Desserts
15+ Desserts To Bake This Holiday Season
Published on December 16, 2024
From chocolate shortbread cookies by Rosie Daykin to Philip Haddad’s seeded, cherry and white chocolate cookies, these are some of the best holiday dessert recipes to bake this season.
Scroll down for 16 delicious holiday cookies, bar, tarts and cakes!
Candy Cane Thumbprint Cookies
“If you ask us, it just isn’t Christmas without candy cane cookies! These are filled with a decadently smooth candy cane ganache that pairs perfectly with the slight crunch of the cookie.” — Jenna Hutchinson and Ashley Kosowan.
Get Jenna Rae Cakes’ recipe for Candy Cane Thumbprint Cookies here.
Stollen Pound Cake
“I created this very easy-to-make pound cake, with all the flavors of stollen (except for yeasty) and complete with a marzipan tunnel, and it’s pretty impressive in its own right! This is particularly true if you bring it to the table on a beautiful cake stand garnished with candied cranberries and crystallized rosemary. As far as mixed fruit goes, use whatever you like, but I usually go for some mix of citrus, cherries, and quince. Note: You will want to start this the night before.” – Camilla Wynne
Get the recipe for Camilla Wynne’s Stollen Pound Cake here.
Pistachio Brown Butter & Halva Chocolate Chunk Cookies
“A nutty, savoury, sweet and salty cookie that’s chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside. I wanted to bring new intrigue to a cookie that’s been made one billion times before.” — Molly Baz
Get the recipe for Molly Baz’s Pistachio Brown Butter & Halva Chocolate Chunk Cookies here.
Chocolate Shortbread
If you love chocolate and shortbread, why not enjoy them together?
Get Rosie Daykin’s recipe for Chocolate Shortbread here.
Pine Nut Cookies (Pignoli Amaretti)
“This cookie is a very special recipe that was shared with me almost 20 years ago. It combines simplicity and luxury with the pine nuts, and it’s incredibly easy to make. Make sure you use almond paste and not marzipan! – Philip Haddad
Get Philip Haddad’s recipe for Pine Nut Cookies here.
Nutty Chocolate Ganache Tart
“This tart is the dessert equivalent of the movie The Notebook. It seems basic on the surface, but if you look deeper, you’ll find yourself an instant classic that’s impossible to resist.” – Salad Pizza Wine
Get the Nutty Chocolate Ganache Tart from the cookbook Salad, Pizza, Wine here.
Butter Tart Squares
“These squares are the perfect sweet treat to add to your cookie exchange! And they truly are so easy — all of that butter tart goodness without the fuss of making pastry or forming tarts.” – Mary Berg
Get Mary Berg’s recipe for Butter Tart Squares here.
Crispy Oat, Coconut And Cardamom Cookies
“My grandmother Paulette made a version of these cookies every time I would visit her. They were impossibly buttery and crisp, and I remember being showered in crumbs with each bite I took. I’ve added cardamom for a little fragrant interest, and a good pinch of salt to counteract the sweetness. I like to think she would approve.” – Devin Connell
Get Devin Connell’s recipe for Crispy Oat, Coconut and Cardamom Cookies here.
Mendiant Shortbread
“This chocolate shortbread is glorious topped with rich crème fraîche ganache, but once you decorate it with the perfect pattern of candied and dried fruits, nuts, and whatever else your heart desires, I’m sorry to say it’s almost too stunning to cut into. All the more reason to make this jumbo homage to the classic French chocolate mendiant as a gift or the finale to a dinner party!” – Camilla Wynne
Get Camilla Wynne’s recipe for Mendiant Shortbread here.
Salty Chocolate Pretzel Rye Cookies
“These are crisp on the edges, doughy in the middle and loaded with chocolate. The rye adds unexpected flavor; it’s nutty and rich and, when combined with the salty pretzels and brown butter, it makes for a cookie that really does melt in your mouth.” – Tieghan Gerard
Get the recipe for Salty Chocolate Pretzel Rye Cookies from Half Baked Harvest’s Tieghan Gerard here.
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Slice
“It wouldn’t be the holidays at our house without this silly little slice! I love to share large platters of a variety of baking when entertaining during the season and, somehow, these treats always disappear first!” – Rosie Daykin
Get Rosie Daykin’s recipe for Peanut Butter Marshmallow Slice here.
Flourless Chocolate, Hazelnut and Espresso Cake
“Chocolate lovers rejoice—this one’s for you. This flourless cake is inspired by the classic Caprese torte and is made from fiber-rich hazelnuts, pulsed into a flour for an almost brownie-like dessert. I like to add a hint of espresso powder, as it enhances the flavor of this cake beautifully—coffee is an always-welcome pairing with chocolate.” – Vanessa Perrone
Get Vanessa Perrone’s recipe for Flourless Chocolate, Hazelnut and Espresso Cake here.
Milk Bar Pie Bars
“Warm and sweet creaminess is what I long for most when I reach for dessert, and these golden cookie bars deliver it big time. Based on Milk Bar’s iconic pie, these squares start with an oat cookie crust that gets layered up with a gooey, buttery batter that pushes the limits of what a pie filling can do.” – Christina Tosi
Get Christina Tosi’s recipe for Milk Bar Pie Bars here.
Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies
Pastry chef Kristine Morrow’s cookies have a soft, chewy centre that will make chocolate lovers swoon. She suggests you make a large batch of the cookie dough, scoop it and freeze the individually scooped portions. Allow frozen cookie dough to come to fridge temperature before baking. This way you can have freshly baked cookies whenever needed.
Get Kristine Morrow’s recipe for Double Chocolate Brownie Cookies here.
Eggnog Basque Cheesecake
“Even though it looks and sounds fancy, Basque cheesecake is the easiest baked cheesecake out there. Thanks to the eggnog, spiced rum and nutmeg, I can’t think of a more decadent and jaw-dropping wintry dessert.” – Mary Berg
Get Mary Berg’s recipe for Eggnog Basque Cheesecake here.
Seeded, Cherry and White Chocolate Cookies
You’ll love this quick and easy cookie recipe!
Get Philip Haddad’s recipe for Seeded, Cherry and White Chocolate Cookies here.
Maple Syrup Tart
“This tastes better than any sugar pie. It’s more refined and less sweet, especially if you use quality maple syrup.” – J-C Poirier
Get J-C Poirier’s recipe for Maple Syrup Tart here.