The holiday season is coming, a time for joy, family get-togethers, and delicious treats. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply in the mood for some seasonal sweets, this post has you covered with a selection of fantastic Christmas dessert recipes that will bring some extra cheer to your celebrations.
From timeless classics to innovative delights, there’s something to suit every taste. These treats are perfect for sharing with your loved ones.
Best Christmas Dessert Recipes to Delight Your Taste Buds
Our list includes a variety of options, such as Yule Log, Chocolate Citrus Cassata, Tres Leches Cake, and more.
Rum Balls
Ingredients: Toasted pecans, Nilla Wafers (or similar cookies), powdered sugar, salt, cocoa powder, rum, and honey.
How To Prepare: To prepare Rum Balls, start by toasting pecans at 350°F for 10 minutes and let them cool. Crush Nilla Wafers in a food processor and place in a large bowl. Finely chop the cooled pecans, reserving 1/4 cup. Sift powdered sugar, salt, and cocoa powder into the bowl and whisk. Mix rum and honey, add to the dry ingredients, and combine. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and coat them with reserved chopped pecans, powdered sugar, or cocoa powder. This is, hands down, the best recipe for making rum balls.
Yule Log
Ingredients: Chocolate sponge cake, chocolate buttercream, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, decorations like meringue mushrooms or edible holly.
How To Prepare: Begin by baking a chocolate sponge cake and allowing it to cool. Then, spread a layer of chocolate buttercream over the cake, roll it into a log shape, and gently dust it with powdered sugar and cocoa to create a bark-like texture. Decorate your Yule Log with meringue mushrooms or edible holly for a festive and visually appealing touch.
Christmas Tree Cake
Ingredients: Vanilla cake, green frosting, assorted sprinkles, and candy decorations.
How To Prepare: Start by baking a vanilla cake and letting it cool. Then, cover the cake with green frosting, giving it the appearance of a Christmas tree. Decorate it with assorted sprinkles and candy decorations, creating a delightful and edible centerpiece for your holiday celebration.
Classic Sugar Cookies
Ingredients: Butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, vanilla extract, and colorful icing for decorating.
How To Prepare: To make Classic Sugar Cookies, begin by creaming butter and sugar together. Mix in eggs, flour, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Roll out the dough, cut it into festive shapes, and bake until golden. Once they’ve cooled, use colorful icing to decorate your sugar cookies, allowing your creativity to shine through.
Reindeer Brownies
Ingredients: Brownie mix, pretzels, candy eyes, and red M&M’s.
How To Prepare: First, prepare your favorite brownie mix and bake it in a rectangular pan. After cutting the brownies into rectangles, add pretzels for antlers, candy eyes for the reindeer’s eyes, and a red M&M for the nose. This charming dessert will add a touch of whimsy to your holiday spread.
Cinnamon-Sugar Donuts
Ingredients: Donut dough, cinnamon, sugar.
How To Prepare: For Cinnamon-Sugar Donuts, make or buy donut dough and shape it into classic donut rings. Fry them until they turn a beautiful golden brown. Once they’re still warm, roll them in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar to coat them in a sweet and spiced layer. These homemade donuts are a delightful treat.
Gingerbread Men Cookies
Ingredients: Flour, ginger, cinnamon, sugar, butter, molasses, baking soda, and icing for decorating.
How To Prepare: To craft Gingerbread Men Cookies, combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, sugar, butter, molasses, and baking soda to create a gingerbread dough. Roll out the dough and cut it into charming gingerbread man shapes. Bake to perfection, and once they’re cooled, unleash your creativity by decorating them with icing to bring these little cookie characters to life.
Pecan Pie
Ingredients: Pie crust, eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and pecans.
How To Prepare: To prepare a delicious Pecan Pie, start with a pie crust. Mix together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter, and a dash of vanilla extract, then fold in whole pecans. Pour this mixture into the pie crust and bake until the filling sets. The result will be a delightful pecan pie that’s perfect for the holiday season.
Chocolate Citrus Cassata
Ingredients: Chocolate sponge cake, orange zest, cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, whipped cream, chocolate chips
How To Prepare: To make Chocolate Citrus Cassata, start by baking a chocolate sponge cake and allowing it to cool. In a separate bowl, combine cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and orange zest. Whip the cream until it’s fluffy in another bowl. Mix the whipped cream with the cream cheese mixture, along with some chocolate chips. Slice the sponge cake into layers, spread the cream mixture between the layers, and refrigerate until set. Finally, top with more whipped cream and chocolate chips for a delightful dessert.
French Macarons
Ingredients: Almond flour, powdered sugar, egg whites, granulated sugar, food coloring (optional)
How To Prepare: For French Macarons, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar to create a fine mixture. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites and granulated sugar until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the almond flour mixture into the whipped egg whites. Optionally, add a few drops of food coloring for a splash of color. Pipe small rounds of the mixture onto a baking sheet and let them sit until a skin forms. Bake until they’re firm with a delicate shell. Once cooled, sandwich them together with your choice of filling for these delicate and flavorful treats.
Baked Alaska
Ingredients: Sponge cake or brownie base, ice cream, meringue (made from egg whites and sugar)
How To Prepare: Start with a sponge cake or brownie base as your foundation. On top of the base, layer your favorite ice cream, molding it to the desired shape. Then, create a meringue by beating egg whites and sugar until they form stiff peaks. Carefully spread the meringue over the ice cream, making sure to seal the edges completely. Finally, bake in the oven until the meringue turns golden brown. The result is a warm, toasted meringue exterior surrounding a cold, sweet ice cream interior, creating a delightful contrast in textures and flavors.
Wrapping Up…
This collection of Christmas dessert recipes is crafted to capture the flavors and enchantment of the holiday season, elevating your celebrations. Whether you prefer classic favorites or are eager to discover new flavors, we have a dessert to suit every palate. Embrace the delight of baking and relishing these delightful creations while making cherished memories this festive season.