Heavenly Holiday Desserts

Recipe: Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

If you want a Christmas dessert that’s Southern Living cover-worthy, top this classic white cake with our homemade Cake Ball Ornaments.

Recipe: Christmas Tree Brownies

These brownies have the soft texture you crave, but the best part is decorating them with the family.

Recipe: Peppermint Truffles

When coating the truffles, the Southern Living Test Kitchen professionals recommend using Ghiradelli Chocolate White Melting Wafers—not only do they melt smoothly, but they have a very nice vanilla flavor. 

Recipe: Cream Cheese Cookie Wreaths

These adorable cookies are the best way to occupy the kids on a slow day off school during the holidays.

Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Southerners know that mayonnaise is the secret to the best chocolate cake, and this layer cake starts with it.

Recipe: Bourbon Ball Tart

If you want to have the most fun dessert on the sideboard, bring this one that tops chocolate ganache with festive bourbon balls.

Recipe: Peppermint Divinity

Since the South’s hot, humid climate can extend well into winter, be sure to check the weather and pick a dry, sunny day as your “divinity day” to make this old-fashioned treat.

Recipe: Peppermint Cake with Seven-Minute Frosting

Each element of this cake can be made ahead, so you can just decorate and serve the day of your gathering.

Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

These red velvet delights belong in a vintage cookie tin for friends and family to enjoy.

Recipe: Buche de Noel

It’s a labor of love, but if you’ve never made a classic yule log cake for the holidays, this is the year to try.

Recipe: Candy Cane Cake Bars

Who could guess these adorable little bars started with a box of cake mix?

Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Chocolate cookie dough rolled in sparkling sugar with peppermint filling makes for a Christmas treat that’s almost too pretty to eat.

Recipe: Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake

Calling all eggnog lovers! You’ve got to make this pretty Bundt. A tip from the Test Kitchen: For the most tender crumb, don’t overmix the wet and dry ingredients; stop stirring just after they are blended.

Recipe: Brownie Baked Alaska

Ditch the traditional sponge cake layer for a warm, classic brownie that kids and adults alike will love.

Recipe: Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream

Instead of drinking your eggnog this Christmas, serve it on a cake plate.

Recipe: Red Velvet Santa Hat Meringues

A few tips from the Test Kitchen for these oh-so-fun meringues: Use a concentrated red food coloring gel (not liquid food coloring) for the brightest results. When baking the meringues, don't open the oven after turning it off; this will help them dry.

Recipe: Rice Krispies Christmas Trees

Adorable as a cake topper or snack for the kids’ table at Christmas dinner, you just need a few store-bought ingredients to bring these trees to life.

Recipe: Christmas Fudge

Every Christmas gathering needs a cake plate stacked high with perfect pieces of fudge.

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting

Warm spices and molasses blend beautifully with tangy buttermilk frosting.

Recipe: Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

Each tender spice cake layer is brushed with espresso simple syrup and topped with dreamy vanilla frosting.

Recipe: White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

Since this festive recipe makes four and a half dozen bars, you’ll have plenty to share with the neighbors.

Recipe: Best White Cake

Forget sprinkles or store-bought decorations, bake your own cake topper with our Gingerbread Cookies.

Recipe: Snowball Cake

Use your biscuit cutter to turn a tender sheet cake into sweet mini snowball cakes for each family member to enjoy themselves.

Recipe: White Christmas Pavlovas

There’s no prettier way to end a meal than with a fluffy pavlova. The mini portions are perfect for easy serving.

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

This year, we could use a little homemade comfort, and this old-school gingerbread recipe is like a hug in a pan.

Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

Brownies get dressed up for Christmas with red velvet and snowy cream cheese frosting.

Recipe: Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle

Thaw Holiday Spice Cake layers and prepare the recipe through Step 3. Assemble trifle in the morning, and refrigerate. Remove 1 hour before serving.

Recipe: Praline Cream-Beignet Tower

Make the praline filling and dough up to two days ahead.

Recipe: Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

Effortless to pull off? Check. Tastes better the longer it sits? Check. Make this beauty up to one day before company arrives.

Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

Don't worry if your cheesecake cracks; the light and fluffy layer of whipped cream will cover it.

Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Creamy red velvet cheesecake, soft white cake, and layers of tangy cream cheese frosting? Somebody pinch us.

Recipe: Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks

Allow plenty of time to make fillings, and immediately assemble stacks. You can chill the assembled stacks up to 24 hours ahead of time.

Recipe: Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread

Making shortbread with melted butter skips the wait for it to soften.

Recipe: Red Velvet Fudge

If you like red velvet cake, you'll love this fudge.

Recipe: White Cake with Bourbon Buttercream and Seven-Minute Frosting

Top this cake with Sugar-Coated Orange Slices and Sparkling Cherries.

Recipe: Ambrosia Streusel Bars with Shortbread Crust

Use the foil as a handle to remove the cooled batch from the pan for easy slicing.

Recipe: Milk Punch Tres Leches Cake

Bake this a day before serving so it soaks up the creamy syrup. Make mini cakes with a round cutter. Top with whipped cream and a grating of nutmeg.

Recipe: White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

This cake will be the star of your holiday meal. Your guests will be begging for the recipe.

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle

Top this rich trifle with a sprinkle of chocolate curls.

Recipe: Layered Eggnog Blondies

These treats have a split personality: 1 part blondie, 1 part eggnog cheesecake. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container up to one week.

Recipe: Pecan Linzer Cookies

Use your favorite jams to vary the flavor and color of these beauties.

Recipe: Banana Brownie Sticky Toffee Puddings

Any remaining sauce makes a great topping for ice cream.

Recipe: Coconut Snowballs

If the melted white chocolate is too firm after it is heated, stir in about 1/4 tsp. coconut oil.

Recipe: Banana Pudding Trifle

This classic English layered pudding dessert goes Southern with banana pudding and bourbon-soaked vanilla wafers.

Recipe: 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: Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake

We replicated the flavor profile of Mexican chocolate using semisweet chocolate and cinnamon. If you prefer to use Mexican chocolate, look for it with the hot drink mixes or on the Hispanic food aisle. This moist pound cake is equally delicious without the Mexican Chocolate Sauce.

Recipe: Coconut Pudding

Try unsweetened coconut flakes for a not-too-sweet topping.

Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape featuring a gorgeous White Chocolate Snowflake in the center.

Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

These snazzy red velvet soufflés are not only eye catching, but drool-worthy desserts that will dazzle any holiday table.

Recipe: Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake

If you really want to impress the crowd with your baking skills, top this soft chocolate cake with our Magnolia Flowers or Camellia Flowers.

Recipe: Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding

We turned one of winter’s favorite cocktails into an ultra-decadent dessert that will make your house smell amazing.

Recipe: Hot Chocolate Brownies

Rich, gooey brownies topped with a layer of homemade marshmallows—sounds like we just found your next baking project.

Recipe: White Chocolate Poinsettia Cake

Who knew a petal-shaped cookie cutter could create such a stunning holiday cake topper?

Recipe: Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle

Since this merry and bright trifle can chill for up to 24 hours before serving, it’s an ideal make-ahead dessert to save you time this holiday season.

Recipe: Upside Down Pear-and-Gingerbread Cake

Trade the old-school pineapple version for a holiday-ready gingerbread cake topped with a layer of caramelized pears.