26 Christmas Desserts That’ll Wow Every Holiday Guest

Christmas has an enchanting scent in the air. The scent of cinnamon drifts in the air while you bake with your family. No matter the gathering or event, with these 26 Christmas desserts, you won’t need to invite your friends. Bringingthese desserts will mark the season as festive. Each of the treats has a special ingredient that will leave you filled with nostalgia. Want to leave a mark with your family and friends? With the following courses of the season, the easiest way will be to make these desserts.

1. Yule Log Cake

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Reminisce about the old-world Christmas with a Buche de Noel at your table. A showstopping rolled sponge cake with chocolate or coffee buttercream, covered in ganache to look like a real log. Finish with sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and meringue mushrooms for a woodland wonderland.

Get the Recipe: Yule Log Cake

2. Peppermint Bark

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This striped delicacy of white and dark chocolate rippled with crushed candy canes is as beautiful as it is addictive. It’s a no-bake marvel that gives every bite of your dessert tray a minty crunch, ideal as a gift or a nibble between carols.

Get the Recipe: Peppermint Bark

3. Gingerbread Trifle

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You just layer them with bits of spiced gingerbread cake cubes, some vanilla pudding, some whipped cream, and crushed gingersnaps, and it looks fab. It’s festive, aromatic, and loaded with creamy, spicy bliss in each spoonful.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Trifle

4. Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

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These creamy eggnog cheesecake bars with a hint of nutmeg sit on a buttery graham cracker crust. Top it off with whipped cream and some cinnamon for that classic Christmas taste.

Get the Recipe: Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

5. Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

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These golden, crunchy on the outside, chewy in the center coconut macaroons dipped in luscious chocolate are a cinch to make and gluten-free. They have that snowy look that is so festive and that just makes a holiday dessert table prettier.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons

6. Red Velvet Snowball Cookies

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These soft, cake-like red velvet cookies coated in powdered sugar are so, so good—they melt in your mouth! They’re beautiful with their striking color and sweet taste, which is why they’re the ultimate Christmas cookie for giving.

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Snowball Cookies

7. Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

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A moist Bundt cake loaded with tart cranberries and sweet orange zest, this cake is a citrusy getaway from heavier holiday desserts. Drizzle on some orange glaze for a fresh, celebratory touch.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Orange Bundt Cake

8. Hot Cocoa Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting

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Chocolate cupcakes stuffed with ganache and topped with toasted marshmallow frosting taste like a warm hug in a cup of cocoa. Top with mini marshmallows and shaved chocolate for extra pizzazz.

Get the Recipe: Hot Cocoa Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting

9. Pecan Pie Bars with Shortbread Crust

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All the gooey, nutty flavor of pecan pie in easy-to-munch bars. They’re perfect for potlucks and holiday dessert tables and are just as good but a little more manageable serving-wise.

Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie Bars with Shortbread Crust

10. White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge

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Smooth white chocolate fudge studded with cranberries and pistachios is the perfect colorful, tangy-sweet treat for the holiday season.

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Cranberry Fudge

11. Melted Snowmen Oreo Balls

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Oreo truffles—crushed Oreos mixed with cream cheese and coated with white chocolate, then decorated to look like snowmen, these Oreo truffles are a fun treat that everyone can appreciate.

Get the Recipe: Melted Snowmen Oreo Balls

12. Sticky Toffee Pudding

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Decadent and heartwarmingly good, this British holiday staple made with dates, brown sugar, and a buttery toffee sauce is also sinfully rich. Serve warm, topped with a spoonful of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Get the Recipe: Sticky Toffee Pudding

13. Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

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A rustic dessert made with thinly sliced apples tossed with cinnamon and sugar, ruddy brown with splotches of melty butter, folded over at the edges. Serve warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, for a simple but stunning dessert.

Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

14. Spiced Apple Galette

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The velvety dark chocolate mousse, flavored with peppermint extract, is served in glasses, topped with crushed candy canes, for that perfect balance of textured bite and refreshing sweetness. Elegant, refined, and irresistibly festive.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Apple Galette

15. Chocolate Peppermint Mousse

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Two Christmas classics, gingerbread and cheesecake, meet in this gingerbread-spiced cheesecake on a spiced cookie crust. The swirls of molasses and cinnamon give every sinful bite added dimension.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Mousse

16. Gingerbread Cheesecake

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Stack smaller star-shaped sugar cookies and spread green royal icing between them; top with sprinkles for an edible Christmas tree almost too pretty to eat.

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake

17. Stacked Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees

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Bottoms up, buttery almond cookies with a tart raspberry jam middle, baked until golden, and dusted with powdered sugar. These classics are elegant, yet so satisfying.

Get the Recipe: Stacked Sugar Cookie Christmas Trees

18. Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

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Dip pretzel rods in melted chocolate and sprinkles or crushed nuts. The pairing of salty and sweet is always a hit, and they make great stocking stuffers.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies

19. Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

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Eggnog custard in small pastry shells with a dollop of whipped cream and a pinch of nutmeg on top. A bite-size treat inspired by a holiday favorite.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods

20. Mini Eggnog Cream Pies

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Put a spin on the classic Yule Log with espresso-soaked sponge cake, mascarpone filling, and cocoa dusting. It’s a coffee fiend’s fantasy with holiday magic mixed in.

Get the Recipe: Mini Eggnog Cream Pies

21. Tiramisu Yule Log

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Turn mini chocolate donuts into cute reindeer faces using candy eyes, pretzel antlers, and a red candy nose. Great for kids’ Christmas parties or breakfast surprises.

Get the Recipe: Tiramisu Yule Log

22. Reindeer Chocolate Doughnuts

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Festive green pistachios and red cranberries give these crunchy Italian cookies some holiday flair. And dipped in white chocolate for a pretty touch and goes great with coffee or hot cocoa.

Get the Recipe: Reindeer Chocolate Doughnuts

23. Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

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Indulge in these rich no-bake candies with their soft caramel, toasted pecans, and a layer of chocolate that melts in your mouth. These jolly cookies, with their festive form and buttery flavor, are a favorite in Christmas gift sets.

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti

24. Caramel Pecan Turtles

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Make these decadent no-bake candies with gooey caramel, roasted pecans, and a coat of silky chocolate. Their festive shape and rich flavor make them a favorite in holiday gift boxes.

Get the Recipe: Caramel Pecan Turtles

25. Maple Glazed Brioche Donuts

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Snow-kissed donuts—fluffy snowflake-shaped donuts drizzled with maple syrup icing and dusted with powdered sugar. These make a scrumptious addition to a winter brunch or dessert bar.

Get the Recipe: Maple Glazed Brioche Donuts

26. White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake

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End your holiday meal with this silky cheesecake adorned with crushed peppermint and a drizzle of white chocolate. Its rich softness, along with the fresh flavor, serves as a happy conclusion to a festive meal.

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake