50 Best Christmas Desserts to Make Your Holiday Merry

'Tis the season for festive Christmas desserts. And the more there are, the merrier the holidays will be. Serve any one of these dessert recipes to top off a delicious holiday meal, bring them to Christmas parties, or just enjoy the confections while decorating the tree. In these recipes, your favorite holiday flavors—such as gingerbread, caramel, and mint—come together in the form of cheerful Christmas pies, stunning seasonal cakes, homemade fudge that's perfect for gift-giving, and one amazing edible cupcake wreath.

Christmas Dessert Recipes

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The Ultimate Sticky Toffee Pudding

Diana Miller / Getty Images

Sticky toffee pudding is a must-bake Christmas dessert in Britain—it's even one of Harry Potter's favorites in the books. A dark, date-filled cake is drenched in thick toffee sauce for an ultra-decadent treat. Make it a few days in advance so the sauce soaks in for a super-rich and sticky experience.
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Chocolate Bûche de Noël

The Spruce

Use vanilla genoise cake to form the Swiss roll "log" for this chocolate bûche de Noël, or yule log cake, before covering it in rich chocolate buttercream and decorating with your favorite Christmas-themed candies.
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Christmas Spiced Victoria Sponge Cake

The Spruce

Victoria sponge is an important and beloved British "sandwich cake" filled with fruit preserves and whipped cream. Add warming Christmas spices to put a festive spin on the classic recipe.
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Pecan Pie Cheesecake

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Pecan pie cheesecake combines two decadent holiday desserts in one. It delivers all the flavor and crunch you love in pecan pie, with the amazing smooth, creamy texture of cheesecake. You can bake this cheesecake up to four days before guests arrive, but make the pecan topping on the day of serving.

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Chocolate Candy Cane Cake

The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

Wow family and friends with an impressive chocolate candy cane cake. Three moist layers of chocolate cake are filled with candy cane-studded buttercream, then frosted with chocolate-mint icing. It's decorated with chocolate curls and mini candy canes for a full winter wonderland effect.
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Peppermint Bark Cheesecake

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

If Christmas wouldn't be the same without peppermint bark, let me introduce you to this peppermint bark cheesecake. This creamy, decadent dessert features a chocolate-cookie crust, peppermint bark, peppermint extract, and crushed candy canes for garnish. It's minty fresh and a showstopper on the dessert table.
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Traditional English Trifle

Elaine Lemm

Boozy, fruity, and creamy all at once, English trifle is an absolute must-have for a traditional Christmas feast. Layer sherry-soaked sponge cake with velvety custard, sweet jelly, red berries, and fluffy whipped cream to enjoy this luscious, tiered dessert at your own holiday dinner.
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Vegan Cranberry and Pear Holiday Pie

The Spruce

Here's a wonderfully festive cranberry and pear pie for Christmas that vegan guests can enjoy without guilt. The lightly-spiced cranberry and pear filling is baked with maple syrup for extra sweetness, and there's a lovely and simple crumb topping to balance out the tart fruit.

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Cupcake Wreath

The Spruce / Teena Agnel

Feeling creative this holiday season? Craft a showstopping Christmas cupcake wreath. It's easy to make and you can eat every single bit of it, from the creamy frosting leaves to the sweet candy berries—even the super-cute chocolate-vanilla pinecones on top. It makes a great Christmas table centerpiece.
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Holiday Rum Balls

The Spruce

Rich, dense, boozy chocolate rum balls are a classic Christmas candy that's sure to become one of your favorites as soon as you try them. They're a wonderful post-dinner treat with coffee or a sweet make-ahead holiday gift.
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Red Velvet Cake

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Red velvet cake is as striking visually as it is delicious, making it just the right hue for a holiday dessert buffet. You'll mix vinegar and baking soda—just like a kids' science experiment—to make sure this cake rises nicely.
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Turtle Candy

The Spruce

Turtle candies are a favorite Christmas treat and make great holiday stocking stuffers for kids and adults alike. You only need three ingredients to recreate this popular pecan, caramel, and chocolate confection.

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Gingerbread Truffles

The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

Everyone loves the flavor and aroma of warm spiced gingerbread in the winter months. This great holiday recipe creates soft little truffles that taste just like gingerbread cookie dough. They're sure to disappear quickly.
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Christmas Tree Pretzel Rods

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Here's a fun handheld dessert that kids can enjoy at tree-trimming parties and Christmas gatherings without making a mess. Little ones can even get in on the action and help decorate the Christmas tree pretzel rods themselves.
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Christmas Tree Brownies

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

This fun Christmas tree brownies recipe will delight kids of all ages. Homemade brownies or a store-bought mix will both work—it's the decorating that counts. The tree-shaped brownies are frosted with green buttercream, sprinkles, and a pretzel rod for the trunk.
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Gingerbread With Lemon Glaze

The Spruce

What would Christmas be without gingerbread? Dark molasses gives this gingerbread a gorgeous, deep brown color and rich flavor that will remind you of childhood. Finish it with a simple two-ingredient lemon glaze for an elegant presentation.

