The holiday season is the perfect excuse to indulge your sweet tooth! Whether you’re hosting a dinner or bringing a dish to share, these festive desserts will make your table sparkle. From classic pies to elegant trifles, these recipes are guaranteed to wow every guest — and make your kitchen smell heavenly.
1. Classic Yule Log Cake
This traditional rolled sponge cake with rich chocolate filling looks as beautiful as it tastes.
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Beat eggs and sugar until fluffy, then fold in flour, cocoa, and vanilla.
- Spread batter on a lined baking sheet and bake for 10–12 minutes.
- Roll the warm cake in parchment and let cool.
- Whip cream with powdered sugar; unroll cake, spread filling, and reroll.
- Frost with chocolate ganache.
How to Serve It
Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with sugared cranberries.
2. Peppermint Chocolate Cheesecake
A holiday favorite combining cool peppermint and rich chocolate for a festive bite.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups chocolate cookie crumbs
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 16 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- 4 oz dark chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Mix crumbs with butter, press into a springform pan.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and eggs until smooth. Add melted chocolate and peppermint.
- Bake 45 minutes, cool, and chill.
How to Serve It
Top with whipped cream and crushed peppermint candy.
3. Gingerbread Trifle
This layered dessert brings together spiced cake, creamy pudding, and fluffy whipped topping.
Ingredients
- 1 gingerbread cake (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups vanilla pudding
- 2 cups whipped cream
- ¼ cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Cut gingerbread into cubes.
- Layer cake, pudding, and whipped cream in a trifle bowl.
- Repeat layers and drizzle caramel on top.
- Chill 1 hour before serving.
How to Serve It
Top with crumbled gingerbread cookies and a dusting of cinnamon.
4. Eggnog Cheesecake Bars
A creamy twist on cheesecake that captures the cozy flavors of eggnog and spice.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 16 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup eggnog
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Mix crumbs with butter, press into pan.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and eggs; stir in eggnog and nutmeg.
- Bake 35 minutes, cool, and chill.
How to Serve It
Sprinkle with extra nutmeg and top with whipped cream.
5. Cranberry Orange Loaf
Tangy cranberries and citrusy orange make this loaf bright and festive.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs, milk, and zest.
- Fold in dry ingredients and cranberries.
- Pour into a loaf pan and bake 50 minutes.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with a drizzle of orange glaze.
6. White Chocolate Raspberry Tart
This elegant tart looks like it came from a patisserie but is simple to make.
Ingredients
- 1 tart shell
- 8 oz white chocolate
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup raspberries
Instructions
- Heat cream until simmering, pour over chopped white chocolate.
- Stir until smooth, pour into crust, and chill 2 hours.
- Top with raspberries.
How to Serve It
Dust lightly with powdered sugar for a snowy finish.
7. Spiced Apple Pie
This comforting classic combines sweet apples and warm spices in a flaky, buttery crust.
Ingredients
- 2 pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
- 6 cups sliced apples
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Mix apples with sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
- Place one crust in a pie dish, fill with apple mixture, and top with second crust.
- Cut slits in top; bake 50–55 minutes until golden.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
8. Pecan Toffee Bars
Sweet, crunchy, and buttery — these bars are perfect for gifting or sharing.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar; add flour and vanilla.
- Spread in a 9×13-inch pan and sprinkle with pecans.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
How to Serve It
Cool completely before slicing into squares.
9. Chocolate Cranberry Fudge
A rich, chewy treat that blends tart cranberries with deep chocolate flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch pan with parchment.
- Melt chocolate and condensed milk together.
- Stir in vanilla and cranberries.
- Pour into pan, chill for 2 hours, then cut into squares.
10. Sugar Cookie Snowflakes
Beautifully decorated cookies that are as fun to make as they are to eat.
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar; beat in egg and vanilla.
- Stir in dry ingredients and roll out dough.
- Cut into shapes and bake 8–10 minutes.
How to Serve It
Decorate with royal icing and a sprinkle of sanding sugar.
11. Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding
This cozy dessert transforms leftover rolls into a melt-in-your-mouth pudding.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cubed cinnamon rolls
- 2 cups milk
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Pour over cinnamon rolls in a greased dish.
- Bake 35 minutes until golden and set.
How to Serve It
Drizzle with icing and serve warm.
12. Coconut Macaroons
Sweet and chewy, these coconut bites are perfect for simple holiday baking.
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded coconut
- 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Mix all ingredients together.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto lined baking sheet.
- Bake 20 minutes or until golden.
How to Serve It
Dip bottoms in melted dark chocolate for extra flair.
