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Christmas Desserts

These Christmas Desserts include 30+ of the best holiday baked goods. We’ve got Christmas cookies, cheesecakes, and more classics that everyone will love!

long collage image for christmas dessert recipes with nine images and title

The holiday seasoning is one of my favorites times to cook, bake, and just generally eat all the food. It’s the most wonderful time of the year, right?!

So, to get into the holiday spirit, I decided to gather up all of our favorite Christmas dessert recipes (along with a few from our friends) to create the ultimate list of Christmas treats.

What Desserts Do You Have on Christmas?

There are probably too many classic holiday sweet treats to even name. We all know Christmas cookies are a classic, but did you know there are Christmas cakes, pies, cheesecakes, puddings, and more?

Some are inherently festive and some can be decorated in festive ways. In my opinion, you can make any dessert a Christmas dessert if you really want to. ๐Ÿ˜‰

How to Make Christmas Desserts More Festive

If the recipe allows it, there are plenty of ways you can make your desserts Christmas-themed.

  • Frosting. Whether you’re frosting cookies, cakes, or bars, you can easily give them Christmas colors with a couple drops of red or green food dye.
  • Sprinkles. Grab holiday colored sprinkles and decorating sugars to shake over cakes, pies, or cookies.
  • Flavorings. Some recipes can even be altered to utilize classic Christmas flavors. Peppermint extract is great in brownies!

How to Prepare Ahead of Time

While prepping and storing desserts ahead of time totally depends on each specific recipe, here are my general storing rules.

  • Cookies. Baked cookies will last for around 1 week at room temperature, 2 weeks in the fridge, or 3 months in the freezer. If your cookies are frosted, separate layers in storage containers with parchment paper. Unbaked cookies can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Cakes. In general, cakes will last in the fridge for 3-4 days. They can also be stored unfrosted in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Bars and squares. Most bars and squares can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
  • Cheesecakes. Many cheesecakes can be stored covered in the fridge for 3-4 days or wrapped tightly in the freezer for up to 1 month.

More delicate desserts such as creme bruleee are best served right away. BUT the good news is you’ll be so ahead on everything else you can just focus on that!

Christmas Cookies

Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies

Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies Recipe

These Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies are soft, buttery, brown sugar cookies topped with brown sugar frosting and more pecans โ€” perfect for Christmas baking or any day of the year!
Get the recipe here
christmas cookies with m&ms

Christmas M&M Cookies recipe

These Christmas M&M Cookies are an easy Christmas cookie recipe that both kids and adults love! Soft and chewy with crispy edges, never cakey!
Get the recipe here
overhead close up image of chocolate dipped icebox cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Icebox Cookies

These Chocolate Icebox Cookies are dipped in dark or white chocolate, flavored with peppermint and sprinkled with crushed candy canes โ€” the prettiest Christmas cookie!
Get the recipe here
close up of christmas tree cookies on a white platter.

No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies

A simple no bake cookie, shaped into a Christmas tree shaped and decorated with white chocolate and mini M&Ms! The kids love helping with this one!
Get the recipe here
white chocolate gingersnap oreos piled on a white cake plate

White Chocolate Gingersnap Oreos

Creamy white chocolate frosting sandwiched between two soft and chewy Gingersnaps โ€” the perfect combination!
Get the recipe here
chocolate cut out cookies decorated with colorful icing

Cutout Chocolate Sugar Cookies

These Cutout Chocolate Sugar Cookies are so rich and chocolatey, and they make perfect cut out Christmas cookies! With both cocoa powder and melted chocolate in the batter, this chocolate sugar cookie recipe is to die for!
Get the recipe here
overhead image of maple cookies on white plate

Soft Maple Cookies

These Soft Maple Cookies are perfectly chewy and crispy on the edges, drizzled with an easy maple glaze!
Get the recipe here
overhead image of molasses cookies with bottles of milk around.

Molasses Cookies Recipe: soft and chewy!

These Molasses Cookies are inspired by Grandmaโ€™s! Theyโ€™re soft, chewy and so easy to make! The perfect Christmas cookies for your freezer stash.
Get the recipe here
church window christmas cookies with multi colored mini marshmallows

Church Window Cookies

Church window cookies are a classic no bake Christmas cookie made with mini marshmallows, chocolate, walnuts and shredded coconut! The colored marshmallows look like stained glass window cookies!
Get the recipe here
Fudgy Mint Chocolate No-Bake Cookies: Classic chocolate no-bake cookies topped with mint frosting and chocolate ganache -- a twist on my favorite no-bake mint chocolate bars! Perfect for Christmas or a sweet summer treat! www.thereciperebel.com

Fudgy Mint Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

Classic chocolate no-bake cookies topped with mint frosting and chocolate ganache โ€” a twist on my favorite no-bake mint chocolate bars! Perfect for Christmas or a sweet summer treat!
Get the recipe here
three cookies stacked on a speckled plate.

