Some links on this page are affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you click through and make a purchase, you can check our Affiliate Disclosure. Thank you for your support!
Christmas is the perfect excuse to fill the kitchen with cookies, chocolate, fudge, cakes, and all the little treats we tend to save for the most festive time of year.
Whether you are planning a Christmas party, putting together homemade gifts, preparing a dessert table, or simply looking for something sweet to enjoy while watching holiday movies, having a few easy Christmas desserts ready makes the season even better.
And your holiday dessert table does not have to be complicated.
Some of the best Christmas treats are familiar favorites made with chocolate, buttery cookies, creamy fillings, festive red velvet, crunchy nuts, or a dusting of sugar. Others require no baking at all, which is especially helpful when the oven is already busy with Christmas dinner.
From whimsical snowflake cookies and classic gingerbread men to rich chocolate truffles, fudge, brownies, and an impressive red velvet cake, these 25 easy Christmas desserts offer plenty of delicious ways to make the holiday season a little sweeter.
1. Magical Snowflake Cookies
Few treats look more appropriate on a Christmas dessert table than Magical Snowflake Cookies.
Their winter-inspired appearance immediately brings festive charm to a cookie platter, making them especially fun for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, and family baking days.
Arrange them alongside other holiday cookies or package a few in a festive box for a simple homemade gift.
These are also a great recipe to make when you want your Christmas cookies to feel a little more special without needing an overly complicated dessert.
2. Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
A beautiful Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting can easily become the centerpiece of your Christmas dessert table.
The deep red color feels naturally festive, while the creamy frosting gives the cake the rich finish everyone expects from a special-occasion dessert.
Serve it after Christmas dinner or bring it out during a holiday gathering when you need something impressive enough to share with a crowd.
The red and white combination also fits perfectly into classic Christmas table decor.
3. Decorate Your Own Gingerbread Men
Christmas baking would not feel complete without gingerbread.
These Gingerbread Men bring the fun of decorating cookies into the holiday kitchen and make a wonderful activity for kids, families, or anyone who enjoys getting creative with Christmas treats.
Set out frosting and decorations and let everyone personalize their own cookies.
Once decorated, they can become part of a dessert platter, be tucked into treat bags, or even be used as an edible addition to a holiday gift.
4. Oreo Truffles
When your oven is already working overtime, Oreo Truffles are exactly the kind of dessert you want.
These bite-sized treats bring together familiar chocolate cookie flavor in a rich, easy-to-serve form that works beautifully for Christmas parties and dessert trays.
Their small size makes them ideal when you are serving several desserts and want guests to sample a little of everything.
Make a batch ahead of your gathering and keep them chilled until dessert time.
5. Vegan Linzer Cookies
Vegan Linzer Cookies bring an elegant, old-fashioned feel to the Christmas cookie platter.
With their delicate appearance and sweet centers, they stand out beautifully beside simpler cookies and chocolate treats.
They are especially nice for gifting because they look impressive when arranged inside a holiday cookie box.
Add them to a mixed dessert platter with snowflake cookies, gingerbread, and chocolate treats for plenty of variety.
6. Homemade Old-Fashioned Chocolate Fudge
There is always room for fudge during Christmas.
This Homemade Old-Fashioned Chocolate Fudge delivers the rich chocolate flavor that makes homemade candy such a holiday favorite.
Cut it into small squares for a dessert tray or package several pieces in parchment and a festive container for gifting.
Because fudge is rich, small portions are usually enough, which makes one batch useful when you need sweets for several people.
7. Easy Biscoff Truffles with White Chocolate Coating
For something a little different, try these Biscoff Truffles with White Chocolate Coating.
The combination of cookie butter flavor and white chocolate gives them a luxurious appearance that fits beautifully on a Christmas dessert board.
They are bite-sized, easy to serve, and perfect for preparing when you want a holiday treat that looks impressive without making a full cake or pie.
Place them in small paper candy cups for an easy party presentation.
8. Soft Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Colorful jam makes Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies especially pretty during the holidays.
Their buttery cookie base and fruity center create a nice contrast to the chocolate-heavy desserts that often dominate Christmas tables.
The bright red center also adds a naturally festive touch.
Arrange them beside Linzer cookies and snowflake cookies for a beautiful holiday cookie tray with different shapes, colors, and textures.
9. Buttery Pistachio Rolls with Chocolate
Chocolate and pistachio make these Buttery Pistachio Rolls feel just a little more luxurious than an everyday pastry.
They are a lovely addition to a Christmas brunch, afternoon coffee table, or holiday dessert spread.
The combination of flaky pastry, chocolate, and pistachio also adds variety when your dessert table already contains several cookies and candies.
Serve them fresh for a warm and comforting seasonal treat.
10. Soft Milk Chocolate-Filled Cookies
A soft cookie with melted chocolate tucked inside is difficult to resist.
These Milk Chocolate-Filled Cookies bring plenty of chocolate flavor while still offering that familiar homemade-cookie comfort everyone loves during Christmas.
Serve them slightly warm when possible so the chocolate center is especially tempting.
They are perfect with coffee, cocoa, or a glass of milk after a long day of holiday activities.
11. Homemade White Chocolate Red Velvet Truffles
Red velvet already feels like a Christmas dessert, and turning it into bite-sized truffles makes it even easier to serve at holiday gatherings.
These White Chocolate Red Velvet Truffles combine festive color with a creamy white chocolate coating.
Their red and white appearance makes them particularly attractive on Christmas dessert boards.
They are also a fun alternative when you love red velvet but do not want to serve another full-sized cake.
12. The Best Fudgy Chocolate Brownies
Sometimes the simplest desserts disappear from the table first.
A tray of Fudgy Chocolate Brownies offers deep chocolate flavor and a familiar texture that appeals to almost everyone.
Cut the brownies into smaller squares when serving them as part of a larger Christmas dessert spread.
That way guests can enjoy a brownie while still having room to try cookies, fudge, and truffles too.
13. Easy Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffles
Chocolate and caramel are always a winning combination.
These Salted Caramel Chocolate Truffles turn those flavors into a rich bite-sized dessert that feels perfect for Christmas entertaining.
The touch of salt helps balance the sweetness and gives the truffles a slightly more sophisticated finish.
Add them to a candy box, dessert platter, or after-dinner sweets tray.
14. French Butter Cookies
Simple buttery cookies deserve a place beside the more elaborate Christmas treats.
French Butter Cookies offer a classic flavor and delicate texture that pair beautifully with coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
They also make an excellent base for a holiday cookie assortment because they balance richer chocolate and caramel desserts.
Package them with Linzer cookies and snowflake cookies for a lovely homemade cookie gift.
15. Kunafa Cups with White Chocolate, Dulce de Leche and Pistachio
For an elegant addition to your Christmas dessert table, try these Kunafa Cups with White Chocolate, Dulce de Leche and Pistachio.
The combination gives each individual cup several layers of flavor and texture.
Because they are already portioned into individual servings, they are especially convenient for parties where guests are choosing from several desserts.
Their pistachio topping also adds a beautiful finish to a festive dessert spread.
16. Easy Brigadeiro
Chocolate lovers will appreciate the addition of Brigadeiro to the Christmas candy tray.
These Brazilian chocolate truffles are small, rich, and easy to enjoy alongside other bite-sized holiday sweets.
Their size makes them particularly useful for parties and dessert boards.
Serve them in individual paper cups or arrange them alongside Oreo, Biscoff, and salted caramel truffles for an entire section of homemade Christmas candies.
17. Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
No Christmas cookie collection really needs to be made entirely from elaborate seasonal recipes.
Sometimes everyone just wants a good Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Soft, chewy cookies filled with chocolate bring familiar comfort to the dessert table and are especially popular with kids.
They also make a great addition to homemade Christmas cookie boxes because almost everyone recognizes and enjoys them.
18. Easy Peanut Butter Truffles with Dark Chocolate
Peanut butter and chocolate make another classic combination for the holiday dessert tray.
These Peanut Butter Truffles with Dark Chocolate offer creamy, nutty flavor wrapped in rich chocolate.
Because they are small, you can easily serve them as part of a large dessert spread without overwhelming guests with another heavy dessert.
They are also ideal for making ahead when Christmas week gets busy.
19. Best Homemade Rice Krispies Treats
Christmas desserts do not always need to be fancy.
Homemade Rice Krispies Treats bring a soft, chewy texture and familiar sweetness that can be especially popular with younger guests.
Cut them into small squares and add them to your Christmas treat table alongside cookies and chocolate candies.
They are also a useful choice when you want something simple that can be made in a batch and shared easily.
20. Easy Cookies and Cream Fudge
Cookies and cream meets Christmas candy in this easy fudge recipe.
Cookies and Cream Fudge gives you another no-fuss option for holiday dessert trays, cookie boxes, or edible gifts.
Its creamy appearance also provides some visual contrast beside darker chocolate brownies, truffles, and traditional fudge.
Cut the finished fudge into small bite-sized squares and arrange it with your favorite Christmas candies.
21. Best S’mores Cookies
Bring a little campfire nostalgia indoors with S’mores Cookies.
The familiar combination of chocolate, marshmallow, and cookie flavors makes these especially fun for casual Christmas gatherings.
They add something playful to a holiday cookie platter and are a nice choice when you want a recipe that feels different from traditional gingerbread or butter cookies.
Serve them with mugs of hot chocolate for an especially cozy winter treat.
22. Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Frosting
If you love peanut butter cups, Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Frosting deserve a spot on the Christmas dessert table.
The combination of peanut butter and chocolate creates a rich dessert that can easily be cut into small portions for sharing.
Bars are particularly convenient during the holidays because they can be sliced ahead of time and arranged on a serving platter just before guests arrive.
They also travel well for potlucks and family gatherings.
23. Easy No-Bake Chocolate Preacher Cookies
No-bake desserts can be lifesavers during the busiest cooking season of the year.
These Chocolate Preacher Cookies let you add another homemade treat to the table without taking up valuable oven space.
Their chocolate flavor makes them easy to pair with other Christmas cookies, while the simple preparation makes them useful for last-minute holiday baking plans.
Add them to cookie boxes or keep a batch ready for unexpected visitors.
24. South African Marie Biscuit Fudge
Add something different to the Christmas sweets selection with South African Marie Biscuit Fudge.
This no-bake treat combines biscuit texture with the richness you expect from fudge, creating another easy option for dessert trays and homemade gifts.
Cut it into small pieces so guests can sample it alongside the other candies and cookies.
It is an especially useful recipe if you are looking for variety beyond standard chocolate fudge.
25. Golden Crispy Churros with Silky Chocolate Sauce
Finish the collection with a dessert that is best enjoyed warm.
Golden Crispy Churros with Silky Chocolate Sauce bring a completely different texture to the Christmas dessert table.
The crisp exterior and warm interior are especially comforting on a cool December evening, while the chocolate dipping sauce makes the dessert feel extra indulgent.
Serve a batch after Christmas dinner or make them for a holiday movie night when everyone wants something warm and sweet..
How to Build a Christmas Dessert Table
A great Christmas dessert table does not need twenty different versions of the same kind of sweet.
The most inviting spreads combine several textures and flavors.
Start with a few Christmas cookies such as Snowflake Cookies, Gingerbread Men, Linzer Cookies, and Thumbprint Cookies. Add chocolate treats such as brownies, fudge, and truffles. Then include something larger, such as Red Velvet Cake, along with one or two desserts that feel different, such as pistachio rolls or churros.
Individual desserts are especially helpful for parties because guests can take small portions and sample several different treats.
You can also arrange the desserts by type. Keep cookies together, create a small truffle and candy section, and place the cake or larger dessert near the center of the table.
A few different serving plates, cake stands, and trays can create height and make even simple homemade desserts look ready for a celebration.
Easy Christmas Desserts for Gifting
Homemade sweets can also become thoughtful Christmas gifts.
Cookies, truffles, fudge, brownies, and bars are particularly easy to package.
Choose two or three different treats and arrange them inside a holiday box or tin. Combining different colors and textures makes the gift feel more generous without requiring you to make a huge amount of any single recipe.
Snowflake Cookies, Gingerbread Men, Linzer Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, truffles, and fudge are especially well suited for this.
For a simple assortment, pair one buttery or fruity cookie with one chocolate cookie and one piece of homemade candy.
That gives each box plenty of variety.
Make-Ahead Holiday Dessert Ideas
Christmas week can get busy quickly, so there is no reason to make every dessert on the same day.
Truffles, fudge, cookies, brownies, and bars are all useful choices when planning a dessert menu because many can be prepared before the main celebration.
Save desserts that are best served fresh or warm, such as churros, for closer to serving time.
Planning a mix of make-ahead and freshly prepared desserts keeps your holiday menu manageable while still giving guests plenty to choose from.
It also means you can spend less time worrying about dessert when Christmas dinner arrives.
Something Sweet for Every Christmas Celebration
Whether your Christmas celebration involves a large family dinner, a casual party with friends, a cookie exchange, or a quiet night at home, dessert is one of the easiest ways to make the occasion feel festive.
Bake Snowflake Cookies with the family. Decorate Gingerbread Men with the kids. Make a batch of chocolate fudge for gifting. Fill a platter with truffles for your Christmas party, or bring out a beautiful Red Velvet Cake after dinner.
You certainly do not need to make all 25.
Choose a few favorites, combine different flavors and textures, and create a Christmas dessert selection that fits your celebration.
From simple cookies and no-bake treats to chocolate truffles and festive cakes, these easy Christmas desserts offer plenty of sweet reasons to enjoy the holiday season.
Happy Christmas baking!
