10 Delicious Holiday Dessert Recipes 

Calling all bakers, professional and amateur! It’s time to get in the holiday spirit—baking edition. Whether you’re an afficionado in the kitchen or just starting out, we have some ultra-delicious holiday goodies and holiday dessert recipes for you to whip up this season. Grab a whisk and let’s get started!  

Check out our holiday treats list and read on for all the delectable details. 

1. Tree puff pastry  

2. Cranberry brie bites 

3. Holiday charcuterie board 

4. Gingerbread cookies 

5. Peppermint snowball cookies 

6. Stained glass window cookies 

7. Cornflake wreath cookies 

8. Mini red velvet cakes 

9. Apple spice cake 

10. Snickerdoodle cheesecake bars 

Munch on These Tasty Holiday Appetizers  

If you’re preparing to throw a festive holiday bash, try  these three delicious appetizer recipes to impress your guests.  

Tree Puff Pastry 

This one’s sure to be an instant favorite on the holiday treats list—throw together a festive tree puff pastry this December. 

Servings 

8

Prep Time 

35 minutes 

Cook Time 

20 minutes 

Ingredients 

2 tablespoons tomato pesto 
2 tablespoons soft goat cheese 
2 sheets puff pastry 
2 tablespoons Pecorino-Romano cheese, grated 
1 egg 
½ teaspoon dried oregano 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper 

2. Combine tomato pesto and goat cheese in a small bowl, stir well. 

3. Make a tree shape! Unroll one puff pastry onto baking sheet, cut away two strips at the bottom to form a tree trunk, about 1 inch. Cut diagonally to the top of the pastry on either side to make a triangle shape.  

4. Spread a layer of pesto mixture over the entire puff pastry and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of grated cheese. 

5. Place the second puff pastry on top of the first and cut away the sides to match the tree shape below. 

6. Cut branches into both sides of the tree, leaving space in the center lengthwise. Twist each branch 1-3 times each. 

7. Brush the tree with beaten egg. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of grated cheese and ½ teaspoon dried oregano. 

8. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool on a baking sheet. 

Cranberry Brie Bites 

Ready for more holiday goodies? Take a joyful bite bursting with flavor when you try out this cranberry brie recipe. 

Servings 

24 

Prep Time 

10 minutes 

Cook Time 

15 minutes 

Ingredients 

All-purpose flour 
Crescent rolls 
8-ounce wheel of brie cheese 
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce 
Fresh rosemary sprigs 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray. 

2. Spread flour on the counter or cutting board and roll out your crescent roll sheet. Pinch the seams together.  

3. Cut crescent roll dough into 24 equal-sized squares and place squares in muffin tin slots. 

4. Cut brie into large pieces and place inside the crescent dough squares. Add a generous spoonful of cranberry on top and garnish with a sprig of rosemary. 

5. Bake 15-20 minutes until the dough is a light golden brown. Serve warm! 

Learn how to create the perfect holiday tablescape to showcase your holiday dessert recipes here.

Holiday Charcuterie Board 

Everyone loves to munch on a tasty charcuterie board filled with cheese, crackers, fresh produce, and more during the holiday season. 

Ingredients 

Cheese: one soft, one semi-firm, and one hard 
One pomegranate 
One orange, sliced 
Grapes 
Pear slices 
Dried cranberries 
Rosemary for decoration 
Olives 
Salami 
Various crackers 
Baguette 
 

Directions 

When it comes to charcuterie, the world is your oyster. You have the freedom to design a board that fits your unique tastes. Above are our suggestions for a holiday-themed board, but feel free to set forth your creative spirit and come up with your own ideas too! 

Charcuterie Board Tips 

1. Start with small bowls. Fill them with sauce, honey, hummus, or round items like grapes or pomegranate and place them on the board. 

2. Then, move on to your largest pieces and place by category. 

3. Fill empty spaces with tiny items, such as nuts and dried fruits. 

Take a Walk on the Sweet Side 

This part of the blog is for all the resident sweet-tooths out there. Everyone loves treats for the holidays, and we’ve got you covered. Let’s get baking! 

Gingerbread Cookies 

Gingerbread cookies are a classic staple on the holiday dessert recipes list. Cut into fun holiday shapes and add frosting for the perfect finishing touch. 

 
Servings 

24 

Prep Time 

25 minutes 

Cook Time 

10 minutes 

Chill Time 

2 hours 

Ingredients 

3 cups all-purpose flour 
¾ cup packed brown sugar, dark 
¾ teaspoon baking soda 
1 tablespoon cinnamon, ground 
1 tablespoon ginger, ground 
½ teaspoon cloves, ground 
½ teaspoon salt 
12 tablespoons butter, room temperature 
¾ cup dark molasses 
2 tablespoons milk 

Frosting Ingredients 

2 tablespoons butter, room temperature 
2 cups powdered sugar 
2 tablespoons milk 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 

2. Add flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt in a medium bowl and stir. 

3. Add 12 pieces of butter and blend until the texture is fine. 

4. Run a mixer on low speed while gradually adding the molasses and milk, about 30 seconds. 

5. Divide the dough in half. Wrap each ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours minimum. 

6. Roll out the dough to ½ inch thickness and cut with gingerbread cookie cutters. Place gingerbread men on the prepared baking sheets. 

7. Refrigerate the gingerbread men for five minutes. 

8. Bake the cookies for 8-11 minutes. Be careful not to overbake! When you place your finger in the center of the gingerbread man, you should see a very light imprint.  

9. Let cookies cool completely before frosting.  

Frosting Directions 

1. Mix butter, milk, and 1 cup of powdered sugar in a bowl until smooth. 

2. Add an extra cup of powdered sugar and mix until smooth.  

3. Frost your cookies! 

Peppermint Snowball Cookies

Whether the view out your windows is a snowy utopia or a warm paradise, these peppermint snowball cookies are sure to put you in the holiday spirit. 

Servings 

48 

Prep Time 

15 minutes 

Cook Time 

7 minutes 

Chill Time 

30 minutes 

Ingredients 

½ cup unsalted butter, softened  
2/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted 
2 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 
½ teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon peppermint extract 
Red or pink food coloring 
¾ cup peppermint baking chips 
 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF and line baking sheet with parchment paper.  

2. Beat butter and powdered sugar until light and fluffy, about two minutes. 

3. Mix in flour, salt, and peppermint extract until combined. 

4. Add food color two drops at a time until desired color is reached. 

5. Gently stir in peppermint baking chips. 

6. Scoop out one tablespoon of dough at a time and roll into a ball. Set on prepared baking sheet. 

7. Bake for 7-8 minutes. Be careful not to overbake—the cookies should be no more than lightly browned. 

8. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and dust a generous amount of powdered sugar over slightly cooled cookies. 

9. Let cookies completely cool. 

10. Fill a small bowl with powdered sugar and drop cooled cookies into the bowl. Turn until completely coated.

Stained Glass Window Cookies 

These unique holiday treats put a bright and fun spin on the classic sugar cookie and are deceptively easy to make. 

Servings 

30 

Prep Time 

45 minutes 

Cook Time 

30 minutes 

Chill Time 

1 hour 20 minutes 

Ingredients 

20 Jolly Ranchers 
1 cup unsalted butter, softened 
1 cup granulated sugar 
¼ teaspoon salt 
2 eggs 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. 

2. Unwrap all 20 Jolly Ranchers, separate by color, and place candy of the same color in individual bowls. Crush the candy into small pieces. 

3. In a separate medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and salt until combined. 

4. Add in eggs one at a time. 

5. Add in vanilla extract. 

6. Slowly add in flour and mix until well combined. 

7. Remove dough from bowl, form into a rectangle shape, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour. 

8. Cut chilled dough into thirds. Work with one portion at a time; keep the other chilled. 

9. Flour counter or cutting board and roll out dough to about 1/5 inch thick. Use a star shape cookie cutter to cut the dough. 

10. Move stars to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cut a smaller star from the middle of each larger star with a smaller cookie cutter, then remove the smaller star. 

11. Fill the cut-out centers of the larger stars ¾ of the way with crushed jolly ranchers and chill cookies in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.  

12. Bake cookies until the candy center is melted, about 12-14 minutes. 

13. Cool on baking sheet until jolly rancher centers are hardened. Repeat with two other sections of chilled dough. 

Cornflake Wreath Cookies 

Delicious, festive, and unique are how we describe these munchable cookies! They’ll be a surefire add to your holiday desserts list after a single bite. 

Servings

24 

Prep Time

20 minutes 

Cook Time

5 minutes 

Ingredients 

½ cup butter 
5 cups mini marshmallows 
1 teaspoon green food coloring 
6 cups Cornflakes cereal 
½ cup red hots or small cinnamon candies 

Directions 

1. Measure out 6 cups of cornflakes in a large bowl. 

2. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. 

3. Add marshmallows and stir until fully melted. 

4. Stir in food coloring. 

5. Pour melted marshmallow mixture over the cornflakes and stir until fully coated. 

6. Place a piece of parchment paper on the counter and scoop out dollops of cornflake mixture onto the paper. 

7. Shape each dollop into a wreath. 

8. Top each wreath with three cinnamon candies arranged in a triangle shape. 

Looking for more holiday inspiration? Check out our best tips on preparing your home for the holidays.

