15 Super Special and Delicious Holiday Desserts
The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and delicious desserts! Whether you’re gathering around the table with loved ones or attending a holiday party, there’s nothing quite like the magic of a homemade dessert to bring everyone together. Here are 15 Super Special and Delicious Holiday Desserts.
As the air turns crisp and festive lights twinkle, our thoughts naturally drift to the sweet treats that make this time of year even more special.
With Christmas hospitality in mind, I’ve curated a delightful assortment of dessert recipes that will tickle your taste buds and delight your guests.
Actually, these desserts are wonderful to serve now through the end of the year – perfect for Christmas and New Year’s Day.
From classic favorites to innovative twists, each dessert is designed to spread cheer and warmth.
So, grab your apron and get ready to bake your way through the holidays!
Types of Christmas Desserts
What types of holiday desserts come to mind at this time of year? Here are some popular desserts to think about now and the coming days.
- Gingerbread Cookies – A festive staple with warm spices.
- Eggnog Cheesecake – Creamy and rich, perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Peppermint Bark – A simple yet indulgent treat.
- Yule Log Cake – Buche de Noel – A festive Yule log cake decorated to resemble a tree trunk. It’s a traditional French dessert that’s as beautiful as it is delicious.
- Sugar Cookies – Perfect for decorating with loved ones.
- Chocolate Truffles – Decadent bites that melt in your mouth.
- Snowball Cookies – Buttery and dusted with powdered sugar.
- Cranberry Orange Bread – A zesty loaf that’s perfect for breakfast or dessert.
- Molasses Cookies – Soft and chewy with a hint of spice.
- Chocolate Peppermint Cake – Rich chocolate cake layered with peppermint frosting.
- Apple Crisp – Warm, comforting, and topped with a crunchy oat topping.
- Chocolate Cake – any variation of a classic cake with special garnishes.
- Holiday Pavlova – A light meringue dessert topped with seasonal fruits.
Essential Holiday Dessert Ingredients
What ingredients should you keep on hand for holiday baking? Now is the time to stock up on these essential baking needs.
- Flour (all-purpose or specialty)
- Sugar (granulated, brown, powdered)
- Butter (unsalted for baking)
- Eggs
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda
- Vanilla Extract – Neilsen-Massy brand is my number 1 favorite
- Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger)
- Chocolate (dark, milk, or white)
- Nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts)
- Fruits (dried fruits like cranberries and raisins; fresh fruits like apples and oranges)
- Cream Cheese & Heavy Cream (for cheesecakes and frostings)
- Peppermint and Almond Extract
- Candy Canes
- Sprinkles
Holiday Desserts Presentation Ideas
Presentation is always important in entertaining. You want your food to be attractive for your guests.
It’s important to make desserts that have colors and embellishments for a festive and holiday look.
Adding garnishes can transform a simple dessert into a stunning centerpiece. Consider using:
- Sugared cranberries or rosemary sprigs for a touch of elegance.
- Candied citrus slices for a pop of color.
- Pomegranate seeds for a vibrant contrast.
- Layering and Stacking: For cakes and pastries, consider layering different flavors and colors. A multi-layer cake can be adorned with fresh fruits, whipped cream, or chocolate ganache to create visual depth. (Check out the Tuxedo Cake below.)
- Use red and green colors for a classic Christmas look. (See the Grinch cookies and sugar cookies below.)
- Create designs that resemble Christmas trees, snowmen, or wreaths using frosting and edible decorations1.
- Serve on Attractive Platters: Presentation is key, so choose beautiful serving dishes. A decorative cake stand or a rustic wooden board can add charm to your dessert table.
- Chocolate Drizzles and Sauces: A drizzle of chocolate or caramel sauce can create an eye-catching effect. Use a squeeze bottle for precision when decorating cakes or cookies.
- Use Cookie Cutters: For cookies, use festive-shaped cookie cutters to create fun designs. Decorate them with colorful icing and sprinkles for added flair. (See the Star Cookies below.)
- Height Variation: Arrange desserts at varying heights using stands or tiered trays to create visual interest on the dessert table.
By implementing these presentation techniques, you can make your Christmas desserts not only delicious but also visually stunning, ensuring they are the highlight of your holiday celebrations!
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Why Did I Choose These Delicious Holiday Desserts?
- are the ingredients easy to find or ones I have on hand?
- are the ingredients appropriate for the seasonal event?
- are the recipe instructions easy to follow?
- is the recipe attractive and appealing?
- is it easy to make?
- will it be easy to eat with no utensils or just a fork?
- is the dish colorful for the holidays?
With this tantalizing list of desserts and essential ingredients at your fingertips, you’re ready to embark on a baking adventure that will fill your home with delightful aromas and create lasting memories. Dive into this collection of holiday recipes that are sure to become new holiday traditions! Pick your favorites!
Delicious and Pretty Christmas Desserts: 15 Super Special Sweet Treats
Grinch Cookies
Easy Grinch Cookies are guaranteed to steal the hearts of all your friends and family this Christmas season! Trish of Mom on Timeout created this easy Christmas cookie recipe that is quick to make and incredibly festive and fun – just perfect for cookie plates and dessert tables!
Christmas Donut Tree
This Christmas Donut Tree has become one of Amy of My Name is Snickerdoodle’s newest family traditions! You start with a Styrofoam cone foundation and using simple toothpicks, attach grocery bakery donut holes. I like to embellish mine with fresh rosemary sprigs and dots of pomegranate arils.
Easy Chocolate Covered Pecans
These little bites of heaven combine chocolate’s rich, velvety goodness with the delightful crunch of buttery roasted pecans with a hint of salt, creating a symphony of flavors that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. Sharon of Grits and Pinecones has created another delicious easy holiday sweet treat.
Mini Cranberry Chocolate Cakes
Get into the Christmas mood with these Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Mini Cakes. Hana of Nirvana Cakery wanted to create simple cakes that aren’t complicated to make and that would look great on a festive table. She certainly succeeded!
Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark
This salted caramel pretzel bark from Chahinez of Lifestyle of a Foodie is the ultimate holiday dessert for all sweet and salty lovers. It is made with a thick layer of chocolate, crunchy and salty pretzels, caramel, and extra drizzle of chocolate, and flakey sea salt. This recipe is a great no-bake dessert for holiday parties or just to stuff in your cookie Christmas gift boxes!
Star-Shaped Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Sam of Sugar Spun Run made the cutest chocolate sugar cookies for a fun, festive, chocolatey treat and a fun twist on the classic. They can be rolled thin for crispy cookies or thicker for a softer and chewier texture. Top them with Sam’s shiny and firm chocolate icing!
Gingerbread Cookie Bars
These soft and chewy gingerbread cookie bars are so easy to make—no dough chilling, no dough rolling, no cookie cutters required! Sally of Sally’s Baking Addiction says these are delicious plain, or topped with spiced cream cheese frosting. Skip the fuss and make gingerbread bars instead!
Gorgeous Layered Tuxedo Cake
If you’re looking for a showstopping dessert to serve for a Christmas dinner party, look no further than this incredible Tuxedo Cake. Layers of rich chocolate cake, creamy chocolate mousse, white chocolate mousse, more chocolate cake, and then delicious chocolate ganache to top it all off – this cake is a chocolate lover’s dream from Jules of Bonni Bakery.
Gooey Sugar Cookies
Mandy of Semi Homemade Kitchen shares these Christmas gooey butter cookies. They are soft, chewy, and made with just a few simple ingredients. They’re a festive treat perfect for holiday cookie swaps or cozy gatherings.
Snickerdoodle Truffles
Snickerdoodle Truffles are your beloved childhood holiday cookie transformed into a truffle form! Each truffle features a soft cookie center rolled in a crispy vanilla coating then dusted with the signature cinnamon sugar mixture. Kim of Berly’s Kitchen offers the perfect little Christmas treat.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
These dreamy, creamy 4-ingredient buckeyes are from my friend Mel of Adventures of Mel. They are peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate perfect for the holidays! It’s the quintessential must-have Christmas candy and holiday dessert. Buckeye candy is easy chocolate peanut butter balls with a creamy peanut butter center.
Mini Cannoli Cups
I love mini-desserts. These amazingly easy and delicious Mini Cannoli Cups will be the star of any party or get-together during the holidays. Jamie of Love Bakes Good Cakes declares that these cannoli cups will that wow my guests.
Spiced Eggnog Cake
Eggnog is an iconic Christmas beverage. Kara of I Scream for Buttercream turns the flavor into a spiced eggnog cake that is the perfect homemade cake for Christmas. This recipe makes a rich, moist layer cake, then it’s topped off with eggnog-flavored buttercream. This scratch cake is the perfect addition to your holiday table.
Rum-Soaked Cake
Not all Christmas desserts have to be chocolate. How about a classic rum-soaked cake made from scratch and coated in a delicious rum butter sauce? Fiona of Just So Tasty describes the cake as tender, flavorful, and the perfect homemade version of everyone’s holiday favorite!
Classic Yule Log Cake
There’s something so magical about the holidays and this classic Yule Log-or Bûche de Noël-is a Christmas balance of delicate sponge cake elegance and richness due to the chocolate buttercream. Emma of Emma’s Cake Studio shares this iconic Christmas cake.
More Christmas Dessert Ideas? Here are some of my favorites.
- 3 Delicious Christmas Desserts from on Fudgy Brownie
- 14 Fabulous Christmas Desserts
- 12 Best Christmas Cookies
Visit my Pinterest Boards – Christmas Desserts and Delicious Desserts and follow for more Christmas dessert ideas.
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