13. Maple Pecan Tartlets
These bite-sized tarts combine maple syrup sweetness with nutty crunch.
Ingredients
- 1 package mini tart shells
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix syrup, sugar, egg, and butter; stir in pecans.
- Fill shells and bake 20 minutes.
How to Serve It
Serve warm with whipped cream.
14. Pumpkin Cream Puffs
Light choux pastry filled with spiced pumpkin cream — a perfect fall-to-winter dessert.
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup flour
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup cream cheese
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp pumpkin spice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Cook butter and water; add flour, stir until smooth.
- Beat in eggs one by one.
- Pipe onto sheet; bake 25 minutes.
- Mix pumpkin, cream cheese, sugar, and spice; fill cooled puffs.
15. Chocolate Mousse Cups
Light, airy, and rich — this dessert feels luxurious yet simple.
Ingredients
- 6 oz dark chocolate
- 3 eggs, separated
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 cup whipped cream
Instructions
- Melt chocolate and let cool slightly.
- Whisk yolks into chocolate.
- Beat egg whites with sugar until soft peaks form.
- Fold everything together and chill 2 hours.
How to Serve It
Add a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate curls.
16. Cherry Almond Cake
A moist almond cake that pairs perfectly with juicy cherries.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1 cup cherries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and extract.
- Fold in flours, then cherries.
- Bake 35 minutes until golden.
17. Vanilla Bean Shortbread
These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are perfect for gifting.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cups flour
- 1 vanilla bean (seeds only)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).
- Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla.
- Add flour, mix into dough, and chill 30 minutes.
- Roll and cut; bake 15 minutes.
18. Caramel Apple Crisp
A cozy dessert bursting with cinnamon, apples, and buttery oats
Ingredients
- 5 cups sliced apples
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¾ cup oats
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place apples, sugar, and cinnamon in dish.
- Combine oats, flour, and butter; sprinkle on top.
- Bake 40 minutes until bubbly.
How to Serve It
Top with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
19. Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
An elegant, quick dessert that never fails to impress.
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh strawberries
- 8 oz dark chocolate
Instructions
- Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
- Dip strawberries and place on parchment.
- Chill until set.
How to Serve It
Arrange on a platter and drizzle with white chocolate.
20. Mini Berry Pavlovas
Crisp on the outside, soft on the inside — a light dessert that feels festive
Ingredients
- 4 egg whites
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp vinegar
- Whipped cream and mixed berries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).
- Beat egg whites until stiff, add sugar gradually.
- Mix in cornstarch and vinegar.
- Spoon onto sheet; bake 1 hour.
- Cool, then top with whipped cream and berries.
21. Almond Biscotti
Crunchy and aromatic, these biscotti make great holiday gifts.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp almond extract
- ½ cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix all ingredients; shape into a log.
- Bake 25 minutes, cool slightly, then slice.
- Bake slices 10 more minutes to crisp.
22. Brown Butter Blondies
Rich, buttery bars with a nutty brown butter flavor
Ingredients
- ½ cup browned butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
- Stir in flour.
- Bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
23. Peppermint Bark
A quick, festive treat that doubles as a homemade gift.
Ingredients
- 8 oz dark chocolate
- 8 oz white chocolate
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candies
Instructions
- Melt dark chocolate, spread thin on parchment; chill.
- Melt white chocolate, spread on top; sprinkle candies.
- Chill and break into pieces.
24. Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
Soft, pillowy bites rolled in sweet cinnamon sugar — irresistible!
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix ingredients into thick batter.
- Drop spoonfuls into oil; fry until golden.
- Roll in cinnamon sugar.
25. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Moist and fluffy with a tangy cream cheese frosting that everyone loves.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups flour
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp vinegar
- Red food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix butter, sugar, and egg.
- Add buttermilk, vinegar, coloring, and dry ingredients.
- Bake 20 minutes.
- Frost with cream cheese icing.
26. Holiday Fruit Tart
A refreshing dessert that balances sweetness and freshness beautifully.
Ingredients
- 1 tart shell
- 1 cup pastry cream
- 2 cups assorted fresh fruit
Instructions
- Fill tart shell with pastry cream.
- Arrange sliced fruit on top.
- Brush with light apricot glaze for shine.
How to Serve It
Chill before slicing for clean, beautiful servings.
Conclusion
Every dessert here brings its own kind of magic — from nostalgic pies to elegant tarts and cookies that sparkle with holiday cheer. Try a few, share them with friends, or make them all for a stunning dessert table that celebrates the joy of the season.
Leave a Reply