Though most tables at Christmas will be full of savoury food, you can't have Christmas dinner without dessert. There's something for everyone with a sweet tooth at Christmas. Here are 15 of our favourite Christmas desserts, including classics, international specialties, and modern twists.
Traditional Christmas Desserts
Certain Christmas desserts never go out of style. Fruitcake, gingerbread, and trifles have been popular for generations. Here are some of the most nostalgic and comforting recipes for a festive meal.
Classic Fruitcake
Fruitcake is easily one of the most traditional Christmas desserts. It's packed with dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices. Rich and dense, it's perfect for slicing and sharing. Many bakers prepare it weeks in advance so the flavours can deepen over time.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed dried fruit
- 1 cup chopped nuts
- 1½ cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- ½ tsp baking powder, pinch of spice mix
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- Cream butter and sugar; add eggs. Stir in flour, spices, fruit, and nuts.
- Bake in a loaf pan for 1½–2 hrs until set.
Gingerbread Cookies
A tray of gingerbread cookies cut into festive shapes just screams Christmas. Kids can decorate them with icing and candy. They work great as Christmas treats and holiday décor or do a trial run and make them for Thanksgiving dinner in the shape of turkeys or leaves.
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp cloves
- 1 tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Cream butter, sugar, and molasses; beat in egg.
- Mix dry ingredients; combine to form dough. Chill for 1 hr.
- Roll, cut, bake for 8–10 min at 350°F.
Cold butter and chilled dough are the secrets to flaky pastry. Avoid overworking the dough and always rest it before baking. A quick egg wash gives pies a glossy, golden finish.
Eggnog Cheesecake
Combine the creaminess of a cheesecake with the festival cheer of eggnog. Nutmeg adds a festive touch to this dish. You can even make this one a centrepiece.
Ingredients
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs + ½ cup butter (crust)
- 3 and 1/2 cups cream cheese
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup eggnog
- 3 eggs
- ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Mix crust, press into pan. Beat cheese, sugar, eggnog, eggs, and spices.
- Bake for 55–60 min until just set.
Christmas Trifle
A trifle is typically composed of cake, custard, fruit, and cream. It looks as good as it tastes and should be served in a glass bowl. This is a great Christmas dessert for feeding bigger groups.
Ingredients
- 1 sponge cake, cubed
- 2 cups custard
- 2 cups berries or fruit
- 2 cups whipped cream
- ½ cup sherry (optional)
Instructions
- Layer cake, custard, fruit, and cream in a glass bowl.
- Repeat until full; finish with whipped cream on top.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Sticky toffee pudding is a warm sponge cake made with dates and served with a toffee sauce. Sweet and comforting, it's one of the best Christmas desserts when the weather is cold or rainy outside. Serve it with cream or ice cream.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups chopped dates
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup cream + 1 cup brown sugar + ½ cup butter (toffee sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Soak dates in boiling water with baking soda; let cool.
- Cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in flour and dates.
- Pour into greased dish; bake for 30–35 minutes.
- For sauce: simmer cream, sugar, and butter until thick. Pour over cake.
Here are some more ideas from Gordon Ramsay.
International Holiday Desserts
Everywhere Christmas is celebrated, there are special dishes for it. The same is true for desserts. From British mince pies to Italian panettone, these are the holiday desserts you can make to add a bit of international flair to Christmas. Where will your new favourite be from?
International holiday desserts are a way to try new food and also start new traditions for your Christmas dinner. Most international recipes have their own culture and festive meaning. Surprise guests, honour global customs, and learn how to cook new things.
British Mince Pies
Mince pies are a British Christmas dessert. A buttery pastry filled with spiced fruit and topped with a dusting of sugar. These are small, sweet, and perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup mincemeat (fruit filling)
- 1 egg
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Make pastry from flour, butter, sugar, and egg.
- Fill with mincemeat; top with pastry lids. Bake for 15–20 min.
Christmas Pudding (UK)
Christmas pudding is a steamed dessert full of dried fruit and spices. A Christmas pudding is traditionally doused in brandy and set alight before serving. This is a must-have at most British tables.
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed dried fruit
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup suet or butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- ½ tsp mixed spice
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients.
- Spoon into a greased pudding basin; cover tightly.
- Steam for 5–6 hrs until firm.
Bûche de Noël (France)
Bûche de Noël is the French version of a Yule Log. Often decorated with elaborate designs, it's made from a sponge-and-cream roll finished with buttercream, holly, or chocolate bark. Elegant and indulgent and quintessentially French.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup flour, ¼ cup cocoa, 1 tsp baking powder
- 4 eggs, ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup cream (filling)
- French buttercream (frosting)
Instructions
- Bake and roll sponge cake.
- Fill with cream; frost with buttercream.
- Decorate with holly, powdered sugar, or chocolate bark.
Panettone (Italy)
A tall, airy bread filled with dried fruit and citrus peel. Panettone is light, slightly sweet, and great for breakfast or dessert. This popular Italian dish is now enjoyed around the world, much like the famous Italian Easter bread.
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup dried fruit
- 2 tsp yeast
Instructions
- Make yeast dough; let rise until doubled.
- Add fruit; shape into tall round pan.
- Bake 40–50 min at 350°F.
Many Christmas desserts taste better the next day. Fruitcakes, trifles, and puddings can be prepared ahead, saving you time. This also frees your oven for the main Christmas meal.
Stollen (Germany)
Stollen is a German fruit bread with a sweet marzipan centre. It's coated in powdered sugar and looks like a loaf dusted with snow. This is a Christmas baking idea that'll keep for days.
Ingredients
- 4 cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup dried fruit
- ½ cup chopped nuts
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tsp yeast
- Marzipan log
Instructions
- Make yeast dough; knead in fruit and nuts.
- Shape around marzipan log.
- Bake for 40 min at 350°F; dust with sugar.
Modern Twists on Christmas Desserts
Looking to break from tradition or start new traditions? These are some Christmas dessert ideas that offer something unique or appeal to everyone. Some of them are easy enough that you could make them alongside something more traditional if you don't want to fully commit.
No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecake
This peppermint cheesecake is a festive and creamy dessert that won't take up any space in your oven. Give it some holiday sparkle with crushed candy canes on top. Looking for easy Christmas desserts? Try this.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Oreo crumbs + ½ cup butter
- 1 and 1/2 cups cream cheese
- 1 cup whipped cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp peppermint extract
- Crushed candy canes
Instructions
- Make crust with Oreo crumbs + butter.
- Beat cream cheese, sugar, and extract. Fold in whipped cream.
- Pour into crust, chill for 4 hrs. Top with candy canes.
You could also make this candy cane pastry.
Healthy Gingerbread Energy Bites
The holidays are a difficult time to eat healthily, but these are a healthy alternative to gingerbread. With oats, dates, and spices, you don't need to bake them, and they're good for snacking. Kids and adults will love these guilt-free holiday desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup dates
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 1 tsp ginger, ½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
Instructions
- Blend oats, dates, butter, spices, and honey in a processor.
- Roll into balls. Chill for 1 hr.
Red Velvet Christmas Cupcakes
Looking to add some colour to the table? These red velvet Christmas cupcakes are delicious and eye-catching. Festive cheer in every bite guaranteed! With their red colouring, decorate them slightly differently, and you can have some desserts for Halloween.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- 1 tbsp cocoa
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup buttermilk
- Red food colouring
- Cream cheese frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Beat butter + sugar; add eggs. Mix in dry, buttermilk, colouring.
- Bake for 18–20 min. Frost when cool.
Looking for more ideas? This looks delicious!
White Chocolate Cranberry Tart
Creamy white chocolate combines wonderfully with the tartness of cranberries. This is an elegant and colourful dessert that's great for dinner parties around the holidays. This Christmas dessert recipe looks professional, but it's actually quite easy to prepare.
Ingredients
- 1 tart shell
- 1 and 2/3 cups white chocolate
- 1 cup cream
- 1 cup cranberries
Instructions
- Heat cream; pour over chocolate, stir smooth.
- Pour into tart shell; chill.
- Top with cranberries.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
Rich, silky, and dairy-free, you can make vegan chocolate mousse with avocado or coconut cream. This is a holiday dessert that ensures everyone can enjoy something sweet. Give it a try.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe avocados
- ½ cup cocoa powder
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Blend all ingredients until smooth.
- Chill for 1 hr before serving.
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