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December gets busy fast. Between school concerts, parties and family visits, dessert is often the last thing on the list. You still want something sweet and festive on the table.
The good news is that a great Christmas dessert does not have to be hard. Some of the best ones use a box of cake mix, a bag of candy canes or a few sheets of puff pastry. Many need no oven at all, and most have a job that kids can help with.
Here are 15 easy Christmas desserts the whole family will love, from no bake treats to a few simple showstoppers.
The Best Christmas Desserts
This article is all about the best Christmas desserts.
1. Christmas Funfetti Sheet Cake
What it is: A soft, moist vanilla sheet cake made with sour cream and buttermilk and packed with festive sprinkles. It all bakes in one half sheet pan.
There is no stacking or layering, and one pan feeds a big crowd. Kids love finding the sprinkles in every bite. Tip: Bring the sour cream, buttermilk and eggs to room temperature first, and spray the edges of the pan well.
2. Christmas Tree Brownies
What it is: Homemade chocolate brownies cut into triangles, piped with green buttercream and finished with pretzel sticks, rainbow sprinkles and yellow star sprinkles.
Every kid gets their own little tree to eat, and decorating them is half the fun. The brownies are made from scratch in one bowl. Tip: Line the pan with parchment paper that hangs over the edges so you can lift the whole slab out before cutting.
3. Christmas Trifle
What it is: Layers of pound cake, homemade cranberry juice jelly, custard, whipped cream and fresh berries in a big glass trifle dish.
It looks like a showstopper, but it is just simple layers stacked in a bowl. The recipe lets you use fruit juice instead of liqueur on the cake, so it works for kids too. Tip: Use regular cranberry juice with sugar added, not the no added sugar kind, for the jelly layer.
4. Christmas Poke Cake
What it is: A boxed white cake poked full of holes, filled with rows of raspberry and lime Jell-O and topped with whipped topping.
It takes only five ingredients, and the red and green stripes show up in every slice. Kids can help pour the Jell-O into the holes. Tip: Use a fork to poke holes about every inch in a grid pattern. You will not need all of the Jell-O liquid.
5. Christmas Tree Cupcakes
What it is: One bowl vanilla cupcakes topped with upside down sugar cones covered in green whipped cream, so each one looks like a little tree.
The batter needs no mixer, so it comes together fast. Decorating the trees is a great job for little helpers. Tip: Keep the heavy cream very cold so it whips up stiff enough to pipe onto the cones.
6. Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
What it is: A rich peppermint cheesecake made with white chocolate and chopped semi-sweet chocolate on an Oreo crust, topped with more chocolate and crushed candy canes.
It needs a long chill, so you make it ahead and it is ready when the guests arrive. The Oreo crust is a big hit with kids. Tip: Wrap the outside of the springform pan in heavy duty foil so no water from the water bath leaks in.
7. Buche de Noel (Yule Log Cake)
What it is: A rolled chocolate sponge cake filled with vanilla whipped cream and covered in dark chocolate ganache so it looks like a log.
It is the classic holiday centerpiece, and it is easier than it looks. Kids can help dust it with powdered sugar snow. Tip: Fold the whipped egg whites in gently to keep the batter light and easy to roll.
8. Cranberry Christmas Cake
What it is: A buttery cake made with just six ingredients and studded with fresh, tart cranberries, baked in a 9×13 pan.
It is simple to make with things you likely have on hand, plus a bag of cranberries. The sweet cake and tart berries please kids and grown ups alike. Tip: Beat the eggs and sugar for 5 to 7 minutes until thick and pale, since the eggs are what make the cake rise.
9. Christmas Cake Batter Blondies
What it is: Chewy blondies made from a box of yellow cake mix, eggs and melted butter, with white chocolate chips and red and green sprinkles stirred in.
Five ingredients and one bowl make this a perfect last minute treat. Kids can do almost all of the mixing. Tip: They set a lot as they cool, so let them cool in the pan for at least 20 to 30 minutes before cutting.
10. Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
What it is: Peanut butter Rice Krispie treats topped with a chocolate peanut butter layer, cut into trees and decorated with green candy melts and sprinkles.
There is no oven needed, and the trees are fun to decorate together. They are great for class parties and cookie trays. Tip: Line the 9×13 dish with parchment paper so the treats lift right out for cutting.
11. Peppermint Bark
What it is: A layer of semi-sweet chocolate and a layer of white chocolate, both flavored with peppermint extract and topped with crushed candy canes.
It takes five ingredients and the microwave. Kids can crush the candy canes and sprinkle them on top. Tip: Chill the semi-sweet layer for about 20 minutes, until just set, before adding the white chocolate.
12. Peppermint Oreo Truffles
What it is: Crushed Oreos blended with cream cheese, peppermint extract and espresso powder, rolled into balls and dipped in melted chocolate with crushed candy canes on top.
There is no baking, and a batch makes plenty for sharing or gifting. Kids can help roll the balls. Tip: Freeze the rolled balls for at least an hour before dipping so they hold their shape in the warm chocolate.
13. Christmas Cream Cheese Mints
What it is: Cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and peppermint extract beaten into a soft dough, tinted red and green, rolled into balls and pressed with a fork.
These old fashioned mints need no oven, and kids love mixing in the colors. They look so pretty on a holiday dessert tray. Tip: Let the balls sit until the outside is dry to the touch before pressing them with a fork.
14. Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
What it is: Two sheets of puff pastry with a sweet spread in between, cut and twisted into a tree shape, brushed with egg and dusted with powdered sugar.
Store bought puff pastry does the hard work, and it is ready in about 50 minutes. It is fun to pull apart at the table. Tip: Roll each sheet into a 10×13 inch rectangle and spread the filling all the way to the edges.
15. Chocolate Fondue
What it is: Semisweet and bittersweet chocolate melted into warm half-and-half with vanilla, served with fruit, cake, pretzels and marshmallows for dipping.
You do not need a fondue pot, and the liqueur is optional, so leave it out for kids. Everyone gets to dip their favorites. Tip: Make sure everything that touches the chocolate is completely dry, since water can make chocolate seize.
Tips for Easy Christmas Desserts
- Make it ahead. The trifle, cheesecake and poke cake all need time in the fridge, so make them the day before.
- Give kids a job. Shaking sprinkles, crushing candy canes and rolling truffles are easy tasks for little hands.
- Keep a cake mix in the pantry. The poke cake and the cake batter blondies both start with one.
- Crush candy canes in a bag. Put them in a zip top bag and tap with a rolling pin to keep the mess contained.
- Mix big and small. Pair one showpiece like the yule log with a tray of easy bites like bark and mints.
Pin this post to your Christmas or dessert board so you have these easy holiday treats ready when the baking season starts.