Christmas Desserts (that aren’t cookies!)

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If you came here looking for Christmas desserts that break out of the cookie rut, you’re in the right spot. These recipes bring the sparkle, the nostalgia, and the fun without requiring a rolling pin, a cookie cutter, or nerves of steel. They’re the kind of holiday sweets that make people pause, take a second look, and think… oh, I need that!

From bright and minty favorites like Peppermint Bark and Mini Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecakes to cozy picks such as Gingerbread Cream Pie and The Original Fantasy Fudge, this lineup checks every holiday box. You can even keep things extra simple with no-bake treats like Christmas Truffles, Puppy Chow, or my crowd-pleasing Wintermint Icebox Cake. There’s a mix of classics, twists, and totally fuss-free sweets that make your dessert table feel instantly festive.

1

Recipe for Christmas Crack

Crunchy crackers topped with soft caramel and chocolate then sprinkled with sea salt, this is the ultimate Christmas Crack recipe!

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2

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Bark is a Christmas classic! Made with layers of melted semi sweet and white chocolate and candy cane bits. This is a super simple and fun holiday giving treat!

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3

Chocolate Candy Cane Cake

The ultimate Christmas Cake! This Chocolate Candy Cane Cake is a soft and sweet chocolate cake frosted with a creamy peppermint frosting and topped with crushed candy canes. It’s the perfect show-stopping dessert for the holidays.

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4

Gingerbread Cream Pie

Add this Gingerbread Cream Pie to your Cream Pie Recipes list! It’s a great break from pumpkin and perfectly fits the holiday season!

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5

Peppermint Chocolate Sauce Recipe

This Peppermint Chocolate Sauce Recipe is simple to make and it doubles as a homemade gift for friends, family, or teachers.

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6

The Original Fantasy Fudge Recipe

This Fantasy Fudge sets into smooth, glossy squares packed with rich chocolate flavor and that nostalgic texture everyone loves. It comes together fast on the stovetop, cools beautifully, and slices clean for gifting or snacking.

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7

Christmas Truffles

These Christmas Truffles are the cutest and tastiest little no-bake treats! Not only are they an absolute cinch to make, but they can also be made in 20-30 minutes without having to turn on the oven!

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8

Gingerbread Truffles

Gingerbread Truffles are made with gingerbread Oreos and coated in chocolate. Perfect for the holidays and cookie platters all around.

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9

Puppy Chow Recipe (Muddy Buddies)

Puppy chow is the most addicting and satisfying peanut butter and chocolate concoction on planet earth. Also known as 'Muddy Buddies', Puppy Chow is basically the snack of the gods.

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10

Eggnog Eclair Cake

This Eggnog Eclair Cake is creamy, spicy, sweet, delicious, and surprisingly simple to make! Bet you have everything on hand to whip this up and serve it at your holiday parties!

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11

Layered Chocolate Peppermint Bars

These Layered Chocolate Peppermint Bars are part sugar cookie, part peppermint brownie cream cheese mixture, and part white chocolate! Hello, beautiful delicious layers. Perfect for a holiday gathering!

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12

Mini Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecakes

These Mini Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecakes are bite-sized bursts of dark chocolate and candy cane kiss flavor! So cute and festive!

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13

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes

Perfect chocolate cupcakes topped with the festive flavor of peppermint cream cheese frosting create these Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes!

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14

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

These Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cupcakes are light, moist, cold, creamy and pepperminty! They are fabulous! They taste like the cake version of hot chocolate.

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15

Wintermint Chips Ahoy! Icebox Cakes

This creamy peppermint icebox cake, with layers of minty cream and Chips Ahoy cookies, is a holiday winner…delicious, made in one bowl, no baking!

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16

Christmas Dessert Board

The beauty of a “board” is 99% of the time, you just buy everything pre-made, arrange everything on a platter and enjoy! They are easy to make ahead and truly are a big showstopper.

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17

Mini White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake Tarts

Mini White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake Tarts start with phyllo shells filled with a creamy filling, and then topped with homemade whipped cream! They are a no-bake wonder that your guests will devour!

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18

Best Cheesecake Recipe

This is literally the Best Cheesecake Recipe ever. Seven simple ingredients. No water bath. No cracking ever. It is the only recipe you'll ever need for classic, jaw-dropping, super creamy cheesecake. Follow my directions and it is simply fail proof!

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19

Peppermint Dip

Only 3 ingredients goes into this Peppermint Dip and it’s ready under 10 minutes! It would be perfect for any upcoming holiday parties for sure

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20

Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes

With an Oreo crust and Nutella topping, these Mini Red Velvet Cheesecakes are simple and easy to make – though you won’t be able to tell by their decadent taste! Perfect for Christmas!

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21

Angel Food Cake

Light, dreamy and so much better than store-bought, this homemade Angel Food Cake will blow your mind! Made with whipped egg whites, sugar, flour, and some flavorings, this is a must-make cake recipe! So delicious with whipped cream and berries.

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22

Candied Pecans

This classic Candied Pecans recipe is a great addition to your Holiday festivities. Great as a crunchy snack, on salads, as part of a charcuterie board or as a homemade gift. Made with cinnamon sugar and a few other warm spices, this EASY and simple recipe is sure to be a hit!

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23

Buckeyes

A perfect marriage of peanut butter and chocolate make Ohio-famous Buckeyes a no-bake masterpiece. Buckeyes are made with creamy peanut butter, sweet powdered sugar and butter, rolled into balls and partially dipped into melted chocolate, leaving just a little bit of peanut butter exposed – making them look just like real buckeyes.

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24

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Strawberry Pretzel Salad is no salad at all, but a delicious nostalgic dessert made with easy store-bought ingredients like Jell-O, Cool Whip, pretzels, and strawberries. It’s always a hit at potlucks and holiday gatherings because it’s the perfect mix of salty, sweet, and creamy.

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25

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake (Cheesecake Factory copycat)

This Vanilla Bean Cheesecake is absolutely out of this world delicious! Who needs to pay Cheesecake Factory prices when you can have 4 layers of brilliance in your very own kitchen!

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26

Christmas Cake Pops Recipe

If you're looking to really impress your guests this year, you MUST make these festive Christmas Cake Pops!! Don't be intimidated. They are way easier than you think and the decorations are ENDLESS!

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27

Gingerbread Dip

If you’re looking for a dessert that takes five minutes, tastes like Christmas wrapped in a bowl, and makes people hover by the snack table, this Gingerbread Dip is it. It’s thick, whipped, sweet with molasses and warm spices, and tastes just like gingerbread cookie dough.

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28

Gingerbread Trifle

If you’re looking for a dessert that stops people mid-bite, this Gingerbread Trifle is it. It’s rich, creamy, and layered like a dream with warm spiced cake, cookie butter pudding, gingersnaps, and clouds of whipped cream. I love this recipe because it looks like you spent all day making it, but it’s secretly simple to assemble. It can be made ahead, chilled, and served when you’re ready. That’s holiday magic right there.

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29

Hot Cocoa Pie

If you’ve ever wished hot cocoa came in dessert form, this Hot Cocoa Pie delivers. It’s creamy, chocolatey, and topped with gooey marshmallow fluff for that cozy winter flavor in every bite. It looks impressive but takes minutes to make and sets up perfectly every time. Tested, tried, and guaranteed to impress.

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30

Millionaire’s Shortbread

Millionaire’s Shortbread is the kind of dessert that looks like it came straight from a high-end bakery. Buttery shortbread, rich caramel, and smooth chocolate come together in three decadent layers that taste every bit as luxurious as they look. These are the definition of decadence and never last long at my house, which tells you everything you need to know.

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31

5-Layer Dark Chocolate Cheesecake (Cheesecake Factory Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake Recipe)

This Dark Chocolate Cheesecake is the ultimate in decadence with FIVE layers: flourless chocolate cake crust, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake mousse, chocolate ganache, and chocolate shavings on top! It's absolutely ridiculous and naturally gluten free!

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32

Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse

This Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse is a crowd-pleasing dessert that brings together the best of both worlds: a velvety chocolate mousse with a hint of tangy cream cheese. It’s so easy to make and requires just a few simple ingredients, making it the perfect choice for any special occasion or dinner party. Whether you’re serving it in individual portions or one large dish, it’s a dessert that will leave everyone coming back for seconds.

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33

Cinnamon Roll Pretzels

Crunchy sweet Cinnamon Roll Pretzels are a delicious snack and also make a lovely gift! Super easy to make and so very good.

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34

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Chocolate Covered Pretzels are the perfect combination of a sweet and salty treat. These are a lot easier to make than you think and you can customize for any event, holiday or gathering with different toppings! 

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Holiday baking season gets busy fast, so these desserts give you a little breathing room while still bringing the holiday magic. Each one feels special, looks impressive, and isn’t tough to pull off… which is honestly the sweet spot for Christmas entertaining. Pick your favorite, prep it with confidence, and enjoy the kind of holiday moment that tastes just as good as it looks.

Happy Baking and Merry Christmas!

If you make these recipes, I would really appreciate it if you would give them a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.