Grandma’s Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are soft and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness โ€” theyโ€™re perfect with or without frosting and make a great freezer-friendly holiday cookie!
Get the recipe here
These Homemade Mint Chocolate Oreos have a homemade fudgy chocolate cookie and are filled with mint buttercream. They have the perfect cookie to frosting ratio for sandwich cookies!

Homemade Mint Chocolate Oreos (Sandwich Cookies)

Classic chocolate no-bake cookies topped with mint frosting and chocolate ganache โ€” a twist on my favorite no-bake mint chocolate bars! Perfect for Christmas or a sweet summer treat!
Get the recipe here
These Peanut Butter Turtle Thumbprint Cookies are a new twist on a classic Christmas cookie -- with a peanut butter cookie base, a simple caramel filling, a drizzle of chocolate and a sprinkling of peanuts, they're sure to be a new holiday tradition!

Peanut Butter Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are soft and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness โ€” theyโ€™re perfect with or without frosting and make a great freezer-friendly holiday cookie!
Get the recipe here
red green and white pinwheel christmas cookies on a red and green spotted plate

Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

These Christmas Pinwheel Cookies are sure to be the star of your holiday cookie plates! Bring them to a cookie swap and watch everyoneโ€™s eye light up!
Get the recipe here
tall stack of chocolate crinkle cookies

Chocolate Brownie Crinkle Cookies

Chocolate Brownie Crinkle Cookies are perfect for the holidays! These festive cookies feature a fudgy brownie center with a crisp and crackly snowy powdered sugar exterior.
Get the recipe here

Christmas Bars and Squares

Bar cookies are a great option when you don't feel like rolling cookies! These bars and squares are easy to make and will be enjoyed by all.

nanaimo bars close up

Nanaimo Bars

Nanaimo Bars are a classic Canadian no-bake bar cookie, made with a chocolate coconut base, creamy custard filling and chocolate ganache.
Get the recipe here
stack of three caramel nut bars on white background

Caramel Nut Bars

These Caramel Nut Bars are made with an easy shortbread base and loaded with salted peanuts and cashews, topped with marshmallows and caramel for the perfect sweet and salty treat!
Get the recipe here
stack of five magic bars with chocolate chips around.

Seven Layer Magic Bars Recipe

These 7 Layer Magic Bars are made with a graham cracker base, chocolate chips, nuts, coconut and sweetened condensed milk โ€“ they are the perfect mix of gooey, crunchy, sweet and salty and they are so easy!
Get the recipe here
close up image of one cranberry bar with drizzle of glaze

Cranberry Caramel Bars

These Cranberry Caramel Bars have a crumbly oat crust, filled with tart cranberries and sweet caramel โ€” a match made in heaven!
Get the recipe here
two mint bars stacked with a bite taken out of the top bar

No Bake Mint Chocolate Bars

These No Bake Mint Chocolate Bars are made with a no bake graham cracker crust and topped with a creamy mint filling and chocolate ganache!
Get the recipe here
crunch bars in squares

No Bake Chocolate Crunch Bars

These Chocolate Crunch Bars are a no bake dessert that comes together in minutes! Chewy, fudgy, and crunchy, theyโ€™re sure to be a family favorite!
Get the recipe here
One ingredient makes these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars BETTER than all the rest! They taste just like Reese's and are highly addictive! thereciperebel.com

Better No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

One ingredient makes these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars BETTER than all the rest! They taste just like Reeseโ€™s and are highly addictive!
Get the recipe here
square image of stack of chocolate caramel shortbread.

Millionaire Shortbread recipe

This Millionaire Shortbread is a rich shortbread bar with thick, salted caramel and dark chocolate! They are easy to make and completely irresistible!
Get the recipe here
butter tart squares stack

Butter Tart Squares

These Butter Tart Squares are so sweet and gooey โ€” a shortbread crust makes these so easy and SO good! So much quicker than butter tarts.
Get the recipe here

The Best Christmas Desserts

Cookies and bars are great for munching all day long, but what if you want something extra special to finish off your Chrismtas Dinner?

These Christmas desserts will wow your guests (and their stomachs!)

An easy make ahead dessert perfect for the holidays! This spiced Gingerbread Pudding Cake cooks in the slow cooker and keeps your oven free.

Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding Cake

An easy make ahead dessert perfect for the holidays! This spiced Gingerbread Pudding Cake cooks in the slow cooker and keeps your oven free.
Get the recipe here
This Layered Double Chocolate Peppermint Cake has two super fudgy cake layers, a white chocolate whipped cream frosting and is loaded with crushed candy canes and chocolate shavings! This is THEE Christmas dessert!

Layered Double Chocolate Peppermint Cake

This Layered Double Chocolate Peppermint Cake has two super fudgy cake layers, a white chocolate whipped cream frosting and is loaded with crushed candy canes and chocolate shavings! This is THEE Christmas dessert!
Get the recipe here
close up view of spoon scooping creme brulee

Crรจme Brรปlรฉe Recipe

This Crรจme Brรปlรฉe Recipe results in a rich, smooth, and silky custard base thatโ€™s finished off with a layer of crunchy caramelized sugar! Itโ€™s an impressive and decadent dessert thatโ€™s deceivingly easy to make!
Get the recipe here
slice of baked cheesecake on white plate with whipped cream on top.

The Best Vanilla Cheesecake Recipe

This Vanilla Cheesecake is super creamy and not as heavy as traditional baked cheesecake thanks to a good dose of sour cream or Greek yogurt โ€” itโ€™s soft and luscious and perfect with fresh berries!
Get the recipe here
ice cream sandwich cake cut to reveal the inside

Holiday Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

This Holiday Ice Cream Sandwich Cake is made with Chapmanโ€™s Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwiches and Peppermint Twist Ice Cream for a fun Christmas dessert! With just 3 ingredients and 10 minutes prep, itโ€™s a showstopper on the dessert table!
Get the recipe here
square image of slice of french silk pie on a white plate.

French Silk Pie

This easy French Silk Pie is made with a fluffy, rich chocolate filling and no bake Oreo crust, topped with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Easier than most, and no raw eggs!
Get the recipe here
close up slice of easy tiramisu recipe

Easy Tiramisu

This easy Tiramisu recipe is made with a traditional mascarpone custard filling, coffee soaked ladyfingers, and a fine dusting of cocoa powder and chocolate shavings. Itโ€™s an easy no bake dessert!
Get the recipe here
guiness gingerbread bundt cake on a white plate

Guinness Gingerbread

This moist and flavorful Guinness Gingerbread Bundt Cake is topped with a not-too-sweet Guinness glaze for the perfect indulgent dessert.
Ginger, cloves, and molasses add rich, warming background flavors to this delicious holiday treat.
Get the recipe here
stack of two red velvet cake bars with frosting and fork stuck in

Red Velvet Sheet Cake

Best Red Velvet Sheet Cake recipe! This moist red velvet sheet cake is a topped with homemade cream cheese frosting.
Get the recipe here
one piece of buche de noel on a white plate

Buche de Noel or Yule Log

A Yule Log or Bรปche de Noรซl is a traditional French Christmas dessert, filled with chocolate mousse and iced with chocolate ganache. This Christmas cake roll recipe will be the star of your holiday menu!
Get the recipe here
christmas tree cupcake cake decorated with green frosting

This Easy Christmas Tree Cake is Made of Your Favorite Cupcakes!

This isnโ€™t your typical Christmas Tree Cake โ€“ itโ€™s made up of individual cupcakes! You can turn any batch of cupcakes into an adorably festive holiday treat with this creamy whipped frosting and Christmas tree decorating guide.
Get the recipe here
red velvet marble cake on cake stand with white frosting

Red Velvet Marble Cake

Red Velvet Marble Cake Recipe is holiday perfection! Vanilla and red velvet flavors get swirled in a perfectly tender, moist and absolutely decadent pound cake
Get the recipe here
white chocolate cranberry cheese whole on a cake plate

White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake

This White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake recipe is the show stopping dessert youโ€™ve been looking for โ€“ just in time for the holidays! Creamy decadence โ€“ every bite is pure bliss!
Get the recipe here
sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce over top

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Fabulous British Sticky Toffee Pudding dessert with a moist, tender sponge cake coated in a buttery and luscious caramel sauce. Every bite is to die for! Perfect dessert for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anytime
Get the recipe here

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Comments

  1. Pratibha Shyam Moorjani says

    Merry Christmas to you and yours ! Thanks for the lovely recipes ! I’m surely going to use them โ›„๐ŸŽ„

  2. Heather Ann says

    Wish i could make them all, but of course that’s not going to happen. “Oh well, them,s the breaks” lol

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