12 Easy Christmas Desserts Everyone Will Love

Look, we need to talk about Christmas dessert pressure. It’s real. Between wrapping gifts, herding relatives, and pretending you know how to make gravy, the last thing you need is a five-page recipe for a six-tiered yule log that requires a degree in architectural engineering. I see you. I am you, most years.

So this year, let’s make a pact: we’re keeping it joyful, ridiculously simple, and wildly delicious. I’ve gathered 12 of my all-time favorite, foolproof Christmas desserts. These are the heroes you can whip up with one hand while sipping mulled wine with the other. They’re the treats that get more “oohs” and “aahs” than the awkward gift from your aunt, and they require exactly zero stress. Sound like a plan? Let’s get into it.

1. Peppermint Bark Pretzel Bites

Salty, sweet, crunchy, and festive—these little guys are the ultimate no-fuss crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

• 1 bag (about 10 oz) small pretzel twists or squares
• 1 bag (12 oz) white chocolate chips
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional, but amazing)
• 1/4 cup crushed candy canes or peppermint candies
• A pinch of flaky sea salt (trust me on this)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay out your pretzels in a single layer, giving them a little space.
2. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second bursts, stirring well between each blast, until smooth. Stir in the peppermint extract if you’re using it.
3. Using a small spoon, dollop a little melted chocolate onto each pretzel. Don’t stress about perfection!
4. Immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes and just a tiny touch of flaky sea salt. Let them set at room temperature or pop the tray in the fridge for 10 minutes to speed things up.

Why You’ll Love It

These are my secret weapon. They look fancy, taste incredible, and take 15 minutes max. The salty pretzel with sweet minty chocolate? It’s a flavor explosion. I make a double batch because they disappear faster than you can say “Santa.”

2. 3-Ingredient Eggnog Fudge

Creamy, rich, and tastes like the holidays in a square. It’s so easy you might feel guilty. (Don’t.)

Ingredients

• 3 cups white chocolate chips
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup full-fat, good quality eggnog, plus extra for taste
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg for topping

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine the white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and 1/2 cup eggnog. Stir constantly until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
3. Taste it! Want more eggnog flavor? Add another tablespoon or two and stir it in. Pour the mixture into your prepared dish and smooth the top.
4. Sprinkle the nutmeg evenly over the top. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or until completely firm. Cut into small squares.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s foolproof. If you can stir, you can make this fudge. The flavor is pure, creamy Christmas. I gift this in little boxes every year, and people act like I’ve given them gold.

3. Slow Cooker Gingerbread Pudding Cake

A warm, spiced, self-saucing cake that makes your house smell like a holiday dream. The slow cooker does all the work.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the “sauce”: 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 1/2 cups hot water

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/2 cup brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
2. In another bowl, mix the milk, molasses, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until just combined. Spread this batter into the bottom of a lightly greased slow cooker.
3. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup brown sugar evenly over the batter. Carefully pour the hot water over the entire thing. DO NOT STIR.
4. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours. You’ll know it’s done when the top looks set and cake-like. Serve warm with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s magic. You pour water on top and it creates a glorious, gooey sauce underneath while the cake bakes on top. It’s the coziest, most comforting dessert imaginable. Perfect for when the oven is already occupied.

4. No-Churn Cranberry Swirl Ice Cream

Yes, you can make spectacular ice cream without a machine. This tart-sweet, vibrant red swirl is a showstopper.

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy whipping cream, very cold
• 1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the swirl: 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup water, zest of 1 orange

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the swirl first: In a small saucepan, combine cranberries, sugar, water, and orange zest. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until the cranberries have burst and the sauce has thickened slightly. Let it cool completely.
2. In a large bowl, whip the cold heavy cream until you have stiff peaks. Be careful not to over-whip it into butter (we’ve all been there).
3. Gently fold the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla into the whipped cream until no streaks remain.
4. Pour half the cream mixture into a loaf pan. Dollop half the cooled cranberry sauce on top and swirl with a knife. Repeat with the remaining cream and sauce. Freeze for at least 6 hours, or overnight.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s impressively creamy and the flavor is so festive. The bright cranberry cuts through the richness perfectly. It’s the kind of dessert that makes people ask for the recipe, and you get to shrug and say, “Oh, it’s nothing.” 😉

5. Chocolate-Dipped Shortbread Cookies

Buttery, tender, and elegant. Dipping them in chocolate takes a classic from “nice” to “I need the whole tin.”

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 8 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped
• Festive sprinkles or crushed nuts for topping

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually add the flour and salt, mixing until just combined.
3. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the baking sheet. Use a fork to gently press down, creating a classic shortbread crosshatch.
4. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until the bottoms are just lightly golden. Let them cool completely on the sheet.
5. Melt the chocolate. Dip half of each cooled cookie into the chocolate, let the excess drip off, and place on parchment. Immediately add sprinkles before the chocolate sets.

Why You’ll Love It

Shortbread is my desert island cookie. It’s simple, but the flavor is pure butter-y bliss. The chocolate dip adds that special holiday touch and makes them look professionally made. These keep beautifully in a tin, too.

6. Christmas Tree Brownie Bites

Brownies in a festive form. You get all the fudgy goodness, plus an adorable presentation. Kids love to help decorate these.

Ingredients

• 1 box of your favorite brownie mix (and required ingredients: usually oil, eggs, water)
• 1 cup vanilla frosting (store-bought is totally fine!)
• Green food coloring
• Assorted sprinkles, small candies (M&Ms, star-shaped sprinkles, etc.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Bake the brownies according to the box directions for “fudgy” brownies in a 9×13 pan. Let them cool completely.
2. Use a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut out trees from the brownie slab. No tree cutter? A knife works—just cut triangles!
3. Tint the vanilla frosting with green food coloring. Spread or pipe it onto each brownie tree.
4. Decorate with sprinkles and candies as “ornaments.” Add a star on top!

Why You’ll Love It

It’s a genius hack. Boxed brownie mix does the heavy lifting, and you get to be the artistic genius. They’re fudgy, sweet, and the absolute hit of any cookie exchange or kids’ table.

7. Cranberry-White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Chewy, a little tart, a lot sweet, and they have oats so we can pretend they’re breakfast. No mixer required!

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and both sugars together. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla until smooth.
3. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt until just combined. Fold in the oats, cranberries, and white chocolate chips.
4. Press the dough evenly into your prepared pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until the edges are golden and the center is set. Let cool in the pan before slicing into bars.

Why You’ll Love It

These bars are my go-to for potlucks. They’re sturdy, travel well, and satisfy every cookie craving. The combo of tart cranberry and sweet white chocolate is chef’s kiss.

8. 5-Minute Chocolate Hazelnut Tarts

Store-bought shells + amazing filling = your new secret weapon. They look like you spent hours. (Spoiler: You didn’t.)

Ingredients

• 1 package of pre-made mini phyllo or shortbread tart shells (find them in the frozen dessert aisle)
• 1 cup chocolate-hazelnut spread (like Nutella)
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, cold
• Chopped, toasted hazelnuts and powdered sugar for garnish

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Arrange the tart shells on a serving platter. Spoon a heaping teaspoon of chocolate-hazelnut spread into the bottom of each shell.
2. In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream until you have soft peaks. You can sweeten it with a little powdered sugar if you like, but the spread is plenty sweet IMO.
3. Pipe or dollop the whipped cream on top of the spread in each shell.
4. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped hazelnuts and a dusting of powdered sugar. Serve immediately or chill for up to an hour.

Why You’ll Love It

Elegance in under five minutes. Seriously. The creamy, nutty filling in the crispy shell feels so decadent. These are perfect for when guests pop over unexpectedly, and you need to look like a domestic goddess.

9. Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip

All the flavor of gingerbread, in dippable, creamy form. Serve with ginger snaps, apples, and pretzels for the ultimate snack board centerpiece.

