Heavenly Holiday Desserts

Updated November 13, 2020
Credit: Iain Bagwell

No Southern table is complete without these holiday dessert recipes from our Test Kitchen. Of course when it comes to Christmas desserts, we’re known for our Big White Cakes, but we also have charming cheesecakes, crowd-pleasing pound cakes, and layer cakes from coconut to gingerbread with buttermilk frosting. If you’re looking for holiday desserts that stop the show, look no further than our Praline Cream-Beignet Tower or Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle. We also have you covered on holiday desserts that we like to call “easy wows.” They're perfect for toting to a cookie swap or holiday party, from Ambrosia Streusel Bars to Layered Eggnog Blondies. These fabulous holiday dessert recipes taste divine and will absolutely dazzle on your Christmas dessert table. Prepare to impress!

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Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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.

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Christmas Tree Brownies

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Christmas Tree Brownies

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

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Peppermint Truffles

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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. 

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Cream Cheese Cookie Wreaths

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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Chocolate Peppermint Cake

Credit: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Cake

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

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Bourbon Ball Tart

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell

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.

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Peppermint Divinity

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

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.

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Peppermint Cake with Seven-Minute Frosting

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

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Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

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

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Buche de Noel

Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

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.

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Candy Cane Cake Bars

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Candy Cane Cake Bars

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

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Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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.

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Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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Brownie Baked Alaska

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Brownie Baked Alaska

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

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Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream

Credit: Photographer Greg Dupree, Food Styling Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Styling Kay Clarke

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

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

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Red Velvet Santa Hat Meringues

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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Rice Krispies Christmas Trees

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

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.

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Christmas Fudge

Credit: Micah A Leal

Recipe: Christmas Fudge

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

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Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting

Warm spices and molasses blend beautifully with tangy buttermilk frosting.

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Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

Credit: Iain Bagwell

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.

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Best White Cake

Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Best White Cake

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

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Snowball Cake

Credit: Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

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.

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White Christmas Pavlovas

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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.

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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Red Velvet Brownies

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Red Velvet Brownies

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

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Cherry-Spice Cake Trifle

Credit: Alison Miksch

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.

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Praline Cream-Beignet Tower

Credit: Photo: Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Praline Cream-Beignet Tower

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

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Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

Credit: Iain Bagwell

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.

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Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

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

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Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

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