If ever there’s a time to indulge, it’s Christmas. But why wait until the 24th, these Christmas cookies, cakes, and pies are perfect all through the holiday season.
30+ Christmas Desserts to Eat While You’re Waiting For Santa
Let the baking begin! Here are 32 holiday dessert ideas for the merriest Christmas of all.
1. Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
I’m starting you off with something simple. These cute, colorful wreaths are great to make with the kids and brighten up any cookie plate. Cornflakes are the best option to get that leafy look that makes these pop. Try using gel food coloring if you can find it. A little goes a long way!
2. Pecan Pie
No Christmas is complete without pecan pie! This old-fashioned dessert is the perfect combination of sweet and salty. Top it off with some vanilla ice cream and you have a classic family favorite. With such an easy recipe, you’ll want to make this one year-round.
3. Peanut Butter Snowballs
Anybody else have an undying love for Reese’s peanut butter cups? The filling of these nutty truffles is almost exactly the same, and you’ll have a hard time not eating it right from the bowl. I love the white chocolate covered truffles in the winter, but you could always make a double batch and coat the other half in dark chocolate.
4. Eggnog Cheesecake
Spiced cream and bourbon (or rum) thickened with eggs makes one amazing Christmas milkshake. But adding it to cheesecake? Even the Grinch would come back for a second slice. Not only does this cheesecake have eggnog in the filling, it’s also topped with an eggnog whipped cream. If you can’t find eggnog in the store, making your own is a fun way to up the booze! The spiced bourbon adds something special to something already pretty much perfect, and this needs nothing more than a plate and a fork.
5. Swedish Creme
When you’re looking for something easy to keep your sugar levels up, this Swedish dessert takes just 20 minutes to make. They keep it beautifully simple, with just vanilla and a hint of almond in a sweetened cream set with gelatin. Stir in a little sour cream for tang and serve with fresh berries or a spoonful of jam.
6. Mincemeat Tarts with Butter Pastry
Don’t worry; I haven’t had too much eggnog. Though it was initially a spiced meat pie with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, mincemeat is now a sweet filling made from grated apple, currents, and chopped mixed citrus peels. If you want to try your hand at making your own, it will last in the fridge for up to six months. But if you can find it already made, these tarts are so worth it. The buttery pastry ties it all together, and don’t forget a generous dusting of powdered sugar.
7. Double Fudge Mint Cookies
I’m not sure what it is about the holidays that has me craving cool mint and dark chocolate. But this is one of my favorite Christmas treats. These cookies are soft and crackle on top, just like a brownie. If you don’t want to add the green coloring, the mint flavor will shine through no matter what.
8. Easy Lemon Bars Recipe
Lemon bars might not be the first thing you think about when looking at Christmas desserts… But! They are always a hit, and who can resist that color?! Lemon bars are so easy to make. The filling just needs to be mixed and baked.
9. Rudolph Treats
It’s the perfect Christmas dessert to make with the kids! You know I love a good cheat recipe. I don’t have elves to help me out, unfortunately. That being said, bringing the kids in to make funny faces on these Almond Joys makes for an afternoon of fun! These candy eyes with lashes make for some pretty hilarious reindeer.
10. Peppermint Bark Pretzels
I can’t tell you how much I love these pretzels. Being a huge fan of salty and sweet, it just makes sense to enrobe pretzels with dark chocolate. But the real fun comes in when you stripe them with white chocolate and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. They take minutes to make up and would look adorable in these Christmas bags.
11. Copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
I have a love-hate relationship with these cranberry bars. The spiced brown sugar and cranberry shortbread crust is crumbly and decadent. And then they went and added a cream cheese frosting! I mean, how am I supposed to just have one?!
12. Easy Homemade Candy Cane Bark
Who doesn’t love being handed a bag of chocolate? Candy cane bark is a must-make during the holidays. It’s the perfect Christmas dessert for sharing with family and friends.
13. Easy Peppermint Chocolate Truffle
Looking for little fillers for your cookie boxes? Homemade ganache truffles are insanely easy to make and are the cutest addition to your holidays. Remember to use twice a much chocolate as cream so that they set hard enough to handle. When packaged in these Christmas boxes, they make the perfect little gifts.
14. Mexican Bunuelos
Known in Canada as beaver tails, bunuelos are flat fried dough pieces covered in cinnamon sugar. These are traditionally served on a big platter for everyone to dig in, though a side of chocolate caramel ganache wouldn’t hurt! Or, if you’re feeling extra indulgent, take a note from our friendly neighbors to the north and cover in Nutella, cream cheese frosting, or peanut butter!
15. Malva Pudding
If you’ve never heard of Malva Pudding before (you must not watch Oprah), you’re in for a treat. This South African cake is sweet and ultra-moist. When baked, it gets covered in a warm, boozy custard for even more moisture! If you can’t find Amarula, maybe try Bailey’s.
16. Peppermint Bark Fudge
i’ve established my love for fudge and bark on their own. So, you can only imagine how much I adore this fudge recipe! The fudge layers couldn’t be easier to make. You’ll just need condensed milk and chocolate. I would like to see it with chocolate shards on top, too, for that bark-like texture mixed with the smooth fudge and crunchy candy canes.
17. Snowball Recipe – Amaretto Liqueur and Ice Cream Cocktail
I had to throw in a cocktail! I’ve been dreaming of my next vacation since the start of the year, and with nothing on the horizon, can you blame me for trying to make it happen at home? Amaretto is a sweet liquor that has an almond undertone that pairs so well with vanilla ice cream. It’s simple but so, so good. Don’t worry; I’ll leave one for Santa!
18. Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage)
This cake is light and so moist. When you make it, you’ll think it needs frosting, but I promise the caramelized coconut top is more than enough. That being said, a drizzle of warm caramel creme Anglaise would make an already delicious cake something truly decadent.
19. Peppermint Brownies
I make a batch of brownies at least twice a month. Chocolate and fudge perfection in every bite is worth every calorie! I often like to top mine with something different, and peanut butter mascarpone frosting is my all-time favorite! But since it’s the holidays, peppermint just feels right. Plus, the crushed candy canes really pop against the cream cheese frosting.
20. Incredible Easy Coconut Cake
Coconut might not be your go-to during the holidays, but our friends down under can’t get enough. I remember my first Christmas in Australia and how bizarre it felt to be having a BBQ on the beach! But ever since, I’ve embraced adding a little sunshine to my winter table. There’s no denying the star of this dish with cream of coconut in the cake and frosting. If you want it to be extra Aussie, try adding some passion fruit to the top.
21. Pumpkin Roll Recipe
This cake is everything you want from a pumpkin cake. The spice is just right against the creamy cream cheese frosting, and it looks super cute rolled up and sliced. The trick to getting the perfect roll is to roll it right away, fresh out of the oven. Be sure to sprinkle the cloth with powdered sugar so it doesn’t stick and unroll slowly before spreading the frosting on.
22. Ridiculously Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding
Oh, give me some figgy pudding, but save room for the sticky toffee pudding, too! It’s not just nostalgia that makes this pudding taste so good, though it helps, I’m sure. This is a self-saucing sticky toffee (try saying that three times fast!). It will bake and create the perfect toffee sauce right under the cake! I like to boil my dates and puree them, so the flavor incorporates beautifully into the whole cake. Serve with real British Custard for the most authentic dish!
23. Starbucks Peppermint Mocha
Did you spend your lockdown baking banana bread? We all did, it’s ok. But I also tried my hand at being my own barista! Don’t get me wrong; I’ll be the first in line when the time comes to return to normal. For now, this mocha recipe is just as good as the original. This is perfect for those cold Sunday mornings when you need your coffee but want a big cup of comforting hot chocolate.
24. Christmas Cake
Did you know that many people start their Christmas cakes as early as August? I’m not kidding. I can still picture my Nana pulling it down from its place in the cupboard, unwrapping the parchment paper, and pouring over a “tipple of Brandy.” She did this at least twice a month, if not three times, and it makes for the booziest and most moist cake you’ll ever taste! Obviously, we’re a little late to the game here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make an incredible show stopper! Be sure to soak your fruit overnight (in brandy or rum preferably) and wrap it in parchment until you’re ready to eat.
25. Christmas Spiced Victoria Sponge Cake
Victoria Sponge is a classic for a reason, and the Brits just can’t get enough! Filled with jam and cream, the sponge is light and tender. This holiday version adds a little bit of spice to the cake to warm things up, and it gets colder outside. Although strawberry or raspberry is traditional, I think a good apple jam would make an excellent pairing to the spiced sponge.
26. 3-Ingredient Homemade Thin Mints
I don’t know about you, but I totally missed out on Girl Scout cookies this year. I’m so used to having a stray box in the freezer that I can snack on through the winter. We’ll just have to make our own! With just three ingredients, you might not need to buy them ever again.
27. No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Truffles Recipe
Usually, these cake-ball type truffles require baking a cake first – a step I sometimes resent. But these use store-bought ginger snap cookies to speed things right up. When mixed with cream cheese and vanilla almond bark, they make the best truffle filling in no time.
28. Sugar Plums
Sugar plums are a spiced mixture of dried fruit and nuts. In this case, it’s almonds, prunes, dates, and raisins. They might not have wings like the fairies, but they are coated in sugar, making them just as sweet. Coarse sugar is the best choice, giving them a nice crystal-like coating. You could even dust them with a touch of edible glitter if you’re feeling extra festive.
29. Christmas Tree Cupcakes
It’s hard to contain my excitement for these cupcakes. They’re so stinking cute! It’s like Cindy-Lou Who appeared just to give these that extra dose of adorable. And all you need are plain ice-cream cones, green frosting, and star tip in your piping bag. You can use any flavor cupcake you like, but the dusting of icing sugar is not optional. Trust me, set your phone to slow-mo, and get ready for more Insta-likes than you’ve ever seen!
30. Baked Glazed Eggnog Doughnuts
We don’t need to go over how incredible eggnog is, right? Creamy, boozy, spicy… what’s not to love? These donuts are the perfect thing to serve for the holidays – morning, noon, or night! The light baked donuts are perfectly spiced, and when topped with the eggnog glaze, they’ll be hard to resist.
31. Cranberry Orange Cream Trifle
This one is for the big day! Trifle is always a show-stopper. When you bring it out in that big tall glass dish, everyone will be left in awe of the layers and beautiful colors. And it looks far more complicated than it really is. The secret? Store-bought pound cake! For an even bigger splash, why not add some crumble meringue to the top? It’s Christmas, after all.
32. Gingerbread Cheesecake With Pecan-Graham Crust
Cheesecake is great for any holiday. And what screams Christmas more than creamy gingerbread cheesecake on top of a pecan and graham cracker crust? It uses molasses for that deep flavor we love in gingerbread, and I would also use brown sugar for the most caramel flavor you can get! Top with candied pecans and a dollop of whipped cream.
Did You Make Any Of These Christmas Dessert Recipes?
Have you made any of these Christmas desserts? If so, I’d love to know! Leave a comment below. Or let me know on Facebook. What are your favorite holiday desserts? Click on a star to rate it!
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