10 Christmas Desserts Everyone Will Ask You to Make Again

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If you’re looking for easy Christmas desserts that wow without the stress, then you’re in the right place. These recipes I’ve put together for you are festive, foolproof, and perfect for holiday parties, gifting, or a cozy night in with the family.

Ready to bake something merry and delicious? I have you covered. Holidays can be so hectic and stressful, especially if you are hosting. You may be tempted to grab some ready-made desserts, but sometimes homemade is the way to go, especially if you have a bit of time on hand or you are taking something with you to someone’s house. Either way, I hope you like some of these Christmas dessert recipes I have listed below.

What You’ll Find in This Roundup

Crowd favorites for parties
Easy Christmas desserts
Kid-friendly options
Make-ahead treats

Quick Tips for Holiday Baking

Use room-temperature ingredients: In baking, you will notice that cold ingredients don’t blend as smoothly, which can affect the texture of your desserts. So I always recommend that you let your butter, eggs, and dairy sit out for a bit on your kitchen counter to reach room temperature so they mix evenly and create a softer, more consistent batter or dough.
Don’t overmix batter: Mix your batter just until everything comes together. Overmixing can make cakes or muffins dense and tough instead of light and fluffy. If you have a few small lumps here and there, it’s completely fine.
Best way to store cookies and bars: Most cookies are ok to be left on your kitchen counter for several days in an airtight container at room temperature. Muffins and bars with frosting or cream cheese should be stored in a container in the fridge.
Make-ahead tips for busy weeks: Many Christmas desserts are great candidates for prepping ahead. Cookie doughs can be scooped ahead and frozen, then baked straight from the freezer.

My Favorite Christmas Dessert Recipes

Here are some of my favorite desserts I like to make for Christmas, holidays, and family gatherings.

Cheesecake on a plate with a slice cut off.

5 from 1 vote

Pistachio Cheesecake

This Pistachio Cheesecake is incredibly creamy, thanks to the filling being made with protein-rich cottage cheese and real pistachio paste (no Jell-O pudding is used here!).

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Coconut bundt cake on a gold cake stand, sliced open to reveal a soft, moist crumb and snowy coconut topping.

5 from 3 votes

Coconut Cake

This coconut cake is the same one Tom Cruise sends to his celebrity friends – only you won’t need a Hollywood budget to make it. With creamy coconut milk, melty white chocolate, and a velvety coconut cream cheese frosting.

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Dubai Brownie squares stacked over each other.

5 from 1 vote

Dubai Chocolate Brownies

These Dubai Chocolate Brownies are a spin on the viral Dubai chocolate bar, combining dark chocolate brownies with creamy pistachio butter with toasted kataifi pastry filling, and then topped with a layer of rich ganache.

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Slice of cheesecake on a plate with strawberries, blueberries, and a strawberry half on top.

5 from 1 vote

Cottage Cheese Cheesecake

This cottage cheese cheesecake is rich, creamy, packed with protein, lightly sweetened with honey, and tastes like it came straight from a bakery. Perfect for holidays, Sunday brunch, or anytime you want a treat that loves you back.

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Chocolate cake on a plate top with melted chocolate and strawberries.

5 from 1 vote

Flourless Chocolate Cake

You are going to love this flourless chocolate cake. Easy to make, rich, fudgy, and has a brownie-like texture. It’s gluten-free, naturally sweetened, and comes together in under an hour.

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5 from 2 votes

Italian Christmas Cookies

These soft, buttery Italian Christmas cookies are a holiday favorite that’s as easy to make as it is delicious. Flavored with warm vanilla and dipped in a sweet glaze, each cookie is finished with colorful sprinkles for that classic festive touch.

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brownie cookies on a plate topped with mint chips.

5 from 1 vote

Brownie Cookies Recipe

Healthy Brownie Cookies recipe is made with better-for-you ingredients, yet still has the perfect sweet, chocolate flavor.

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Sugar cookies with peppermint on a flat surface.

5 from 1 vote

Peppermint Cookies

Stop getting store-bought Peppermint Cookies for the holidays and make some at home! They are easy to make and taste way better than store-bought. It takes just about 10 minutes of bake time, too!

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Brownies cut into squares on a parchment paper topped with chopped peppermint.

5 from 1 vote

Peppermint Cookies

These Peppermint Brownies are rich, fudgy, and the perfect mix of cool peppermint and deep chocolate flavor.

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5 from 1 vote

Gingerbread Cake

I love this Gingerbread Cake that I make throughout the fall season for my kids. The cake comes out fluffy, moist, and packed with warm fall flavors. Easy to make and so tasty.

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5 from 1 vote

Invisible Apple Cake

This delicious Invisible Apple Cake, also known as Gâteau Invisible, is a French dessert known for its soft, custardy texture and lightly sweet apple flavor.

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Cranberry Bliss Bars

These copycat Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars are so good you would want to keep making them all year round. They are so easy to make and taste so good.

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Common Questions

How do I store Christmas desserts so they stay fresh?

I find it best to store leftover desserts in airtight containers in the fridge. Most cookies and bars stay soft and fresh at room temperature for a couple of days. Avoid refrigerating cookies unless the recipe calls for it because it can dry them out.

How Can I make my desserts look more festive?

There are a few simple things you can do. Things like adding some powdered sugar on a cake, drizzling some melted chocolate on cakes or cookies, topping with some crushed candy canes, sugared cranberries, or holiday sprinkles will add some Christmas feel to your desserts.

Can I substitute ingredients for dietary needs?

Yes, making desserts can be quite flexible. Instead of regular flour, for example, you can use gluten-free flour blends. Dairy-free milk and butter alternatives can be swapped in many recipes. For lower sugar desserts, reduce sugar slightly or use unrefined sweeteners if the recipe allows. You can also always use sugar-free chocolate chips to cut down on the sugar.

How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?

To prevent cookies from spreading, I recommend chilling the dough. Doing this solidifies the fat in the dough so the cookies hold their shape. Also, use parchment paper instead of greasing the pan, and make sure your butter isn’t overly soft when you start mixing. If you feel like your dough is a bit loose, you can always add a bit of flour and mix again.

More Recipe Roundups

I hope you love these simple and easy desserts I have put together for you. They can be used for your Christmas festivities or really all year round if you like.

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