Easy Christmas Desserts (27 Recipes to Fill Your Holiday Table)
Easy Christmas desserts are what pull the whole holiday together, and this is my full list in one place. Cookies for the tray, fudge and truffles for gifting, big cakes for Christmas dinner, and plenty of no-bake treats for when the oven is already full. Everything here is simple enough for a busy December.
A few of these are close to my heart. I am from Dublin, and no Irish Christmas is complete without Baileys, so my Chocolate Baileys Truffles always make the list, along with a proper gingerbread trifle. If you are building a cookie tray, start with my Christmas cookie roundup and add a few treats from below. Pick what fits your crowd and save the rest for next year.
Tips for the Best Easy Christmas Desserts
- Make ahead whenever you can: Most of these fudges, truffles, and cheesecakes are better made a day or two early. It clears your oven and your schedule for Christmas dinner.
- Balance your dessert tray: Mix textures and flavors. Pair something chocolatey like Oreo truffles with a fruity cranberry orange cake and a spiced gingerbread treat so nothing feels repetitive.
- Lean on no-bake treats: When every rack is full, no-bake options like fudge and pudding shots save the day. They set in the fridge and free up the oven for the main event.
- Package treats for gifting: Fudge, truffles, and cookies pack beautifully into tins, cellophane bags, or little boxes. Homemade candy makes an easy gift for neighbors, teachers, and mail carriers.
- Double your batches: Christmas treats disappear faster than you think. If you are hosting or gifting, make two batches of the small stuff so you are not left short.
- Let candy set fully: Fudge and dipped truffles need time to firm up. Give them a full chill before you cut or stack so they hold their shape on the tray.
Easy Christmas Cookies
Below are just a few Christmas cookie ideas; for the full list, don’t miss my Easy Christmas Cookies roundup.
Gingerbread Man Cookies
No Christmas cookie tray feels complete without a few gingerbread men. These are soft in the middle with the right amount of spice, and they hold their shape so the little arms and legs stay put. Kids love decorating them, which makes this a good one to bake together.
Linzer Cookies
Soft, buttery cookies filled with jam. They look delicate and festive without any extra work, and the flavor is always a classic.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Classic cut-out sugar cookies are the ones everyone reaches for first. They are buttery, sturdy enough to decorate, and you can shape them into trees, stars, and candy canes. A batch of these is the base of any good cookie exchange.
Coconut Snowball Cookies
These little coconut cookies look like fresh snowballs and melt in your mouth. They are buttery, rolled to look festive, and they sit pretty on a tray next to darker chocolate treats. Make a double batch because they disappear.
Santa Nutter Butter Cookies
These no-bake Santa cookies turn a package of Nutter Butters into the cutest thing on the tray. You dip, decorate, and let them set. They are an easy one to make with kids and they always get a reaction at the table.
Christmas Fudge, Truffles, and Candy
Chocolate Baileys Truffles
If you want one grown-up treat on the tray, make these. Rich chocolate truffles spiked with Baileys, the Irish cream I grew up with at Christmas back home in Dublin. They are a little boozy, easy to roll ahead, and they make a lovely homemade gift.
Butterscotch Pecan Fudge
Creamy butterscotch fudge loaded with toasted pecans. It sets up firm, cuts into neat squares, and keeps well, so it is perfect for making ahead and boxing up for neighbors and teachers.
Coconut Fudge
Smooth, sweet coconut fudge that comes out of the fridge ready to slice. It is a no-bake candy that fills out a holiday tray without any oven time, which helps when every rack is already full.
Oreo Truffles
These are always the first to go. Crushed Oreos and cream cheese rolled into balls and dipped in chocolate, and you can decorate them red and green or with a snowy drizzle for Christmas. No baking, and easy to make in big batches for a party.
Biscoff Truffles
Creamy no-bake truffles with that warm cinnamon Biscoff flavor that tastes made for the holidays. Roll them ahead, chill, and add them to your candy tray or a gift box.
Red Velvet Truffles
Red velvet truffles bring that pop of Christmas red to the tray. They are rich, fudgy in the center, and dipped in white or dark chocolate. Pretty enough to package up and give away.
Homemade Filled Chocolates
Making your own filled chocolates sounds fancy but it is mostly melting and pouring. Fill them with whatever you like, let them set, and you have a homemade box of chocolates that looks like it came from a shop.
No-Bake Christmas Desserts
Gingerbread Trifle
Layers of spiced gingerbread, cream, and pudding in a big glass bowl. It looks like a showpiece on the dessert table but it is mostly layering, and it is better made a few hours ahead. Trifle is a proper Christmas tradition where I am from, so this one is close to my heart.
Eggnog Pudding Shots
A fun little adults-only treat for a Christmas party. Creamy eggnog pudding served in individual cups, made ahead and chilled until you are ready. Set them out and let guests grab their own.
Chocolate Christmas Trees
These little chocolate trees are a no-bake project the kids can run with. Shape, decorate with sprinkles, and let them set. They double as edible place settings or a cute topper for other desserts.
Come hang out with us in my free Facebook group, Easy Dinner & Dessert Recipes. I share new Christmas recipes all season, and you can post photos of what you made. It is the best place to swap holiday baking ideas.
Christmas Cakes and Cupcakes
Gingerbread Cake
A soft, spiced gingerbread cake that smells like Christmas the second it comes out of the oven. It is simple to make in one pan and lovely with a dusting of powdered sugar or a scoop of ice cream. Great for a low-effort holiday dessert.
Cranberry Orange Cake
Bright cranberry and orange is one of those pairings that just tastes like the holidays. This cake is tender, a little tart, a little sweet, and it looks festive with those pops of red berry throughout.
Hot Chocolate Poke Cake
All the flavor of a mug of hot chocolate in cake form. It is poked and filled so every bite stays extra moist, then topped for a fun, kid-friendly winter dessert. A good one for a crowd.
Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes
Chocolate and peppermint is the flavor of December. These cupcakes are rich with a cool minty finish, and a little crushed candy cane on top makes them party-ready. Easy to make ahead and frost the day of.
Double Chocolate Cake
When you want a real showstopper for the holiday table, this is it. Deep, rich double chocolate cake that serves a crowd and never lasts long. Dress it up with a little red and green and it is ready for Christmas dinner.
Christmas Cheesecakes and Pies
No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake
Creamy gingerbread cheesecake with no oven required. It sets in the fridge, so you can make it the day before and cross one thing off your list. The spiced flavor makes it feel like Christmas.
Biscoff Cheesecake Cups
Individual no-bake cheesecake cups layered with Biscoff. They are make-ahead, portion-controlled, and easy to hand out at a party. That cookie-butter flavor fits right in with the holidays.
Layered Chocolate Cheesecake
A rich layered chocolate cheesecake for the chocolate lovers at your table. It is a make-ahead showpiece that slices beautifully, so it is a smart choice when you are hosting Christmas dinner.
Oreo Cheesecake
Creamy Oreo cheesecake packed with cookie pieces. It is a make-ahead dessert that always impresses, and a few festive sprinkles or a candy-cane garnish dress it up for Christmas.
Hot Chocolate Pie
This one leans all the way into winter. A rich, chocolatey pie inspired by a mug of hot cocoa, topped with marshmallows or whipped cream. Make it ahead and keep it chilled until dessert.
Christmas Brownies and Bars
Red Velvet Brownies
Fudgy red velvet brownies with that signature deep red color, which happens to be perfect for Christmas. Cut them into small squares for a tray or bigger ones for dessert. Easy to make ahead.
Oreo Cheesecake Brownies
Two desserts in one: fudgy brownie on the bottom, Oreo cheesecake swirled on top. They cut into neat squares for a tray and they are rich enough that a little goes a long way at a party.
Biscoff Brownies
Fudgy brownies swirled with warm, spiced Biscoff. They slice cleanly for a holiday dessert tray and travel well if you are bringing something to a party or gifting a box.
Easy Christmas Desserts FAQ
What are the best make-ahead Christmas desserts?
Fudge, truffles, cheesecakes, and trifle are your best friends here. They all hold up in the fridge or freezer, so you can make them days before and just pull them out. My no-bake gingerbread cheesecake and Baileys truffles both do great made ahead.
Which Christmas desserts are best for gifting?
Anything that cuts or rolls into neat pieces travels well. Butterscotch pecan fudge, Biscoff truffles, and red velvet truffles all pack nicely into tins or bags and hold their shape at room temperature.
Can you freeze Christmas desserts?
Lots of them, yes. Fudge, brownies, unfrosted cakes, and most cookies freeze well for a few weeks. Freeze them in a single layer first, then stack in a container so they do not stick, and thaw at room temperature.
What are some easy no-bake Christmas desserts?
If you want to skip the oven, go for fudge, Oreo truffles, gingerbread trifle, or eggnog pudding shots. They set in the fridge and are some of the most popular treats on any holiday table.
What Christmas desserts can I make with kids?
Santa Nutter Butter cookies, chocolate Christmas trees, and cut-out sugar cookies are all made for little helpers. There is plenty of decorating and not much that can go wrong, so they are a fun way to spend a snowy afternoon.
What is an easy Christmas dessert for a crowd?
A poke cake or a big double chocolate cake feeds a lot of people with one pan. For a party spread, set out a tray of mixed fudge, truffles, and cookies so everyone can grab a little of everything.
What do you serve with Christmas dessert?
Coffee is the classic pairing. I love setting out dessert with a tres leches iced latte or a hot drink so people can linger at the table. For an adults-only touch, the eggnog pudding shots do double duty as dessert and a nightcap.
That is my full list of easy Christmas desserts, and I add to it every year. Start with a couple for your cookie tray, pick one showstopper for Christmas dinner, and box up some fudge for gifting. For more holiday baking, do not miss my Easy Christmas Cookies roundup, and if you are putting together a full spread, my gingerbread cake and no-bake gingerbread cheesecake are two easy places to start. Save this post to Pinterest so you can find it again in December.
