35 Fun And Easy Christmas-Themed Desserts The Family Will Love

It’s coming up to Christmas which means it’s time for my three favorite things (besides all the presents) and that’s indulgent tasty treats, quality time baking with the kids, and all those festive flavors are back!

When it comes to food, and especially desserts, I don’t think there’s a better season than Christmas to get creative.

Everyone over-indulges in all the best recipes they have to offer, and there are so many ways to theme your desserts around the holidays. So if you’re looking for some Christmas creation inspiration, you’ve come to the right place. 

1. Cornflake Christmas Wreaths

These look so cute and they’re so simple to make. All of your younger little Christmas helpers can join in with making these too, so it’s a great way to keep them entertained.

And who doesn’t love the chocolate and cornflake combo? Be sure to pop some green food coloring into your melted chocolate to make them pretty and bright, and ensure they actually look like a Christmas wreath. 

2. Yule Log Cake

This is such a Christmas classic, I just couldn’t leave it off the list. This recipe is a little more complicated and you’ll need a little patience as you try to roll your cake while it’s still warm, but you’ll be so proud of yourself when it’s finally finished.

The tradition of burning a yule log on Christmas eve for luck and prosperity may not be so common anymore, but thankfully the cake is here to stay. 

3. Pecan Pie

It wouldn’t feel like Christmas if I didn’t have at least one slice of pecan pie during the festive season.

Sure, one of your more traditional options, but there is a very good reason why this dessert stands the test of time, and that’s because it’s absolutely delicious.

And how could a slice of pecan pie ever be completed without a scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream? 

4. Caramel Apple Pie

There’s nothing like a good apple pie to warm your insides in the cold winter months like a tasty apple pie. And apple pie just got a whole lot tastier with the addition of some oozing caramel sauce.

The caramel perfectly compliments the apples to make the pie much sweeter. And of course, you need a scoop of ice cream too. I can guarantee there’ll be clean plates all round when you’ve served this tasty treat. 

5. Peanut Butter Snowballs

If you have any Reese’s fans in your home, it would be a crime not to make these cute Christmas desserts. These nutty truffles are coated in white chocolate and are so on theme for the festive period (for our best white chocolate desserts, read here).

Your kids will love these almost as much as actual snowfall. And baking is always so much more fun when the little ones can get involved too.

These are super easy to make, they only involve four ingredients and there’s no actual baking involved. 

6. Christmas Tree Brownies

I’ll find any excuse to make brownies as if one is even needed. But it’s Christmas so of course, it’s the perfect time for a rich, indulgent chocolate dessert.

These are perfect party food and are a great option for those who don’t have much time. The only thing easier than making and decorating these brownies is eating them! 

7. Eggnog Cheesecake

Those festive flavors are back! And I couldn’t be more excited. It’s not very often you get the chance to eat anything eggnog flavored – so when those latter months of the year come around I make every recipe at my disposal.

And this one is my favorite. Yummy spiced cream and a splash of bourbon or rum in a cheesecake mixture is just about as good as it comes, add some eggnog whipped cream on the top and that’s a slice of heaven right there.

8. Figgy Pudding

Any pudding that has two whole verses in a Christmas carol demanding that it be made deserves pride and place on this list. ‘Now bring us some figgy pudding’ – your wish is my command.

Try this recipe out and you’ll be staring at the clock waiting to take it out of the oven, especially once you get a whiff of the delicious aroma filling your home. 

9. Double Fudge Mint Cookies

Santa loves a cookie on Christmas eve and so do we. And these double chocolate mint cookies are as good as they come.

Santa would forgive even the naughtiest of boys and girls after a bite of one of these. They’re gooey and soft just like a brownie and also have that ever so slight crackly crust on the top.

10. Milk And Cookie Shots

These cute bite-size milk and cookie shots are a great themed Christmas treat that taste amazing.

The cookie base can be made from scratch or with store-bought cookie dough depending on how much time you’ve got and then the center is filled with milk and Baileys Irish Cream to shoot back.

Let’s not leave these ones out for Santa, or he may not make it back to the north pole!

11. Rudolph Treats

Most of the joy of Christmas comes from spending time with family, and I can’t think of a better way than getting the little ones to make these cute Rudolph treats.

To make these you need just five ingredients and a whole lot of imagination. You’re sure to all be in stitches as you use marshmallows and black icing to make funny faces on these Almond Joys. 

12. Melted Snowman Cookies

Any parent that has a child under the age of 10 has probably listened to the Frozen soundtracks about a thousand times. Well, tell Alexa to play ‘In Summer’ and sing along as you and the kids make these melted snowman cookies.

Although these look so adorable it actually makes me sad to eat them and picturing them as Olaf our favorite festive snowman only makes it that little bit harder! 

13. Peppermint Chocolate Truffles

These are actually a really nice idea for those looking for a small homemade gift this Christmas. Instead of going out and buying a box of chocolates, why not show someone you care by taking the time to hand make some divine festive treats? 

14. Creme Brulee Cheesecake

Creme Brulee is an absolute must at Christmas and combined with cheesecake it is quite possibly one of the best desserts I’ve ever made.

But for this to really shine as the bright star that it is, you really need to ensure that perfect caramelized sugar topping so you’ll need to get your hands on a kitchen blow torch. 

15. Pumpkin Roll Cake

The classic yule log got its mention in this list, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t revamp it a little to make a new and fun Christmas dessert.

So we’re keeping the essence of the rolled-up yule cake but revamping the flavors. In this version, we’ve got a deliciously spiced pumpkin cake and a layer of cream cheese frosting which is to die for. 

16. Ugly Sweater Cake

If you’re looking to have some food with the kids this Christmas, you’ll have a barrel of laughs creating this ugly sweater cake. And of course, if you’ve decided on an ugly Christmas sweater party, is there a more on-theme cake to bake?

What’s great about this cake is that you can just let your inner creativity out without having to worry about it being neat and pretty because it’s not meant to be! The messier (and uglier) the better! 

17. Christmas Cake

How could I possibly list festive desserts and not talk about traditional Christmas Cake?

There are not many desserts that I can eat plain, I’m a sucker for some cream or custard, but leave me unattended with this cake and I’ll eat the entire thing in one sitting! It’s so rich, moist, and full of flavor, and even a little booze too.

And what’s great is that if you have a little more self-control than me, it lasts for ages and ages without going off. 

18. Christmas Cheesecake Dip

With all these cookies, biscuits, brownies and more being served up on the table, wouldn’t it be great to have a bowl of creamy cheesecake goodness to dip them in?

Now, I know what you’re thinking, and yes ordinarily I would say that is way too much sugar in one sitting.

But if you can’t indulge at Christmas, when can you? This cheesecake dip has all your favorite flavors bursting through too such as cinnamon and nutmeg! 

19. Christmas Spiced Victoria Sponge Cake

Victoria sponge cake is one of the Brit’s favorite desserts, and while I find it a little plain, you can definitely see the appeal. Two layers of fluffy cake sandwiching a thick layer of jam and cream – yum.

However, if it’s going to be a delicious Christmas treat it needs a few modifications. So in this recipe, the plain sponge is elevated with some of your favorite Christmas spices.

20. Rocky Road Pie

Your kids (and most adults) will love you for trying out this recipe. Here, your favorite ice cream flavor has been transformed into pie!

It has a delicious graham cracker crust that is filled with creamy chocolatey cream cheese goodness and is then topped with toasty marshmallows. You’ll need a real sweet tooth for this one! 

21. Thin Mints

Want to make your favorite Girl Scout cookies this Christmas? Well, luckily for you that is super easy to do with this recipe.

You will literally only need three ingredients to make these and no baking is involved, so you can get maximum results for minimum effort. And that’s my kind of deal. 

22. Reindeer Bait

Sure reindeer are known for loving a carrot on Christmas eve, but if you could pick between a vegetable or a mix of all your favorite treats which would you pick.

Pop this on your table and Rudolph might not be able to wait till the 25th to get flying that sleigh.

You’ll be mixing wheat Chex, pretzels, marshmallows, M&Ms (red and green – Christmas colors only!) and together with white chocolate. Snack away and enjoy – but don’t forget to leave some for the reindeer! 

23. Gingerbread Cookie Truffle

The only thing I love more than cookie truffles are cookie truffles that don’t need to be baked as a cake first. This is a quick and easy fix and a great option if you’re wanting to get the little ones involved.

And they’re so tasty. They have all the delicious flavor of gingerbread without the crunch, they’re super soft and when mixed with cream cheese, they make the most decadent treat. 

24. Oreo Coal

If this is the kind of coal that Santa brings on Christmas Eve, then I’m never being good again! This three-ingredient recipe is so simple it sounds too good to be true.

And I suppose there is one drawback, and that’s that you’ll have to wait an hour or so for them to be ready to devour. Perhaps that’s what you get for being bad, you have to sit and wait for this delightful oreo cream cheese mixture to set. 

25. Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Can you get attached to cupcakes? Because I never want these adorable Christmas tree cupcakes to leave my side (or my stomach.)

And while you’re likely to amaze your friends and family with the presentation of these cakes, they’re actually pretty simple to make.

Place an ice cream cone upside down and pipe on green frosting and then sprinkle with icing sugar to ensure that winter snowfall.

26. Hot Chocolate Brownie Cups

Is there anything more Christmassy than a hot cup of cocoa? It’s freezing cold? Cup of cocoa. Time for a Christmas film? Cup of cocoa. 

So let’s recreate that warm snuggly feeling of wrapping your hands around that steaming mug of chocolate goodness in desert form. These brownie cups topped with marshmallows taste so nice and are super cute too. 

27. Eggnog Donuts

Donuts are always a yummy treat but cover them in creamy, spicy, boozy, goodness, and then you’ve got the perfect seasonal treat.

I don’t think I need to convince anyone about the incredible taste of donuts or eggnog, so this recipe really speaks for itself. How can you combine two of the nicest flavors out there and it not taste incredible? 

28. Hot Cocoa No-Churn Ice Cream

If you want the world’s most delicious ice-cream sundae ever this Christmas then you need to give this easy recipe a shot. Hot cocoa powder and marshmallows are the flavors of this dessert, and even as ice cream, it’s one real winter warmer.

And if you’ve ever been told that ice cream is difficult to make, I’m very sorry but you’ve been lied to. This takes just 15 minutes of prep time and just four ingredients (and one of those is just decoration) however, you will have to be patient for this one.

But good things come to those who wait, and once it’s set you’ll have the best Christmas gift you could ask for. 

29. Cranberry Orange Cream Trifle

If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to share with all your friends and family, then this is the one. It’s a magnificently layered cake that is sure to leave your guests in awe just from looks alone.

And if they think that’s impressive just wait till they get a taste of those fruity flavors, cake, and cream. This is a pretty large dessert, and I’m still undecided about sharing! 

30. Caramel – Gingerbread Cookie Bars

And just like that, the standard gingerbread man has lost his appeal. You better really enjoy baking if you’re serving these around this Christmas because you’ll be doing it all month!

They are so moreish and delicious, that your guests will want another plateful the second someone grabs the last one! 

31. Mint Chocolate Chip Brownies

While mint chocolate chip ice cream is available all year round, I tend to find that the really nice mint-flavored desserts only come out of the woodwork around the festive period.

And if you like mint then you’ll adore these moist and gooey brownies. They have a hidden Andre Mint underneath a tasty and festively-green colored mist frosting, with yes, even more, mint pieces crumbled on the top for good measure. 

32. Gingerbread Fudge

Everything becomes instantly festive given the right colors and flavoring. And we’re turning dull and boring plain fudge into the ultimate Christmas treat.

You’ll be mixing some red and green hundreds and thousands into your fudge mixture along with some white chocolate, condensed milk, and gingery festive spices. 

33. Red Velvet Cookie Cake

As you can probably tell I love a good cookie. I’ve listed several Christmas cookies throughout this article. But sometimes one cookie just won’t do the job, so it’s time to bring out the big guns with this massive red velvet cookie cake.

The bright and vivid color will remind you and the kids immediately of Santa’s trademark color, and the taste itself is just delectable.

And of course, Santa is never complete without a burst of white too, so the swirls of cream cheese frosting are a must. 

34. Igloo Cake

We all love a good gingerbread house for sure, but do you not get tired of decorating the same old thing each year? Try something new this year and spend the time decorating this delicious vanilla igloo.

The cake itself is really quick to prep and then it’s just a case of waiting for it to bake and cool before the real fun can begin. Smother your cake in blue frosting and then get piling on those big fluffy marshmallows. 

35. Grinchy Pull-Apart Cupcakes

No matter how different a Who may appear, he will always be welcome with holiday cheer – and Christmas cupcakes. These pull-apart treats are sure to make even the crankiest Christmas member’s heart grow three times its size.

And while it may look a little complicated to make, it really isn’t. All you need is a decent amount of cupcakes and frosting in an array of colors. Easy, right? 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Most Popular Christmas Dessert

Most states favor a tasty cheesecake around the holidays, but cookies and cakes tend to be really popular too. 

How  Old Is The Oldest Christmas Cake

Would you believe me if I told you the oldest Christmas cake was a whopping 4176 years old and was found in an Egyptian tomb? Someone must really not want to share to be buried with it! Can’t say I blame them. 

What Is America’s Favorite Christmas Cookie

And the winner is…Peanut butter blossom cookies. But why stop there when you can make a whole cookie platter…I mean it is Christmas after all. 

Final Thoughts

Christmas can be a pretty stressful time for grown-ups, there’s a lot of pressure, a lot to do, and not all that much time to do it. That’s why I’ve picked simple and easy recipes so that you don’t have to compromise on delicious food or your time.

I know how precious it is. But the absolute best way to make any of these tasty treats is to get the kiddies involved too.

You’ll be surprised how much more fun it is with them around – they just have a way to bring Christmas alive in a way we never can. Which recipe do you think you’ll try first? Let us know!