Holiday Treats: 7 Christmas Desserts to Impress Your Guests

The holiday season is all about warmth, joy, and, of course, indulgent treats! Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party, preparing for a cozy family gathering, or looking for the perfect dessert to bring to a holiday potluck, these 7 festive and creative Christmas desserts are sure to impress. From classic gingerbread to rich yule logs, these recipes will add a sweet touch to your holiday celebrations.

1. Gingerbread Cookies

A classic Christmas treat, gingerbread cookies fill the house with the spicy-sweet aroma of cinnamon, ginger, and molasses. These cookies are not only delicious but also fun to decorate, making them perfect for both adults and kids to enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Royal icing (for decorating)

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
3. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
4. Divide the dough in half, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about ¼-inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
6. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 8–10 minutes.
7. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating with royal icing.

2. Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

This traditional French Christmas dessert is a showstopper with its rich chocolate flavor and festive appearance. A roulade sponge cake is filled with chocolate ganache, rolled up, and decorated to look like a log.

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 4 large eggs
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt

For the chocolate ganache:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For decoration:

• Powdered sugar
• Fresh holly leaves or other edible decorations (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar until thick and pale. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and salt together, then gently fold into the egg mixture.
3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the cake is set and springs back when touched.
4. While the cake is still warm, turn it out onto a clean kitchen towel dusted with powdered sugar. Carefully peel off the parchment paper, and roll the cake up with the towel. Let it cool completely.
5. For the ganache, heat the cream in a saucepan until it begins to simmer. Pour over the chopped chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth.
6. Unroll the cooled cake and spread a thin layer of ganache over the surface. Roll it back up gently and place on a serving platter.
7. Cover the entire log with the remaining ganache. Use a fork to create a bark-like texture. Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with holly or other festive touches.

3. Peppermint Bark

Peppermint bark is a simple yet decadent treat, perfect for the holiday season. With layers of dark and white chocolate and crunchy peppermint bits, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s easy to make.

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces dark chocolate (about 70% cocoa)
• 8 ounces white chocolate
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

Instructions:

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the dark chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring in between. Once melted, pour the chocolate onto the baking sheet and spread it into an even layer.
3. Chill the dark chocolate layer in the fridge for about 10 minutes until set.
4. Melt the white chocolate in the same way. Once the dark chocolate layer is set, pour the white chocolate over it, spreading it evenly.
5. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies over the top while the white chocolate is still soft.
6. Chill again for 30 minutes or until the bark is fully set. Once firm, break it into pieces.

4. Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

These creamy eggnog cheesecake bars are a festive twist on the classic cheesecake, with the rich, spiced flavor of eggnog infused into the filling.

Ingredients:

For the crust:

• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the cheesecake:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup eggnog

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.
3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and cinnamon, mixing until combined. Add eggs one at a time, then stir in the eggnog.
4. Pour the cheesecake batter over the crust and smooth the top.
5. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until the center is set. Let it cool to room temperature before chilling in the fridge for 4 hours.
6. Once chilled, cut into bars and serve.

5. Cranberry Orange Bread

Cranberry and orange are a classic holiday flavor combination, and this quick bread is a delicious and festive addition to any holiday spread.

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Stir in the orange zest and cranberries.
3. In another bowl, whisk the egg, melted butter, orange juice, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour the batter into the loaf pan.
5. Bake for 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
6. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

6. Snowball Cookies (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

These buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies, rolled in powdered sugar, are perfect for the holiday season and are often found at Christmas parties.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup powdered sugar, plus extra for rolling
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
• Pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cream the butter and powdered sugar together until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract, flour, nuts, and salt.
3. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the baking sheet.
4. Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden on the bottom.
5. Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes, then roll them in powdered sugar while still warm.

7. Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

These rich and moist hot chocolate cupcakes are a fun, cozy treat to enjoy during the winter season. Topped with marshmallow frosting, they bring the joy of a warm mug of cocoa in cupcake form.

Ingredients:

For the cupcakes:

• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ cup cocoa powder

For the frosting:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mini marshmallows

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a bowl, combine the cake mix, milk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Add the cocoa powder and mix until smooth.
3. Pour the batter into the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. For the frosting, beat the butter until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Fold in mini marshmallows for a fun, fluffy texture.
5. Frost the cooled cupcakes with marshmallow frosting and serve.

These seven Christmas desserts are sure to add sweetness and cheer to your holiday gatherings. From classic gingerbread to elegant yule logs and indulgent eggnog cheesecake bars, each treat brings festive flavors and creativity to your table. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or colleagues, these treats will impress and delight everyone. Happy holidays and happy baking!