1 / 40
Chocolate trifle
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Additional time: 8 hours, 30 minutes
- Total time: 9 hours, 25 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
40 Christmas desserts
Turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing are just the warm-up: everyone knows that the best parts of Christmas dinners are the desserts. The holiday season is upon us, and as we prepare to attend a series of Secret Santas and White Elephants with family, friends and colleagues, it can feel repetitive to bring the same boxed cookies and truffles.
Stacker compiled this list of 40 Christmas desserts using recipes from AllRecipes. Many are familiar favorites with a twist like Mrs. Sigg's Snickerdoodles or Too Much Chocolate Cake. Others are born from specific regions that can be a fun introduction to those unfamiliar with the dish, like Midwestern Buckeye Balls or Mexican Wedding Cookies.
Although some—like the Yule Log and Snowflakes—might only be pulled out of the oven around Christmastime, most of the dishes listed here can also be prepared for occasions year-round. From cheesecakes to pies to trifles to crisps, these recipes are options for anyone from the most novice of bakers to the most experienced. One thing is for sure: after walking into a party with one of these desserts under your arm, you'll bring back a clean plate at the end of the night.
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2 / 40
Best soft Christmas cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Additional time: 2 hours
- Total time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
- Servings: 48
- Yields: 4 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
3 / 40
Angel food candy
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 30 minutes
- Additional time: 25 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Servings: 30
- Yields: 1 1/2 pounds
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
4 / 40
Hard candy
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Additional time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 36
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
5 / 40
Golden rum cake
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 1 10-inch bundt cake
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
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6 / 40
Chocolate-covered strawberries
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 24
- Number of ingredients: 4
- Read more about the recipe here
7 / 40
Big soft ginger cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 5 minutes
- Total time: 35 minutes
- Servings: 24
- Yields: 2 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here
8 / 40
Canned apple pie filling
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour
- Servings: 56
- Yields: 7 quarts
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
9 / 40
Apple-cranberry crisp
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Cook time: 40 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 8-inch crisp
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
10 / 40
Gingerbread snowflakes
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Chill time: 1 hour
- Bake time: 15 minutes
- Cool time: 30 minutes
- Total time: 2 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 30
- Number of ingredients: 15
- Read more about the recipe here
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11 / 40
Best ever popcorn balls
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Total time: 20 minutes
- Servings: 20
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
12 / 40
Christmas rocky road
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Cool time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Servings: 25
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here
13 / 40
Chocolate crinkle cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 30 minutes
- Additional time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
- Total time: 5 hours
- Servings: 72
- Yields: 6 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
14 / 40
Sweet potato pie
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 9-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
15 / 40
Easy Oreo truffles
- Prep time: 35 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
- Servings: 42
- Yields: 42 truffles
- Number of ingredients: 3
- Read more about the recipe here
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16 / 40
Mexican wedding cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
- Servings: 36
- Yields: 36 cookies
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
17 / 40
Too much chocolate cake
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 50 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Total time: 2 hours, 35 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 1 12-cup bundt cake
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
18 / 40
Old-fashioned coconut cream pie
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Additional time: 4 hours
- Total time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 9-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
19 / 40
Libby's famous pumpkin pie
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 55 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 9-inch deep-dish pie
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
20 / 40
Chantal's New York cheesecake
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour
- Additional time: 6 hours
- Total time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 1 9-inch cheesecake
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
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21 / 40
Saltine toffee cookies
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Additional time: 30 minutes
- Total time: 55 minutes
- Servings: 35
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
22 / 40
Double layer pumpkin cheesecake
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 35 minutes
- Additional time: 4 hours
- Total time: 4 hours, 55 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 9-inch cheesecake
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
23 / 40
Mrs. Sigg's snickerdoodles
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 48
- Yields: 48 cookies
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
24 / 40
Original Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookies
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 40 minutes
- Servings: 60
- Yields: 60 cookies
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here
25 / 40
Banana pudding
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Additional time: 3 hours
- Total time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 1 (9x13-inch) dish
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
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26 / 40
Buckeye balls
- Prep time: 45 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 30 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
- Servings: 60
- Yields: 5 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
27 / 40
Best gingerbread men cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 4 hours
- Total time: 4 hours, 30 minutes
- Servings: 24
- Yields: 2 dozen cookies
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here
28 / 40
Coconut macaroons
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 25 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 1 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
29 / 40
Key lime pie
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 9-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here
30 / 40
The original fantasy fudge
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Servings: 48
- Yields: 3 pounds
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here
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31 / 40
Chocolate Yule log
- Prep time: 50 minutes
- Cook time: 10 minutes
- Additional time: 2 hours, 15 minutes
- Total time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
- Servings: 10
- Yields: 1 13-inch yule log
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
32 / 40
Marshmallow popcorn balls
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 20 minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 8 popcorn balls
- Number of ingredients: 4
- Read more about the recipe here
33 / 40
Iced pumpkin cookies
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Additional time: 30 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Servings: 36
- Yields: 36 cookies
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here
34 / 40
Easiest peanut butter fudge
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Servings: 32
- Yields: 1 8x8-inch pan
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
35 / 40
Russian tea cakes
- Prep time: 20 minutes
- Cook time: 15 minutes
- Additional time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 36
- Yields: 3 dozen cookies
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
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36 / 40
Peanut butter bars
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Additional time: 1 hour
- Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 12 bars
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
37 / 40
Chocolate pecan pie
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 40 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 9-inch pie
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
38 / 40
Best bread pudding with vanilla sauce
- Prep time: 15 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour
- Additional time: 10 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour, 25 minutes
- Servings: 8
- Yields: 1 2-quart dish
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here
39 / 40
Gramma's date squares
- Prep time: 25 minutes
- Cook time: 25 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 12
- Yields: 12 squares
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here
40 / 40
Pecan pie cheesecake
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 5 minutes
- Bake time: 55 minutes
- Cool time: 7 hours, 30 minutes
- Total time: 9 hrs
- Servings: 8
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here
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