66 Most Popular Christmas Desserts To Make Your Holidays Bright

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies
Photo: Emily Laurae

White cakes, Christmas cookies, classic candies...we all look forward to holiday sweets, and we want to use our kitchen time on the most delicious, most beautiful, popular Christmas dessert recipes. Whether you're looking for after-dinner showstoppers, Christmas morning brunch sweets, or cookies to leave by the tree, these reader favorites will surely be a hit with the kids, adults, and Santa. Here are our most popular Christmas dessert recipes to enjoy this season.

01 of 66

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars

Spiced Pecan Pie Bars - Southern Living

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Make this classic holiday treat even more shareable with these spiced pecan pie bars. With only 10 minutes of active time and 32 servings, this dessert is an easy way to get your pecan pie fix without the effort.

02 of 66

Peppermint Bark

Southern Living Peppermint Bark broken into pieces on a plate to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Much like a famous kitchenware store, you can make peppermint bark at home with just a handful of ingredients. Peppermint bark makes a great food gift or a quick and easy dessert you can sprinkle in cookie tins or dessert displays.

03 of 66

Fruitcake

Southern Living Fruit Cake sliced and ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

At the holidays, there are people who loathe fruitcake—and there are the people who love them. They love them so much, they look forward to them all year and make multiple loaves. Once you try this recipe, you'll understand why.

04 of 66

The Redbird Cake

Southern Living The Redbird Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

We gave our classic Hummingbird Cake a holiday upgrade with the addition of cherries and named it after the special bird that many Southerners associate with the memory of loved ones. It's a special cake, but it is incredibly easy.

05 of 66

Vanilla Chiffon Trifle

Southern Living Triple-Vanilla Trifle in the trifle dish to serve

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

There's nothing boring about vanilla, and this trifle is proof of that. Vanilla cake, vanilla custard, and whipped cream are perfect together in this holiday treat.

06 of 66

White Christmas Bûche de Noël

Southern Living White Christmas Buche de Noel topped with meringue mushrooms and sugared rosemary

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

Instead of the more traditional chocolate, give your holiday yule log a snowy (vanilla) makeover. With vanilla buttercream frosting and custard, and adorable meringue mushrooms, this sweet cake will surely impress.

07 of 66

Peanut Butter Balls

Southern Living Peanut Butter Balls on a tray to serve

Greg Dupree, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

Simple and easy, peanut butter balls are wonderful amid other Christmas desserts. They can also be packaged up as a gift for others.

08 of 66

Easy Crème Brûlée

Southern Living Creme Brulee finished in ramekins

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Don't let the torch terrify you (you can also use your oven's broiler). This really is an incredibly easy dessert—and it's super impressive, so work up the courage to serve this at your holiday dinner.

09 of 66

Rum Balls

Rum Balls - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

No holiday cookie tin is complete without rum balls, and this recipe comes straight from the Southern Living archives. Made with dark rum and bourbon, these Danish delicacies are for adults only

10 of 66

Cranberry-Orange Cake With Orange Buttercream

cranberry orange cake on a pedestal with plates and cups

Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Sugared cranberries and fresh citrus are the perfect combination, whether in this cake, muffins, or quick bread. And this cake is beautiful on a sidebar, amid all the other desserts.

11 of 66

Ugly Sweater Cake

Ugly Sweater Cake - Southern Living

Frederick Hardy II; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Ugly Christmas sweaters are an adorably unstylish holiday tradition, and this cake honors that in a delicious way. This red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting (and plenty of sprinkles!) is sure to impress your guests this holiday.

12 of 66

Caramel Pie

Southern Living Caramel Pie sliced on plates to serve

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This pie's creamy texture is reminiscent of a custard pie, but it's a decadent and rich caramel filling instead.

13 of 66

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies

Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies
Emily Laurae

Add a show-stopping Christmas cookie to your spread this year with these cream cheese cookies. The made with tangy cream cheese and nutty pecans, these are sure to catch the eyes of all your guests.

14 of 66

Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

These adorable cookies are a labor of love that will wow all of your guests at Christmas dinner. Kids and adults alike will enjoy this festive treat you'll want to eat right off the cookie sheet.

15 of 66

Battenberg Cake

Southern Living Battenberg Cake on a platter

VICTOR PROTASIO, FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL, PROP STYLIST: KATHLEEN VARNER

If you're up for a baking challenge this holiday, give this Battenberg cake a whirl. This classic British cake features an almond-laced sponge held together with jam and covered in marzipan. When cut, you'll see a stunning check pattern.

16 of 66

Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes
Southern Living

Every holiday season, Southerners look forward to the Christmas-inspired Little Debbie's to hit the shelves. Make them even better by using this recipe for the homemade version of these treats.

17 of 66

Mrs. Floyd's Divinity

Mrs. Floyd's Divinity Candy Recipe

What better way to show your appreciation for friends and family than by giving packages of these delicious holiday confections? For best results, make your divinity on a dry, cool day.