Mini Red Velvet Cakes

Red velvet cake is among the most loved treats for the holidays. Try out this fun twist on the classic dessert by making them mini! 

Servings 

6 mini cakes 

Prep Time 

30 minutes 

Cook Time 

35 minutes 

Ingredients 

3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, soft wheat 
1 ¾ cups granulated sugar 
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa 
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 
1 ¼ teaspoons salt 
1 1/3 cups buttermilk 
1 cup vegetable oil 
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
3 eggs 
1 oz bottle of red food coloring 

Frosting Ingredients 

1 (3 oz) package of cream cheese, softened 
¼ cup butter, softened 
1 (8 oz) package mascarpone cheese 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

Extras 

Raspberries 
Fresh mint leaves 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch pan. 

2. Stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in large bowl. 

3. Whisk together buttermilk, vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, vanilla extract, eggs, and food coloring in large bowl. 

4. Slowly stir into flour mixture until just combined. 

5. Pour batter into pan and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 

6. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove and place on cooling rack for 1 hour.  

 
Frosting Directions 

1. Beat cream cheese and softened butter on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. 

2. Gradually add powdered sugar. Beat at low speed until fully blended after each addition. 

3. Add mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract, beat until blended. 

4. Once cake is cooled, cut each round in half horizontally. 

5. Spread frosting in between cake layers and on top of each cake.  

6. Garnish with fresh raspberries and mint and enjoy! 

Apple Spice Cake 

Put a holiday twist on the classic apple pie this year by making an apple cake! Top with a whisper of powdered sugar and enjoy. 

Servings 

12 

Prep Time 

20 minutes 

Cook Time 

1 hour 35 minutes 

Ingredients 

3 Granny Smith apples 
2 cups Macintosh apples 
1 tablespoon lemon juice 
3 cups all-purpose flour 
1 ½ teaspoon baking soda 
¼ teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
4 eggs 
2 cups granulated sugar 
1 cup vegetable oil 
½ cup orange juice 
2 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 
powdered sugar for dusting 

Directions 

1. Heat oven to 350ºF and coat a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper. 

2. Toss the apples and lemon juice together in a large bowl. 

3. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.  

4. Whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, orange juice, and vanilla extract in a separate large bowl. 

5. Add the flour mixture and whisk until just combined. 

6. Add half the apples and stir to combine. 

7. Pour into pan and arrange the remaining apples on top. Sprinkle with leftover cinnamon. 

8. Bake 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 

9. Cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire cooling rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.  

Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars

Sugar, spice, and everything nice! You’re sure to love the cinnamon goodness of these snickerdoodle cheesecake bars. 

Servings 

24 

Prep Time 

30 minutes 

Cook Time 

30 minutes 

Chill Time 

4 hours 

Crust Ingredients 

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs 
½ cup chopped pecans 
¼ cup granulated sugar 
½ cup unsalted butter, melted 

Cheesecake Filling ingredients 

2 packages cream cheese (16 oz total), softened 
¾ cup granulated sugar 
2 eggs 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
½ teaspoon cinnamon 

Snickerdoodle Layer Ingredients 

¾ cup unsalted butter, softened 
1 ½ cups granulated sugar 
1 large egg 
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract 
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder 
¼ teaspoon salt 
2 cups all-purpose flour 
½ teaspoon cinnamon 
¼ cup chopped pecans 

Topping Ingredients 

¼ cup granulated sugar 
1 teaspoon cinnamon 

Graham Cracker Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF and line a 9 x 13-inch pan with parchment paper. 

2. In a food processor, combine graham crackers, pecans, and sugar until fine crumbs are created. Add melted butter and pulse until combined. 

3. Press crumbs into bottom of prepared baking pan. Use the palm of your hand until crumbs are tightly packed. 

Cheesecake Filling Directions 

1. Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon in large bowl until smooth, 3-4 minutes. 

2. Pour cream cheese mixture over graham cracker crust. 

Cookie Dough Directions 

1. Beat butter with sugar in a large bowl for 2 minutes. 

2. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. 

3. Add baking powder, salt, flour, and cinnamon until fully combined. 

4. Fold in chopped pecans. 

5. Scoop dough on top of the cheesecake layer and spread gently until fully covered. 

6. Combine sugar and cinnamon toppings in a small bowl. Sprinkle generously with over the cookie dough layer. 

7. Bake for 30-35 minutes. The cookie layer should be fully cooked; the middle layer should be soft. 

8. Remove from oven and cool completely. Once cooled, cover with foil and refrigerate for 4 hours minimum. 

9. Cut into bars and serve. 

Happy Holidays

Thanks for reading—we hope you’re inspired to create one or more of the goodies on this holiday treats list. If you’re in the market for a new home this season, take advantage of our biggest sale yet in 3,2,1! Happy baking!