79 Christmas Desserts Full of Merriment (and Buttercream)
The holiday season puts us in a baking spirit. When this time of year rolls around, we roll up our ugly sweater sleeves and our research of epic Christmas desserts begins. With all those layer cakes, plum puddings, chocolaty mousses, and festive pies, we have a lot to consider when choosing what Christmas dessert recipes to make this year. Will we stick with perennial favorites like towering cheesecakes and spiced fruitcakes? Or will we switch it up and experiment with tiramisu in yule-log form or ricotta cake swathed in sheets of crispy filo? Christmas cookies are a must (holiday cookies topped with peppermint candies, jammy thumbprints, and nutty bar cookies are essential for keeping Santa happy). But we also like to make room for fudge-like chocolate truffles, minty peppermint bark, and other confections that pack neatly into a cookie tin. And just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean everything should be hard or elaborate. Sometimes it takes little more than a classic apple crisp, a gingerbread loaf, a hot chocolate Bundt cake, or festive brownies to keep you on the nice list.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh1/79Mincemeat Pie
A quintessential Christmas dessert of British origins, the filling here isn’t meat but a medley of dried fruit, apples, and spices steeped in booze. Also available in mini tart form.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart2/79Original New York Cheesecake
This densely rich, towering cheesecake is not just a favorite of New Yorkers, but of cream cheese fanatics across the world. We love it as a Christmas dessert for its simple elegance, which you can dress up with a fruit compote or ganache drizzled over slices.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Simon Andrews3/79Chocolate Mousse
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele4/79Pear Pie With Lattice Crust
This simple pear pie recipe from Gourmet is a wonderful and aromatic alternative to apple pie. A dollop of crème fraîche finishes it with just the right touch, but whipped cream can be effective too.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce6/79Easy Egg Custard
This easy egg custard has a dusting of nutmeg across the top, which means it tastes something like eggnog. Serve with warm brandy and shortbread cookies for elegant ending to your Christmas dinner.
Photo by Romulo Yanes7/79Panettone
This easy panettone recipe comes from baker Jim Lahey. It appeared in the December 2008 issue of Gourmet, but was lost for 14 years before Epi readers commented about it being a favorite saved from the magazine. This year, we dug it out of the archives just in time for the holidays.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova8/79Panna Cotta
Cool, creamy vanilla panna cotta is the simplest kind of dessert. While it sets in the fridge, make a batch of classic sugar cookies to serve alongside.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova9/79Flourless Chocolate Cake
With just five ingredients, this fudgy single-layer dark chocolate cake couldn’t be easier to make. It’s so elegant, you’ll want to make it again for New Year's Eve.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Kim10/79Mid-Century Modern Cookie House
Not to be confused with the gingerbread houses customarily seen during the holiday season, this cardamom cookie house has exposed beams in the ceiling, an icy-blue roof, and “snow”-laden fir trees in the yard. Get the step-by-step visual guide here—then pour yourself a Christmas cocktail and get to building.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich11/79Caramel Nut Tart
This wintery dessert is a retro classic from ‘90s Gourmet. (Yes, the ’90s are retro now. We'll give you a moment to process that.) For what it’s worth, the tart is still ’hella fly.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne13/79Pandan Chiffon Cake
Yes to tender chiffon cake for the holidays, and yes to this pandan-flavored version, which turns the crumb a bright, festive green color.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Lillian Chou14/79Khajur Ladu (Date, Pistachio, and Almond Morsels)