18 of 66

Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

It's Christmas, so let's not skimp on the buttercream or the sprinkles, please! If you give someone a box of these amazing cookies, you'll have a friend for life.

19 of 66

Christmas-Morning Coffee Cake

Christmas-Morning Coffee Cake
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Bake the cake a couple of days ahead, wrap it tightly, and then add the glaze on Christmas morning. Enjoy this special breakfast treat with the family while unwrapping your gifts.

20 of 66

Santa's Kitchen-Sink Cookies

santa's kitchen sink cookies
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Kitchen sink cookies can come in a multitude of flavors, but we think that Santa (wink, wink) will absolutely love this cheerful version with his big glass of milk.

21 of 66

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
Jim Franco

The iced snowflake on top might be the showstopper, but it's the decadent chocolate flavor that will have people coming back for more.

22 of 66

Reindeer Cookies

Reindeer Cookies
Southern Living

Simple enough for even the littlest hands to make, these charmers are perfect for a kids' Christmas party. Save a few for Santa.

23 of 66

Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins

Sorghum-Pecan Monkey Bread Muffins
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Mini monkey breads bake in a muffin tin for individual servings, and they can be made in advance. Better make a couple of batches for your holiday brunch—they'll go fast!

24 of 66

Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Chocolate Peppermint Cake
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Billowy Italian meringue frosting and moist devil's food cake make this peppermint-accented knockout fun to serve and eat.

25 of 66

Cathedral Window Cookies

Cathedral Window Cookies
Zoe Denenberg, Styling: Rachel Mulcahy

Colorful, full of marshmallows, and no baking required—sounds like the perfect Christmas cookie to make with little ones. These take a few hours in the refrigerator to firm up, so plan accordingly.

26 of 66

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream
Hector Sanchez

One of our most popular cake recipes of all time, the seasonal flavors and dramatic filling color in this showstopper make it a true classic.

27 of 66

Cornflake Wreath Christmas Cookies

Southern Living Cornflake Wreath Cookies on a platter to serve

Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Whether you want to relive childhood memories or start a new tradition with your own kids, these wreath cookies are so much fun to make.

28 of 66

Pineapple-Coconut Cake

Pineapple-Coconut Cake

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

What could be prettier at Christmas than a coconut cake? Readers say this version is fluffy, flavorful, and simply lovely.

29 of 66

Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts

Mini Chocolate Chess Tarts
Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Everything is cuter when it is bite-sized! Don't mind us if we take an extra one or two.

30 of 66

Molten Red Velvet Cakes

Molten Red Velvet Cakes, red velvet cake recipe
HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ

There's nothing like serving elegant individual desserts to make your guests feel special. And when they put their fork in the red velvet cake and discover the melted chocolate, it's like finding an extra present under the tree.

31 of 66

Almond Snowballs

Almond Snowballs
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Snow might not be in the forecast for December 25, but we'll gladly take our White Christmas in the form of a sweet treat covered in powdered sugar.

32 of 66

Pink Champagne Cake

pink champagne cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Kelly

Break away from the red and green with this surprise holiday hue: pretty pink. The secret to the delicate color is freeze-dried strawberries.

33 of 66

Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies

Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
Joy Howard

Classic gingerbread gets a twist from rich dark chocolate, and this sweet addition also darkens the dough and makes the glaze colors pop.

34 of 66

Salted Butterscotch Popcorn

Salted Butterscotch Popcorn
Southern Living

A perfect Christmas party munch or a fun food gift, this yummy snack features a whiskey-infused butterscotch glaze.

35 of 66

Millionaire Pie

Southern Living Millionaire Pie in a pie plate to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Rich and creamy, colorful, and studded with cherries and nuts: old-time favorite Millionaire Pie (which was born in the South) looks like a retro Christmas ornament and tastes divine.

36 of 66

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies

Fudgy Flourless Chocolate-Pecan Cookies
Victor Protasio

Think of these ultra-rich gems as brownies dressed as cookies. Made without flour, a batch of these takes only one bowl and 15 minutes to prepare.

37 of 66

Homemade White Cake

Best White Cake
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox

A snowy white cake is the perfect ending to any holiday dinner. We topped this one with cute cookies and rosemary trees to create a scenic setting.

38 of 66

Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies
Joy Howard

Classic and charming, these candy cane twists are a must to make with kids. We used traditional Christmas colors, but choose whatever color complements your theme.

39 of 66

Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks

Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks
Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller

A layered dessert just looks holiday-special. You can make and chill these elegant cakes a day ahead.

40 of 66

Christmas Tree Cake

Christmas Tree Cake
Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

A fun centerpiece cake makes everyone happy. Creative decorating ideas make this Christmas tree a tasty and charming dessert that will have everyone cheering.

41 of 66

Pecan Pie Bars

Pecan Pie Squares
Lee Harrelson

Pecan pie but make it handheld! We love these bars as food gifts or on a tray of cookies.

