We may earn a commission when you click on the affiliate links in this post.
These delicious Christmas desserts can be served along with Christmas dinner or any time throughout the holiday season!
Christmas Dessert Ideas
Whether you are in the mood for some Christmas baking or want easy no-bake holiday desserts, we have plenty of Christmas dessert recipes that are sure to be a hit for Christmas dinner or any time throughout the holidays. We have broken down these fun Christmas desserts into six categories so you can easily find what you are looking for: Cakes & Cupcakes, Pies, Cheesecakes, Layered Desserts, Christmas Cookies, and Brownies.
Traditional Christmas Dessert Flavors
Cinnamon, ginger, cranberries, and peppermint are all very traditional Christmas flavors that you can find around the holidays. Other common flavors and ingredients include pistachios, pecans, marshmallow, peanuts, crushed candy canes, fudge, peanut butter, rum, and “hot cocoa” flavor. You will find most of these ingredients in the recipes below so decide your flavor mood and treat yourself!
Traditional Christmas Desserts
Some of our favorite Christmas desserts are deep-rooted in tradition. For our family, these include recipes from Denmark and Wales. We always celebrate our Danish ancestry on December 23r, which is Lille Julaften (or as we call it “Little Christmas Eve”) by making traditional desserts like Rislamande (Danish Rice Pudding) and Aebleskiver. You can also make the Rice Pudding in the Instant Pot! Our favorite traditional Welsh recipes include Bread Pudding.
Christmas Cakes & Cupcakes
You can’t go wrong with a decadent cake on Christmas day. Bright red berries and vibrant green mint or rosemary garnish can turn your average cake into a gorgeous Christmas cake. Layer cakes and cream cheese frosting are also very popular during the holidays. Whether you like a rich dark chocolate cake or a white chocolate cake, you can’t go wrong with adding those Christmas reds and greens! Don’t feel like making an entire cake? Try making our festive Christmas Tree Cupcakes or individual servings of our Instant Pot Lava Cake!
Pies Perfect For Christmas
Nothing beats the smell of pie baking at Christmastime. Traditionally, our family always serves Berry Pie, Classic Pumpkin Pie, and of course, our Mom’s famous Lemon Meringue Pie on Christmas Day. Sometimes when we are hosting other families or if we simply want to switch things up, we include some of our other delicious pie recipes. What is your go-to pie for Christmas? We would love to know! Share your favorites in the comments below.
Cheesecakes
Cheesecake is such an easy dessert to glam up for Christmas. It’s so rich and creamy and pairs well with any Christmas dinner. You can go with a traditional cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and a berry/cherry topping or take it a step further and make a pumpkin cheesecake. It seems like Christmas day is the last call for anything pumpkin so it’s a great way to use up that last can or two before next Fall!
Layered Christmas Desserts
Layered Christmas desserts are always a great choice when serving a crowd. They are easy to make and always look impressive. Since the layers themselves make for a beautiful presentation, there is no need to go over the top with decorating!
Christmas Cookies
I love Christmas cookies because they can be a little treat throughout the day or they can also be served as a dessert. Each cookie (or two) can simply be a serving so it is easy to figure out exactly how many to make. They are easy to transport and can easily be made ahead of time. Cookies also freeze well so they can be made weeks ahead if need be. They don’t require dessert plates, meaning less mess on Christmas day. There are so many advantages to serving cookies as a Christmas dessert. They also make for great gifts for friends and neighbors!
Christmas Brownies
Brownies are such a simple dessert, yet they are ALWAYS a hit. You can serve them plain or you can dress them up Christmas-style by adding peppermint, sprinkles and/or Christmas candy. Brownies are an easy Christmas dessert that everyone loves and they don’t have to take a lot of time.
Looking for more ways to celebrate Christmas day? We also have 25+ Christmas Dinner Ideas to help you plan the perfect meal to celebrate the season with your family and friends. Finish off the day with one (or more) of the Christmas desserts below and you have a day FULL of delicious Christmas recipes to remember!
Frequently Asked Questions
Bread pudding, Yule logs, cheesecakes, and chocolate cakes are all popular Christmas desserts in the U.S. The most popular dessert/treat throughout the month is Christmas Sugar Cookies!
The most popular dessert is Denmark is Risalamande (Danish Christmas Rice Pudding). It also comes with a fun Christmas tradition that involves prizes! Read all about it in our Risalamande recipe!
Dec. 12, 2022
Thank you, to the staff for checking on omitted ingredients in the recipe.
I so appreciate them taking time to send me an e-mail personal and informing
me that the recipe had been corrected. I can now proceed with making lots of
smile on Christmas dinner desert time.
Happy Holidays to all.
I cant see in the ingredients how many eggs are needed for the sticky toffee pudding. Does anyone know
Ah so sorry! The correct amounts are in there now.
About your recipe for Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake.
Reading through this recipe I see that you list (flour, salt, and molasses) in the steps to make the cake but you did not list the quantity in the ingredients section. What step do you add the molasses to the process.
Perhaps you should redo this recipe as it does sound yummy and I would love to make it.
Thank you
Scott
I am so sorry! They correct amounts are in there now. Thank you for catching that!
The amount of flour was left out of the recipe. As soon as I find out the exact
amount I’m making this for sure.
Thank you
So many fun Christmas recipe! I can’t to try more of your desserts this coming year!
Love all of these dessert ideas! So delicious!!
I have GOT to work my way through this incredible list! And I’ll have to start with those White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Brownies!! WOW!! I’ve had the Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies — LOVE those — and the Dutch Apple… YUM!! But looking forward to making my way through this list & trying ALL of them!
Hi. I grew up always putting brandy cream on my plum pudding. Living in Japan we can’t buy it. Do you have a recipe for this …or do I just add some brandy to the cream before whipping? Also, if you have a recipe for rum balls that would be great too.
We don’t currently have a recipe for brandy cream, but you may want to try this creamy caramel sauce we use on our bread pudding. It is so delicious! https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/bread-pudding-caramel-apple-sauce/