Set up a cookie decorating bar with different frostings, colored sugars, crushed candy canes, chopped nuts, and more. Make a
poster to hang by the table with a list of ingredients so people can think ahead of time about what to put on (and avoid certain items, in case of food allergies.)
Make or buy a collection of cakes, puddings, and pies, and serve a sumptuous bite of each in a flight of shot glasses for each guest. Everyone gets to sample the full round (and maybe get a full serving of their favorites).
These airy pastries are filled with sweet cream filling that can easily be colored with red and green for the holidays.
Drizzle holiday ingredients like peppermint white chocolate or cranberry sauce over a batch of popcorn, let it cool, then serve as a fun and colorful dessert.
Cinnamon rolls are a favorite dessert year-round, but their sweet spice (and pungent aroma) is also perfect for the Christmas season. Fresh out of the oven, these can’t be beaten.
Cake balls have become so popular that you can find cake pop molds almost anywhere. Turn cake balls into truffles by coating them with melted chocolate, decorating with sprinkles, then letting the chocolate set.
Buy or make candied pecans for a honeyed, crunchy treat that can be a stand-alone dessert or an adornment for cakes, ice cream, and other sweets.
Bread pudding puts day-old bread to use. Soaked in milk, cream, eggs, sugar, and spices, it’s re-baked until custardy and golden. Top it with cinnamon or rum sauce for added holiday flare.
Fluffed fruit salad mixes fruits like pineapple, mandarin oranges, and blueberries with frozen whipped toppings. Make it extra-holiday-delicious with pecan halves and dried cranberries, or orange zest.
Red velvet cake is a classic dessert for all occasions, though its characteristic color matches holiday décor best. Change this cake into a cake roll this year, and it will be more fun to serve and share.
Chocolate cakes and chocolate tortes are a delicious way to finish any meal. Recipes for flourless chocolate tortes have gained popularity as more people steer clear of gluten, and their bonus is that flourless recipes are more chocolatey than their usual counterparts.
Make a crust of crushed graham crackers and melted butter by pressing it into a baking pan. Beat cream cheese, mix in eggnog, and pour the mixture over the crust. After baking, drop spoonsful of cranberry sauce on top, slice into bars, and you have indulgent cranberry eggnog cheesecake bars.
You can make these with a regular batch of brownies with pistachios mixed in. Add the nuts to the brownie batter, then bake, then top with added pistachios for extra flavor and crunch.
If you haven’t ever made your own ice cream sandwiches, it’s easier than you think. Mix mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and spiced, dried fruit. Assemble sandwiches with a thin cookie upper and lower, a layer of ice cream, and a layer of your filling. Store in the freezer until you’re ready to serve.
Mince pies are a celebrated holiday tradition, especially in the United Kingdom. Made with sweet pastry filled with dried fruits, spices, and nuts, they can also be made as mini-pies for guests to enjoy.
Melt your own chocolate and mix in bits of crushed candy cane. Dunk pretzels into the mixture, then let them cool on wax paper. Once the chocolate has hardened, these can be served in a mix with roasted almonds, candied pecans, and popcorn.
