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Best Christmas Dessert Recipes: Christmas Cookies, Pies, Breads, and More | The Old Farmer's Almanac

Christmas Dessert Recipes: Festive Sweet Treats

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Christmas Stollen

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TorriPhoto/Shutterstock

Our Favorite Holiday Cookies, Cakes, Breads, and More!

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‘Tis the season to be baking! Check out our collection of classic Christmas dessert recipes—from mince pies to stollen and sticky toffee pudding, as well as our easy chocolate yule cake and fun Christmas cookies. Oh, and old-fashioned gingerbread! Without further ado, here are our best Christmas baking ideas.

Christmas Dessert Recipes

Christmas Cakes and Puddings

Best Fruitcake Ever
Forget those horrible commercial fruitcakes. This is an easy, moist, delicious cake using dried fruits instead of the standard candied and glacéed fruits. Not only are dried fruits more readily available at your local market, but they also have a deeper and more natural flavor (not as sweet).

Best Fruitcake Ever
Best Fruitcake Ever
Image: Anna Shepulova/Shutterstock

Bûche de Noël (Chocolate Yule Log)
Try this straightforward, lighter version of the traditional chocolate Yule log! It’s a show-stopping dessert and fun to make (did we mention delicious?!).

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Bûche de Noël (Chocolate Yule Log)
Image: David P. Smith/Shutterstock.

Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce
A scrumptious treat for all ages, this sticky toffee pudding is a sure-fire hit at any Christmas feast. Note: It is normally baked in a pan, but you can also make individual ramekins. 

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Sticky Toffee Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce
Image: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Christmas Breads

Classic Christmas Stollen 
A lovely version of an old favorite. It tastes best served warm. Decorate with whole candied cherries, and use other candied fruit pieces to make leaves and stems.

Classic Christmas Stollen 
Classic Christmas Stollen 
Image: TorriPhoto/Shutterstock

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread 
This authentic, hundred-year-old recipe is wonderful, served warm with a scoop of French vanilla ice cream or sprinkled with confectioners’ sugar.

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread 
Old-Fashioned Gingerbread 
ImageMarie C Fields/Shutterstock

Christmas Pies and Tarts

Mince Pies
If you don’t like mince pie, you haven’t actually had the authentic thing! Learn more about “real” mince pie and find a recipe!

Mince Pies
Mince Pies

Mini Cranberry-Apple Pies
These cranberry apple pies are sweet yet tart. What a great combination in one pie! Single-serving pies work really well at a holiday gathering or dinner party; they’re easy to make and attractive, and guests love them.

Mini Cranberry-Apple Pies
Mini Cranberry-Apple Pies

Cranberry Dream Pie
This icy-cold Cranberry Dream Pie will surely be a hit at any table. Made ahead of time and waiting in the freezer, it’s like having an ace up your sleeve.

Cranberry Dream Pie
Cranberry Dream Pie
Photo by Sam Jones/Quinn Brein.

Christmas Cookies and Bars

Really Old-Fashioned Gingerbread People
This recipe for “Really Old-Fashioned Gingerbread People” makes a large batch because anything this good deserves to be made in bulk. A few well-placed bits of candy or nuts for eyes and a nose will give your creations delightful personalities.

Really Old-Fashioned Gingerbread People
Really Old-Fashioned Gingerbread People

Pistachio-Cranberry Icebox Cookies
Just like grandma used to make! With their red-and-green color scheme, these sweets are perfect for the holidays.

Pistachio-Cranberry Icebox Cookies
Pistachio-Cranberry Icebox Cookies
Image: Ginger Nikole Vaughan/Quinn Brein

Spiced Sinterklaas Cookies (Speculaas) 
Traditionally, speculaas are served on the eve of St. Nicholas Day or on the feast day itself (December 6), but we enjoy them throughout the holiday season.

Spiced Sinterklaas Cookies (Speculaas) 
Spiced Sinterklaas Cookies (Speculaas) 
Photo by Sam Jones/Quinn Brein.

Ethel’s Sugar Cookies 
A classic sugar cookie recipe that’s perfect for making cut-outs. Super easy, too! See more Easy Sugar Cookie Recipes.

Ethel's Sugar Cookies 
Ethel’s Sugar Cookies 

Candy Cane Dessert Squares 
This crowd-sized recipe can be served frozen or refrigerated, making it ideal for a holiday buffet.

Candy Cane Dessert Squares 
Candy Cane Dessert Squares 
Image: Sam Jones/Quinn Brein

Snowball Cookies
Bring the snow indoors with these classic snowball cookies! 

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Snowball Cookies
Image: LanaM/Shutterstock

Christmas Candy

Never-Fail Christmas Fudge 
Even if you’ve never made candy before in your life, give this easy fudge recipe a try. True to its name (thanks to the presence of marshmallows), it won’t seize, crumble, or make you tear your hair out. It’s a tasty treat perfect for Christmastime!

Never-Fail Christmas Fudge 
Never-Fail Christmas Fudge 
Photo by GreenArt/Shutterstock.

Peanut Brittle
Simple, yet delicious, this peanut brittle is a tasty classic. For variety, mix in a cup of almonds with the peanuts!

Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle
Image: Janet Hudson

More Christmas Recipe Collections

What are your favorite holiday desserts to make (or eat)? Tell us in the comments below!

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprise that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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