Food and Recipes Holiday and Occasion Food 105 Heavenly Holiday Desserts That Will Wow Guests By Southern Living Editors Updated on October 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez Santa may love milk and cookies (and we certainly do too), but the holidays have so much more to offer when it comes to the sweets stuff. 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 eggnog to peppermint, red velvet, and everything in between. If you're looking for holiday desserts that stop the show, look no further than our spice cakes, gingerbread confections, and merry trifles. 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 Mexican chocolate treats to lava cakes overflowing with bourbon butterscotch. These fabulous holiday dessert recipes taste divine and will absolutely dazzle on your Christmas table at the end of the night. Prepare to impress! 01 of 105 Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream This quintessential Christmas cake is enveloped with vanilla extract which makes it tasty, tender, and aromatic. If you want a Christmas dessert that's Southern Living cover-worthy, top this classic white cake with our homemade Cake Ball Ornaments. 02 of 105 Christmas Tree Brownies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Christmas Tree Brownies With this recipe, brownie batter is simple as can be—no melting or creaming necessary—and the result is gooey chocolate dessert that's chewiest at the bottom. These brownies have the soft texture you crave, but the best part is decorating them with the family. 03 of 105 Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake 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. 04 of 105 Chocolate Peppermint Cake 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. This impressive three-layer cake will be heaven on earth for winter season mint lovers. 05 of 105 Bourbon Ball Tart Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell Recipe: Bourbon Ball Tart If bourbon balls are a crowd-pleaser all on their own, guests will go gaga for this recipe. Bring this tart that tops chocolate ganache with festive bourbon balls to have the most fun dessert on the sideboard. 06 of 105 Peppermint Divinity 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 before making this old-fashioned treat. These snowball-like desserts need a dry, sunny "divinity day." 07 of 105 Eggnog Layer Cake with Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Eggnog Layer Cake with Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting If you're on the hunt for a showstopping finale for your Christmas celebration, consider it found. Our December 2021 cover star, boasts four layers of eggnog cake, homemade buttercream frosting, and piles of sweet present cookies. 08 of 105 Eggnog Cookies Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Eggnog Cookies If these Eggnog Cookies don't scream "Christmas," then we don't know what will. Add rum to the decadent frosting on these thick, soft, and chewy cookies for a complete treat that will have Santa blushing. 09 of 105 Peppermint Cake with Seven-Minute Frosting 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. Pink may not be your go-to Christmas coloring, but rest assured that the fluffy icing's pop of color will only make the white and red motif sweeter. 10 of 105 Buche de Noel 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. Rolled up to look like a log, Buche de Noel are traditionally decorated with meringue "moss" and "mushrooms" to complete the woodsy styling. 11 of 105 Best-Ever Brownies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Best-Ever Brownies This recipe from Test Kitchen Professional and Hey Y'all host Ivy Odom yields two pans of gooey, fudgy perfection. We recommend keeping at least one batch on hand for drop-in holiday guests. 12 of 105 Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies Chocolate cookies and peppermint filling pair together for an adorable holiday dessert your Christmas crew won't be able to get enough of. Serve these cookie sandwiches on a platter with other holiday cookie selections or let them steal the show all on their own. 13 of 105 Eggnog Spice Cake with Bourbon Custard Filling and Eggnog Buttercream Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. 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. This eggnog-infused layer cake is actually multiple beverages in one thanks to Bourbon Custard Filling. 14 of 105 Christmas Fudge Micah A Leal Recipe: Christmas Fudge Every Christmas gathering needs a cake plate stacked high with perfect pieces of fudge. Ranking as one of the holiday's most beloved sweet treats, we use a secret ingredient in this recipe to keep our Christmas Fudge up to standards: smooth and chewy rather than crumbly and disapointing. 15 of 105 White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies 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. That is—if you're able to part with festive, minty blondies. 16 of 105 Homemade White Cake Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christina Lane; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Homemade White Cake This classic cake forgoes frills in favor of unbeatable, classic vanilla layer cake. Forget sprinkles or store-bought decorations, bake your own cake topper with our Gingerbread Cookies. 17 of 105 White Christmas Pavlovas 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. 18 of 105 Old-Fashioned Gingerbread 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. Nothing says "Christmas" like the spicy-sweet aroma that will fill your home as Old-Fashioned Gingerbread bakes away in the oven. 19 of 105 Rum Balls Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Rum Balls These boozy dessert balls will complete any holiday dessert spread. Unlike many bourbon or rum balls that call for corn syrup, this recipes opts for honey to delicious effect. 20 of 105 Red Velvet Brownies 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. Swap out the white frosting for your favorite fudgy frosting to make these brownies even more chocolatey. 21 of 105 Cherry Spice Cake Trifle Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller 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. 22 of 105 Praline Cream-Beignet Tower Photo: Linda Pugliese Recipe: Praline Cream-Beignet Tower This recipe uses a presentation trick to impress guests even before they take their first bite of this dessert. Make the praline filling and dough up to two days ahead. 23 of 105 Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle 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. 24 of 105 Coconut-Pecan Truffles Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Coconut-Pecan Truffles We've found your go-to giftable treat for the holiday season. These eight-ingredient truffles look just as pretty in a cookie tin as they do on a gold platter. 25 of 105 Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake Don't worry if your cheesecake cracks! The light and fluffy layer of whipped cream will cover it. 26 of 105 Red Velvet Cheesecake-Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 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. This cake is almost too good to believe. 27 of 105 Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks Photo: Hector Sanchez 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. 28 of 105 Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread Hector Sanchez Recipe: Pecan-Cranberry Shortbread Making shortbread with melted butter skips the wait for it to soften. Making shortbread with melted chocolate drizzle is just plain delicious. 29 of 105 Red Velvet Fudge Alison Miksch Recipe: Red Velvet Fudge Fudge is an old-school Christmas staple on the dessert sidebar, and this recipe comes dressed up for the occasion. If you like red velvet cake, you'll love this fudge. 30 of 105 White Cake with Bourbon Buttercream Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: White Cake with Bourbon Buttercream and Seven-Minute Frosting It's hard to beat a straightforward white layer cake sitting pretty on the Christmas table. Top this cake with Sugar-Coated Orange Slices and Sparkling Cherries. 31 of 105 Ambrosia Streusel Bars with Shortbread Crust Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Ambrosia Streusel Bars with Shortbread Crust We breathe new life into classic Ambrosia with this fantastic dessert recipe. Use the foil as a handle to remove the cooled batch from the pan for easy slicing. 32 of 105 Really Good Fruitcake Southern Living Recipe: Really Good Fruitcake If you're on the fence about fruitcake, give this recipe a try to prove the controversial dessert's potential. Apples, persimmons, peaches, and pecans are a stellar combination that makes all the difference. 33 of 105 White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream Photo: Hector Sanchez 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, we promise. 34 of 105 Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle Hotter than your average chocolate trifle, this Mexican chocolate version is spiced with cinnamon. Top this rich trifle with a sprinkle of chocolate curls. 35 of 105 Layered Eggnog Blondies Photo: Hector Sanchez 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. 36 of 105 Banana Pudding Trifle Recipe: Banana Pudding Trifle This classic English layered pudding dessert goes Southern with banana pudding and bourbon-soaked vanilla wafers. Bourbon continues to prove its dessert potential with this stellar recipe. 37 of 105 Sugar-and-Spice Cake Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett 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. 38 of 105 Mexican Chocolate Pound Cake Jim Franco 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. 39 of 105 Coconut Pudding Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Coconut Pudding Smooth Coconut pudding sweetened with vanilla is an elegant finale to Christmas dinner. Try unsweetened coconut flakes for a not-too-sweet topping. 40 of 105 Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake Jim Franco Recipe: Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape. Between decadent flavor and a gorgeous white chocolate snowflake in the center, this dessert will steal the show. 41 of 105 Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream Jennifer Davick Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream Serving up soufflés is a one-way ticket to impressed guests. These snazzy red velvet soufflés are not only eye catching, but drool-worthy desserts that will dazzle any holiday table. 42 of 105 Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies As festive as they are yummy, these cookies will be a hit with holiday guests of all ages. Unlike any old dry gingerbread recipe, this one takes the cake with moist cookies decorated with cocoa powder and meringue to sweeten the deal. 43 of 105 Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas: Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake Swiss Meringue Buttercream enveloped rich, chocolate cake in striking but delicious contrast. If you really want to impress the crowd with your baking skills, top this soft chocolate cake with our Magnolia Flowers or Camellia Flowers. 44 of 105 Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall 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. Black pepper may not be the most common dessert ingredient, but don't skip it! 45 of 105 Hot Chocolate Brownies Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Hot Chocolate Brownies Treat your guest to a chewy version of everyone's favorite indulgent winter drink. Rich, gooey brownies topped with a layer of homemade marshmallows—sounds like we just found your next baking project. 46 of 105 White Chocolate Poinsettia Cake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: White Chocolate Poinsettia Cake Delicate white chocolate is at the foundation of this recipe: from the fluffy cake layers, to the smooth mousse, and also the decadent buttercream. Plus, who knew a petal-shaped cookie cutter could create such a stunning holiday cake topper? 47 of 105 Molasses Crinkles Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Molasses Crinkles Perfect for your Christmas cookie swap or holiday dinner finale, Molasses Crinkles are a Southern Living classic recipe. Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, these cookies are a sweet-heat holiday staple. 48 of 105 Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle Jim Franco; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell Recipe: Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle This dessert hybrid is as merry and bright as it gets. Since this trifle can chill for up to 24 hours before serving, it's an ideal make-ahead dessert to save you time this holiday season. 49 of 105 Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell Recipe: Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes Bourbon and butterscotch are the dream team in this recipe. These single-serving cakes ensure nobody is fighting over the last slice this Christmas. 50 of 105 Red Velvet Peppermint Cake Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Red Velvet Peppermint Cake We can't think of a more festive combination than red velvet and peppermint. Cream cheese frosting and even more peppermint candies drive home both dessert flavor profiles. 51 of 105 Old-Fashioned Trifle Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Old-Fashioned Trifle If you're celebrating Christmas with an adults-only dinner party, try this tipsy trifle. Whiskey-soaked pound cake and tipsy cherries meet a rich custard and whipped cream. 52 of 105 Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell Recipe: Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream Frosting This boozy dessert is a year-round delight, but it's definitely festive enough for Christmas. It's the perfect recipe for fans of a tall, beautiful layer cake who prefer chocolate to our usual vanilla white cakes. 53 of 105 Coffee Baba au Rhum Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Coffee Baba au Rhum With this beautiful dessert, you have a great excuse to make it ahead: It tastes even better after a day or so. Our Southern take on a French dessert can't be beat once the flavors have taken their time to fully mold together. 54 of 105 Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies Sprinkle haters need not apply! With colorful sprinkles included in the dough and added to the icing that's sandwiched between the two-bite treats, these Christmas cookies are ready to party. 55 of 105 Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell Recipe: Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake Not only is the praline topping a picturesque touch, but it takes the flavor of this cheesecake over the top. Beneath the praline topping, our trick to the smoothest ever cheesecake is using room temperature cream cheese. 56 of 105 Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling Surprise everyone when you cut this snowy white cake open to reveal a sweet cranberry filling. The cranberry concoction is not only strikingly festive, but deliciously tart, too. 57 of 105 Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream This spice cake is a great make-ahead option for your holiday feast. Add a snowy topping of powdered sugar for beautiful presentation. 58 of 105 Christmas Pudding Micah A. Leal Recipe: Christmas Pudding Bring this British dessert over the pond and start a new family tradition this year. It's dense and intense, with spices, dried fruit, and brandy, so this pudding may lead to the great fruitcake debate 2.0. Try it for yourself to see what you think. 59 of 105 Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake One Test Kitchen Professional said this cake "tastes like all the wonderful flavors that come tumbling from a stocking: milk chocolate Santas, gingerbread men, and buttery toffee candy." Who can say no to that? 60 of 105 Vanilla Custard with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop styling: Lydia Pursell Recipe: Vanilla Custard with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce Your friends will be stunned when you serve up this dessert that looks like it came from a five-star restaurant. Smooth custard served in elegant stemware is the perfect conclusion to a formal holiday dinner. 61 of 105 Rudolph's Chocolate Truffle Cake Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Recipe: Rudolph's Chocolate Truffle Cake This rich chocolate cake has been a reader favorite for decades. We recommend serving this decadent dessert with a round of coffee. 62 of 105 Spice Cake with Citrus Filling Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell Recipe: Spice Cake with Citrus Filling If you really want to make an impression, whip up this beauty with thick citrus and spice cake layers. To give this cake that extra oomph, use a kitchen torch to make the edges of the frosting an attractive golden brown. 63 of 105 Red Velvet Cake Crinkle Cookies Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Crinkle Cookies Why choose between red velvet cake and red velvet cookies when this recipe makes it easy enough to have both? Don't forget to give these chocolatey cookies a snowy coating of powdered sugar before they bake. 64 of 105 Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sea Salt-Caramel Cake Update Mama's caramel cake recipe (no offense, Mama) with this sweet and salty concoction. Holiday guests will do a delighted double take at this new-school version of a classic. 65 of 105 Red Velvet Cheesecake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Red Velvet Cheesecake It's hard to go wrong with this well-loved dessert option. If you love both red velvet cake and cheesecake, this perfect sweet-meets-rich-meets-creamy concoction is bound to be your new favorite dessert. 66 of 105 Bourbon Balls Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Recipe: Bourbon Balls It's hard to believe that such a powerful flavor punch fits inside so tiny a dessert package. Guests will be more than happy to nibble on these treats, but not as happy as the savvy hostess who easily whipped up these no-bake balls. 67 of 105 Molten Red Velvet Cakes HECTOR MANUEL SANCHEZ Recipe: Molten Red Velvet Cakes With this recipe, each holiday guest will get their very own Christmas cake. Sinking their spoon through decadent cream cheese whipped cream and spongy red velvet cake, they'll find an oozing chocolatey surprise. 68 of 105 5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: 5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies Yes, you can make an irresistible sugar cookie with just a few ingredients. Customize these party treats with your favorite cookie cutters and sprinkles. 69 of 105 Ambrosia Macaroons Hector Sanchez Recipe: Ambrosia Macaroons Forget what you thought you knew about Ambrosia like Grandma used to make, because these macaroons are about to shift your perspective. The classic Ambrosia trio of pineapple, coconut, and maraschino cherries are given new life in this dessert recipe. 70 of 105 Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Dark Chocolate-Ginger-Molasses Cookies Sure, you can always serve a standard, classic cookie like chocolate-chip or sugar cookies and no one will complain, but these seasonal cookies will truly knock those recipes out of the water for the holidays. With the sweetness of molasses and the hint of heat from crystallized ginger, these cookies are bursting with big flavor. 71 of 105 Candy Cane Cookies Joy Howard Recipe: Candy Cane Cookies Just as minty and sweet, but significantly less sticky than actual candy canes, these decorative cookies couldn't possibly be any more fun. Food coloring is used to make bright dough before these treats are twisted and shaped into a cane. 72 of 105 White Chocolate Panna Cotta With Dark Chocolate Sauce Jennifer Davick; Styling: Cari South Recipe: White Chocolate Panna Cotta With Dark Chocolate Sauce This elegant dessert are dressed to impress, making them a stellar choice for more formal Christmas parties. Guests will delight in delicate eggless custard topped with posh garnishes and served in stemmed glasses. 73 of 105 Almond Snowballs Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Almond Snowballs If you celebrate in a part of the South where a white Christmas is out of the question, these treats have got you covered. Flurried with powdered sugar, Almond Snowballs are a sweet winter treat. 74 of 105 White Cake with Peppermint Frosting Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: White Cake with Peppermint Frosting We used fondant to make this cake look like a present, because really, that's what it is. Your holiday guests will thank. you for the delicious gift of dessert after just one bite of this simple yet festive layer cake. 75 of 105 Red Velvet Cake Balls Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Balls If transforming delicious cake into fantastically fun bite-sized treats was an Olympic sport, this recipe would win gold. They're almost too adorable to eat (almost). 76 of 105 Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes Southern Living Recipe: Homemade Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes This recipe will convert you away from the store-bought version for good. As nostalgic as they are delicious, these homemade takes on a seasonal grocery store classic use white chocolate, red icing, and green sprinkles to make them endlessly festive. 77 of 105 Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies Emily Laurae Recipe: Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies Special but simple, these slice-and-bake treats are lovely for both the baker and those enjoying them; So much so that you may need to have two batches at the ready so that there's still some left by the time the guests arrive. Be sure to plan ahead when baking these cookies as they need to chill overnight. 78 of 105 Mini Red Velvet Cakes Southern Living Recipe: Mini Red Velvet Cakes Give classic red velvet cake a wow-factor by shrinking it down and serving it with raspberries. Pipe the miniature cakes sandwich-style with velvety cream cheese frosting and voila! You've got a winning holiday dessert on your hands. 79 of 105 Christmas Rum Cake Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Giulietta Pinna Recipe: Nicola Blaque's Christmas Rum Cake This spirited recipe is a festive take on a Jamaican holiday staple brought to Southern Living Christmas tables thanks to its namesake chef and U.S. Army veteran. When preparing, give this cake its sweet time to soak up all of that tasty rum. 80 of 105 Peppermint Fudge Brownies Photo by Mary Britton Senseney Recipe: Duke's Peppermint Fudge Brownies If you look forward to peppermint bark every holiday season, you won't be able to get enough of these inspired brownies. Underneath creamy peppermint frosting and a semi-sweet chocolate drizzle, this all-star dessert uses mayo for the softest brownies ever. 81 of 105 Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies Joy Howard Recipe: Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies Sometimes, Christmas cookies that are merry as can be and cute as a button lack in flavor what they abound in Christmas spirit. Our recipe isn't like that. These adorable, festive treats are delicious in equal measure thanks to decadent chocolate and gingerbread spice. 82 of 105 Peppermint Pie Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Peppermint Pie Peppermint and chocolate are a strong contender for our favorite holiday flavor combination, and this pie makes a strong case for the duo. To sweeten the deal even further: this pretty pie recipe only asks 20 minutes of active work. 83 of 105 Peppermint Meltaway Cookies Micah A. Leal Recipe: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies Normally, we'd argue that the recipe for a perfect cookie is chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside, but these dazzling cookies are the exception. We use powdered sugar and a few other tricks up our sleeve so that these desserts melt away deliciously in your mouth. 84 of 105 Red Velvet Layer Cake Jennifer Davick Recipe: Red Velvet Layer Cake Cutting into a simple, white-frosted cake, guests will be delighted by this dessert's bright red interior. It's elegant as can be and oh-so tasty. 85 of 105 No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies GREG DUPREE; FOOD STYLING: EMILY NABORS HALL; PROP STYLING: AUDREY DAVIS Recipe: No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies "No-Bake" are the words we absolutely love to hear when our ovens are busy working on the rest of the holiday feast. We like to think of this wafer recipe as a homemade holiday take on everyone's favorite minty Girl Scout cookies. 86 of 105 Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting The Home Edit Recipe: Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting This recipe starts with a box of fudgy brownie mix—our favorite dessert shortcut—and it's all uphill from there. Molasses and ground ginger spruce up simple brownies while a spiced, sweet frosting spread on top offers a complete, delicious bite every time. 87 of 105 Peppermint Cheesecake Southern Living Recipe: Peppermint Cheesecake This Christmas treat will be irresistible on your dessert sidebar. Cool peppermint and rich chocolate team up with the creamiest cheesecake for and guaranteed hit at your holiday affair. 88 of 105 Red Velvet Peppermint Cake Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Red Velvet Peppermint Cake Red velvet cake gets an even more festive twist with the addition of bright peppermint flavor. Decorate the ice cream frosting on this dessert with even more peppermint candy garnish to enhance its minty freshness. 89 of 105 Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies Linda Pugliese, Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas, Buffy Hargett Miller Recipe: Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies Crackle cookies are a hit, especially when they're as flavorful as these chocolate-peppermint ones. To emphasize the gun crackle effect, coat the cookies in powdered sugar just before baking. 90 of 105 Gingerbread Cake With Stout Buttercream William Dickey Recipe: Gingerbread Cake With Stout Buttercream As much as we adore this gingerbread cake recipe, we have to admit that the star of this dessert is the uniquely decadent buttercream frosting throughout. You'll need about 2 bottles of beer for this delightful recipe. 91 of 105 Red Velvet-White Chocolate Chunk Cookies Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Red Velvet-White Chocolate Chunk Cookies Red velvet is one of our favorite holiday desserts and these rich, red-hued cookies prove why. White chocolate provides contrast, both in sweetness and shade, making these cookies striking to the eye and the tastebuds. 92 of 105 Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies Jennifer Davick Recipe: Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies Use these cookies as garnish, like we did, to dress up any Christmas cake and turn a simple dessert into a showstopper, or serve them all on their own and let them shine as the main dessert course. These spiced gingerbread cookies are more than tasty enough to stand on their own. 93 of 105 Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake Brian Woodcock Recipe: Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake Cinnamon, red pepper, and chipotle bring the fire to smooth chocolate cake. This slightly spicy dessert is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, especially when served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. 94 of 105 Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Bourbon balls are a holiday dessert staple, but this fudgy version might just cause your usual recipe to take a back seat. With only 4 ingredients and a half hour of active prep time, these truffles are easy as can be despite their delightfully decadent outcome. 95 of 105 Cassandra's 'Light' Fruitcake Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Cassandra's 'Light' Fruitcake Bourbon makes every recipe better, and fruitcake is no exception. This lighter and liquored-up cake will move even the most stubborn fruitcake skeptics. 96 of 105 White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream Courtney West/Southern Living Recipe: White Cake with Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream Simple, tried and true white cake is dressed up thanks to tart berries and citrus. Cranberry filling binds together this layer cake beautifully while orange buttercream is the icing on the cake. 97 of 105 Brown Sugar-Rum Cake Southern Living Recipe: Brown Sugar-Rum Cake Bursting with caramel goodness, this sheet cake is a winner on the holiday dessert sidebar. Dark brown sugar and rum in the batter pair with liquored-up frosting for a spirited cake that can't be beat. 98 of 105 Japanese Fruitcake with Lemon-Coconut Frosting Recipe Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Japanese Fruitcake with Lemon-Coconut Frosting Recipe Originally published over three decades ago, this fruitcake is a long-time reader favorite for a reason. Put your pre-conceived notions about fruitcake aside and give a fighting chance to this cake that doesn't include candied fruit, but does have heavenly lemon-coconut frosting. 99 of 105 Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies David Malosh; Prop Styling: Robyn Glaser; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero Recipe: Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies These darling tarts add a pop of festive color to the holiday dessert spread. Creamy cheesecake is enhanced by tart cranberry flavor cocooned in a miniature gingersnap crust. 100 of 105 White Fruit Cake Joy Howard Recipe: White Fruit Cake Calling all fruitcake devotees! We know that this Christmas cake isn't everyone's favorite, but this recipe might just give pause to even the most ardent of fruitcake-slanderers. 101 of 105 Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel Photo: Brian Woodcock Recipe: Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel Bringing out a sizzling tray of cornbread pudding is a surefire way to have holiday guests' mouths watering, especially when they catch a glimpse of the spirited caramel topping. Try baking this bread pudding in individual ramekins so that nobody's tempted to scoop up more of their share and leave others wanting. 102 of 105 Ambrosia Pudding Pie Alison Miksch Recipe: Ambrosia Pudding Pie Custard pie makes for a decadent dessert for holiday guests. Adding orange marmalade, crushed pineapple, and sweet coconut to the mix is almost too good to be true... almost. 103 of 105 Cranberry Christmas Cake Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Recipe: Cranberry Christmas Cake Sweet and tart like the best cranberry concoctions, this pretty cake is made to impress. A hint of cinnamon and sprigs of rosemary win the best supportive roles award in this outstanding holiday dessert. 104 of 105 Mama's Rum Cake Peter Frank Edwards Recipe: Mama's Rum Cake Moist and fragrant cake infused with rum will be a fast family favorite. One bite of the glazed dessert, and your Christmas crew will be asking for a repeat performance next December. 105 of 105 Gingered Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan-Crumb Crust and Ginger-Honey Whip Johnny Autry; Food Styling: Keia Mastrianni; Prop Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Gingered Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan-Crumb Crust and Ginger-Honey Whip Old-school sweet potato pie gets a Christmas makeover with ginger and pecans. A hefty topping of Ginger-Honey Whip truly sets this dessert over the edge. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit