Heavenly Holiday Desserts

Caramel Cream Cake

Enjoy tender coconut-pecan cake layers filled with pecan pie filling. The top and sides of the cake are spread with cream cheese frosting and sprinkled with toasted coconut and pecans for an impressive (but super-easy) finish.

• Recipe: Caramel Cream Cake

Pecan Squares

Use salted butter and bring the filling to a rolling boil before pouring it over the crust.

• Recipe: Pecan Squares

Double Coffee Tiramisù

For festive holiday flair, prepare these individual desserts in mugs or ramekins. Chocolate curls complete the presentation.

• Recipe: Double Coffee Tiramisù

Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake

Never fearing too much of a good thing, we topped our best-ever brownie batter with a ribbon of feather-light cheesecake, and poured on a chocolate truffle glaze.

The recipe makes 2 triple-layered treats – perfect for serving a crowd or sharing as a gift.

• Recipe: Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake

Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies

Recruit your children or grandchildren to help you decorate these festive reindeer cookies. Break pretzels into antler shapes and add chocolate chips for eyes and a red cinnamon candy as a nose.

• Recipe: Rudolph's Christmas Sugar Cookies

Chocolate-Mint Cake

Velvety chocolate cake filled with peppermint tastes like a scrumptious peppermint pattie.

• Recipe: Chocolate-Mint Cake

Fig Cake

A delicious twist on our favorite Hummingbird Cake, this recipe is so simple to make you won't believe you started from scratch. Super-moist cake layers, flavored with fig preserves and a sprinkling of holiday spice, are paired with cream cheese frosting for an irresistible treat.

• Recipe: Fig Cake

Chocolate-Citrus Cake With Candied Oranges

Easy-to-swirl frosting is only the beginning. Slice into this sweet sensation to reveal its true charm―velvety-rich ganache in layers of moist chocolate cake. Frosting Tip: Using an offset spatula, spread frosting over cake. Then use a spoon from your kitchen drawer to create whimsical swirls.

• Recipe: Chocolate-Citrus Cake With Candied Oranges

Double Citrus Tart

Easy as icebox pie, this party-pretty tart pairs the bright fresh flavors of lemon and orange with a crisp gingersnap crust. It's just the right finish for a rich holiday meal, and freezes beautifully. Prepare the tart up to 1 month ahead, omitting the whipped cream and garnish; chill as directed. Remove the metal rim of the tart pan; cover and freeze in a zip-top freezer bag. Thaw overnight in refrigerator; add whipped cream and garnish up to 4 hours before serving.

• Recipe: Double Citrus Tart

Raspberry Tiramisù

These luscious little gems are so quick to fix you can make dozens at a time. Inexpensive shot glasses sparkle as contemporary dessert dishes. For large parties, miniature (5-oz.) clear-plastic tumblers, available from party stores, are a great option.

• Recipe: Raspberry Tiramisù Bites

Chocolate Velvet Cake With Coconut-Pecan Frosting

A lavish amount of melted chocolate and sour cream gives these moist cake layers a tender, velvet-textured crumb. The recipe is a favorite with our Foods staff – one we use often for celebrations throughout the year. You'll find lots of imaginative ways to bake and frost the cake layers listed with the recipe for the batter.

• Recipe: Chocolate Velvet Cake With Coconut-Pecan Frosting

Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

A New Orleans specialty, this simple but ethereal dessert is nothing short of spectacular. It takes just minutes to put together, and bakes while everyone enjoys the main meal.

Recipe Link: Bread Pudding With Vanilla Sauce

White Chocolate-Cranberry Créme Brulée

A burst of sweet-tart cranberry sauce lies at the bottom of these creamy, double-rich custards. Prepare the custards a day ahead, and chill. Crisp, paper-thin crusts of caramelized sugar are added just before serving – all it takes is a few minutes under the broiler. For the best flavor and texture, choose a quality white chocolate with cocoa butter listed as the primary ingredient.

Recipe Link: White Chocolate-Cranberry Créme Brulée

Banana Pudding Trifle

Down-home comfort takes an upscale spin in this spirited version of banana pudding. Vanilla wafers, laced with bourbon and rum, and crunchy bits of chocolate-covered toffee bars make it too delicious to resist.

• Recipe: Banana Pudding Trifle

Noel Pound Cake Loaf

Still warm from the oven or tucked away to season in a secret hiding place, golden-crusted pound cakes are loved by everyone. We serve them any time of day or night, and have even been known to butter and toast a slice or two for breakfast. A colorful confetti of red and green maraschino cherries makes this merry little cake a hit with all ages.

• Recipe: Noel Pound Cake Loaf

Pumpkin-Spiced Profiteroles With Warm Cranberry Compote

A star-tipped pastry bag makes quick work of piping these festive little cream puffs, but you can also shape small dollops of dough with a pair of teaspoons. Bake them up to a month ahead; cool completely, and freeze in zip-top plastic bags. We chose vanilla bean ice cream as a filling, but butter-pecan or dulce-de-leche are also a great match for the compote. Or, change the flavor combination and use coffee ice cream and caramel sauce to create a fun twist on the popular pumpkin spiced latté.

Recipe Link: Pumpkin-Spiced Profiteroles With Warm Cranberry Compote

White Chocolate-Almond Cake

A decadent trio of dark chocolate cake layers is the delicious surprise inside this festive package. There's no need to worry about picture-perfect swirls of frosting – just spread it on. Then decorate like a pro simply by pressing finely chopped white chocolate and almonds into the top and sides of the cake. Tie on a ribbon, and you have a stunning dessert that tastes every bit as good as it looks.

• Recipe: White Chocolate-Almond Cake

Triple Mint Sundaes 

Turn our Hot Fudge Sauce into party-perfect sundaes by serving it atop your favorite store-bought variety. Serve in mint julep cups.

• Recipe: Triple Mint Sundaes 

Mindi's Doughnuts

Mindi’s Doughnuts and Easy Raspberry Sauce dessert is a nod to a fried, jelly-filled pastry often eaten at Hanukkah. For a fun look, offer guests individual servings using curved appetizer spoons and fancy party picks.

• Recipe: Mindi's Doughnuts and Easy Raspberry Sauce

Sweet Potato-Buttermilk Pie

Soul-soothing Sweet Potato-Buttermilk Pie starts with a refrigerated piecrust. We recommend baking it in the morning, letting it cool, and serving it at room temperature.

• Recipe: Sweet Potato-Buttermilk Pie

Snowy Chocolate Baby Cakes

Snowy Chocolate Baby Cakes are simply upside-down cupcakes topped with a super-easy Winter White Glaze.

• Recipe: Snowy Chocolate Baby Cakes

Chocolate Marble Sheet Cake

This marbled cake is a treat for chocoholics. The rich, creamy frosting blends coffee with cocoa for a delightful mocha flavor.

• Recipe: Chocolate Marble Sheet Cake

Sugar-and-Spice Cake

Make a classic white cake for Christmas this year. This recipe starts with boxed mix, then adds a few key ingredients to make the end result light, fluffy, and totally delicious.

• Recipe: Sugar-and-Spice Cake

Red Velvet Cheesecake

A red velvet filling is spiked with cocoa, topped with a creamy cheesecake layer, and baked in a dark chocolate crust.

• Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake

Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

Semisweet chocolate and cinnamon replicate the flavor of Mexican chocolate in this moist cake. It's equally delicious with or without our Mexican Chocolate Sauce. Garnish with toasted sliced almonds.

• Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

Red Velvet Brownies

Imagine the most luscious red velvet cake you've ever tasted...then try this decadent twist. The chocolate-filled brownie and cream cheese frosting won't disappoint. Garnish with white chocolate curls.

• Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

Tipsy Spiced Fruit Tart with Buttermilk Whipped Cream

The bourbon-soaked fruits and bold flavors in this rustic pie make it an adults-only dessert. Splurge for a premium brandy or bourbon—it’s worth it.

• Recipe: Tipsy Spiced Fruit Tart with Buttermilk Whipped Cream
• Step-by-Step How To Make a Fabulous Fruit Tart

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Chocolate lovers will swoon over this chocolate-filled, chocolate ganache-topped cheesecake. Plus, it's easy to make ahead and pull out of the refrigerator after dinner. Follow our instructions to make the festive snowflake topper.

• Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake
• Step-by-Step White Chocolate Snowflake Garnish

Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

Eat these moist and delicious soufflés straight out of the oven. Dust with them with powdered sugar and top with cool and creamy Whipped Sour Cream.

• Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

Praline Bundt Cake

A crown of Sugared Pecans adds a deliciously nutty crunch to this five-star cake. A gentle tap sends it tumbling from one pan, perfectly fluted and party ready. Plus, it freezes beautifully, feeds a houseful of guests, and travels remarkably well. Just don’t expect to bring back any leftovers.

• Recipe: Praline Bundt Cake

Hummingbird Cake

This ultimate recipe is the most requested in Southern Living magazine history and frequents covered dish dinners all across the South, always receiving rave reviews.

• Recipe: Hummingbird Cake

Cheesecake Squares

Save time and stress with this elegant make-ahead dessert your guests will love.

• Recipe: Cheesecake Squares

Red Velvet Trifle

Red velvet cake and fresh raspberries star in this festive, elegant trifle. You'll love the flavor of the blend of cake, cream cheese mixture, and berries.

• Recipe: Red Velvet Trifle

Eggnog Pound Cake

Just when you thought pound cake couldn't get any better—try toasting the slices and spreading them with your favorite jam or preserves. You can also use the delectable batter to make Eggnog Cupcakes.

• Recipe: Eggnog Pound Cake

Chocolate Roulade

Learn how easy it is to make a decadent and impressive Chocolate Roulade just in time for Christmas.

• Recipe: Chocolate Roulade
• How To Make Chocolate Roulade

Reindeer Christmas Cookies

Learn how to make these adorable Christmas cookies with your kids.

• How To Make Reindeer Cookies

Gingerbread Soufflés

This impressive dessert isn't difficult, but do plan ahead. Preheat the oven, and just before sitting down to dinner, pop the soufflés in. When done, serve them all puffed up and gorgeous.

• Recipe: Gingerbread Soufflés