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Dark Chocolate Mousse With Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur

Getty Images

Bailey's Irish Cream can be used for more than spiking your mug of coffee. The sweet, creamy liqueur makes a fabulous addition to decadent, sophisticated, dark chocolate mousse. You can create this impressive dessert in 30 minutes but plan to chill in the fridge at least two hours before serving.
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Raisin Pie

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

An old-fashioned raisin pie is a brilliant addition to the holiday dessert table. The sour cream and dark raisin batter is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, filling your home with an inviting aroma while it bakes. Serve it with whipped cream and surprise everyone with its delicious taste.
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Candy Cane Truffles

The Spruce / Elizabeth LaBau

Candy cane bits and peppermint extract add refreshing flavor and crunchy texture to smooth ultra-dark chocolate ganache truffles. Make these festive dessert truffles in about an hour, plus a couple of additional hours for chilling.
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Cranberry Orange Bread Pudding

The Spruce

Warm, comforting cranberry orange bread pudding makes a wonderful, homey dessert for family gatherings. Use a rich, eggy bread—such as challah or brioche—for this recipe. The pudding bakes in about an hour and tastes even more amazing topped with hard sauce.

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Sugar Cone Christmas Trees

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Turn ice-cream cones into a festive winter treat that's perfect for decorating a tablescape, a layer cake, or as a sweet treat. These sugar cone Christmas trees are a fun project with kids and only require rudimentary icing skills.
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Peppermint Cookies

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

The classic combination of chocolate and peppermint can't be beat during the holidays. These peppermint cookies are a real seasonal treat, with a fudgy chocolate base, a nice hit of peppermint oil, and a topping of crushed peppermint candies.
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Christmas Bark

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Fun, festive, and easy to make, Christmas bark is the ideal treat to have on hand during the holiday, whether to serve at gatherings or give as gifts. Dark chocolate is melted and mixed with peppermint extract, then poured onto a baking sheet and drizzled with milk and white chocolates. Feel free to get creative and use a variety of holiday candies to decorate.
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Christmas Cupcakes

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

These Christmas cupcakes are designed for grown-ups to enjoy, thanks to the inclusion of mincemeat, brandy, and warming Christmas spices in the batter. Spike the pretty frosting with liqueur for a hand-held treat that makes a great holiday drop-in party contribution.

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Bomboloni

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

These Italian-style doughnuts may take a little time to prepare, but they are definitely worth the effort. Unlike typical filled doughnuts, the bomboloni's filling peaks out of the top, letting holiday guests choose their favorite flavor. The dough is left to rise twice and then fried and rolled in sugar. Use a piping bag to fill each with jelly, cream, and/or chocolate-hazelnut spread.
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One-Bowl Brownies

The Spruce / Laurel Randolph

During holiday time, nothing is better than an easy recipe that seems like it took a lot of effort to make. The espresso powder in the brownie batter offers a hint of coffee while intensifying the chocolate flavor, and a sprinkling of sea salt at the end is a special finishing touch.
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Tiramisu Cheesecake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

All of the elements of a classic Italian tiramisu are found in this rich and creamy cheesecake. A coffee-flavored mascarpone filling is surrounded by ladyfingers, dusted with cocoa powder, and topped with a homemade whipped cream spiked with coffee liqueur, making a beautiful dessert that will be the star of the holiday table.
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Black Forest Cake

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Sophisticated Black Forest cake is a symphony of sweet tastes, from the dark chocolate cake layers to the boozy cherry filling and smooth whipped cream frosting. Top the cake with dark and white chocolate curls and maraschino cherries for a showstopping Christmas dessert.

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White Chocolate Bread Pudding

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

This bread pudding recipe will please all of the white chocolate fans at your Christmas celebration. White chocolate chips are not only incorporated into the egg and bread mixture but also used to make a sauce that is poured on top of the finished dessert.
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Peanut butter and chocolate are a crowd favorite combination, and this rich and creamy mousse brings the flavors together beautifully. Dark chocolate is melted and mixed with peanut butter and egg yolks, then whipped egg whites are added to create a light and airy texture. The homemade whipped cream and flaky sea salt are the perfect finishing touches.
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Snickerdoodle Crème Brûlée

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Put a decadent twist on a classic French bistro dessert with this rich recipe for snickerdoodle crème brûlée. Add cinnamon to the hard caramelized sugar topping for the creamy cookie-flavored custard. It's a sophisticated dessert that will please your guests' inner children.
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Christmas Strudel

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Christmas strudel is a welcome indulgence during the holiday season, whether served for dessert or as a special treat while tree trimming. Store-bought phyllo dough is layered with a nicely spiced filling of mincemeat, marzipan, apples, nuts, and spices, and baked until golden-brown and bubbling.

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Instant Pot Bread Pudding With Bourbon Sauce

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Warm, moist bread pudding is easy to make in the Instant Pot. Flavored with raisings and spices, it's topped with a decadent bourbon sauce for a festive holiday dessert.
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Baked Glazed Eggnog Doughnuts

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These cake-like eggnog doughnuts are a fun dessert idea for the holidays and taste great with a cup of coffee, too. You may be surprised at how easy it is to bakes up these bakery-style treats in the oven with this recipe that avoids the calories and fat of deep-frying.
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Rum Raisin Ice Cream

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Here is proof that ice cream isn't just for kids. In this rum raisin ice cream recipe, rum is incorporated in two ways: First, it is added to the custard mixture and then the raisins are soaked in the rum, infusing flavor and plumping them up. Once churned in an ice cream maker, this dessert is like a frozen cocktail in every spoonful.
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Eggnog Truffles

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Eggnog truffles are scrumptious little candies that combine the rich taste of eggnog with sweet white chocolate and an extra dash of nutmeg. Use regular store-bought eggnog, as opposed to lower-calorie versions, for rich-tasting truffles.

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Easy Orange Liqueur Cake

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Makeover a yellow cake mix and give it some festive cheer, by adding in fresh orange zest, chopped pecans, and orange liqueur. Bake this holiday-ready cake in a Bundt pan and finish with a sweet orange glaze.
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Maple Walnut Cheesecake

The Spruce / Katarina Zunic

This heavenly maple walnut cake is just the right dessert when it's cold and snowing outside. Pour creamy maple cheesecake filling into a crunchy graham cracker-and-walnut crust and bake until set. Decorate the cake with walnut halves for a nice presentation. It tastes wonderful with whipped cream on top.
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Flourless Chocolate Torte

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

This flourless chocolate torte is a dense, rich cake that you can easily recreate for your Christmas table. Top with a tangy raspberry sauce or a homemade crème anglaise.
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Italian Wedding Cake

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

This cake might have "wedding" in the title, but it's also perfect for the holidays. The moist cake is topped with white frosting and coated in coconut, making it look like a winter wonderland. Italian wedding cake is even better the next day, making it a good make-ahead dessert.

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Pear Streusel Pie

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Transform canned pears and a frozen, ready-made pie crust into a holiday-worthy dessert with this easy, budget-friendly pear streusel pie. Add seasonal dried cranberries to the filling, if you like, for tartness and texture.
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Peppermint Bark

The Spruce

Peppermint bark makes a wonderful dessert at festive gatherings and an excellent edible gift or stocking stuffer. It's easy to make with this foolproof recipe that requires only three ingredients.
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Chocolate Bread Pudding

The Spruce / Anita Schecter

Chocoholics will cheer for this gooey bread pudding with all the homey comfort you crave in a holiday dessert. It's boosted with a massive triple-dose of sweetness from cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and a melted chocolate topping.
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Dark Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

The Spruce / Julia Estrada

Holiday guests will enjoy digging their forks into this rich, fudgy chocolate cake with a warm molten lava center that explodes onto the plate, creating its own sauce. Decorate slices with a little powdered sugar for a restaurant-style presentation.

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Maple and Brown Sugar Pecan Pie

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

This fabulous maple pecan pie makes an indulgent dessert that's wonderful at holiday meals and buffets. Serve it with a big scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
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Orange Meringue Pie

Capelle.r / Getty Images

Citrus is at its peak in the winter months, and this orange meringue pie is a refreshing change from the usual lemon. You can use a store-bought prebaked pie crust for this recipe to make preparation easy, but don't skimp on the meringue topping to truly make a statement at your holiday table.
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Rocky Road Fudge

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Make Rocky road fudge with gooey marshmallows and crunchy pecans whenever guests descend at holiday time. It is quick and easy to prepare and packs a chocolate punch.
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Vegan Christmas Fruitcake

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Create your own vegan-friendly version of classic holiday fruitcake with this must-know recipe that makes a great family Christmas gift. It has all the candied fruits and spices you want in fruitcake with margarine and egg replacer to keep it vegan friendly.

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Cherry Pretzel Dessert

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

When your palate gets tired of all that cinnamon and pumpkin spice, sneak a little summer into your holiday meal with a sweet-tart cherry pie filling in a crunchy pretzel crust. Your guests are sure to ask for seconds.
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Brown Sugar Cheesecake With Caramel Pecan Topping

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

This is a fabulous special-occasion cheesecake. A divinely creamy filling is baked on top of a pecan graham cracker crust and smothered with a caramel pecan sauce that comes together in a flash.

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