It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (2024)

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (1)

Full of colorful holiday cookies, candy-stuffed stockings and chocolate advent calendars, Christmas is arguably more about the sweets than the Christmas dinner. So round out your holiday menu with one or more of these stunning Christmas desserts, such as sugar-dusted snowball cookies, chewy bar cookies, rich gingerbread, frosting-topped Christmas cupcakes, jammy Linzer cookies and chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

Here, you'll find all the classic Christmas flavors: warm winter spices, sweet pumpkin, nutty pecan and so much more. Many of us wait all year for these flavors to come back into season (peppermint, anyone?) so when you're planning this year's dessert spread, don't hold back. After December 25, you'll have to wait another year to enjoy all your favorite Christmas treats — unless, of course, you make enough for leftovers!

We also included options for any diet, including gluten-free and vegan Christmas desserts, plus some healthy Christmas desserts if you're looking to add a lighter option to the table. Cooking Christmas dinner in addition to dessert? No sweat. There are easy Christmas desserts on this list (peep the White Chocolate-Dipped Madeleines, which start with store-bought cookies!) as well as bigger projects for more ambitious bakers. Don't be shy about enlisting a friend or family member to help whisk, knead, frost or decorate — or simply send them this list when they ask, "can I bring dessert?"

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1

Baked Applesauce Donuts

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (3)

Full of cinnamon-scented apple pie spice, these plush treats are perfect for the holidays.

Get the Baked Applesauce Donuts recipe.

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2

Neapolitan Cookies

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (4)

Thanks to these picture-perfect cookies, you don't have to choose between strawberry, chocolate or vanilla.

Get the Neapolitan Cookies recipe.

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3

Ricotta Cheesecake with Roasted Grapes

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (5)

The combo of rich mascarpone and fluffy ricotta creates the ultimate creamy texture in this holiday-worthy dessert.

Get the Ricotta Cheesecake with Roasted Grapes recipe.

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4

Cranberry-Pistachio Cornmeal Biscotti

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (6)

You'll want to brew a pot of coffee to go with these crunchy, dip-able cookies.

Get the Cranberry-Pistachio Cornmeal Biscotti recipe.

RELATED: The Best Coffee Beans, According to Taste Tests

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5

Ricotta-Orange Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Oranges are in-season during the winter months and are a great way to add bright, citrusy flavor to all your Christmas treats.

Get the Ricotta-Orange Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting recipe.

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6

Jammy Walnut Rugelach

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (8)

We spiked the sugar filling with cinnamon and cloves to give these flaky pastries a holiday-friendly bite.

Get the Jammy Walnut Rugelach recipe.

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7

Shortcut Baklava Wedges

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (9)

Baklava is typically made with layers and layers of flaky filo pastry. We sped up the process with stuffed, folded tortillas so you can get your sweet fix even sooner.

Get the Shortcut Baklava Wedges recipe.

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8

Maritozzi

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (10)

Looking for a quick sweet that'll still wow? Consider these cream-filled brioche buns — you can decorate them with red and green sanding sugar or blitzed pistachios and freeze-dried fruit!

Get the Maritozzi recipe.

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9

Banana Pudding

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (11)

Bringing something to the party? Your host will likely have Christmas cookies and pies, so switch it up with this dreamy, no-bake dessert that's delicious any time of year.

Get the Banana Pudding recipe.

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10

Peanut Butter Molten Chocolate Cakes

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (12)

Hosting a smaller soirée this year? Consider this gooey chocolate cake recipe, which makes six personal-sized sweets.

Get the Peanut Butter Molten Chocolate Cakes recipe.

RELATED: Our 52 Best Chocolate Dessert Recipes That Are Irresistible and Decadent

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11

Brown Butter Crispy Rice Treats

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (13)

Brown butter gives these classic bars a caramel-like taste. Add red and green sprinkles for festive flare!

Get the Brown Butter Crispy Rice Treats recipe.

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12

Tiramisu Dip

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (14)

Even if you're full after all that prime rib, you'll still have room for this airy, whipped treat.

Get the Tiramisu Dip recipe.

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13

Matcha Snowball Cookies

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (15)

Add a pop of green to any cookie box with these light and airy bites.

Get the Matcha Snowball Cookies recipe.

RELATED: 10 Best Matcha Powders of 2023, According to Registered Dietitians

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14

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (16)

Freshly ground black pepper adds unexpected spice to this sweet and sticky cake.

Get the Gingerbread Bundt Cake recipe.

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15

Holly Cupcakes

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (17)

Decorate chocolate cupcakes with tuile holly cookies and candied cranberries for a sweet holiday treat.

Get the Holly Cupcakes recipe.

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16

Black Forest Cookies

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (18)

"Black Forest" refers to the flavor combo of chocolate and cherry. Whipped cream adds a decadent touch!

Get the Black Forest Cookies recipe.

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17

Chocolate and Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (19)

Instead of pumpkin pie — or, hey, in addition to — sandwich softened pumpkin ice cream in between chocolate graham crackers. Yep, it's that easy!

Get the Chocolate and Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches recipe.

RELATED: 44 Easy Pumpkin Recipes That Are Perfect for Fall

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18

Chai Tree and Snowflake Cookies

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (20)

Not only are these cookies shaped into Christmas symbols, they incorporate some of your favorite cozy spices (like cardamom and ginger).

Get the Chai Tree and Snowflake Cookies recipe.

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19

Cupcake Wreath

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (21)

Delicious buttercream cupcakes ... in the shape of a festive Christmas wreath. So genius!

Get the Cupcake Wreath recipe.

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20

White Chocolate-Dipped Madeleines

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (22)

Here's a party trick: get store-bought madeleines, dip them in melted chocolate and sprinkle with chopped cranberries and pistachios.

