Ditch the fruitcake with 17 Christmas desserts that your holiday table actually needs

Photo of author

| Published:

Fruitcake isn’t exactly topping anyone’s holiday wish list. Your holiday table deserves desserts that are festive, crowd-pleasing, and guaranteed to bring smiles all around. These recipes are simple to make, full of holiday cheer, and exactly what you need to impress your guests without the stress.

A plate of peanut butter blossoms, with one cookie broken in half.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Reindeer Chocolate Bark

Reindeer chocolate bark pieces laid out on a light colored surface.
Reindeer Chocolate Bark. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Reindeer Chocolate Bark is the kind of treat your holiday table actually needs this year. With its cute reindeer faces made from festive candies, it’s almost too adorable to eat—but so delicious you won’t be able to resist. This no-bake recipe is perfect for a fun family activity or a festive addition to your dessert spread.
Get the Recipe: Reindeer Chocolate Bark

3-Ingredient Shortbread

A close-up of several rectangular pieces of shortbread placed on a wooden surface.
3-Ingredient Shortbread. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Sweet, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth amazing, 3-Ingredient Shortbread is exactly what your Christmas dessert table is missing. Made with just butter, sugar, and flour, these cookies are simple to make but pack all the cozy, homemade charm you want during the holidays. Perfect for parties or late-night snacks by the tree.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Shortbread

Christmas Oreos

Christmas Oreo, featuring a green frosting Christmas tree and colorful sprinkles, rests on a wooden board.
Christmas Oreos. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Add some extra fun to your holiday dessert table with Christmas Oreos. Decorated with candy melts and sprinkles, these no-bake cookies are as festive as they are easy to make. They’re a hit with kids and adults alike—because your table deserves desserts that are as cute as they are delicious.
Get the Recipe: Christmas Oreos

Red Velvet Cake

A ring-shaped red velvet cake with white icing is sliced to reveal its red interior, displayed on a pink cake stand.
Red Velvet Cake. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Add some festive flair to your holiday table with Red Velvet Cake—it’s the Christmas dessert everyone will be talking about. With its light, moist texture and sweet cream cheese frosting, it’s as stunning as it is delicious. This is the kind of dessert that makes your table feel complete and your guests feel spoiled.
Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake

M&M Christmas Cookies

A wooden tray with freshly baked m&m christmas cookies containing chocolate chips and colored candies.
M&M Christmas Cookies. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Soft, chewy, and packed with chocolatey goodness, M&M Christmas Cookies are a must for your holiday dessert spread. They’re the kind of cookies that are gone as soon as they hit the plate—Santa will love them, and so will everyone else. These are exactly the kind of Christmas desserts your table actually needs.
Get the Recipe: M&M Christmas Cookies

Peppermint Ice Cream

A bowl of peppermint ice cream with a spoon, surrounded by candy canes and peppermint candies.
Peppermint Ice Cream. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Bring a little frosty fun to your Christmas dessert table with Peppermint Ice Cream. Creamy, sweet, and loaded with crushed candy canes, it’s like a winter wonderland in every bite. This cool treat is the perfect way to round out your holiday meal and wow your guests.
Get the Recipe: Peppermint Ice Cream

Cinnamon Palmiers

A rectangular platter with cinnamon palmiers and holiday decorations, including garlands and a gift wrap, is displayed.
Cinnamon Palmiers. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Cinnamon Palmiers are the no-fuss dessert your holiday table needs to feel fancy without the extra effort. Buttery, flaky, and swirled with cinnamon sugar, they’re simple to make but look bakery-perfect. Add them to your dessert spread for a little French flair that everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Palmiers

Saltine Toffee

Close-up of saltine toffee squares topped with chocolate and chopped nuts on a silver surface.
Saltine Toffee. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Salty, sweet, and totally addictive, Saltine Toffee is the Christmas dessert your table can’t go without. With layers of crackers, caramel, chocolate, and pecans, it’s a treat that’s as easy to make as it is to devour. Perfect for snacking, gifting, or sharing around the tree!
Get the Recipe: Saltine Toffee

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

A plate of peanut butter blossoms, with one cookie broken in half.
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms are the ultimate holiday cookie and a must for your dessert table. These soft, chewy cookies topped with chocolate kisses are a classic that never gets old. Quick to make and even quicker to disappear, they’re the kind of Christmas dessert everyone craves.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Blossoms

Almond Crescent Cookies

A plate of almond crescent cookies is being dusted with powdered sugar.
Almond Crescent Cookies. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Buttery, crumbly, and dusted with powdered sugar, Almond Crescent Cookies are Christmas dessert magic. They’re always the first to disappear from the cookie tray, and for good reason—they’re as tasty as they are elegant. Your holiday table will thank you for including these timeless treats.
Get the Recipe: Almond Crescent Cookies

3-Ingredient Fudge

Close-up view of several pieces of chocolate fudge, with some stacked and one showing a bite taken out of it.
3-Ingredient Fudge. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

3-Ingredient Fudge is the Christmas dessert your table actually needs when you’re short on time but still want something indulgent. Rich, creamy, and made with just chocolate, condensed milk, and butter, it’s a no-fail treat that everyone will love. Serve it as is or add toppings to make it extra special.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Fudge

Stuffed Dates

Stuffed dates with cream cheese and walnuts on a plate.
Stuffed Dates. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates are the sweet-and-savory treat your dessert menu needs. The combination of sticky dates, tangy goat cheese, and crunchy walnuts makes for a dessert that’s as sophisticated as it is simple to make. Perfect for when your holiday table needs a little something unique.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Dates

Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies

A plate of chai cookies with powdered sugar on it.
Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies bring bold, spiced flavors to your Christmas dessert table. With chai spices, a hint of espresso, and their crinkled, sugar-dusted look, they’re as fun to eat as they are to serve. These cookies are exactly what you need to spice up your holiday treats.
Get the Recipe: Dirty Chai Earthquake Cookies

Matcha Brownies

Four square slices of matcha brownies with white chocolate icing.
Matcha Brownies. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Brighten up your dessert table with Matcha Brownies. Their chewy texture, sweet-earthy flavor, and vibrant green color make them a standout treat. If your Christmas spread needs a little something different, these brownies are the perfect choice.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Brownies

Peanut Butter Fudge

Close-up of multiple pieces of peanut butter fudge, with several pieces stacked on top of each other in the center.
Peanut Butter Fudge. Photo credit: Quick Prep Recipes.

Peanut Butter Fudge is the easiest, creamiest treat your Christmas dessert table could ask for. With its rich peanut butter flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture, it’s impossible to have just one piece. Add this simple recipe to your holiday lineup and watch it disappear.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Fudge

Chai Ice Cream

Chai Ice Cream on a silver plate.
Chai Ice Cream. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Bring a cool and spicy twist to your holiday desserts with Chai Ice Cream. Infused with warm chai spices, it’s the perfect ending to a festive meal or a refreshing treat during your Christmas celebrations. This unique dessert will make your holiday table unforgettable.
Get the Recipe: Chai Ice Cream

Matcha Sugar Cookies

Matcha sugar cookies on a wooden board, surrounded by pink flowers and a small sieve with matcha powder.
Matcha Sugar Cookies. Photo credit: Easy Homemade Life.

Add a touch of vibrant green to your dessert table with Matcha Sugar Cookies. Their sweet, earthy flavor and stunning color make them a festive addition to any Christmas spread. These cookies are as easy to bake as they are impressive, making them a holiday must-have.
Get the Recipe: Matcha Sugar Cookies

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.