42 of 66

Spritz Cookies

Spritz Cookies
Micah A. Leal

Every cookie tin should have some spritz cookies inside. They are tender, sparkly, and oh-so-simple.

43 of 66

Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake

Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake and Vanilla Custard with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

This one has it all: silky-smooth cheesecake, delectable pralines, and a boozy note of bourbon. It's an elegant dessert that's a nice change-up from holiday chocolate.

44 of 66

Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies

Grandma's Chocolate Drop Cookies
Katie Strasberg Rousso

When you need a straight-up, no-fail chocolate winner for your cookie tray, go with these.

45 of 66

Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake

Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Nothing can beat a Bundt cake for tenderness and richness, and this Christmas version is extra-special because it tastes like everyone's favorite holiday sip. It's delicious fresh out of the oven, and even tastier the next day.

46 of 66

Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes
Victor Protasio

Naturally flavored and topped with a lush cream cheese frosting, these minis should be on your Christmas dessert table.

47 of 66

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites
Jennifer Davick

Great things come in small packages. These pecan pie bites are small but full of flavor and just the right size for pass-along party desserts.

48 of 66

Sea Salt-Caramel Cake

Sea Salt-Caramel Cake
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

It's at once comforting and extra-special: a caramel layer cake brings back memories and helps your family create new ones.

49 of 66

Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Caitlin Bensel

We've captured all the flavor of a decadent treat in a two-bite delight. Put a platter of these beauties out at the neighborhood cookie exchange and watch them disappear.

50 of 66

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie
Iain Bagwell

Pumpkin pie gets an extra-special holiday treatment here: pumpkin filling is layered on a chocolate-lined gingersnap crust and topped with a drift of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Wow.

51 of 66

Cappuccino Swirl Bars

Cappuccino Swirl Bars
Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Who doesn't need more coffee during the whirl of the holiday season? These unique cookies give you that perfect cappuccino taste, and they're easy to make.

52 of 66

Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream

Gingerbread Roulade and Eggnog Cream
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

All the flavors of the season are here in one spectacular cake roll. A snowy flurry of powdered sugar makes it seasonally perfect.

53 of 66

Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Crock Pot Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Caitlin Bensel

We don't know what we're more excited about on Christmas morning: opening presents or digging into this amazing slow-cooker treat.

54 of 66

Christmas Fudge

Christmas Fudge
Micah A Leal

Christmas is a time to celebrate and indulge. Sounds like the perfect reason to whip up some homemade fudge. This recipe has a just-right blend of silky texture and bittersweet chocolate flavor, and the sprinkles make it fun.

55 of 66

Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cake with White Chocolate-Cream Cheese Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

This beauty is scrumptious and easy, thanks to our upgraded boxed-mix shortcut. The frosting's blend of white chocolate and cream cheese makes it the perfect sweet and rich topping.

56 of 66

No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS

Everyone should have a no-bake option in their Christmas cookie repertoire, and this glossy, candy-topped confection is a stunner.

57 of 66

Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars

Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

These are definitely going on our Christmas list. It's a perfect recipe to showcase one of our favorite flavor combinations.

58 of 66

Peppermint Pie

peppermint pie
Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Delicious, quick, and just so cute—this pretty-in-pink peppermint and chocolate pie is a crowd-pleaser, and easy on the cook too.

59 of 66

Brown Sugar Cookie Stars

Brown Sugar Cookie Stars
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These golden stars have a richer taste and color than standard sugar cookies. Gold sprinkles give extra Christmas luster.

60 of 66

Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream

Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Feed a crowd with a sheet cake that’s perfect to bring to the party and pretty enough for a fancy feast at home. Carrot curls hint at the lightly spiced carrot cake inside.

61 of 66

Butterscotch-Spice Trifle

Butterscotch-Spice Trifle
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Use whole cake rounds for a twist on traditional trifle layers, or cut them into cubes if you prefer. Either way, the rich butterscotch custard will cling to every surface.

62 of 66

Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Even simple sandwich cookies get dressed up for the holidays. Red and white swirls of peppermint filling are all the decoration these chocolaty cookies need.

63 of 66

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

When you don’t want to spend precious holiday time baking but still need dessert for the holiday party, head to the kitchen to whip up a batch of bourbon balls. You need just 30 minutes of hands-on time to make these four-ingredient bites.

64 of 66

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies

Sprinkle Stocking Cookies
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Cutout cookies are a Christmas tradition and you don’t need to be an expert to make these. Armed with simple icing and lots of sprinkles, your crew will have fun decorating these.

65 of 66

Chocolate Cobbler

Chocolate Cobbler
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

There’s no fruit to be found in this cobbler. Just layer the ingredients and bake. No need to stir—that’s what creates those gooey pudding pockets.

66 of 66

Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream

Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Eggnog lovers, rejoice! This boozy layer cake is simple to make. Don't be intimidated by the frosting technique. The directions make this fancy look easy to do, or you can simply apply the frosting however you like.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles