79 Christmas Desserts Full of Merriment (and Buttercream)
The holiday season puts us in a baking spirit. When this time of year rolls around, we roll up our ugly sweater sleeves and our research of epic Christmas desserts begins. With all those layer cakes, plum puddings, chocolaty mousses, and festive pies, we have a lot to consider when choosing what Christmas dessert recipes to make this year. Will we stick with perennial favorites like towering cheesecakes and spiced fruitcakes? Or will we switch it up and experiment with tiramisu in yule-log form or ricotta cake swathed in sheets of crispy filo? Christmas cookies are a must (holiday cookies topped with peppermint candies, jammy thumbprints, and nutty bar cookies are essential for keeping Santa happy). But we also like to make room for fudge-like chocolate truffles, minty peppermint bark, and other confections that pack neatly into a cookie tin. And just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean everything should be hard or elaborate. Sometimes it takes little more than a classic apple crisp, a gingerbread loaf, a hot chocolate Bundt cake, or festive brownies to keep you on the nice list.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh1/79Mincemeat Pie
A quintessential Christmas dessert of British origins, the filling here isn’t meat but a medley of dried fruit, apples, and spices steeped in booze. Also available in mini tart form.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart2/79Original New York Cheesecake
This densely rich, towering cheesecake is not just a favorite of New Yorkers, but of cream cheese fanatics across the world. We love it as a Christmas dessert for its simple elegance, which you can dress up with a fruit compote or ganache drizzled over slices.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews3/79Chocolate Mousse
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele4/79Pear Pie With Lattice Crust
This simple pear pie recipe from Gourmet is a wonderful and aromatic alternative to apple pie. A dollop of crème fraîche finishes it with just the right touch, but whipped cream can be effective too.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce6/79Easy Egg Custard
This easy egg custard has a dusting of nutmeg across the top, which means it tastes something like eggnog. Serve with warm brandy and shortbread cookies for elegant ending to your Christmas dinner.
Photo by Romulo Yanes7/79Panettone
This easy panettone recipe comes from baker Jim Lahey. It appeared in the December 2008 issue of Gourmet, but was lost for 14 years before Epi readers commented about it being a favorite saved from the magazine. This year, we dug it out of the archives just in time for the holidays.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova8/79Panna Cotta
Cool, creamy vanilla panna cotta is the simplest kind of dessert. While it sets in the fridge, make a batch of classic sugar cookies to serve alongside.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova9/79Flourless Chocolate Cake
With just five ingredients, this fudgy single-layer dark chocolate cake couldn’t be easier to make. It’s so elegant, you’ll want to make it again for New Year's Eve.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Kim10/79Mid-Century Modern Cookie House
Not to be confused with the gingerbread houses customarily seen during the holiday season, this cardamom cookie house has exposed beams in the ceiling, an icy-blue roof, and “snow”-laden fir trees in the yard. Get the step-by-step visual guide here—then pour yourself a Christmas cocktail and get to building.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich11/79Caramel Nut Tart
This wintery dessert is a retro classic from ‘90s Gourmet. (Yes, the ’90s are retro now. We'll give you a moment to process that.) For what it’s worth, the tart is still ’hella fly.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne13/79Pandan Chiffon Cake
Yes to tender chiffon cake for the holidays, and yes to this pandan-flavored version, which turns the crumb a bright, festive green color.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou14/79Khajur Ladu (Date, Pistachio, and Almond Morsels)
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart15/79Chocolate Swiss Roll
Nervous about making a roll cake? Don't be. Follow our Swiss roll guide for a beautiful swirl every time.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell16/79Cranberry-Pistachio Baked Alaska
Underneath the toasted marshmallow meringue, you’ll find a surprising lightness and a festive red-and-green theme that comes from cranberry sorbet layered with pistachio ice cream and buttery citrus pound cake.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova19/79Joconde Cake
This nutty cake is made primarily with almond flour and has a whipped cream filling (though you could easily swap that out for classic cream cheese frosting). Decorate with seasonal fruit, holiday sprinkles, or just leave it a pristine snowy white.
Photo by Alex Lau20/79Quince and Almond Tart With Rosé
Apple pie? Sooooo last Thanksgiving. This glossy tart uses quince, a close cousin to apples and pears, and slices get laid over a luscious layer of marzipan, which grounds this holiday dessert in warming, toasty flavors.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton21/79Tre Latte Olive Oil Cake
New York restaurateurs Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli took classic Mexican tres leches cake and gave it an Italian twist with a lemony olive oil cake and a mascarpone topping. And it’s really good.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich23/79Molded Cranberry and Wine Jelly
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell24/79Chocolate-Hazelnut Napoleons
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova25/79Hot Cocoa Cake
Serve this moist chocolate bundt cake warm with lots of chocolate sauce and whipped cream. And a cup of hot chocolate, of course.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Anna Hampton26/79Apple-Cranberry Crisp With Oatmeal-Cookie Crumble
Tangy cranberries and sweet orange zest add a floral tartness to this easy-to-make apple crisp that’s topped with an almond-studded, oatmeal cookie-like crumble.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone27/79Orange Upside-Down Cake
Finding fresh fruit can be a little challenging during the holidays, but winter citrus rises to the occasion in this Christmas cake. Baking whole orange slices in a blanket of caramel removes their pithy bitterness and candies them into sweet, bright toppings.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich28/79Latticed Apple and Cranberry Tart
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson30/79Double Chocolate Cake With Peppermint-Chocolate Frosting
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Hampton32/79Chocolate, Pistachio, and Tahini Truffles
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell33/79Three Cities of Spain Cheesecake
Possibly the best cheesecake recipe ever, this version was published in Gourmet in 1999. People have been losing their minds over it ever since.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks34/79Caramel Apple Drip Cake With Candied Walnuts
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell35/79Candied Kumquats
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova36/79Christmas Bombe With Spiced Cake and Chocolate-Brandy Glaze
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Pearl Jones37/79Marbled Pumpkin-Maple Cheesecake Bars
Creamy cheesecake meets pumpkin pie in this handheld holiday dessert. The recipe calls for a graham cracker crust, which creates a crumbly, almost savory base.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson38/79Poppy Seed and Pecan Strudel
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks39/79French Spiced Bread
Instead of traditional fruitcake, give this spiced French bread to friends and family over the holiday season. Also known as pains d’épices, the holiday treat is studded with chewy bits of dried fruit, candied orange peel, and almonds.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks40/79Spiced Hazelnut-Pear Cake With Chocolate Sauce
A warming blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove gives this holiday dessert cozy, toasty notes, and we top it with whole poached pears for extra allure.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Anna Surbatovich, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks41/79Spiced Pavlova With Pumpkin Mousse
Pumpkin mousse, whipped cream, and pretty pomegranate syrup give this elegant spin on seasonal pumpkin pie a jewel-like presentation that’s both stunning and delicious.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova42/79Gingerbread Brownies
Tender, spiced gingerbread meets chocolate brownies in this extra-dense, fudgy cake that is loaded with spicy flavors reminiscent of your favorite Christmas cookie recipe.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson44/79Pumpkin Cheesecake With Bourbon–Sour Cream Topping
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell48/79Pecan-Cranberry Galette
Having a small gathering for Christmas? Opt for this modest galette over pecan pie—a perfectly sized dessert to share amongst a few people. We make it extra festive with whiskey-soaked cranberries.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks50/79Pecan-Orange Baklava Pie
Somewhere between pecan pie and buttery baklava, this holiday dessert gets a golden sheen from honey syrup and orange zest and is sliced in a mesmerizing starry pattern.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson51/79Goat Cheese, Honey, and Rye Crust Pie
Photo by JP Bevins, Food Styling by Molly Baz52/793-Ingredient Gingersnap Icebox Cake
This cloud-like icebox cake looks so elegant but only needs three store-bought ingredients to make. If you truly insist on overachieving, you can make your own snappy gingerbread cookies.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone53/79One-Bowl Milk Chocolate Cake With Chocolate-Caramel Frosting
Photo by Sarah Kieffer54/79Triple Chocolate Peppermint Bark
In addition to all the sweet centerpieces, you also need some Christmas desserts that can be enjoyed on any old night, to fuel all the tree trimming and mistletoe hanging. This homemade candy, with layers of dark chocolate, white chocolate, and crunchy peppermint on top is perfect for quiet nights when you want a little something sweet.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks55/79Sunshine Cake
Christmas morning often inspires fanciful projects like cinnamon rolls, croissants, and savory stratas, but sometimes it can be as simple as this buttery almond cake served alongside a pot of coffee. The best part is that you can make it in under an hour.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks61/79Bite-Size Stollen (Stollenkonfekt)
Want the rich, buttery, spicy flavor of stollen without the work of a yeasted dough and the weeks of impatiently waiting for the loaves to be ready? If so, stollenkonfekt is the Christmas cookie for you.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Grace Parisi62/79Torta Della Nonna al Limone
Photo by Pedan + Munk63/79Basic Crepes
With a few simple steps, you can bring this Parisian treat to your holiday dessert or breakfast table. Serve your crepes with a classic duo: sweet, rich milk chocolate and bright orange Suzette sauce.
Photo by Tara Fisher64/79Chocolate and Passionfruit Layer Cake
Chocolate cake can do no wrong in our eyes. In this cake recipe, we temper the sweetness and heaviness with a sharp passionfruit curd and airy cream filling. The balanced, refined result keeps you coming back for more.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell66/79Chocolate, Pecan, and Pumpkin Seed Pie With Gingersnap Crust
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks69/79Christmas Glazed Apple Cake (Weihnachten Gedeckter Apfelkuchen)
This glazed German cake has a delicately spiced apple filling within a shortcrust pastry and feels almost like an old world predecessor to apple pie. Here, we add cranberries, which turn jammy as they bake and give the cake a Christmassy color.
Photo by Romulo Yanes70/79Profiteroles With Coffee Ice Cream
The ice cream sundae gets a wintery spin when you sandwich coffee ice cream within pastry puffs and douse them in chocolate ganache.
Photo by Jonathan Lovekin71/79Dried Fig and Marsala Tart
Figs soak up a Marsala wine caramel sauce as this tarte Tatin–inspired Christmas dessert bakes in the oven. Serve it with a cooling vanilla ice cream or gelato.
Photo by David Malosh72/79Giant Meringue (Pavlova Gigantata)
A perfect meringue, with its fissures and epic swirls, presents a beautiful landscape for festive garnishes like candied cranberries, toasted pecans, and poached pears.
Photo by Romulo Yanes73/79Peppermint Patties
Upgrade the classic chocolate peppermint patties with these homespun confections. Cool minty flavor oozes through the glossy chocolate shell, and the candies make refreshing party favors to give guests at your holiday party.
Photo by Jennifer May74/79Apple Brioche Tart
Delicately sweetened brioche dough makes a perfect landing pad for slices of apples tossed in cinnamon and sugar. Serve this buttery holiday treat for breakfast with hot coffee or even eggnog.
Judy Moy78/79Doughnut-Hole Croquembouche
Actual croquembouche requires lots of time and skill to execute flawlessly. This kid-friendly (or just time-friendly) holiday dessert uses doughnut holes in the place of actual cream puffs and offers more room for creativity during the decorating process.
