32 Best Christmas Desserts for the Holiday Season

Thanks to these Christmas desserts, your holiday season is sure to be full of joy.

And you don’t even have to wait until to holidays to make them! After all, there’s never a bad time for sugar, spice, and everything nice.

30+ Christmas Dessert Recipes We Adore

If ever there’s a time to indulge, it’s Christmas.

But why wait until the 25th? These Christmas cookies, cakes, and pies are perfect all through the holiday season.

And I have such a fun mix here, too.

So whether you need classic Christmas desserts for your family or something sweet for a potluck, you’ll find it here.

1. Gingerbread Chocolate Christmas Wreath Cake

There’s nothing wrong with this gorgeous, delicious cake. It’s 100% perfect. Its appearance is absolutely stunning and festive.

And its flavor? Well, that’s ALSO absolutely stunning and festive. You’ll get notes of chocolate, gingerbread, and hints of coffee in every bite.

And if you’re lucky enough to get a raspberry or cranberry on your piece, that’s even more Christmas flair!

2. Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

No Christmas is complete without pecan pie. Then again, no Christmas is complete with sweet potato pie, either.

This unique dessert is the perfect combination of both! I like to think it makes things doubly delicious.

Top it off with some vanilla ice cream, and you’ll have a new family favorite for the holidays.

3. Rum Balls

Looking for holiday treats that are strictly 21 and up? Try these quick, easy, and supremely boozy rum balls. They’re so sweet, so soft, and unbelievably delicious.

You’ll love them, and so will your friends and family. Just be sure to keep them away from the kiddos. All that chocolate can be tempting.

4. Eggnog Cheesecake

Spiced cream and bourbon (or rum) thickened with eggs make one amazing Christmas milkshake.

But adding it to cheesecake? Even the Grinch would come back for more.

This cheesecake has eggnog in the filling, and you’ll top it with eggnog whipped cream.

The spiced bourbon adds something special, and this needs nothing more than a plate and a fork.

5. Raspberry Swirl Pavlova Wreath

Despite its intricate, gorgeous appearance, this edible holiday wreath isn’t hard to pull together. You’ll need just ten ingredients, and it’s much simpler than it looks.

It also has the perfect balance of sweet vanilla and tangy raspberry flavors. It’s definitely one of those holiday dessert recipes that’ll wow a crowd.

6. Mince Pies

Though not as popular today as a few decades ago, mincemeat is still a Christmas staple in many households.

And these mince pies are my favorite ways to incorporate it into the holidays. Unlike the original recipes, though, mincemeat today doesn’t contain actual meat.

Instead, these are individual fruit and spice pies that even the kids will love.

7. Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

When making desserts for the holidays, you must always have something red on the table. (And something green, but we’ll get to that.)

These vibrant crinkle cookies are just the thing. They look, taste, and even smell incredible and have a terrific texture.

Just be sure to make a double batch. People won’t be able to stop at just one.

8. Cranberry Christmas Cake

Cranberries are another of those typical holiday foods that should always grace your table around the holidays.

And what better way than in a tender, tart, and tangy cranberry cake?

This cake is an easy favorite for most people, especially when served with a tall glass of ice-cold milk.

9. Rolo Reindeer Pretzels

Rolo reindeer pretzels are 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 said, bringing the kids in to assemble (not cook) reindeer pretzels is always a good time.

Those candy eyes make for some pretty adorable Rudolphs. 

10. Peppermint Bark

I can’t tell you how much I love peppermint bark — or any kind of bark, really. It’s always colorful, easy to make, and festive.

There are tons of ways to make and decorate bark. Plenty of ingredients you can add, too. For Christmas, though, peppermint bark is the way to go.

It’s crunchy, chocolatey, and minty fresh!

11. Cranberry Bliss Bars

I have a love-hate relationship with these bars.

The spiced brown sugar and cranberry shortbread crust is crumbly and decadent. And there’s also the cream cheese frosting!

I mean, how am I supposed just to have one?!

(In case it wasn’t obvious, the love-hate relationship is that I love the bars and hate what they do to my waistline.)

12. Bûche de Noël

If you can’t say Bûche de Noël, don’t! This delicious holiday treat has a much more common name — the yule log!

And don’t worry. It doesn’t require as much advanced baking skill as you’d think. Making the cake is much like making a pumpkin or Swiss roll.

Then, you’ll simply add chocolate “bark” and a few tweaks. Easy peasy.

13. Classic Mint Chocolate Brownies

If you’re a chocolate and mint fanatic like me, you’ll never say no to something that combines the two. And these classic mint chocolate brownies…

Well. Let’s just say you wouldn’t say no to them even if you WEREN’T a chocolate and mint fanatic. These things are heavenly.

Every bite is rich, decadent, and yet still refreshing. The perfect dessert.

14. Tiramisu

Believe it or not, pulling together a classic American Christmas dinner doesn’t mean sticking strictly to American food.

When looking for treats for the holidays, don’t be afraid to look outside the US borders. For example, take this delightfully layered tiramisu.

Even the staunchest red-blooded American wouldn’t turn down a second slice if offered. It’s good stuff.

15. Classic British Christmas Pudding

While we’re world-traveling for desserts, let’s not overlook this tasty British pudding. It’s somewhere between bread pudding and fruit cake.

But it tastes even better than both.

A quick glance at the ingredient list will tell you everything you need to know. It’s full of raisins, currants, almonds, brandy, treacle syrup, and more!

It truly is an unbelievable British classic.

16. Christmas Cookie Fudge

These chunks of creamy Christmas fudge will be on everyone’s Christmas lists. And since it lasts up to 3 weeks in the fridge, it actually makes an excellent gift.

It requires four ingredients and about 15 minutes to prepare. It tastes like sweeter-than-normal white chocolate.

Make it for yourself, for Christmas dinner, or to stick in stockings or gift bags.

17. Christmas Fruit Salad

When coming up with your Christmas dessert recipes, it’s easy to overlook fruit-based ones like fruit salad.

After all, we typically tend to overindulge during the holidays.

Fortunately, Christmas fruit salad is just as sweet, tasty, and addictive as all the other non-fruit desserts on this list.

It’s light and fluffy and full of juicy grapes and nutty pecans.

18. Danish Dream Cake (Drømmekage)

This cake is light and moist. When you make it, you’ll think it needs frosting. Don’t be tempted!

I promise the caramelized coconut top is more than enough.

That 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. Chocolate Peppermint Holiday Cake

Do you want a holiday dessert that’ll take people’s breath away with just one glance? This cake is just what you need.

The indulgent chocolate ganache is absolutely stunning against the pretty-in-pink frosting. And don’t even get me started on the peppermint meringues!

If I were giving cakes a letter grade, this one would easily get an A+++!

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

Move over, figgy pudding! Sticky toffee pudding is here to steal the show!

It’s not just nostalgia that makes this pudding taste so good. (Though that helps, I’m sure.) 

This is a self-saucing sticky toffee. It’ll bake and create the perfect toffee sauce right under the cake.

Serve with real British Custard for the most authentic dish!

23. Ginger Cookies

Are you a “warm spices for Christmas” kind of person? If so, you’ll adore these ginger cookies. They combine the robust flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.

However, unlike store-bought ginger cookies, these are exceptionally soft and chewy. (Not hard and crumbly.)

Plus, adding molasses to the recipe is a simply inspired idea. Everyone will have compliments for the chef!

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 hers down from its place in the cupboard. She’d unwrap the parchment paper and pour over a “tipple of brandy.”

She did this at least twice, if not three times, a month, making it the booziest and moistest cake you’ll ever taste.

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 spice to the cake to warm things up as it gets colder outside.

Although strawberry or raspberry is traditional, a good apple jam would make an excellent pairing to the spiced sponge. 

26. Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

These thick, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth Christmas bars are fun, festive, and fantastically delicious.

They taste like homemade sugar cookies, only enhanced with even more yummy flavor. And their texture is out of this world.

Plus, the thing that makes them Christmassy is simply the green food coloring and sprinkles. So you can change the decorations and make these year-round.

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 sugar-coated, making them just as sweet.

Coarse sugar is the best choice, giving them a nice crystal-like coating.

You could even dust them with 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 a 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 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. I would also use brown sugar for the most caramel flavor you can get.

Top with candied pecans or your favorite candied nuts 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?