20 Christmas Desserts (That Aren’t Cookies) for a Festive Finish

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Cookies get plenty of attention in December, but Christmas dinner deserves a proper dessert. Think a rolled yule log, a tall layer cake, a pan of sticky toffee pudding, or a make-ahead tiramisu that’s waiting in the fridge.

This list skips the cookie tray and focuses on cakes, pies, puddings, candies, and no-bake treats, each from a talented baker with their photo and a link to the full recipe. Many can be made a day or more ahead, which is exactly what you want on a busy holiday.

How to Choose Your Christmas Dessert

• A showstopper: the yule log (No. 1), red velvet cake (No. 2), or coconut cake (No. 16).
• Make a day ahead: tiramisu (No. 8), cheesecake (No. 19), chocolate lasagna (No. 20), or the napoleon log cake (No. 9).
• Warm and cozy: panettone bread pudding (No. 11), sticky toffee pudding (No. 12), or gingerbread cake (No. 18).
• Classic holiday pies: sweet potato pie (No. 7) and pecan pie (No. 13).
• Candy and edible gifts: rocky road fudge (No. 4), Christmas crack (No. 5), red wine truffles (No. 14), and struffoli (No. 15).
• Light or individual: chocolate mousse (No. 6), pavlova bombs (No. 3), or peppermint bark cupcakes (No. 17).

Christmas Dessert Baking Essentials

• A tilt-head stand mixer: for whipping cream, meringue, and cake batters
• An angled offset spatula: for smooth frosting and neat layers
• 9-inch round cake pans: for layer cakes
• A 9-inch springform pan: for cheesecake
• A deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid: for tiramisu and bread pudding
• Parchment paper: for lining pans and rolling candy
• Christmas cookie tins: for gifting fudge, truffles, and candy

1. Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

A tender chocolate sponge is rolled around a cocoa whipped-cream filling and covered in glossy chocolate ganache, then decorated like a log in the woods. It looks like a bakery showpiece, but it is designed to be made ahead.

Make-ahead: Finish the log a day early and refrigerate. Add the decorations right before serving.

Why it works: Rolling the warm cake in a towel trains it to curl, so it doesn’t crack when you fill it.

Tools you need: a jelly roll pan, an angled offset spatula, and a tilt-head stand mixer

👉 Get the recipe at Once Upon a Chef

2. Southern Red Velvet Cake

Three tall red layers made with buttermilk, a touch of cocoa, and vinegar are stacked with a thick cream cheese frosting. The bright red and white look made for a Christmas dessert table.

Best for: A big crowd. The cake serves about 12.

Make-ahead: Bake the layers a day early, wrap well, and frost the next day.

Tools you need: 9-inch round cake pans, a tilt-head stand mixer, and an angled offset spatula

👉 Get the recipe at I Heart Recipes

3. Pavlova Bombs

Crisp meringue spheres hide lemon curd, raspberry coulis, and whipped cream, so they ‘explode’ with color when you cut in. They are a playful twist on a pavlova, the classic summer Christmas dessert in Australia.

Why it works: The leftover yolks go into the lemon curd, so nothing goes to waste.

Best for: A small, show-off dessert. The recipe makes five.

Tools you need: a tilt-head stand mixer, a half sheet pan with cooling grid, and parchment paper

👉 Get the recipe at RecipeTin Eats

4. Rocky Road Fudge

A five-minute microwave chocolate fudge made with sweetened condensed milk is packed with mini marshmallows and salted peanuts. It sets into tall, candy-shop-style squares that are perfect for gift tins.

Time: About 5 minutes of hands-on time, plus time to set.

Swap it: Use chopped almonds or walnuts instead of peanuts.

Tools you need: an 8-inch square baking pan, parchment paper, and Christmas cookie tins

👉 Get the recipe at The First Year

5. Christmas Crack

Saltine crackers bake under a buttery brown sugar toffee, then get a layer of melted chocolate and plenty of red and green sprinkles. It is salty, sweet, and crunchy, and it keeps well for gifting.

Make-ahead: The creator notes it can be frozen for up to 4 months.

Best for: Cookie exchanges and neighbor gifts.

Tools you need: a half sheet pan with cooling grid, an angled offset spatula, and Christmas cookie tins

👉 Get the recipe at Averie Cooks

6. Simple Chocolate Mousse

Just four ingredients (heavy cream, semisweet chocolate, vanilla, and salt) turn into a rich, airy mousse without raw eggs. Spoon it into small glasses and chill.

Make-ahead: Make it in the morning and chill until dessert time.

Serve with: Whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or fresh raspberries.

Tools you need: small glass dessert cups, a balloon whisk, and glass mixing bowls

👉 Get the recipe at Downshiftology

7. Sweet Potato Pie

A generously spiced Southern sweet potato pie with a silky, creamy filling in a partially blind-baked crust. On many Southern tables, it is as essential at Christmas as it is at Thanksgiving.

Make-ahead: Bake it a day ahead and refrigerate once cool.

Food safety: Custard pies like this one should be refrigerated within 2 hours of baking.

Tools you need: a 9-inch glass pie plate, ceramic pie weights, and a stainless steel potato masher

👉 Get the recipe at Divas Can Cook

8. Classic Tiramisu

Espresso-soaked ladyfingers are layered with a rum-scented mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa. The creator cooks the egg yolks gently instead of using them raw.

Make-ahead: Tiramisu needs hours in the fridge to set, so it is ideal to make the day before.

Best for: A crowd. One pan gives about 12 slices.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid, a tilt-head stand mixer, and a balloon whisk

👉 Get the recipe at Natasha's Kitchen

9. Napoleon Log Cake

Crisp baked puff pastry is layered with a dulce de leche buttercream and shaped into a log, then coated in pastry crumbs and coconut. There are just four ingredients, and it slices like a snowy log.

Why it works: The cake rests so the pastry softens slightly into the cream and becomes tender but still layered.

Best for: Fans of textured, not-too-fluffy cakes.

Tools you need: a half sheet pan with cooling grid, a tilt-head stand mixer, and an angled offset spatula

👉 Get the recipe at Momsdish

10. Christmas Tree Brownies

Chewy brownies are cut into Christmas trees with a cookie cutter, then piped with green buttercream and sprinkles. Kids love decorating them, and they make a cheerful party platter.

Make-ahead: The creator suggests freezing the unfrosted brownies and decorating the day you serve them.

Swap it: Use stars or snowflakes if you have other cutters.

Tools you need: a Christmas cookie cutter set, disposable piping bags, and a 9×13-inch metal baking pan

👉 Get the recipe at Handle the Heat

11. Panettone Bread Pudding

Cubes of Italian panettone soak in a cinnamon and orange custard and bake until golden and puffed. It is a cozy way to use a gifted panettone and is ready in about 90 minutes.

Make-ahead: Assemble the night before and bake in the morning or for dessert.

Food safety: Refrigerate leftovers promptly. It’s an egg custard.

Tools you need: a deep 9×13 glass baking dish with lid and a balloon whisk

👉 Get the recipe at Bigger Bolder Baking

12. Sticky Toffee Pudding

A dark, moist date cake is soaked in a rich molasses toffee sauce while it is still warm. It is the British holiday favorite, and it is best with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Why it works: Soaking the dates keeps the cake soft and gives it deep caramel flavor.

Serve with: Extra warm sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Tools you need: an 8-inch square baking pan and a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan

👉 Get the recipe at Jo Cooks

13. Maple Pecan Pie

This pecan pie uses pure maple syrup and brown sugar instead of corn syrup, baked in a flaky all-butter crust. It is rich, nutty, and holiday-classic.

Make-ahead: Bake it a day ahead. It slices more neatly once fully cooled.

Food safety: Refrigerate egg-based pies after they cool.

Tools you need: a 9-inch glass pie plate, an adjustable pie crust shield, and a wire cooling rack

👉 Get the recipe at Kristine's Kitchen

14. Red Wine Truffles

Dark chocolate ganache is flavored with dry red wine and a little espresso, chilled, and rolled in cocoa, sprinkles, or crushed freeze-dried berries. They make a lovely homemade gift.

Time: About 3 hours, mostly chilling.

Best for: Edible gifts and grown-up dessert boards.

Tools you need: a medium cookie scoop, a 3-quart stainless steel saucepan, and Christmas cookie tins

👉 Get the recipe at Well Plated

15. Struffoli

Small fried dough balls flavored with orange zest are tossed in warm honey and decorated with sprinkles and almonds. It is a traditional Italian Christmas dessert from Naples.

Why it works: The honey sets as it cools and holds the little balls together in a festive mound or wreath.

Serve with: Espresso or a dessert wine.

Tools you need: a digital candy and deep-fry thermometer, an enameled cast iron Dutch oven, and a glass cake stand with dome

👉 Get the recipe at An Italian in My Kitchen

16. Coconut Cake

A tall, tender coconut cake made with coconut milk and coconut extract is covered in a coconut cream cheese frosting and shredded coconut. It looks like a snowy winter cake.

Best for: A white-Christmas dessert table.

Make-ahead: Bake the layers ahead and freeze, then frost the day before.

Tools you need: 9-inch round cake pans, a tilt-head stand mixer, and an angled offset spatula

👉 Get the recipe at Baker by Nature

17. Peppermint Bark Cupcakes

Moist chocolate cupcakes get a creamy white chocolate peppermint frosting and a sprinkle of crushed candy cane. They have all the flavor of peppermint bark in cupcake form.

Time: About 70 minutes for 16 cupcakes.

Best for: Class parties and potlucks, where individual servings are easiest.

Tools you need: a 12-cup muffin pan, foil cupcake liners, and disposable piping bags

👉 Get the recipe at Live Well Bake Often

18. Gingerbread Cake

A deeply spiced single-layer gingerbread cake made with molasses, coffee, and both ground and fresh ginger is topped with cream cheese frosting. It is cozy, simple, and smells like Christmas.

Why it works: Coffee and a little cocoa deepen the molasses flavor without tasting like either.

Time: About 55 minutes.

Tools you need: an 8-inch square baking pan and an angled offset spatula

👉 Get the recipe at Baked by an Introvert

19. Classic Cheesecake

A rich, creamy New York-style cheesecake with a graham cracker crust and a sour cream and heavy cream filling. Top it with sugared cranberries, cherry sauce, or a drizzle of chocolate for Christmas.

Make-ahead: Cheesecake needs to chill for hours, so bake it a day or two ahead.

Why it works: Room-temperature ingredients and a gentle bake help prevent cracks.

Tools you need: a 9-inch springform pan, a tilt-head stand mixer, and heavy-duty aluminum foil

👉 Get the recipe at Cooking Classy

20. No-Bake Chocolate Lasagna

An Oreo crust is layered with chocolate ganache, a cream cheese layer, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream, then chilled until sliceable. No oven needed, and one pan serves about 24.

Make-ahead: It needs about 4 hours to chill, so make it the day before.

Best for: Saving oven space on a busy holiday.

Tools you need: a 9×13-inch metal baking pan, an angled offset spatula, and a 6-speed hand mixer

👉 Get the recipe at Carlsbad Cravings

Christmas Dessert Tips

• Bake ahead where you can. Cheesecake, tiramisu, fudge, and truffles all improve after a night in the fridge.
• Read the chill times. Many of these need several hours to set, so check each creator’s recipe before you plan your timeline.
• Food safety: custard, cream, and cheesecake desserts should be refrigerated within 2 hours. Recipes made with raw eggs, such as some mousse and tiramisu recipes, are safest with pasteurized eggs.

Pick one showstopper and one make-ahead treat, and Christmas dessert is covered. Click through to each baker’s full recipe for exact amounts and steps.

You might also like: Christmas cake recipes, Christmas cookie recipes, easy peppermint bark, no-bake Christmas treats, old-fashioned peanut brittle, and sugared cranberries.