These Christmas Desserts include 30+ of the best holiday baked goods. We’ve got Christmas cookies, cheesecakes, and more classics that everyone will love!
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. 😉
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 Recipe
These Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies are soft, buttery, brown sugar cookies topped with brown sugar frosting and more pecans — perfect for Christmas baking or any day of the year!
Get the recipe here
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
Chocolate Peppermint Icebox Cookies
These Chocolate Icebox Cookies are dipped in dark or white chocolate, flavored with peppermint and sprinkled with crushed candy canes — the prettiest Christmas cookie!
Get the recipe here
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
Creamy white chocolate frosting sandwiched between two soft and chewy Gingersnaps — the perfect combination!
Get the recipe here
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
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
Molasses Cookies Recipe: soft and chewy!
These Molasses Cookies are inspired by Grandma’s! They’re soft, chewy and so easy to make! The perfect Christmas cookies for your freezer stash.
Get the recipe here
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!
Get the recipe here
Grandma’s Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are soft and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness — they’re perfect with or without frosting and make a great freezer-friendly holiday cookie!
Get the recipe here
Homemade Mint Chocolate Oreos (Sandwich 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!
Get the recipe here
Peanut Butter Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
These Sour Cream Sugar Cookies are soft and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness — they’re perfect with or without frosting and make a great freezer-friendly holiday cookie!
Get the recipe here
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 everyone’s eye light up!
Get the recipe here
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
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
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
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 – they are the perfect mix of gooey, crunchy, sweet and salty and they are so easy!
Get the recipe here
Cranberry Caramel Bars
These Cranberry Caramel Bars have a crumbly oat crust, filled with tart cranberries and sweet caramel — a match made in heaven!
Get the recipe here
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
No Bake Chocolate Crunch Bars
These Chocolate Crunch Bars are a no bake dessert that comes together in minutes! Chewy, fudgy, and crunchy, they’re sure to be a family favorite!
Get the recipe here
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 Reese’s and are highly addictive!
Get the recipe here
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
These Butter Tart Squares are so sweet and gooey — 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!)
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
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
Crème Brûlée Recipe
This Crème Brûlée Recipe results in a rich, smooth, and silky custard base that’s finished off with a layer of crunchy caramelized sugar! It’s an impressive and decadent dessert that’s deceivingly easy to make!
Get the recipe here
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 — it’s soft and luscious and perfect with fresh berries!
Get the recipe here
Holiday Ice Cream Sandwich Cake
This Holiday Ice Cream Sandwich Cake is made with Chapman’s Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwiches and Peppermint Twist Ice Cream for a fun Christmas dessert! With just 3 ingredients and 10 minutes prep, it’s a showstopper on the dessert table!
Get the recipe here
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
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. It’s an easy no bake dessert!
Get the recipe here
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
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
Buche de Noel or Yule Log
A Yule Log or Bûche de Noël 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
This Easy Christmas Tree Cake is Made of Your Favorite Cupcakes!
This isn’t your typical Christmas Tree Cake – it’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
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 Cheesecake
This White Chocolate Cranberry Cheesecake recipe is the show stopping dessert you’ve been looking for – just in time for the holidays! Creamy decadence – every bite is pure bliss!
Get the recipe here
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
Pratibha Shyam Moorjani says
Merry Christmas to you and yours ! Thanks for the lovely recipes ! I’m surely going to use them ⛄🎄
The Recipe Rebel says
Merry Christmas! Thank you!
Anne says
Merry Christmad, Ashley! God Bless!
The Recipe Rebel says
Thanks so much Anne! Merry Christmas!
Dana Elias says
This was a GREAT email!
Thank you
wjk@pa.net says
I plan on using some of your cookie recipes for my church cookie sale. everything looks so good.
The Recipe Rebel says
Hope you enjoy them!
Kerry says
I’m definitely going to give some of these a go. They all look so yummy 😋
The Recipe Rebel says
Hope you enjoy them Kerry!
Laura Vanier says
You are a down to earth cook – that’s what I love about you. Everything looks good and easy to make!
oshale says
Hey, your recipe are really nice.You are my hero.
Ashley Fehr says
Well thanks! 🙂
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
Ashley Fehr says
Haha, I feel the same!
Frances Bruce says
I enjoy your recipes. Thank you
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Frances!