27 Christmas Desserts You Need to Try
Christmas is my favorite time of year! The smell of fresh cookies baking in the oven and the joy of sharing sweet treats with family and friends makes this season so special.
For many years, I’ve loved making Christmas desserts. Each year, I discover new recipes that make my holiday celebrations even sweeter. Today, I want to share 27 amazing Christmas dessert recipes with you!
These desserts are perfect for your holiday table. Some are easy to make, and some look very special. All of them taste wonderful and will make your Christmas celebrations more memorable. I’ve tried many of these recipes myself, and I’ll share my tips to help you make them perfectly.
Let’s explore these delightful Christmas treats together!
1. Pineapple Christmas Balls
The Pineapple Christmas Balls from Dessert Hungry are a perfect start to our list. These sweet treats look like little snowballs and taste amazing!
What I love about these is how easy they are to make. You just need a few ingredients, but they look so fancy on your holiday table. The pineapple adds a nice tropical flavor that’s different from typical Christmas sweets.
A little tip: Make sure your hands are slightly wet when rolling the balls. This prevents the mixture from sticking to your fingers!
2. Christmas Santa Face Cupcakes
Next up are the adorable Christmas Santa Face Cupcakes from Dessert Hungry. These cupcakes are almost too cute to eat!
Kids and adults love these Santa faces. The red hat and white beard make everyone smile. Plus, they taste as good as they look! The cake is soft and fluffy, and the frosting is just right – not too sweet.
I recommend making the frosting a little thicker than usual. This helps it hold its shape better when you’re creating Santa’s face.
3. Christmas Cranberry Poke Cake
The Christmas Cranberry Poke Cake from Dessert Hungry is a showstopper! The bright red color makes it perfect for holiday gatherings.
What makes this cake special is how moist it is. The “poke” technique allows the jello to seep into the cake, creating pockets of fruity flavor. It’s refreshing and not too heavy.
I like to make this cake a day ahead. This gives the flavors time to blend together, making it even more delicious the next day!
4. Cornflake Wreaths
The Cornflake Wreaths from The Pioneer Woman are so fun to make! They look like tiny Christmas wreaths that you can eat.
These no-bake treats are perfect for busy holiday days. Kids love helping shape the cornflake mixture into wreath shapes. The marshmallow makes them sweet and chewy.
I suggest adding a few red candy “berries” to make your wreaths look even more festive. They’re almost too pretty to eat!
5. Christmas Sheet Cake
The Christmas Sheet Cake from The Pioneer Woman is perfect for feeding a crowd. One cake serves many people, making it ideal for parties.
What I love about this recipe is how simple it is. You make one big cake, decorate it with holiday colors, and you’re done! No fancy techniques needed.
The cake stays moist for days, which is great during the busy holiday season. I like to add extra sprinkles on top to make it more festive!
6. Jeweled Divinity Candy
The Jeweled Divinity Candy from The Pioneer Woman looks like beautiful jewels on your dessert table. These light, airy treats are a classic Christmas candy.
Making divinity can be tricky, but this recipe breaks it down into simple steps. The candy has a nougat-like texture that melts in your mouth.
My tip is to check the weather before making this candy! Divinity turns out best on dry days. If it’s humid, wait for a better day.
7. Christmas Cherries
The Christmas Cherries from The Pioneer Woman are elegant little treats that look like tiny presents.
These cherries dipped in white chocolate and decorated with green sprinkles look beautiful on a platter. They’re sweet, tangy, and very festive.
I like to make a big batch of these because they disappear quickly! They’re perfect for when you want something sweet but not too heavy.
8. Red Velvet Mug Cake
The Red Velvet Mug Cake from The Pioneer Woman is perfect for those busy holiday nights when you want something sweet but don’t want to bake a whole cake.
What’s amazing about this recipe is that you can make a single serving of cake in just a few minutes using your microwave! The cake comes out moist and rich.
I like to top mine with a small dollop of whipped cream and some red sprinkles to make it extra festive. It’s like having your own personal Christmas dessert!
9. Cut-Out Sugar Cookies
The Cut-Out Sugar Cookies from The Pioneer Woman are a Christmas tradition in many homes. These cookies are perfect for decorating with kids.
What makes these cookies special is how they hold their shape when baked. You can use any cookie cutter you like – stars, trees, snowflakes, or gingerbread people.
My tip is to chill the dough before rolling it out. This prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking. Also, have fun with the decorations – the more colorful, the better!
10. Gingerbread Truffles
The Gingerbread Truffles from The Pioneer Woman taste like Christmas in a bite! These little balls of goodness combine the flavors of gingerbread with rich chocolate.
What I love about these truffles is how they melt in your mouth. The outside is chocolate, and the inside has all the warm spices of gingerbread.
I recommend rolling them in different toppings – some in cocoa powder, some in crushed nuts, and some in sprinkles. This makes your platter look more interesting!
11. Fruitcake Cookies
The Fruitcake Cookies from The Pioneer Woman are for people who like fruitcake but want something easier to eat and share.
These cookies have all the good things about fruitcake – the dried fruits and nuts – but in a soft, chewy cookie form. They’re much lighter than traditional fruitcake.
I like to make these a week before Christmas. The flavors get even better after a few days, just like traditional fruitcake!
12. Holiday Haystacks
The Holiday Haystacks from The Pioneer Woman are so easy to make that they’re perfect for busy holiday days. Kids can help make them too!
These no-bake treats combine crunchy noodles with melted chocolate and holiday candies. They look like little haystacks, which makes them fun.
I like to use different colored candies for different holidays – red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter. They’re versatile and always delicious!
13. Christmas Bark
The Christmas Bark from The Pioneer Woman is one of the easiest holiday treats you can make, but it looks so impressive!
This simple recipe involves melting chocolate, spreading it thin, and adding festive toppings. You can use crushed candy canes, nuts, dried fruit, or sprinkles.
My tip is to use both white and dark chocolate to create a marbled effect. This makes your bark look even more special!
14. Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies
The Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies from The Pioneer Woman combine two favorites – red velvet and thumbprint cookies.
These cookies have a beautiful red color and a dent in the center filled with white chocolate. The contrast looks stunning on a holiday platter.
I recommend not overfilling the thumbprints with chocolate. A little goes a long way, and too much can make the cookies soggy.
15. Eggnog Bread Pudding
The Eggnog Bread Pudding from The Pioneer Woman tastes like Christmas in a dish. It’s warm, comforting, and full of holiday flavors.
What makes this bread pudding special is the eggnog, which adds a creamy texture and those familiar holiday spices. It’s perfect for a cold winter evening.
I like to serve this warm with a drizzle of caramel sauce. It makes an elegant dessert for Christmas dinner that’s not too difficult to make.
16. Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
The Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies from The Pioneer Woman are a step up from regular gingerbread cookies. These have a creamy filling between two gingerbread cookies.
What I love about these is the contrast between the spicy cookies and the sweet filling. They look professional but are actually quite easy to make.
My tip is to make the cookies all the same size so they match up nicely when you sandwich them together. Using a cookie cutter helps with this!
17. Red Velvet Brownies
The Red Velvet Brownies from The Pioneer Woman combine the best of both worlds – the texture of brownies with the flavor of red velvet.
These brownies are rich, moist, and have that beautiful red color that makes them perfect for Christmas. The cream cheese frosting on top adds the perfect tangy contrast.
I recommend letting these cool completely before cutting. This prevents the cream cheese frosting from smearing and gives you cleaner edges.
18. Christmas Cracker Candy
The Christmas Cracker Candy from The Pioneer Woman is a crunchy, sweet treat that’s addictive! It’s also called “Christmas crack” because it’s so good you can’t stop eating it.
This candy has a layer of crackers topped with toffee and chocolate. The salt from the crackers balances the sweetness perfectly.
My tip is to use a good quality chocolate for the topping. It makes a big difference in the final taste of this simple candy.
19. Sugar Cookie Fudge
The Sugar Cookie Fudge from The Pioneer Woman tastes like your favorite sugar cookie but in fudge form! It’s creamy, sweet, and full of sprinkles.
