness thanks to bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, bourbon, and sour cream, for tang.
Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This cheerful red and white Bundt is easier to make than a layer cake and packs just as much flavor as the original, from the tender chocolate cake to the cream cheese glaze.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This gluten-free cake is moist, dark, and rich. Serve thin slivers topped with sweetened whipped cream and berries for a delicious end to a rich meal.
Alison Miksch; Prop styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Mary-Claire Britton
This is perhaps our best chocolate cake recipe ever, which is saying a lot. Not only are the cake layers wonderfully tender, the rich and fudgy frosting is scrape-the-plate good.
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke
If you’re looking for a dessert that’s also a centerpiece, this holiday classic will fit the bill nicely. And the tender chocolate sponge is easier to make and roll up than you might think.
Antonis Achilleos
Our readers adore this 5-star cake, and make it year-round, but it also makes an extra special holiday dessert. The cake layers are made with cocoa and bourbon, for a rich, not-too-sweet flavor, and the brown butter frosting is also spiked with the spirit.
Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This iconic Southern cake is a labor of love, but it’s worth it when you see the looks on everyone’s faces when you slice into it, revealing the 18 thin layers inside.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar
If you’re not into layer cakes but still want a chocolate dessert that makes an impression, try this chocolate pound cake. Made with buttermilk, semisweet chocolate, and vanilla, it is delicious as-is, or served with vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of hot fudge or caramel sauce, or just about anything you can think of.
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee
This is not your typical cheesecake. Not only is it extra decadent thanks to bittersweet chocolate and a chocolate crust, it is infused with raspberries fresh, freeze-dried, and in a fruit spread.
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner
Crushed peppermints and peppermint frosting perk up this dark chocolate cake and make it look extra pretty for the holidays.
Hector Manuel Sanchez
With colors as cheery as Santa’s suit, this mini molten cakes will be a fun end to any holiday meal. Simply prep them the night before and pop them in the oven just after dinner is served.
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Chocolate cake doesn’t get more decadent than this. two slabs of fudge cake are sandwiched between two generous layers of caramel buttercream, and drizzled with chocolate ganache. It’s a true showstopper.
Whether you pipe on an intricate snowflake, or serve it as-is, this intensely chocolate cheesecake will make a big impression from the shortbread crust to the layer of ganache on top.
Amazingly, this indulgent dessert is made with a boxed mix in a slow cooker. It comes together in just two steps and emerges tender, creamy, and lightly spiced.
Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro
This dessert mash-up will make any cheesecake-lover’s Christmas. Buttermilk and sour cream keep the cheesecake layer nice and tangy, while a chocolate crust and cream cheese topping create that classic red velvet flavor everyone loves.