If you’re hosting a holiday party, then the last thing you want to do is stress yourself out over desserts.
Honestly, desserts don’t have to be fancy to be delicious.
They just have to taste amazing and look festive enough for the holidays.
Every year I rotate through a few easy cookies, some no-bake treats, and my favorite Christmas cupcakes.
And I love that most of them can be made the day before, so I’m not running around the kitchen while guests arrive.
Anyway, if you’re looking for some easy and delicious Christmas desserts to serve this year, here are the best ones:
No Bake Christmas Desserts
Sometimes you just don’t want to deal with the oven, especially when the kitchen’s already packed with chaos and wrapping paper.
These no bake Christmas desserts are quick to throw together and still look like you spent all day on them.
White Chocolate Cheesecake Cups
Crush up some graham crackers and press them into little cups for the base.
Melt white chocolate and mix it into cream cheese until smooth, then spoon that over the crust.
Top with warm, syrupy mulled wine fruit made with whatever berries you have and a splash of wine or juice if you’re skipping the alcohol.
Chill for a bit until the layers set.
Salted Peanut Christmas Trees
Melt white or milk chocolate and stir in a handful of salted peanuts until they’re fully coated.
Spoon the mixture onto parchment in little mounded tree shapes, then chill until firm.
Drizzle with green candy melts or sprinkle crushed pretzels over top for some texture.
Keep them cold until serving so they stay crisp and crunchy.
Christmas Dessert Wreath
This one is so cute and easy!
Layer ladyfingers in a circle on a platter to make a wreath shape, then pile on whipped cream, sliced strawberries, and a few mint leaves for color.
Add sprinkles if you’re feeling extra festive.
It makes a great desserty finger food for your party.
Sugar Cookie Truffles
Crumble up baked sugar cookies and mix them with a bit of frosting until it forms a soft dough.
Roll into balls and chill until firm, then dip each one in melted white chocolate.
You can decorate them with colored sugar or crushed candy canes for a little crunch.
Store them in the fridge so they don’t melt when the kitchen gets warm.
Gingerbread Cheesecake
Blend crushed gingerbread cookies with melted butter and press into a pie dish for the crust.
Mix cream cheese, brown sugar, and a spoon of molasses until smooth, then pour it over the crust.
You can top it with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon before serving.
Chill it overnight so it slices clean and holds together better.
Gingerbread Rocky Road Bars
Melt chocolate with a bit of butter and stir in mini marshmallows, crushed gingerbread cookies, and any nuts you like.
Press it all into a lined pan and let it set in the fridge until firm.
Slice into squares once it’s cold and ready.
They’re messy, chewy, and disappear faster than anything else on the dessert table.
Festive Christmas Trifle
This one looks time consuming but it’s so easy to put together.
Layer sponge cake cubes, vanilla custard, berries, and whipped cream in a glass dish until it’s full.
Add a drizzle of fruit juice or sweet wine over the cake so it stays moist.
Toss on some almonds and fresh mint for a little crunch and color.
Serve it cold straight from the fridge with the biggest spoon you’ve got.
Christmas Cookies
There’s just something about a tray of Christmas cookies sitting on the counter that makes the whole house feel cozier!
These recipes are simple enough to bake with kids or knock out in one evening while your favorite holiday movie plays in the background.
Eggnog Snickerdoodles
Mix your classic snickerdoodle dough, then swap the milk for eggnog and add a pinch of nutmeg.
Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar and bake until the edges just start to brown.
They stay soft and a little chewy in the center.C
ool them on a rack so they don’t overbake on the tray.
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Start with a basic cookie dough and stir in crushed potato chips, broken pretzel bits, and red and green M&Ms.
The mix of salty and sweet is addictive.
Don’t overmix or the chips will crumble too much.
Bake until golden and let them cool completely before stacking.
Classic Sugar Cookies with Icing
Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy, then add eggs, vanilla, and flour to make a soft dough.
Chill it for a bit so it rolls out easier.
Cut into shapes, bake until the edges are pale gold, and let them cool before icing.
I always set up a decorating station with bowls of colored sugar and let everyone go wild.
And if you’re looking for a soft and fluffy sugar cookie recipe, I have one here!
Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
Melt some chocolate into your dough along with cocoa powder for an extra rich flavor.
Stir in crushed candy canes before baking for a minty crunch.
They’ll spread a bit, so space them out on the pan.
Cool on parchment so the melted bits don’t stick.
Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
Use your favorite sugar cookie dough and roll each ball in a bowl of colorful sprinkles before baking.
Press them lightly so the sprinkles stick well.
The result is a bright, crunchy shell with a soft middle.
Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
Mix up some gingerbread cookie batter and sweetened cream cheese.
Pipe or spoon the cream cheese mix onto a baking sheet and freeze for at least on hour (or until they’re solid).
When they are, flatten out the cookie dough onto a pan and place one frozen cheesecake filling in each.
Carefully wrap the dough around it and bake. Easy!
White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
Mix oats, dried cranberries, and chunks of white chocolate into your dough.
The cranberries add just enough tartness to balance the sweetness.
Bake until the edges are crisp but the centers still look soft.
