Whether you are hosting a Christmas party, looking for ideas to make with your kids, or looking for some home-baked gifts to give to your neighbors, you’ll find the perfect recipe here. This huge collection of Christmas dessert ideas includes cookies, cakes and pies, and lots of other sweet Christmas treats too. Many of the recipes you’ll find here look festive and holiday-themed but there are quite a few tantalizing traditional treats too.
I Don’t Need to Convince You That You Need Christmas Dessert Ideas
Nothing quite brings out the sweet treats in the way Christmas does. Sure Halloween and Easter are loaded with candy, but Christmas brings out delightful sweets for at least an entire month and in all facets.
Cakes, cookies, pies, sweet dessert dips, gingerbread houses, and of course candy too. That’s why it’s so easy for us all to pack on an extra 10 or 20 pounds during the holiday season. But indulging in some of the holiday sweets from time to time isn’t going to do any harm.
In fact, happiness is a big part of health too so if you are enjoying the process of creating desserts for the holiday with your kids and snuggled together watching movies and making memories together while indulging, I’d say Christmas desserts can be pretty good for your health too… within reason of course.
I don’t need to convince a single one of you that you need more Christmas dessert ideas. This is the time of year to indulge and enjoy and bake and make memories.
So I’ve found a multitude of delicious Christmas desserts for you to try making this year. Because there are so many indulgent sweet treat creations I broke them up into a few categories to help you find what you’re looking for including: Christmas cookie recipes, brownies and breads, cakes and pies, and other dessert recipes.
17 Christmas Cookie Recipes
When you think of Christmas desserts, there’s a good chance Christmas cookies come to mind. They have become a huge part of holiday traditions for many of us to make with our kids.
Not to mention to bring to parties and neighbors and to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve. There are endless recipes for amazing Christmas cookies, but these are some of the best.
Baking Christmas cookies with your kids can be a great new Christmas tradition to begin this year, along with these 12 other fun Christmas tradition ideas.
Easy Nutter Butter Reindeer Snowman and Santa Cookies
Learn how to make easy Nutter Butter reindeer, snowman, and Santa cookies using simple supplies. Think decorating them is difficult? Not with the tips you will find here!
Peppermint Mocha Cookies
These amazing peppermint mocha cookies are fudgy, minty, & chocolatey. These to-die-for cookies are like a combination of a gooey brownie, a chewy cookie, and a decadent truffle all in one.
Snowman Cookies: Easy, No Bake Oreo Mold Christmas Cookie
Get ready to bring a delightful dose of winter wonderland magic to your kitchen with our Oreo Cookie Snowman recipe! Using an Oreo Mold will give you a professional, party-ready treat. These charming and delicious snowmen are made from everyone’s favorite sandwich cookies, Oreo, and are guaranteed to melt hearts and tickle taste buds.
Grinch Cookies with Cake Mix
These cute Grinch cookies are created from a cake mix cookie dough, food coloring, sweet icing, and decorative hearts. They are festive and fun, make them and then enjoy while reading the story or watching the movie with your kids.
Vintage Santa Sugar Cookies
These sugar cookies are decorated with vintage Santas and other festive icing decor. You’ll love making these cookies, whether they turn out this perfect or looking more like your kids helped a bunch!
Gingerbread Sugar Cookies With Buttercream
Tis the season for gingerbread cookies! If you are looking to mix it up this year, you won’t be disappointed with these gingerbread sugar cookies. These gingerbread sugar cookies are made of a soft vanilla sugar cookie and topped with a creamy buttercream frosting. Plus 7 decorating tutorials so they come out professional looking.
Norwegian Gingerbread Cookies
Spicy and subtly sweet, these traditional Norwegian gingerbread cookies known as pepperkaker are sure to bring joy to your kitchen this holiday season.
Christmas Meringue Cookies
Christmas Meringue Cookies are picture perfect treats that always impress! These crunchy, sweet little Christmas tree cookies are way easier to make than you may think with just 6 simple ingredients. They’re wonderfully light, airy, and oh so festive!
Sourdough Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies
These festive Sourdough Chocolate Peppermint Whoopie Pies are made with two chocolate and fudgy cake-like cookies that sandwich peppermint buttercream and rolled in crushed peppermint.
Gingersnaps
Chewy, spicy gingersnap cookies belong on every cookie table and dessert tray. Also, if you’re watching your calories, gingersnap cookies are a great choice at 48 calories a cookie.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms
These 3-ingredient peanut butter blossoms are so easy and so cute! They have the best peanut butter flavor with delicious chocolate Hershey’s Kisses in the center!
Gingerbread Madeleines
Madeleines are simple, quick, and easy…and yet they manage to be elegant, too! I knew that I needed to make a holiday version, and this seemed like just the thing: Gingerbread Madeleines (with vanilla bean glaze)!
Cookie Butter Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
These Puff Pastry Christmas Trees filled with cookie butter are fun and festive holiday cookies on a stick! They only require 4 ingredients and simple prep. Perfect for cookie swaps, cookies for Santa, teacher gifts and are fun to make with kids.
Peppermint Bark Cookies (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
These fudgy chocolate peppermint Christmas cookies are quick and easy to make, with all the holiday flavors of your favorite no-bake Christmas candy! They also happen to be gluten free and vegan.
Peppermint Cookie Pizza
This Peppermint Cookie Pizza couldn’t be easier to make! It only needs a few simple ingredients and makes the perfect dessert for your next holiday get-together.
Andes Mint Cookies
These Andes Mint Cookies are chewy, minty, chocolatey, and just perfect for all the mint and chocolate lovers in your life. Plus, they store well and freeze wonderfully!
M&M Cookies
This M&M Christmas Cookies recipe is a must-have for your holiday baking list. They’re not only festive and delicious – both the dough and baked cookies freeze well.
Christmas Dessert Ideas: 6 Breads and Brownies
For another tasty finger food Christmas dessert check out these decadent holiday cakes and brownies. With flavors of peppermint, chocolate, and gingerbread, I’m sure these recipes won’t disappoint.
RELATED: Christmas Party Games for Large Groups to Make Epic Memories
Peppermint Mocha Bread Recipe
During the holiday season, there is nothing better than having some quick breads for Christmas ready to serve. This peppermint mocha bread recipe is decadent and delicious! They also make the perfect gift wrapped up in holiday accessories.
Peppermint Brownies
A festive brownie with cream cheese frosting and crushed candy cane. They have an intense chocolate flavor with the right amount of mint. And it’s one bowl, so that means a super easy recipe! They make great desserts and gifts for Christmas.
Gingerbread Brownies
Take the warm spiced flavors of gingerbread and combine it with a super fudgy brownie and you’ll get these Gingerbread Brownies! These are the chocolate dessert you need every Holiday season. The best of both worlds combine when you can have a gingerbread spiced dessert that’s also chocolate!
Festive Christmas Brownies
These easy Christmas Brownies are a festive holiday treat that anyone can make! Start with your favorite boxed brownie mix and our creamy buttercream frosting. Then make any of these 4 Christmas brownie decorating ideas, including a simple wreath, a Christmas present, holiday lights, or Christmas tree brownies!
Easy Bread Pudding Recipe with Yogurt
This bread pudding recipe takes a classic holiday dessert and turns it into something new with yogurt making it even more rich and creamy.
Gingerbread
Moist, old-fashioned gingerbread is classic holiday dessert recipe! Make this easy recipe, and you’ll never buy a boxed mix again!
Christmas Dessert Ideas: 23 Cakes and Pies
Although Christmas brings cookies to mind for me, it seems Christmas cakes are even more popular. The amount of impressive and festive holiday cakes I found when putting this post together speaks to how much people love holiday cakes all around the world.
From cheesecake to cupcakes, I’ve included so many yummy cake recipes that you’ll find the perfect ones here for any crowd from fancy dinner parties to a table of kids.
Also, you might love these 12 Christmas Cupcakes for Kids too
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
This creamy and rich peppermint bark cheesecake is a no bake recipe! It features an Oreo cheesecake crust, has a peppermint white chocolate filling, and is covered in a candy cane chocolate bark. This is simple to make and no fussy waterbath required!
Eggnog Cheesecake Recipe
Eggnog is a festive treat, but it isn’t just for sipping. This unusual eggnog cheesecake, which features a gingersnap crust and a gently spiced filling, is also perfect as a holiday dessert. A slice of eggnog cheesecake makes a lovely treat after your holiday dinner.
Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
This Old Fashioned Gingerbread Bundt Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting is the perfect festive dessert for the holiday season. Fill your home with the old-fashioned fragrance of Christmas- ginger, cinnamon and cloves. The beautiful addition of frosted cranberries on top makes this cake an elegant addition to your holiday table.
Best Italian Plum Cake Recipe
If you’ve been on the hunt for the ultimate Italian plum cake recipe, your search ends here. We’re talking Italian flair, vegan goodness, and a moist crumb that’s literally packed with luscious plum flavor.
Christmas Cranberry Pie with Orange Marmalade
Savor the flavors of fresh tart cranberries and citrusy orange marmalade as they come together in this unique and delicious Christmas Cranberry Pie. It’s easy to make and incredibly delicious!
Gingerbread Cupcakes
This Gingerbread Cupcake Recipe starts with a spice cake mix and features an eggnog cream cheese frosting and has all the flavor of traditional gingerbread. For these cupcakes, we add molasses, and a few other warm spices to the cupcake batter to achieve that undeniable gingerbread taste.
Red Velvet Christmas Cake Roll
Red velvet cake rolls aren’t just for Valentine’s Day. This Christmas dessert will dominate your holiday dessert table every single year.
Festive Christmas Bundt Cake
This Christmas Bundt Cake is a moist Bundt cake flavored with the classic holiday flavors of fresh orange and cinnamon. It’s a show-stopper that’s surprisingly easy to decorate with a luscious cream cheese frosting and simple holly and berry sprinkles!
Italian Chocolate Cake
Torta Tenerina is a delicious light and chocolatey Italian chocolate cake that tastes almost like a brownie in cake form. Many people like referring to this chocolate Italian dessert as an Italian brownie.
Christmas Tree Cake
Kick off your holiday festivities this year by making a Christmas tree cake. Not only is this recipe simple to make, but it’s a great way to create an annual tradition with the family. Tender and moist chocolate cake is decorated with festive sprinkles, maraschino cherries, peppermints, and a chocolate chip trunk.
Ferrero Roche Cake
Want the best blend of candy and cake this Christmas? Try this Ferrero Rocher cake is the ultimate celebration cake with moist chocolate hazelnut sponges, silky Nutella mousseline cream (cooked chocolate pastry cream enriched with Nutella and butter), lots of crunchy hazelnuts, and crushed Ferrero Rocher chocolates.
Chocolate Mint Cheesecake
This chocolate mint cheesecake has a creamy mint cheesecake with a chocolate ganache topping, and an Oreo cookie crust! It really has everything. Made with peppermint extract, chocolate chips, and garnished with Andes candies, this cheesecake is bursting with mint and chocolate flavor.
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Christmas tree cupcakes are tender vanilla cupcakes topped with green buttercream “trees”. These easy Christmas cupcakes are as tasty as they are festive!
Eggnog Cupcakes
Eggnog Cupcakes are the perfect easy Christmas cupcakes full of luscious eggnog flavor. These Eggnog Cupcakes will be a hit at any holiday event like Christmas dinner or as a fun DIY Christmas gift for coworkers and neighbors. These cupcakes are rich, creamy, and extremely fluffy!
Creamy Strawberry Cheesecake
This creamy and decadent strawberry swirl cheesecake is easy, fresh, and delicious, and is made without a water bath. It’s a classic favorite dish and the colors make it perfect for Christmas.
Rum Soaked Pound Cake
The best rum pound cake recipe! This rum soaked cake recipe is a decadent celebration cake for any occasion! And we’re making this rum cake recipe from scratch with richly flavored dark rum in the cake batter, the brown butter rum syrup, and in a brown butter rum glaze on top!
No Bake Eggnog Pie
This easy no-bake recipe for eggnog pie is a creamy Christmas dessert. A sweet graham cracker crust filled with a fluffy whipped eggnog vanilla pudding is so yummy. A dash of nutmeg on the top and eggnog has never tasted better.
Christmas Loaf Cake
A Christmas loaf cake with sprinkles is such a fun and colourful twist! Imagine a moist and flavourful cake, with vibrant sprinkles that add a festive touch. The sprinkles can be a mix of red, green, and white for that classic Christmas palette, or you can go for a whimsical mix of various shapes and colors.
Gingerbread Cake Balls
Super easy gingerbread mix truffles are some of our favorite holiday treats to make. I love that you can make these from scratch, make a no bake version or bake a gingerbread cake from mix to use for those easy festive balls.
Best Pecan Cream Pie
This is the best recipe for Pecan Cream Pie! It’s a no-bake fluffy, creamy pecan pie made with cream cheese, cheesecake pudding, Cool Whip and lots of crunchy, buttery pecans. No need to buy expensive maple syrup. Dark brown sugar and vanilla adds that rich flavor you look for in a butter pecan cream pie in a graham cracker crust.
