Holidays & Entertaining Holidays Christmas Christmas Recipes 15 Christmas Desserts That Are Totally Celebration Worthy These mouth-watering sweets are Santa-approved. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Instagram Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 12, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: CAITLIN BENSEL Whether you’re gathering with loved ones or attending a party, every Christmas or holiday celebration has a designated dessert table that’s covered corner to corner in sweet treats. From pies and cakes to cookies and tartlets, everyone has that one delicious dessert that they look forward to devouring every year.If you’re feeling inspired this season, put your baking skills to the test with some of these simple yet crave-worthy Christmas desserts. For the chocolate lover, there’s rich, dark chocolate truffles and a decadent fondue platter. If you’re wild about pies, you can’t go wrong with the gingerbread latte whoopie pies or an old-fashioned apple number. You can also take some inspiration from one of TikTok’s latest trends and craft the most irresistible ice cream sundae board, which is perfect for the kids! 4 Five-Ingredient Desserts Anyone Can Make 01 of 15 Gingerbread Truffles Victor Protasio get the recipe If you’re looking for homemade holiday gift ideas, look no further! Impress your friends and family with these fancy little chocolate, gingerbread gems. 02 of 15 Gingerbread and Chocolate Sandwiches Beatriz da Costa get the recipe When it comes to holiday cooking, time-management is imperative. This recipe is perfect because it includes only four ingredients, and one of them is store-bought cookies. 03 of 15 Plum Tart Christopher Baker get the recipe This is one of those recipes that seems really intricate, but it may be the easiest thing you’ll ever make. All you need is puff pastry, plums, and sugar, plus about 30 minutes of baking time. 04 of 15 Dark Chocolate Truffles Samantha Seneviratne get the recipe Here’s another great option for a homemade holiday gift. Make a big batch of the gingerbread truffles and these decadent dark chocolate truffles to give your loved ones a delicious variety. 05 of 15 Ice Cream Sundae Board Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream get the recipe Move over, charcuterie boards—say hello to the most fun and scrumptious dessert idea. Load up your favorite snack board with bowls of ice cream and all of the fun toppings you can think of so your guests can construct their own sundae. 06 of 15 Chocolate Mousse With Croissant Crumbs Caitlin Bensel get the recipe If you’re a chocolate fan, this is the sweet treat for you. I mean, what’s more satisfying than cold, creamy chocolate mousse topped with buttery, flaky croissant crumbs? Just make sure you let your croissants sit out for two days so they get the perfect crumbly texture. 07 of 15 Marshmallow and Chocolate Shortbread Slices Caitlin Bensel get the recipe Is there anything more delicious than the combination of silky chocolate and fluffy marshmallows? The answer is no, especially when they’re spread on a soft yet chewy shortbread cookie. 20 Best Romantic Dessert Recipes 08 of 15 Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream Pie Maria Robledo get the recipe Skip the store-bought ice cream cake and make this recipe from now on. It’s incredibly easy to put together, but your guests will think otherwise! 09 of 15 Chocolate Bar Fondue Anna Williams get the recipe Fondue is fun (and delicious) for kids and adults alike. The best part is, you can totally customize your spread with fruit, cakes, cookies, or whatever you have in the pantry. 10 of 15 Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats Jennifer Causey get the recipe Elevate your traditional rice crispy treats by adding some chocolate and flaky sea salt to the mix. This is the perfect four-ingredient dessert recipe for amateur bakers, but it also works if you’re in a time crunch before your holiday gathering. 11 of 15 Vanilla Sweet Potato Cheesecake Victor Protasio get the recipe This is the holiday dessert that you’ll want to make year after year. The brown butter adds an irresistible nuttiness, while the sweet potato adds a creamy, rich texture. The real vanilla bean, cream cheese, and caramel really bring this cheesecake to another level. 12 of 15 Banana Pudding Pie Bars With Meringue Brie Passano get the recipe There’s a reason banana cream pie has been a family favorite for decades. This heavenly recipe is a bit more refined, but still has that delicious, nostalgic flavor that will bring you back to your childhood. 13 of 15 Old-Fashioned Apple Pie get the recipe There’s just something about a classic apple pie that truly sparks joy. It’s sweet, yet tart, and the crust is brown and buttery—it’s what dreams are made of. Add this old-fashioned recipe to your dessert menu because it will never disappoint. 14 of 15 Gingerbread Latte Whoopie Pies Caitlin Bensel get the recipe Whoopie pies are one of those handheld treats that make you feel like a young, carefree kid, and this version is perfect for a family gathering because it tastes just like the holidays. You may want to make an extra batch because no one can have just one! 7 Delicious Mini Desserts That Don't Require Any Baking 15 of 15 Hugs and Kisses Chocolate Chunk Sheet Pan Cookie Caitlin Bensel get the recipe Move over, sheet pan dinners, it’s all about sheet pan desserts. This recipe is basically just a giant chocolate chip cookie, but better because it’s topped with Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses. If you’re hosting a large crowd this holiday, this sheet pan cookie is a no-brainer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit