Festive Christmas Desserts to Make This Season

‘Tis the season for treats galore! These festive Christmas desserts will get you in the holiday spirit.

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is the Christmas baking. I love being in the kitchen for hours on end, the air fragrant with the smell of sugar and butter, colorful sprinkles and nonpareils all over the countertops, and a growing stack of filled cookie tins ready to share with friends and family. 

I’ve assembled all my best Christmas baking ideas here. Baking for a neighborhood cookie swap? Looking for seasonal treats for parties? On the hunt for easy Christmas treats? I’ve got you covered. There’s something for every holiday occasion here. 

Christmas Cookies

You’ve got to love a holiday that has its own genre of cookies! For parties, swaps, or a cozy afternoon snack with a mug of hot chocolate, cookies are some of the most popular holiday treats. For more ideas, check out my roundup of best Christmas cookies.

Christmas Tree Shortbread Cookies: You only need four ingredients (butter, confectioner’s sugar, vanilla extract and flour), and some pint-sized helpers to make these easy-to-decorate cookies.

Chocolate Sugar Cookies: This rich chocolate dough is just as easy to work with as my classic cutout sugar cookie dough. It looks dramatic with white frosting and colorful decorations.

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies: Fill these cute-as-a-button cookie rounds with a dollop of creamy chocolate filling. This is a great recipe for a cookie swap because it makes lots of cookies.

Pumpkin Pie Biscotti: Crunchy biscotti cookies are great for shipping as they are firm enough to travel well and they don’t get stale quickly.

Candy Cane Cookies: Twists of red and white butter cookie dough make these adorable cookies in a familiar seasonal shape. Sprinkle them with finely crushed candy canes or sanding sugar flavored with peppermint extract for an even more festive presentation.

Soft and Chewy Ginger Cookies: With crispy edges, a chewy center, and crunchy sugar topping, these cookies are irresistable and are a traditional flavor that is loved by adults and kids alike. 

Christmas Desserts

For a party or holiday dinner, these easy Christmas desserts will make your celebration sparkle. 

Chocolate Christmas Tree Cupcakes: Tiny “trees” made from chocolate confection and pretzel rods top these snowy cupcakes. Set up a forest of them on the dessert buffet.

Christmas Tree Cupcakes (version two!): Dessert that doubles as a centerpiece! This version of Christmas tree cupcakes uses sugar cones decorated with green frosting and silver candy balls for fir trees. Arrange them down the middle of the holiday dinner table. 

Chocolate Lava Cakes with Raspberry Sauce: For a holiday dinner party, this magical recipe with the molten middle is always a showstopper.

Chocolate Gingerbread Bundt Cake: Spicy gingerbread combines with rich chocolate in a super-moist cake drizzled with dramatic white icing. This is a great riff on a traditional Christmas dessert.

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies: The red and white swirled batter of these creamy and fudgy brownies goes perfectly with other holiday desserts. 

Christmas Brownies: Cutting brownies into wedges and decorating them with red and green sprinkles makes them the perfect holiday treat. 

Pecan Pie Brownies: A mash-up of two favorite sweets, pecan pie brownies are the ultimate holiday party desserts!

Gingerbread Cookie Cups with Cream Cheese Frosting: A bite-sized treat that packs a punch. Use a mini muffin tin to make these tiny cookie cakes, and top them with a dollop of rich cream cheese frosting and plenty of colorful sprinkles.

Puff Pastry Christmas Tree: This showstopping pastry is perfect for dessert, brunch or even a cocktail-party spread. Don’t worry, it LOOKS more complicated than it actually is (watch my video for step-by-step instructions).

Easy Puff Pastry Snowflake: Just four ingredients are needed to make this gorgeous seasonal treat. Fill it with Nutella or jam.

Christmas Confections

Candies and no-bake confections are easy make-ahead desserts that can help you budget your time during the busy holiday season. These seasonal treats for parties are easy to make and look great on a holiday dessert spread or as a teacher’s gift.

No-Bake Gingerbread Cookie Balls: Store-bought gingersnap cookies and cream cheese are blended together for a truffle-like treat. Dipped in white chocolate and covered with sprinkles, they are as pretty as they are delicious!

Chocolate Reindeer Marshmallow Pops: Pretzels stand in for antlers while candy eyes and cinnamon candies make a Rudolph-style face for these adorable pops. Serve them at a kids’ party for a surefire hit, or wrap them in cellophane for stocking stuffers.

Cheesecake-Filled Chocolate Turtles: Swap the chewy caramel for creamy cheesecake and you have a rich and delicious new favorite candy treat. A sprinkling of flaky salt is a delicious complement to the dark chocolate.

Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats: Kids go crazy for these cuties, with their chocolate-covered pretzel antlers and googly eyes! They’re quick and easy to make and are perfect for a class party or a lunchbox surprise.

Oyster Cracker Toffee Bark: Just five ingredients are needed for this addictive confection that’s a riff on classic saltine toffee bark, a.k.a. “Christmas crack”.

Quick and Easy Homemade Fudge: This fast, easy fudge recipe can be dressed up dozens of ways! Stir in nuts or marshmallows or decorate the top with sprinkles, crushed candy canes or toasted coconut flakes. 

Homemade Salted Caramels: Yes, you can make caramels just as good as those from a fancy candy shop. Nestled in a box, these chewy wrapped caramels make a wonderful last-minute gift.

Marshmallow Christmas Wreaths: A retro favorite, these confections combine breakfast cereal with marshmallow to make the cutest holly-trimmed wreaths.

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