Let them rest for a few minutes on the sheet before moving them.
Chocolate Oatmeal Lace Cookies
Melt butter, sugar, and oats together to form a thin batter, then drop spoonfuls onto parchment.
They spread fast in the oven and bake into crisp, lacy rounds.
Once cool, sandwich two together with melted chocolate if you’re feeling fancy.
Keep them in a tin to stay crunchy.
Chocolate Blossom Cookies
Roll chocolate cookie dough into balls, bake, and press a chocolate kiss into the center as soon as they come out of the oven.
The heat will soften the candy just enough to stick.
Let them cool completely before storing or the tops will smudge.
Christmas Dessert Tray Ideas
If you don’t feel like making one big dessert, a tray of smaller treats is the way to go.
You can mix sweet and salty bites, a few kinds of bark, and maybe sneak in a couple of cookies from your last batch!
Christmas Crack with Saltines
Line a baking sheet with saltine crackers, then pour a quick caramel sauce made from melted butter and brown sugar over the top.
Bake until bubbly, then spread melted chocolate across the whole thing.
Once it cools, break it into jagged pieces like brittle.
Store in the fridge so it stays snappy.
Peppermint White Chocolate Bark
Melt white chocolate and pour it onto parchment in a thick layer.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes across the top before it sets.
You can swirl in a little dark chocolate for contrast if you want.
Break it into chunks once firm and keep a stash for last-minute gifts.
Christmas Rolo Pretzel Bites
Lay small pretzels on a sheet pan and top each with a Rolo candy.
Bake just long enough for them to soften, then press a red or green M&M into the center.
Add some Christmas sprinkles before they cool completely.
Once hardened, they’re the perfect sweet-and-salty pop for any dessert tray.
White Chocolate Cranberry Pecan Clusters
Mix melted white chocolate with chopped pecans and dried cranberries until everything’s well coated.
Spoon the mixture into clusters on parchment and chill until solid.
The mix of sweet, tart, and nutty tastes like holiday in one bite.
Cranberry Brie Puff Pastry Bites
Cut puff pastry into small squares and press into a mini muffin tin.
Add a cube of brie and a spoon of cranberry sauce to each one.
Bake until the pastry is golden and flaky.
Serve them warm on your dessert tray so the cheese stays gooey and melty.
Festive Popcorn Mix
Pop a big bowl of popcorn and drizzle it with melted white chocolate.
Toss in mini pretzels, red and green M&Ms, and a handful of crushed candy canes.
Spread it out on parchment to dry before breaking it into chunks.
Christmas Chex Mix
Combine Chex cereal, peanuts, pretzels, mini marshmallows, and M&Ms in a huge bowl.
Pour melted white chocolate over everything and stir until evenly coated.
Add sprinkles while it’s still wet so they stick.
Spread it out to set and try not to eat half of it before it cools.
Christmas Peppermint Fudge
Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk until smooth and glossy.
Stir in a splash of peppermint extract, then pour the mixture into a parchment-lined pan.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes on top before it sets.
Chill until firm, cut into squares, and keep them in the fridge so they stay perfectly fudgy.
Christmas Cupcakes
Cupcakes are easy to make, decorate, and hand out without a mess.
You can mix and match frostings, fillings, and toppings to fit your mood or whatever’s in the pantry.
Gingerbread Cupcakes with Maple Frosting
Whisk together flour, brown sugar, molasses, and all the warm spices that make the kitchen smell like Christmas.
Fill the liners halfway and bake until the tops spring back when touched.
For the frosting, beat butter with powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup until fluffy.
Pipe it high and finish with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Start with a rich chocolate cupcake base and stir in a little hot cocoa mix for extra flavor.
Once cooled, swirl on marshmallow or chocolate frosting and top with mini marshmallows.
Or one big marshmallow works too.
Cranberry Cheesecake Cupcakes
Mix up a basic vanilla cupcake batter and spoon in a bit of cream cheese filling before baking.
Swirl cranberry sauce on top of the batter for a marbled look.
Bake until just golden around the edges.
Let them cool completely before adding a small dollop of whipped cream and a sugared cranberry.
Santa Hat Mini Cupcakes
Bake mini vanilla cupcakes and frost them with red-tinted buttercream.
Press a strawberry upside down on top for the “hat” and finish with a tiny blob of white frosting for the pom-pom.
They’re bite-sized and cute enough to double as table décor.
Keep them chilled until serving so the strawberries stay fresh.
White Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes
Use a vanilla cupcake base and fold in chopped white chocolate before baking.
Top with peppermint buttercream and a drizzle of melted white chocolate.
Add crushed peppermint pieces for crunch.
I like to chill them briefly before serving so the frosting holds its shape.
Candy Cane Cupcakes
Bake chocolate cupcakes and top them with vanilla buttercream swirled with red food coloring for that candy cane look.
Sprinkle crushed candy canes over the top before it sets.
The contrast between the dark chocolate cake and minty topping tastes like pure Christmas!
Serve with hot cocoa for the full effect.
The Magic of Christmas Desserts
The best part about Christmas baking is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to taste amazing.
Mix and match a few of these desserts, pile them on a tray, and let everyone grab what looks good!