Ingredients

• 1 block (8 oz) full-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• For serving: Ginger snaps, apple slices, pretzel rods, vanilla wafers

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until completely smooth.
2. Beat in the sour cream, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until everything is well combined and fluffy.
3. Scrape into a serving bowl. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
4. When ready to serve, place the bowl on a platter surrounded by all your dippers.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s interactive, fun, and caters to all tastes. The dip itself is spicy, tangy, and sweet all at once. It’s the life of the party and takes literal minutes to make. What’s not to love?

10. Salted Caramel Apple Phyllo Bites

Flaky, sweet, salty, and so easy you won’t believe it. The fancy cousin of the apple pie.

Ingredients

• 1 package frozen phyllo cups (mini fillo shells)
• 1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling
• Good-quality salted caramel sauce (store-bought is your friend here)
• Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to the temperature listed on the phyllo cup package (usually 350°F).
2. Place the phyllo cups on a baking sheet. Spoon a small amount of apple pie filling into each cup, just to the top.
3. Bake according to package directions, usually 5-8 minutes, just until the shells are crisp and the filling is warm.
4. Let cool for a minute, then drizzle generously with salted caramel sauce. Top with a dollop of whipped cream or serve with a scoop of ice cream on the side.

Why You’ll Love It

These maximize flavor while minimizing effort. The buttery, crisp phyllo with warm spiced apples and rich caramel is a heavenly combo. They’re perfect for a plated dessert at a dinner party.

11. Easiest-Ever Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

A classic, made approachable. No rolling, no cracking, no tears. Just a delicious, festive chocolate log.

Ingredients

• 1 prepared chocolate sponge cake roll (from the bakery section)
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate frosting, slightly warmed
• Decoration: Meringue mushrooms, rosemary sprigs, powdered “snow”

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Unroll the store-bought chocolate sponge cake onto a piece of parchment paper.
2. Whip the heavy cream with 1/4 cup powdered sugar and vanilla until you have stiff peaks. Spread this evenly over the cake.
3. Carefully re-roll the cake (using the parchment to help you) into a log shape. Place it seam-side down on your serving platter.
4. Spread the warmed chocolate frosting all over the outside of the log. Use a fork to create “bark” lines. Decorate with meringue mushrooms, rosemary, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Why You’ll Love It

You get all the glory of a stunning Yule Log with none of the stress of baking and rolling a cake from scratch. It’s a brilliant shortcut that lets you focus on the fun, decorative part. It will be the centerpiece of your dessert table.

12. Sparkling Jelly (Jello) Shots… For Kids & Adults!

A fizzy, fruity, and utterly festive treat. Make a kid-friendly version with sparkling juice, and a grown-up one with prosecco or champagne. Everyone wins.

Ingredients (Kid Version)

• 2 cups cranberry-raspberry juice
• 2 packets unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups lemon-lime soda or ginger ale

Ingredients (Grown-Up Version)

• 2 cups cranberry juice cocktail
• 2 packets unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups prosecco, champagne, or sparkling wine

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Pour 1 cup of the juice into a saucepan. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let it “bloom” for 5 minutes.
2. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin is completely dissolved (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from heat.
3. Stir in the remaining 1 cup of juice. Let this mixture cool to room temperature. This is key—if it’s too hot, you’ll kill the fizz in the next step.
4. Gently stir in the sparkling beverage. Pour into small cups or a fun mold. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, until completely set.

Why You’ll Love It

They’re shimmering, fun, and customizable. The kid version is a huge hit at parties, and the prosecco version is a cheeky, sophisticated end to a festive meal. They’re conversation starters!

So, there you have it—12 delicious paths to a stress-free, showstopping Christmas dessert table. The best part? You can mix, match, and choose based on your time and mood. Whether you go for the 5-minute tarts or the slow cooker cake, you’re guaranteed something wonderful.

Remember, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s joy, flavor, and more time spent with the people you love (and less time fretting in the kitchen). Now go forth, bake (or no-bake!) with confidence, and have yourself a deliciously merry little Christmas. You’ve got this