113 Heavenly Holiday Dessert Ideas That Will Wow Guests

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The Redbird Cake

The redbird is beloved by Southern author Fannie Flag so much that she paid tribute to them in her 2005 book, A Redbird Christmas. Like the book, our 2023 holiday cake features sweet redbird cookies as the finishing touch.

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Vanilla Chiffon Trifle

Southern Living Triple-Vanilla Trifle in the trifle dish to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

If you don't love icing cake layers, trifles offer an easier way to serve up delicious flavors without the hassle. We recommend preparing this trifle in advance as the flavors will only get better as it sits.

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Hot Chocolate Lasagna

If you love sipping hot chocolate during the holiday season, you need to try this no-bake layer cake. The hot chocolate-mix-imbued layers are sandwiched between an Oreo cookie crust and a whipped cream topping, adorned with mini marshmallows and a drizzle of dark chocolate.

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Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake

Calling all eggnog lovers! You've got to make this pretty Bundt. A tip from the Test Kitchen: For the most tender crumb, don't overmix the wet and dry ingredients; stop stirring just after they are blended.

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Snowy Christmas Pavlova

Southern Living Let It Snow Pavlova on a cake plate ready to serve — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

This vanilla dessert is anything but boring! You'll find the delicate flavor in each of the three layers of this show-stopping Christmas dessert that will double as a centerpiece.

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Cranberry-Orange Cake With Orange Buttercream

cranberry-orange cake on a pedestal — Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

You don't have to spend a whole day in the kitchen to pull together a beautiful holiday layer cake. This cranberry-orange dessert requires just 35 minutes of hands-on time to create.

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Heavenly Hash

Coming together in just 5 minutes, you can impress guests with this old-fashioned dessert even if you only have a few minutes to spare. Plus, it can (and should!) be made ahead of time as the flavors will have longer to develop.

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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

A true work of art, this show-stopping holiday dessert will be the star of Christmas dinner. Though it does have a lot of steps, none of them are complicated and the recipes yields a beautiful result.

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Chocolate Thumbprints

With a crunchy outside and soft inside, these cookies over the best of both textures. Cracking may occur as the cookies bake, but it's expected and they'll still look (and taste!) delicious.

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Fruitcake

If you're on the fence about fruitcake, give this recipe a try to prove the controversial dessert's potential. Apples, apricots, cherries, and pecans are a stellar combination that makes all the difference. Even your dinner guests will be surprised at the taste of this version.

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Bourbon Ball Tart

If bourbon balls are a crowd-pleaser all on their own, guests will go gaga for this recipe. Bring this tart that tops chocolate ganache with festive bourbon balls to have the most fun dessert on the sideboard. You can try to slice the pieces smaller in order for your guests to all get a taste, but ultimately be ready for this treat to vanish in moments.

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Christmas Tree Brownies

With this recipe, brownie batter is simple as can be—no melting or creaming necessary—and the result is a gooey chocolate dessert that's chewiest at the bottom. These brownies have the soft texture you crave, but the best part is decorating them with the family.

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Snowy Vanilla Cake With Cream Cheese Buttercream

This quintessential Christmas cake is enveloped with vanilla extract which makes it tasty, tender, and aromatic. If you want a Christmas dessert that's Southern Living cover-worthy, top this classic white cake with our homemade Cake Ball Ornaments. This elegant presentation will make great holiday memories.

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Peppermint Divinity

Since the South's hot, humid climate can extend well into winter, be sure to check the weather before making this old-fashioned treat. These snowball-like desserts need a dry, sunny "divinity day." Once you've got your plan in place, make enough to satisfy your holiday gift-giving list.

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Eggnog Layer Cake With Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Frosting

Eggnog Layer Cake with Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

If you're on the hunt for a show stopping finale for your Christmas celebration, consider it found. Our December 2021 cover star, boasts four layers of eggnog cake, homemade buttercream frosting, and piles of sweet present cookies. You are just about to exceed your own dessert expectations.

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Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Southerners know that mayonnaise is the secret to the best chocolate cake, and this layer cake starts with it. This impressive three-layer cake will be heaven on earth for winter season mint lovers. Try getting away with keeping this recipe to yourself. Be prepared to share.

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Eggnog Cookies

If these Eggnog Cookies don't scream "Christmas," then we don't know what will. The classic holiday flavors bring a celebration to your table. Add rum to the decadent frosting on these thick, soft, and chewy cookies for a complete treat that will have Santa blushing.

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Peppermint Cake With Seven-Minute Frosting

Each element of this cake can be made ahead, so you can just decorate and serve the day of your gathering. Pink may not be your go-to Christmas coloring, but rest assured that the fluffy icing's pop of color will only make the white and red motif sweeter.

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Buche De Noel

It's a labor of love, but if you've never made a classic yule log cake for the holidays, this is the year to try. Rolled up to look like a log, Buche de Noel are traditionally decorated with meringue "moss" and "mushrooms" to complete the woodsy styling. Talk about a true nod to snow-capped, holiday fir trees.

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Best-Ever Brownies

This recipe from Test Kitchen Professional and Hey Y'all host Ivy Odom yields two pans of gooey, fudgy perfection. We recommend keeping at least one batch on hand for drop-in holiday guests. Aside from that, you better get to work on those batches that need to be offered in care packages and as host treats.

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Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Chocolate-Peppermint Swirl Sandwich Cookies — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Chocolate cookies and peppermint filling pair together for an adorable holiday dessert your Christmas crew won't be able to get enough of. Serve these cookie sandwiches on a platter with other holiday cookie selections or let them steal the show all on their own.

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Eggnog Cake With Bourbon Custard Filling & Buttercream

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

Instead of drinking your eggnog this Christmas, serve it on a cake plate. This eggnog-infused layer cake is actually multiple beverages in one thanks to Bourbon Custard Filling. To top it all off, an eggnog buttercream coating will enhance every bite.

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Christmas Fudge

Every Christmas gathering needs a cake plate stacked high with perfect pieces of fudge. Ranking as one of the holiday's most beloved sweet treats, we use a secret ingredient in this recipe to keep our Christmas Fudge up to standards: smooth and chewy rather than crumbly and disappointing.

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White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

Since this festive recipe makes four and a half dozen bars, you'll have plenty to share with the neighbors. That is—if you're able to part with festive, minty blondies. We dare you to share.

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Homemade White Cake

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

This classic cake forgoes frills in favor of unbeatable, classic vanilla layer cake. Forget sprinkles or store-bought decorations, bake your own cake topper with our Gingerbread Cookies. You just might find that the icing used for the cake is a perfect match for those cookies.

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White Christmas Pavlovas

There's no prettier way to end a meal than with a fluffy pavlova. The mini portions are perfect for easy serving. Your guests will be so impressed with the presentation and taste of this classic dessert, a dish originally from Australia.

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Brown Sugar-and-Ginger Whipped Cream — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This year, we could use a little homemade comfort, and this old-school gingerbread recipe is like a hug in a pan. Nothing says "Christmas" like the spicy-sweet aroma that will fill your home as Old-Fashioned Gingerbread bakes away in the oven. You will feel as if you are running the kitchen in Santa's workshop.

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Rum Balls

These boozy dessert balls will complete any holiday dessert spread. Unlike many bourbon or rum balls that call for corn syrup, this recipe opts for honey to delicious effect. Believe it or not, none of these tasty treats will make it home from the potluck.

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Red Velvet Brownies

Brownies get dressed up for Christmas with red velvet and snowy cream cheese frosting. Swap out the white frosting for your favorite fudgy frosting to make these brownies even more chocolatey. Do you think the sweetness might be too much? Neither do we.

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Cherry Spice Cake Trifle

Thaw Holiday Spice Cake layers and prepare the recipe through Step 3. Assemble trifle in the morning, and refrigerate. Remove 1 hour before serving, and reap the reward of your make-ahead holiday dessert miracle.

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Praline Cream-Beignet Tower

This recipe uses a presentation trick to impress guests even before they take their first bite. Make the praline filling and dough up to two days ahead, and do yourself a favor with a measured approach. The pay-off to serving this will be the memorable reward of sharing it.

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Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

Effortless to pull off? Check. Tastes better the longer it sits? Check. Make this beauty up to one day before company arrives, and have that holiday dessert nailed.

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Coconut-Pecan Truffles

We've found your go-to giftable treat for the holiday season. These eight-ingredient truffles look just as pretty in a cookie tin as they do on a gold platter. Get started early to ensure you disperse them amongst your friends and family properly.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

Don't worry if your cheesecake cracks! The light and fluffy layer of whipped cream will cover it. Your holiday companions will only notice the delightful holiday flavors.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake & Cream Cheese Frosting

Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting — Hector Manuel Sanchez

Creamy red velvet cheesecake, soft white cake, and layers of tangy cream cheese frosting? Somebody pinch us. This cake is almost too good to believe.

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Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks

Allow plenty of time to make fillings, and immediately assemble stacks. You can chill the assembled stacks up to 24 hours ahead of time. You will definitely be ready to celebrate the season with the addition of these tasty, individual servings of mousse.

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Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

Making shortbread with melted butter skips the wait for it to soften. Making shortbread with melted chocolate drizzle is just plain delicious. Give these morsels of delightfulness a chance on your table, and be ready to share the recipe.

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Red Velvet Fudge

Fudge is an old-school Christmas staple on the dessert sidebar, and this recipe comes dressed up for the occasion. If you like red velvet cake, you'll love this fudge.

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White Cake With Bourbon Buttercream

White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream — Photo: Hector Sanchez

It's hard to beat a straightforward white layer cake sitting pretty on the Christmas table. Top this cake with Sugar-Coated Orange Slices and Sparkling Cherries. The bright colors make it alluring, while the fruit elevates the flavor.

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Ambrosia Streusel Bars With Shortbread Crust

Milk Punch Tres Leches Cake — Photo: Hector Sanchez

We breathe new life into classic Ambrosia with this fantastic dessert recipe. Anyone at the table will be enchanted by the presentation and taste. Use the foil as a handle to remove the cooled batch from the pan for easy slicing.

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White Cake With Cranberry Filling And Orange Buttercream

This cake will be the star of your holiday meal. Your guests will be begging for the recipe, we promise. And don't forget the charm of dessert for breakfast around the holiday season.

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Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle

Hotter than your average chocolate trifle, this Mexican chocolate version is spiced with cinnamon. This pairs well with coffee or even mulled wine. Top this rich trifle with a sprinkle of chocolate curls.

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Layered Eggnog Blondies

These treats have a split personality: 1 part blondie, 1 part eggnog cheesecake. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container up to one week. Not that we expect you to have any.

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Banana Pudding Trifle

This classic English layered pudding dessert goes Southern with banana pudding and bourbon-soaked vanilla wafers. Bourbon continues to prove its dessert potential with this stellar recipe. Jump in and indulge.

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Sugar And Spice Cake

Make a classic white cake for Christmas this year. This recipe starts with boxed mix, then adds a few key ingredients to make the end result light, fluffy, and totally delicious. You're going to want this easy approach at the ready for multiple birthdays, as well.

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Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

We replicated the flavor profile of Mexican chocolate using semisweet chocolate and cinnamon. If you prefer to use Mexican chocolate, look for it with the hot drink mixes or on the Hispanic food aisle. This moist pound cake is equally delicious without the Mexican Chocolate Sauce.

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Coconut Pudding

Smooth Coconut pudding sweetened with vanilla is an elegant finale to Christmas dinner. The presentation is snowy white, as a reflection of the season. Try unsweetened coconut flakes for a not-too-sweet topping.

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Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape. Between decadent flavor and a gorgeous white chocolate snowflake in the center, this dessert will steal the show. You will certainly have to learn how to take a compliment gracefully after serving this showstopper.

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Red Velvet Soufflés With Whipped Sour Cream

Serving up soufflés is a one-way ticket to impressed guests. These snazzy red velvet soufflés are not only eye-catching, but drool-worthy desserts that will dazzle any holiday table. Even the word soufflé is impressive, and you will be praised for your thoughtful selection and your patience.

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Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

As festive as they are yummy, these cookies will be a hit with holiday guests of all ages. Unlike any old dry gingerbread recipe, this one takes the cake with moist cookies decorated with cocoa powder and meringue to sweeten the deal.

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Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake

Swiss Meringue Buttercream envelopes rich, chocolate cake in striking but delicious contrast. If you really want to impress the crowd with your baking skills, top this soft chocolate cake with our Magnolia Flowers or Camellia Flowers. It will be a dessert course to remember.

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Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding

We turned one of winter's favorite cocktails into an ultra-decadent dessert that will make your house smell amazing. Black pepper may not be the most common dessert ingredient, but don't skip it! Those who are lucky enough to try this will notice the flavorful difference.

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Hot Chocolate Brownies

Treat your guest to a chewy version of everyone's favorite indulgent winter drink. Rich, gooey brownies topped with a layer of homemade marshmallows—sounds like we just found your next baking project. Let the kids in on the merriment of making these delicious treats.

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White Chocolate Poinsettia Cake

Delicate white chocolate is at the foundation of this recipe: from the fluffy cake layers, to the smooth mousse, and also the decadent buttercream. Plus, who knew a petal-shaped cookie cutter could create such a stunning holiday cake topper?

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Molasses Crinkles

Perfect for your Christmas cookie swap or holiday dinner finale, Molasses Crinkles are a Southern Living classic recipe. Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, these cookies are a sweet-heat holiday staple. These will work perfectly for your food gift-giving goals.

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Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle

This dessert hybrid is as merry and bright as it gets. Since this trifle can chill for up to 24 hours before serving, it's an ideal make-ahead dessert to save you time this holiday season. The presentation makes it almost too pretty to eat.

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Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes

Bourbon and butterscotch are the dream team in this recipe. Warm sweetness goes a long way with the appeal of this recipe. These single-serving cakes ensure nobody is fighting over the last slice this Christmas.

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Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

We can't think of a more festive combination than red velvet and peppermint. Cream cheese frosting and even more peppermint candies drive home both dessert flavor profiles. This is a winner of a final course that will make your holiday merry and bright.

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Old-Fashioned Trifle

If you're celebrating Christmas with an adults-only dinner party, try this tipsy trifle. Whiskey-soaked pound cake and tipsy cherries meet a rich custard and whipped cream. We can assure you this will surface again outside of your holiday season.

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Bourbon-Chocolate Cake With Browned Buttercream Frosting

This boozy dessert is a year-round delight, but it's definitely festive enough for Christmas. It's the perfect recipe for fans of a tall, beautiful layer cake who prefer chocolate to our usual vanilla white cakes. Don't forget to make a batch of your favorite French roast to pair with this decadent dessert.

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Coffee Baba Au Rhum

With this beautiful dessert, you have a great excuse to make it ahead: It tastes even better after a day or so. Our Southern take on a French dessert can't be beat once the flavors have taken their time to fully mold together.

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Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

Sprinkle haters need not apply! With colorful sprinkles included in the dough and added to the icing that's sandwiched between the two-bite treats, these Christmas cookies are ready to party. And don't forget other holidays that could apply, to include 4th of July and even Halloween.

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Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake

Not only is the praline topping a picturesque touch, but it takes the flavor of this cheesecake over the top. Beneath the praline topping, our trick to the smoothest ever cheesecake is using room temperature cream cheese. This trick can be applied to any cheesecake recipe that calls for cream cheese.

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Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling

Surprise everyone when you cut this snowy white cake open to reveal a sweet cranberry filling. The cranberry concoction is not only strikingly festive, but deliciously tart, too. The balance between cake and filling is sweet perfection.

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Gingerbread Cake Roll With Eggnog Cream

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

This spice cake is a great make-ahead option for your holiday feast. Add a snowy topping of powdered sugar for beautiful presentation. Remember that your options for a sweet breakfast are wide open, here.

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Christmas Pudding

Bring this British dessert over the pond and start a new family tradition this year. It's dense and intense, with spices, dried fruit, and brandy, so this pudding may lead to the great fruitcake debate 2.0. Try it for yourself to see what you think.

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Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake

One Test Kitchen Professional said this cake "tastes like all the wonderful flavors that come tumbling from a stocking: milk chocolate Santas, gingerbread men, and buttery toffee candy." Who can say no to that?

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Vanilla Custard With Bourbon-Caramel Sauce

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

Your friends will be stunned when you serve up this dessert that looks like it came from a five-star restaurant. Smooth custard served in elegant stemware is the perfect conclusion to a formal holiday dinner. Their assessment of your home chef skills will instantly elevate.

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Rudolph's Chocolate Truffle Cake

This rich chocolate cake has been a reader favorite for decades. We recommend serving this decadent dessert with a round of coffee. As a matter of fact, you don't need a holiday to celebrate this cake. Present it as a brunch treat and win over your dining guests with your sweet offering.

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Spice Cake With Citrus Filling

If you really want to make an impression, whip up this beauty with thick citrus and spice cake layers. To give this cake that extra oomph, use a kitchen torch to make the edges of the frosting an attractive golden brown. The toasty flavor will score you extra points.

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Red Velvet Cake Crinkle Cookies

Why choose between red velvet cake and red velvet cookies when this recipe makes it easy enough to have both? Don't forget to give these chocolatey cookies a snowy coating of powdered sugar before they bake. Your holiday care package will create the reaction you deserve.

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Sea Salt-Caramel Cake

Update Mama's caramel cake recipe (no offense, Mama) with this sweet and salty concoction. Holiday guests will do a delighted double take at this new-school version of a classic. And once the indulgence has commenced, they might just forget about anyone else's version.

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

It's hard to go wrong with this well-loved dessert option. If you love both red velvet cake and cheesecake, this perfect sweet-meets-rich-meets-creamy concoction is bound to be your new favorite dessert. You'll be coming up with reasons to make this over the top confection.

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Bourbon Balls

It's hard to believe that such a powerful flavor punch fits inside so tiny a dessert package. Guests will be more than happy to nibble on these treats, but not as happy as the savvy host who easily whipped up these no-bake balls. This just might be the last minute dessert recipe that gets you out of multiple potluck jams.

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Molten Red Velvet Cakes

With this recipe, each holiday guest will get their very own Christmas cake. Sinking their spoon through decadent cream cheese whipped cream and spongy red velvet cake, they'll find an oozing chocolatey surprise.

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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

Yes, you can make an irresistible sugar cookie with just a few ingredients. Customize these party treats with your favorite cookie cutters and sprinkles. This festive approach is just the right hook for the holidays.

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Ambrosia Macaroons

Forget what you thought you knew about Ambrosia like Grandma used to make, because these macaroons are about to shift your perspective. The classic Ambrosia trio of pineapple, coconut, and maraschino cherries are given new life in this dessert recipe.

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Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies

Sure, you can always serve a standard, classic cookie like chocolate-chip or sugar cookies and no one will complain, but these seasonal cookies will truly knock those recipes out of the water for the holidays. With the sweetness of molasses and the hint of heat from crystallized ginger, these cookies are bursting with big flavor.

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Candy Cane Cookies

Just as minty and sweet, but significantly less sticky than actual candy canes, these decorative cookies couldn't possibly be any more fun. Food coloring is used to make bright dough before these treats are twisted and shaped into a cane.

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White Chocolate Panna Cotta With Dark Chocolate Sauce

These elegant desserts are dressed to impress, making them a stellar choice for more formal Christmas parties. Guests will delight in delicate eggless custard topped with posh garnishes and served in stemmed glasses. Keep this dessert option at the ready for supper club or other special occasions.

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Almond Snowballs

If you celebrate in a part of the South where a white Christmas is out of the question, these treats have got you covered. Flurried with powdered sugar, Almond Snowballs are a sweet winter treat. What a wonderful reminder of the magic that the season brings.

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White Cake With Peppermint Frosting

Basic White Cake — Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

We used fondant to make this cake look like a present, because really, that's what it is. Your holiday guests will thank you for the delicious gift of dessert after just one bite of this simple yet festive layer cake. Holiday dessert doesn't get any better than this.

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Red Velvet Cake Balls

If transforming delicious cake into fantastically fun bite-sized treats was an Olympic sport, this recipe would win gold. They're almost too adorable to eat (almost). Sink your teeth into one, and understand you must eat four.

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Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes

Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes — Southern Living

This recipe will convert you away from the store-bought version for good. As nostalgic as they are delicious, these homemade takes on a seasonal grocery store classic use white chocolate, red icing, and green sprinkles to make them endlessly festive.

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Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies

Special but simple, these slice-and-bake treats are lovely for both the baker and those enjoying them; So much so that you may need to have two batches at the ready so that there's still some left by the time the guests arrive. Be sure to plan ahead when baking these cookies as they need to chill overnight.

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Mini Red Velvet Cakes

Give classic red velvet cake a wow-factor by shrinking it down and serving it with raspberries. Pipe the miniature cakes sandwich-style with velvety cream cheese frosting and voila! You've got a winning holiday dessert on your hands.

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Christmas Rum Cake

This spirited recipe is a festive take on a Jamaican holiday staple brought to Southern Living Christmas tables thanks to its namesake chef and U.S. Army veteran. When preparing, give this cake its sweet time to soak up all of that tasty rum.

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Peppermint Fudge Brownies

Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook — Photo by Mary Britton Senseney

If you look forward to peppermint bark every holiday season, you won't be able to get enough of these inspired brownies. Underneath creamy peppermint frosting and a semi-sweet chocolate drizzle, this all-star dessert uses mayo for the softest brownies ever.

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Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies

Sometimes, Christmas cookies that are merry as can be and cute as a button lack in flavor what they abound in Christmas spirit. Our recipe isn't like that. These adorable, festive treats are delicious in equal measure thanks to decadent chocolate and gingerbread spice.

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Peppermint Pie

Peppermint and chocolate are a strong contender for our favorite holiday flavor combination, and this pie makes a strong case for the duo. To sweeten the deal even further: this pretty pie recipe only asks 20 minutes of active work. What could be better?

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Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Normally, we'd argue that the recipe for a perfect cookie is chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside, but these dazzling cookies are the exception. We use powdered sugar and a few other tricks up our sleeve so that these desserts melt away deliciously in your mouth.

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Red Velvet Layer Cake

Cutting into a simple, white-frosted cake, guests will be delighted by this dessert's bright red interior. It's elegant as can be and oh-so tasty.

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No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

"No-Bake" are the words we absolutely love to hear when our ovens are busy working on the rest of the holiday feast. We like to think of this wafer recipe as a homemade holiday take on everyone's favorite minty Girl Scout cookies.

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Gingerbread Brownies With Eggnog Frosting

This recipe starts with a box of fudgy brownie mix—our favorite dessert shortcut—and it's all uphill from there. Molasses and ground ginger spruce up simple brownies while a spiced, sweet frosting spread on top offers a complete, delicious bite every time.

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Peppermint Cheesecake

This Christmas treat will be irresistible on your dessert sidebar. Cool peppermint and rich chocolate team up with the creamiest cheesecake for a guaranteed hit at your holiday affair. This course might just outshine your entreé,

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Red Velvet Peppermint Cake

Red velvet cake gets an even more festive twist with the addition of bright peppermint flavor. Decorate the ice cream frosting on this dessert with even more peppermint candy garnish to enhance its minty freshness. Your holiday memories just got a lot sweeter.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies

Crackle cookies are a hit, especially when they're as flavorful as these chocolate-peppermint ones. To emphasize the gun crackle effect, coat the cookies in powdered sugar just before baking. This striking effect will give your cookies special notice.

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Gingerbread Cake With Stout Buttercream

As much as we adore this gingerbread cake recipe, we have to admit that the star of this dessert is the uniquely decadent buttercream frosting throughout. You'll need about 2 bottles of beer for this delightful recipe.

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Red Velvet-White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Red velvet is one of our favorite holiday desserts and these rich, red-hued cookies prove why. White chocolate provides contrast, both in sweetness and shade, making these cookies striking to the eye and the tastebuds. What a special gift to give over the holidays.

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Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies

Use these cookies as garnish, like we did, to dress up any Christmas cake and turn a simple dessert into a showstopper, or serve them all on their own and let them shine as the main dessert course. These spiced gingerbread cookies are more than tasty enough to stand on their own.

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Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake

Cinnamon, red pepper, and chipotle bring the fire to smooth chocolate cake. This slightly spicy dessert is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, especially when served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Our favorite features flecks of vanilla bean in the works.

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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Bourbon balls are a holiday dessert staple, but this fudgy version might just cause your usual recipe to take a back seat. With only 4 ingredients and a half hour of active prep time, these truffles are easy as can be despite their delightfully decadent outcome.

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Cassandra's 'Light' Fruitcake

Bourbon makes every recipe better, and fruitcake is no exception. This lighter and liquored-up cake will move even the most stubborn fruitcake skeptics. It's possible they may not even know it is fruitcake, with this tasty delivery.

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White Cake With Cranberry Filling And Orange Buttercream

Simple, tried and true white cake is dressed up thanks to tart berries and citrus. Cranberry filling binds together this layer cake beautifully while orange buttercream is the icing on the cake. And if you've never tasted the harmony of citrus and cranberry, now is your chance to understand the deep appeal.

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Brown Sugar-Rum Cake

Bursting with caramel goodness, this sheet cake is a winner on the holiday dessert sidebar. Dark brown sugar and rum in the batter pair with liquored-up frosting for a spirited cake that can't be beat.

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Japanese Fruitcake With Lemon-Coconut Frosting Recipe

Originally published over three decades ago, this fruitcake is a long-time reader favorite for a reason. Put your pre-conceived notions about fruitcake aside and give a fighting chance to this cake that doesn't include candied fruit, but does have heavenly lemon-coconut frosting.

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Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

These darling tarts add a pop of festive color to the holiday dessert spread. Creamy cheesecake is enhanced by tart cranberry flavor cocooned in a miniature gingersnap crust. These bite-size delights will win over your well-fed guests.

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White Fruit Cake

Calling all fruitcake devotees! We know that this Christmas cake isn't everyone's favorite, but this recipe might just give pause to even the most ardent of fruitcake-slanderers. Give this recipe a try to create some converts.

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Cornbread Pudding With Whiskey Caramel

Bringing out a sizzling tray of cornbread pudding is a surefire way to have holiday guests' mouths watering, especially when they catch a glimpse of the spirited caramel topping. Try baking this bread pudding in individual ramekins so that nobody's tempted to scoop up more of their share and leave others wanting.

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Ambrosia Pudding Pie

Custard pie makes for a decadent dessert for holiday guests. Adding orange marmalade, crushed pineapple, and sweet coconut to the mix is almost too good to be true... almost. This gives the classic salad a bit of a makeover and the results are delicious.

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Cranberry Christmas Cake

Are you starting to understand the role of cranberries in your dessert approach? Sweet and tart like the best cranberry concoctions, this pretty cake is made to impress. A hint of cinnamon and sprigs of rosemary win the best supportive roles award in this outstanding holiday dessert.

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Mama's Rum Cake

Moist and fragrant cake infused with rum will be a fast family favorite. One bite of the glazed dessert, and your Christmas crew will be asking for a repeat performance next December.

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Gingered Sweet Potato Pie With Pecan Crust and Ginger-Honey

Gingered Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan-Crumb Crust and Ginger-Honey Whip — Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Old-school sweet potato pie gets a Christmas makeover with ginger and pecans. A hefty topping of Ginger-Honey Whip truly sets this dessert over the edge. You'll be hooked on the flavor enough to put this pie on repeat.

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113 Heavenly Holiday Dessert Ideas That Will Wow Guests

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