Gingerbread cheesecake blends festive spices with creamy indulgence. You’ll love this twist on a classic dessert for your Christmas table.
Start with a graham cracker crust mixed with butter, sugar, and gingerbread spices. Press it into a springform pan.
For the filling, mix cream cheese, sugar, and eggs until smooth. Add molasses, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for that signature gingerbread flavor.
Bake the cheesecake in a water bath for about an hour. Let it cool, then chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
Top with cinnamon whipped cream before serving. Your guests will be impressed by this tasty holiday treat.
Peppermint bark is a classic Christmas treat that’s easy to make and perfect for gifting.
You only need a few ingredients: white chocolate, dark chocolate, peppermint extract, and candy canes.
Start by melting the dark chocolate and spreading it on a baking sheet. Let it cool, then melt the white chocolate and mix in some peppermint extract. Pour this over the dark chocolate layer.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top before the white chocolate sets. Once it’s hardened, break the bark into pieces.
You can customize it by using different types of chocolate or adding extra toppings like sprinkles.
Eggnog trifle is a festive dessert that brings holiday cheer to your table. This layered treat combines the rich flavors of eggnog with soft cake and creamy custard.
To make it, start with cubes of pound cake or vanilla sponge cake. Soak the cake pieces in eggnog for extra flavor. Then layer them in a glass trifle dish.
Add a layer of eggnog-flavored custard or pudding. Top that with whipped cream. Repeat these layers until you reach the top of your dish.
Garnish your trifle with a sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon. You can also add crushed gingerbread cookies for a crunchy contrast. Chill before serving to let the flavors meld together.
This festive dessert combines tart cranberries with zesty orange flavors. You’ll need flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and baking powder as the base ingredients.
Mix in fresh cranberries and orange zest for a burst of flavor. The orange juice adds moisture and enhances the citrus taste.
Pour the batter into a greased bundt pan and bake until golden brown. Let it cool before removing from the pan.
Top your cake with a simple orange glaze for extra sweetness. This bundt cake looks beautiful on a holiday dessert table and tastes even better.
Christmas pudding is a classic British dessert. You steam this rich, dense cake filled with dried fruits and spices. It’s often made weeks ahead of time to let the flavors develop.
To serve, you warm the pudding and flame it with brandy. This creates a festive blue glow. Many families have their own special recipes passed down through generations.
You can buy premade Christmas puddings, but homemade ones taste best. The pudding is usually very moist and packed with raisins, currants, and candied peel. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg give it a warm, festive flavor.
Sugar cookies are a Christmas classic. You can make them soft and chewy or crisp and buttery.
To get started, mix wet ingredients like butter, sugar, and vanilla. Then add flour, baking powder, and salt.
Roll the dough into balls and coat them in sugar. Or roll it out and use cookie cutters for festive shapes. Bake until the edges are lightly golden.
Decorate your cookies with colorful frosting or icing. Try flavors like eggnog, coffee, or mulled wine for a twist. Sugar cookies are perfect for gifting or enjoying with family.
A chocolate yule log is a classic Christmas dessert that looks like a tree branch. To make one, you’ll bake a thin chocolate sponge cake and roll it up with cream filling.
Once rolled, cover the cake with chocolate frosting. Use a fork to create bark-like textures on the surface. Add meringue mushrooms or marzipan decorations for a festive touch.
The inside reveals a swirl of cake and cream when sliced. This impressive dessert takes some effort but rewards you with a showstopping centerpiece for your holiday table.
For best results, chill the log before serving. This helps the flavors meld and makes it easier to cut neat slices.
Spiced apple cider donuts bring the cozy flavors of fall to your Christmas dessert table. These treats combine the warmth of apple cider with holiday spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.
You can bake these donuts in a special pan for a healthier twist on the classic fried version. The recipe typically includes apple cider, flour, sugar, eggs, and butter.
For extra flavor, roll the warm donuts in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Serve them alongside a mug of hot apple cider for a festive touch to your Christmas celebrations.
Raspberry Linzer cookies are a festive treat perfect for Christmas. These buttery sandwich cookies have a nutty flavor and a sweet raspberry filling.
To make them, you’ll need to chill the dough for at least an hour. Roll it out to 1/8-inch thickness and cut into shapes.
Bake the cookies at 375°F (190°C) until golden. Once cooled, spread raspberry jam between two cookies.
For extra flavor, try adding almond extract to the dough. You can also make your own raspberry filling by cooking raspberries with sugar and lemon juice.
These pretty cookies look great on a holiday platter. Their red centers peek through cut-out tops, making them both tasty and eye-catching.
Rum balls are a festive no-bake treat perfect for Christmas. You can make them with just a few ingredients.
Start by crushing vanilla wafers and mixing them with cocoa powder, powdered sugar, and chopped pecans.
Add rum, corn syrup, and vanilla extract to the dry mix. Stir until you get a moist dough. Use a small scoop to form the mixture into balls.
Roll the balls in powdered sugar or festive sprinkles for a holiday touch. These treats can be made ahead of time, making them great for busy holiday schedules.
Rum balls are easy to customize. Try adding cinnamon or nutmeg for extra flavor. You can also use different types of cookies or nuts to change things up.
This dessert combines rich chocolate with cool peppermint for a festive treat. You’ll love how light and fluffy it is.
To make it, melt dark chocolate and mix with peppermint extract. Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the cream into the chocolate mixture.
Spoon the mousse into small glasses or bowls. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving. Top with whipped cream and crushed candy canes for extra holiday flair.
This mousse is quick to prepare but looks impressive. It’s perfect for holiday parties or as an after-dinner dessert. The minty flavor cuts through the richness of the chocolate nicely.
A Red Velvet Cake Roll is a festive Christmas dessert that looks impressive on your holiday table. This treat combines the classic red velvet flavor with a creamy filling.
To make it, you’ll bake a thin red velvet cake in a jelly roll pan. Once cooled, you’ll spread cream cheese frosting over the cake and carefully roll it up.
The key to success is letting the rolled cake chill in the fridge for at least an hour before slicing. This helps it hold its shape.
When you’re ready to serve, cut the cake roll into slices about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Each slice will show off the pretty swirl of red cake and white frosting.
A cinnamon roll wreath makes a festive Christmas morning treat. To create this eye-catching dessert, shape cinnamon roll dough into a large ring on a baking sheet.
Cut the dough at 45-degree angles, leaving the inner circle intact. This technique forms individual rolls while maintaining the wreath shape.
Place a small oven-safe bowl in the center to help keep the shape during baking. Let the dough rise in a warm spot for about an hour before baking.
Bake the wreath until golden brown. Once cooled, drizzle with sweet icing for a finishing touch. Your guests will be impressed by this beautiful and delicious holiday centerpiece.
Tips for Perfect Christmas Desserts
Making great Christmas desserts takes skill and attention to detail. The right ingredients and techniques can take your treats from good to amazing. Here are some tips to help you create delicious holiday sweets.
Use real vanilla extract instead of imitation flavoring. Choose unsalted butter so you can control the salt content. For chocolate desserts, use good baking chocolate rather than chocolate chips.
Fresh spices make a big difference. Replace your ground spices every 6-12 months. Whole spices last longer but should be ground right before use.
Don’t forget seasonal ingredients. Cranberries, peppermint, and citrus fruits add festive flavors. Fresh eggs and cream make richer desserts.
Baking Techniques for Holiday Treats
Measure ingredients carefully. Use proper measuring tools and level off dry ingredients.
Bring cold ingredients like eggs and butter to room temperature before mixing. This helps them blend better.
Don’t overmix batters. Stop when ingredients are just combined to avoid tough baked goods.
Check your oven temperature with a thermometer. Adjust baking times as needed.
Let cakes and cookies cool completely before decorating. This prevents icing from melting.
Chill dough for cut-out cookies. This makes it easier to roll and cut shapes.
Decorating Ideas for Festive Desserts
Make your Christmas desserts look as good as they taste with eye-catching decorations. The right colors and toppings can turn a simple treat into a showstopper.
Using Seasonal Colors
Red and green are classic Christmas colors that can make any dessert more festive.
Try using red and green sprinkles on cookies or cupcakes. You can also add food coloring to frosting or icing to create colorful designs.
For a snowy effect, dust powdered sugar over dark cakes or brownies. White chocolate shavings can look like snowflakes on top of pies or tarts.
Gold and silver edible glitter or dragées add a touch of sparkle. Use them sparingly on cake borders or as accents on cookies.
Creative Toppings and Garnishes
Fresh fruit can add color and flavor to your desserts.
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