What makes this fudge special is that it has all the flavors of a sugar cookie – vanilla, butter, and sweetness – but with the smooth texture of fudge.
I like to use lots of holiday sprinkles to make it look festive. You can also add some white chocolate chips for extra richness.
20. White Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding
The White Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding from The Pioneer Woman is an elegant dessert that’s perfect for a special Christmas dinner.
Using croissants instead of regular bread makes this pudding extra rich and buttery. The white chocolate adds sweetness that complements the flaky croissants perfectly.
I recommend serving this warm with a vanilla sauce or ice cream. The contrast between the warm pudding and cold ice cream is wonderful!
21. Crock Pot Candy
The Crock Pot Candy from The Pioneer Woman is the easiest candy you’ll ever make! You just put everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work.
This candy combines peanuts, chocolate, and almond bark to create a crunchy, sweet treat that everyone loves. It’s perfect for gift-giving too.
My tip is to line your counters with wax paper before you start. This makes cleanup much easier when you’re dropping the candy onto the paper to cool.
22. Chocolate Peppermint Slice and Bake Cookies
The Chocolate Peppermint Slice and Bake Cookies from The Pioneer Woman are perfect for when you want homemade cookies but don’t have much time.
What’s great about these cookies is that you can make the dough ahead, keep it in the fridge, and slice and bake as needed. The combination of chocolate and peppermint is a Christmas classic.
I like to roll the edges of the cookie dough logs in crushed candy canes before chilling. This adds a nice peppermint crunch to the edges of the cookies.
23. Christmas Cranberry Cake
The Christmas Cranberry Cake from The Pioneer Woman is a beautiful dessert that’s perfect for your holiday table.
What makes this cake special is the tartness of the cranberries, which balances the sweetness of the cake. The red cranberries look so pretty against the white cake.
I recommend serving this with a dusting of powdered sugar to make it look like it’s been dusted with snow. It’s simple but elegant!
24. Coconut Raspberry Bars
The Coconut Raspberry Bars from Taste of Home are a delicious combination of sweet and tart flavors.
These bars have a shortbread crust, a raspberry filling, and a coconut topping. The colors are beautiful for Christmas – red raspberries and white coconut.
My tip is to use good quality raspberry jam for the filling. It makes a big difference in the taste of these simple but elegant bars.
25. Moist Cream Cheese Pound Cake
The Moist Cream Cheese Pound Cake from Taste of Home is a rich, dense cake that’s perfect for the holidays.
The cream cheese in this cake makes it incredibly moist and gives it a slight tang that balances the sweetness. It’s a simple cake that tastes special.
I like to serve this with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream. The simplicity of the cake lets the berries shine.
26. White Candy Bark
The White Candy Bark from Taste of Home is similar to the Christmas bark but focuses on white chocolate.
White chocolate pairs beautifully with many different toppings – crushed candy canes, nuts, dried fruit, or colored sprinkles. The white background makes the colors pop.
My tip is to use good quality white chocolate. Cheaper white chocolate can be waxy and doesn’t melt as smoothly.
27. Three-Chip English Toffee Recipe
the Three-Chip English Toffee from Taste of Home. If you’re looking for a candy that feels both nostalgic and luxurious, this is it! The combination of buttery toffee with three different types of chocolate creates a treat that’s impossible to resist.
What I adore about this toffee is its perfect crunch followed by the rich melting chocolate. It’s simply heavenly! I like to break it into various sizes – some larger pieces for gifting and smaller bits for snacking. Trust me, once you taste this homemade toffee, you’ll never want store-bought again!
One observation is that this makes a wonderful gift when packaged in a festive tin or clear bag with a ribbon. It’s the perfect homemade present for teachers, neighbors, or coworkers!
Conclusion
These 27 Christmas desserts offer a wonderful variety of flavors and styles for your holiday celebrations. From simple no-bake treats to elegant cakes, there’s something for every skill level and taste preference.
My personal favorite is the Christmas Cranberry Poke Cake – it’s easy to make, looks beautiful, and has that perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Which of these Christmas desserts are you most excited to try? Share in the comments below, and happy baking!
