5 Easy Christmas Dessert Recipes Your Family Will Love

 

The holiday season isn’t complete without a table full of festive sweets. Whether you're hosting a large family gathering or preparing a cozy Christmas Eve treat, these easy Christmas dessert recipes will bring joy, warmth, and irresistible aromas to your home. 

Each recipe is beginner-friendly, uses simple ingredients, and is guaranteed to impress your guests.

Classic Christmas Sugar Cookies (Makes 24–36 Cookies)

Nothing says “holidays” quite like a batch of classic Christmas sugar cookies. These soft, buttery cookies hold their shape beautifully, making them perfect for decorating with icing, sprinkles, or colored sugar. Whether you’re baking with kids, gifting a holiday treat box, or just getting cozy in the kitchen, this recipe is a must-have for the season.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

•    The dough is easy to roll and cut
•    Keeps its shape—no spreading
•    Simple ingredients you probably already have
•    Perfect for decorating

Ingredients:

•    1 cup unsalted butter
•    1 cup sugar
•    1 large egg
•    1 tsp vanilla extract
•    3 cups all-purpose flour
•    1 tsp baking powder

Instructions:

1. Cream the butter and sugar
 In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This gives the cookies their soft texture.

2. Add the egg and vanilla
 mix until fully combined.

3. Stir in the dry ingredients. Add the flour and baking powder. Mix until the dough comes together; don’t overmix.

4. Roll, cut, and bake. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. Cut into festive shapes and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes, just until the edges are set but not brown.

5. Cool and decorate
. Let the cookies cool completely before decorating with icing or sprinkles.

 

Chocolate Peppermint Bark (Makes About 12–16 Pieces)

Chocolate peppermint bark is one of the easiest and most festive holiday treats you can make. With layers of rich dark chocolate, creamy white chocolate, and a crunchy candy cane topping, it’s a beautiful addition to cookie trays, dessert boards, and homemade gift boxes. Best of all? It comes together in minutes with just a few ingredients.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

•    No baking required
•    Perfect for holiday gifting
•    Breaks into rustic, beautiful pieces
•    Simple ingredients and quick prep

Ingredients:

•    12 oz dark chocolate
•    8 oz white chocolate
•    ½ cup crushed candy canes

Instructions:

1. Melt the dark chocolate
. Gently melt the dark chocolate and spread it evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Chill for 10 minutes until partially set.

2. Melt and layer the white chocolate
. Melt the white chocolate and pour it over the chilled dark chocolate, spreading it evenly.

3. Add the peppermint crunch. Sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top while the white chocolate is still warm.

4. Chill and break. Refrigerate until fully firm, then break into rustic pieces.

This bark is perfect for gifting. Wrap pieces in cellophane bags, tie with a ribbon, and you’ve got a beautiful homemade holiday treat!

 

Gingerbread Cupcakes (Makes 12 Cupcakes)

These gingerbread cupcakes are the perfect blend of spices and molasses. Topped with a cream cheese frosting, they’re festive, comforting, and guaranteed to fill your kitchen with incredible Christmas aromas. They’re ideal for parties, dessert tables, or gifting to friends and neighbors.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

•    Soft, moist cupcakes with classic gingerbread flavor
•    Easy one-bowl mixing
•    Pairs perfectly with cream cheese frosting
•    Great for holiday gatherings and gifting

Ingredients:

•    1¾ cups flour
•    1 tsp baking soda
•    1 tsp cinnamon
•    1 tsp ground ginger
•    ½ cup brown sugar
•    ½ cup molasses
•    ½ cup melted butter
•    1 egg
•    ¾ cup hot water

Instructions:

1. Combine the dry ingredients
 In a large bowl. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ground ginger.

2. Add the sugar and wet ingredients
. Mix in the brown sugar, melted butter, molasses, and egg until fully combined.

3. Pour in the hot water
. Slowly add the hot water and stir until the batter is smooth. It will be thin, this is normal.

4. Bake. 
Divide the batter into a 12-cup muffin pan and bake at 350°F for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5. Frost and enjoy. 
Let the cupcakes cool completely, then top with a tasty cream cheese icing.


Cinnamon Sugar Snowball Truffles (Makes About 18–20 Truffles)

These cinnamon sugar snowball truffles are irresistibly soft, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Made with crushed shortbread and cream cheese, they come together in minutes and are coated in tasty cinnamon sugar. They’re the kind of treat that disappears almost instantly!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

•    No baking needed
•    Only a few simple ingredients
•    Perfect bite-sized holiday sweets
•    Great for parties, platters, and gifting

Ingredients:

•    2 cups crushed shortbread cookies
•    4 oz cream cheese
•    ½ cup powdered sugar
•    1 tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Mix the dough. 
Combine crushed shortbread, cream cheese, and powdered sugar in a bowl until well blended.

2. Roll into balls
. Shape the mixture into small truffle-sized balls.

3. Coat in cinnamon sugar
. Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar until fully coated.

These melt-in-your-mouth treats will disappear fast!

 

 

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies (Makes About 18–22 Cookies)

Red velvet crinkle cookies are one of the easiest holiday treats you can make thanks to a simple boxed cake mix shortcut. These cookies are soft and fudgy with a snowy coating of powdered sugar. Their vibrant red color makes them a stunning addition to any Christmas cookie platter.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

•    Just four ingredients
•    Gorgeous red-and-white holiday look
•    Perfectly soft and chewy
•    Ideal for last-minute baking or gift tins

Ingredients:

•    1 box red velvet cake mix
•    2 eggs
•    ⅓ cup oil
•    ½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Mix the dough
. Combine the red velvet cake mix, eggs, and oil until a thick dough forms.

2. Coat in powdered sugar. 
Roll the dough into balls and generously coat each one in powdered sugar.

3. 
Arrange on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, until the tops crackle and the edges are set.

These cookies are festive, easy, and always a crowd-pleaser!

 

These easy Christmas dessert recipes bring together classic flavors, easy preparation, and beautiful presentation. Whether you’re baking with kids, prepping for a party, or giving homemade treats as gifts, these recipes will fill your holiday season with sweetness, warmth, and joyful memories.
Happy baking and Merry Christmas! 

 

For more Christmas ideas and inspirations visit the Christmas section of our site. 

Tips for Making the Best Christmas Desserts

1. Prepare ingredients ahead of time - Chill dough, soften butter, and prep your baking trays early to reduce stress.

2. Add festive flavors - Peppermint, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla instantly turn any dessert into a Christmas classic.

3. Create a dessert table - Mix cookies, bars, no-bake treats, and creamy desserts to impress guests visually and flavorfully.


Recommended Kitchen Tools for Holiday Baking

Stand mixer

Silicone baking mats

High-quality baking sheets

Festive cookie cutters

Parchment paper rolls

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