Get the White Chocolate-Dipped Madeleines recipe.

It’s Just Not Christmas Dinner Without Dessert! Try These Sweet Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What can I eat on Christmas without cooking? ›

No cook Christmas recipes: Sandwiches and wraps
  • Chicken and avocado.
  • Chicken Caesar.
  • Cheese and salad.
  • Bacon, Lettuce and tomato (BLT)
  • Egg salad.
  • Tuna salad.
  • Smoked salmon and cream cheese.
  • Roast beef and mustard.
Dec 17, 2019

Why is it important to eat dessert after a meal? ›

Experts agree that a post-meal is the best time to enjoy dessert. When you eat dessert after a balanced meal then you can benefit from the nutrients in the meal to stabilize your blood sugar from the sweets. It is also better to eat it after a meal from a psychological standpoint.

Why is dessert important in the menu? ›

Completion of the meal: Desserts serve as the final course, marking the completion of a well-rounded meal. They provide a sense of closure and satisfaction, signaling that the main course has concluded. Balancing flavors: Desserts help balance and complement the flavors of the preceding courses.

What do you serve a crowd for Christmas dinner? ›

Here are some of our favorites:
  1. Standing Rib Roast (Prime Rib)
  2. Brown Sugar Honey Baked Ham.
  3. Horseradish, Garlic and Rosemary Roast Beef.
  4. Dijon Balsamic Roasted Chicken.
  5. Butter and Herb Roasted Turkey.
  6. Caprese Stuffed Pork Loin.
  7. Dijon Rosemary Encrusted Pork Loin.
Nov 23, 2021

What is the least favorite Christmas food? ›

Across all states, their findings showed that the least popular Christmas foods are persimmon pudding (13%) and fruitcake (25%).

Do sweets ruin your appetite? ›

Sugars and Appetite Control

Sugars suppress food intake and, like other macronutrient sources, activate the normal hormonal cascade of signals that contribute to the suppression of food intake. Sugars, similar to other carbohydrates, do not bypass regulatory mechanisms of food intake.

Is it OK to eat dessert every meal? ›

A small dessert consumed daily can be part of a healthy diet. The key is to control portion sizes. You'll also want to pay attention to other foods you eat that contain added sugars, such as cereals, protein bars, juices, bottled teas and coffees, so you don't overdo your daily sugar intake.

Is it OK to eat dessert after every meal? ›

Frequent consumption of desserts post-dinner poses numerous long-term risks. Excessive sugar intake is linked to weight gain, insulin resistance, and heightened diabetes and cardiovascular disease risks.

Should dessert be eaten first? ›

Here's why it is suggested to consume sweets before your meals, and not after them. *Sweet takes the longest to digest. *Eating the sweet item first enables the flow of digestive secretions, she explained. *Dr Kohli added that by consuming sweets after your meal, “you would slow down your digestion“.

Which dessert is best after dinner? ›

Delicious After Dinner Desserts
  1. Fresh Cream Pineapple Cake: A light and fruity dessert is one of the best desserts to eat after dinner, especially if you have had a heavy meal. ...
  2. Rasmalai: ...
  3. Cookies and milk: ...
  4. Cupcakes: ...
  5. Halwa: ...
  6. Fruit custard: ...
  7. Chocolate cake: ...
  8. Lemon tart:

Is it better to eat sweets in the morning or at night? ›

If you're going to eat sweets or simple carbs like bread, pasta and pastries, it's better to do so in the morning or early afternoon, when we are most insulin-sensitive, rather than at night, Garaulet said.

What is the most popular Christmas dinner item? ›

Overall the traditional Christmas dinner classic, the turkey, is far and away the winner for most popular festive food.

What is a traditional Christmas dinner menu? ›

Traditional Christmas dinner features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. Other types of poultry, roast beef, or ham, are also used. Pumpkin or apple pie, raisin pudding, Christmas pudding, or fruitcake are staples for dessert.

What is the best Christmas party food? ›

Christmas Appetizers: Finger Foods Edition
  • Bacon-Wrapped Scallops. Bacon-wrapped scallops are right up there with shrimp co*cktail as an ultimate holiday party throwback! ...
  • Deviled Eggs. ...
  • Jalapeño Poppers. ...
  • Pecan-Stuffed Mushrooms.

What foods can you eat without cooking? ›

The following foods are suitable for most raw food diets:
  • raw fruits and raw vegetables.
  • dried fruits and vegetables.
  • freshly made fruit and vegetable juices.
  • soaked and sprouted beans, other legumes, and grains.
  • raw nuts and seeds.
  • raw nut butters, such as peanut butter and almond butter.
  • nut milks, including almond milk.

What are the top 10 Christmas foods? ›

10 Most Popular Christmas Dishes
  1. Roasted turkey. No Christmas dinner is complete without roast turkey. ...
  2. Ham. Be it baked, smoked, or glazed, ham is another popular dish for Christmas dinner. ...
  3. Roast beef. ...
  4. Stuffing. ...
  5. Poultry. ...
  6. Sweet potato casserole. ...
  7. Cranberry sauce. ...
  8. Plum pudding.
Dec 11, 2023

What can I have for Christmas dinner instead of turkey? ›

Unique holiday dinner ideas
  • Beef Wellington: The Showstopper.
  • Christmas Roast Duck: The Twist on a Classic.
  • Vegetarian Enchiladas: The Surprise Favorite.
  • Roast Lamb: The Savory Star.
  • Stuffed Acorn Squash: The Festive & Flavorful.
  • Prime Rib Roast: The Hearty Hero.
Dec 12, 2022

What are some common foods eaten during Christmas? ›

Christmas dinner: Many families celebrate Christmas with a large dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Traditional dishes often include roast turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and various vegetables like green beans or Brussels sprouts.

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