Santa in Chimney Cupcakes
These Santa in a Chimney Cupcakes are a blast to make with your kids. Make a new holiday tradition that will bring smiles to their faces as you decorate this sweet treat.
Easy Toblerone Cheesecake
Ultimate chocolate lover’s dream, this No-Bake Toblerone Cheesecake recipe is a perfect treat for special occasions such as Christmas, Easter, or any time you want to impress your guests with a show-stopping dessert! It’s a celebration of Toblerone’s smooth milk chocolate studded with pieces of almond nougat, making it a truly indulgent experience.
Adorable Reindeer Cupcakes
These all-frosting (no fondant necessary) reindeer cupcakes are sure to be a fun addition to your holiday dessert line-up!
Lastly, Other Christmas Dessert Ideas
While cookies, cakes, pies, and brownies make up a lot of the best Christmas desserts, that is not nearly all there is!
There are homemade candies, rice crispy treats, and more.
Snowman Rice Krispy Treats
If you’re looking for a fun, festive treat to make this winter, snowman Rice Krispie treats are sure to delight. The holidays are a magical time for baking and bringing joy. These adorable Christmas Rice Krispie treats are decorated like snowmen are a delight for a sweets charcuterie board or a dessert table.
Peppermint Rice Krispy Treats
These Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats are the ultimate quick and easy treat for the holiday season! Rice Krispie Treats are the ultimate treat that is always guaranteed to be a hit. These have all the gooey marshmallow goodness of traditional rice krispie treats with an added peppermint flavor!
Crockpot Christmas Candy
Make Christmas candy in your slow cooker. It’s a decadent peanut chocolate treat with the addition of peanuts and pecans. Add some holiday sprinkles, and you have another treat for your holiday cookie trays.
Homemade Turtles Candy
Homemade turtles feature the perfect combination of toasted pecans, chewy caramel, and chocolate. They are easy to make and are a great DIY candy for Christmas and beyond.
Peppermint Hot Chocolate Fudge
Rich chocolate and cool peppermint come together in this easy recipe for Peppermint Hot Chocolate Fudge! Made in the microwave and topped with crushed candy canes and a dollop of frosting, these peppermint fudge squares are quick to make and so festive for the holidays.
Christmas Puppy Chow
This Christmas Puppy Chow recipe is an easy to make Holiday favorite! Rice Chex Cereal coated in a chocolate peanut butter mixture and finished off with a powdered sugar coating with Holiday M & M’s sprinkled throughout. Perfect for Holiday parties, goodie trays, gifting, and more!
Gingerbread Triffle
Why not make a festive gingerbread trifle this holiday season? It’s an easy dessert to make with cake and pudding layers as well as vanilla and caramel flavours and an indulgent splash of brandy.
Grinch Truffles
Dive into the playful side of holiday indulgence with these Grinch Truffles, a merry fusion of golden Oreos and cream cheese cloaked in festive green chocolate and adorned with a whimsical red heart.
Biscoff Fudge
This recipe for biscoff fudge makes a dreamy and creamy sweet treat that only uses 4 ingredients! What’s more, it only takes about 10 minutes to make. That’s right, if you’re craving for a quick sweet treat or have a last-minute dinner party, then this recipe is definitely for you.
Festive Sherry Trifle Recipe
We all know that Christmas is the perfect time for indulging in those extra-special treats, and what better way to make your festive feast unforgettable than with a show-stopping Sherry Trifle? This layered classic English recipe is indulgent and just screams holiday.
Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark
Williams Sonoma Peppermint Bark is a well-known holiday treat. This peppermint bark recipe combines both dark chocolate and white chocolate, peppermint candies, and a bit of peppermint extract. This candy is simple to make but just screams homemade with love holiday treat.
Microwave Peanut Butter Fudge
This microwave peanut butter fudge is a must-have treat! This quick and easy recipe is the perfect dessert to make! Only four ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time are needed.
Easy Candy Cane Ice Cream Recipe
Who said you could only have ice cream in warm weather? This delicious and easy Candy Cane Ice Cream recipe is the perfect dessert for the holiday season!
Gingerbread Bars
These Christmas bars are full of gingerbread flavor and has a chewy cream cheese frosting. Gingerbread bars that are soft and perfect for a festive Christmas dessert.