Scrumptious Christmas desserts make stunning centrepieces for our Christmas table decorations.
And luckily stunning does not mean super complicated concoctions.
Many of the 50 stunning Christmas dessert recipes I have here are a cinch even if you are not a big baker.
And many of these desserts can be made ahead and frozen.
There's everything from super impressive luxury desserts :
To simply elegant modern takes on Christmas desserts :
PLUS traditional Christmas desserts you can easily make ahead :
And classic favourites you can freeze:
They are seriously mouth watering so do bookmark or save for later!!
Table of Contents
Christmas Cheesecakes
Cheesecakes are always a popular impressive Christmas dessert and very easy to make ahead & freeze.
They are super flexible so you can go for sumptuous luxury or simple elegant styling with your favourite Christmas flavourings including :
You can also easily style super fun Christmas cheesecakes for kids.
White Chocolate & Cranberry Christmas Cheesecakes
This white chocolate cheesecake with cranberries and rosemary is fabulously Christmasy ...
As is this similar cheesecake with a chocolate Oreo crust ...
Eggnog Christmas Cheesecake
Sugared cranberries and rosemary also look wonderful on this Christmas cheescake with eggnog filling ...
Dark Chocolate Cheesecake
For a seriously impressive luxurious looking Christmas cheesecake, dark chocolate takes some beating. The Christmas red raspberries in this version ooze indulgence ...
Gingerbread Cheesecake
A gingerbread cheesecake with a gingerbread cookie base can be a super show-stopping Christmas dessert complete with gingerbread house decorations ...
Elegant Modern Cheesecakes
If you're looking for a more minimalist and modern elegant Christmas dessert, try this champagne jelly cheesecake ...
If you love baked cheesecake, this recipe with just a swirl of pomegranate juice for Christmas colour is still an extremely elegant Christmas dessert ...
Fun Cheesecakes For Kids
This super cute no-bake reindeer Christmas cheesecake will be a massive winner with kids ...
As will these cute mini-snowman ...
... and mini Santa cheesecakes ...
Make Ahead & Freeze Cheesecakes
Cheesecakes are good make ahead Christmas desserts and there are tips here on how to freeze cheesecake for Christmas and defrost it properly.
A simple no-bake white chocolate cheesecake is a great make ahead and freeze Christmas dessert you can decorate last minute with a few Christmas flourishes such as truffles and smashed candy cane ...
Make Ahead & Freeze Black Forest Cheesecake
This make ahead Black Forest Christmas cheesecake is more luxurious but can still be frozen so all you are doing at the last minute is the chocolate glaze ...
Christmas Roulade & Logs
Roulades
Gorgeously glamorous Christmas roulades look tricky but are not.
It really is OK for the meringue to crack and the cream ouse out - it only adds to the luxury look!
This white forest meringue roulade is a beautiful Christmas take on a classic popular dessert ...
Whilst this raspberry & pistachio roulade has a delightfully fresh taste ...
And this impressively elegant Christmas roulade has a seasonal topping of cranberries and persimmon ...
Yule Logs
Traditional Christmas yule logs are always a big hit with kids but you can easily make a delicious gluten free yule log grown ups will love too:
Or for an alternative elegant twist go for a white chocolate roulade ...
Or if you have a little more time on your hands make this unbelievably impressive orange spice Yule Log ...
Christmas Trifle & Mess
Trifles are super popular and impressive Christmas desserts but are very easy to make ahead and can be customised to your family's taste.
Or for an even quicker and easier Christmas dessert check out these Christmas mess recipes.
Clementine Trifle
This clementine trifle is striking and would add an elegant splash of colour to your Christmas table ...
Cranberry & Orange Trifle
This cranberry orange trifle is bursting with flavour ...
And cranberry topped trifles can be decorated to look super impressive like the big Christmas cheesecakes ...
Or you can serve up beautiful individual Christmas cranberry trifles in glasses ...
Gingerbread Trifle
A gingerbread trifle is another wonderful opportunity for impressively show stopping gingerbread house decorations on your Christmas dessert ...
Black Forest Mini Trifles
These individual black forest mini Christmas trifles in glasses will be stunning on your Christmas table ...
Fig & Caramel Trifle
For a super elegant luxury Christmas trifle grown ups will love, try this gorgeous fig and caramel trifle recipe ...
Saffron, Pear & Ginger Trifle
Or this similarly elegant saffron poached pear and ginger trifle laced with madeira ...
Classic British Trifle
A classic British Christmas trifle is very simple but still impressive and can be made a little ahead ...
If you are on a tight Christmas food budget and looking for Christmas leftover recipes, remember you can make yummy Christmas pudding trifle from leftover dessert.
Christmas Mess Recipes
Delicious Christmas mess is even easier to make than trifle and again looks lovely in individual glasses ...
If you are stuck for time you can throw together pretty little jars of Christmas mess like these with bought meringue and brownies ...
Christmas Meringue Desserts
Christmas meringue desserts are real show stoppers but again easier than you think to make ahead and freeze :
Christmas Pavlovas
This cranberry pavlova makes a luxuriously light Christmas dessert:
If you have the time, you could transform your cranberry pavlova into a super impressive show-stopping Christmas tree ...
For an alternative luxurious Christmas pavlova try this recipe laced with Baileys Irish Cream ...
Or this equally indulgent Christmas dessert laced with negroni ...
Or for unbelievable elegance try this hibiscus poached pear pavlova ...
If you don't think you are quite up to that try this simpler poached pear pavlova with mascarpone ...
Christmas Meringue Pies
Meringue pies are a good option for a substantial Christmas dessert.
This mulled clementine meringue pie is full of Christmas flavour ...
Whilst this meringue topped royal mincemeat pie is a super glamorous twist on a traditional classic Christmas dessert recipe ...
Mini Christmas Meringues
If you lack the mental energy for a big Christmas dessert, mini meringues are a lovely alternative.
These mini cranberry pavlovas will be a beautiful addition to your Christmas decorations but could not be easier to make ...
And these pretty little candy cane meringues are also super simple ...
Cute Christmas tree meringues will be a big hit with kids as mini Christmas desserts ...
Or for a make ahead and freeze Christmas dessert recipe that can be defrosted on the day try these sweet meringue cookies ...
You can transform a pile of mini Christmas meringues into a show stopping Christmas dessert simply by drizzling with sauce of choice and adding decorations ...
Baked Alaska
A baked Alaska may look like hassle you do not need on Christmas day but it is a super popular Christmas dessert that is again much easier than it looks and can be mostly made head and frozen ...
Christmas Panna Cotta & Semifreddo Recipes
Simply elegant panna cotta and semifreddo are lusciously luxurious Christmas desserts but that bit lighter than a traditional Christmas pudding when you are all filled up with turkey and stuffing.
Christmas Semifreddo
This rich raspberry chocolate semifreddo can be made a good week or so in advance and frozen ...
As can this slightly lighter egg free version of Christmas semifreddo that can be made vegan with coconut oil, almond milk and coconut yoghurt ...
If you love the look of a traditional Christmas pudding but find it too heavy make this fantastic Christmas pudding semifreddo ...
Christmas Panna Cotta
Christmas panna cottas are luxurious but slip down easily when you are stuffed with all that stuffing.
This recipe for Christmas panna cotta with cranberries is in Dutch but the translation is easy to follow ...
We are big sloe fans in my family - hence sloely.com - and I love growing rosemary so am smitten with these stunning panna cottas with sloe gin and rosemary jelly ...
This yoghurt based Christmas pudding shaped pomegranate panna cotta makes a beautiful Christmas dessert ...
And these individual cranberry panna cotta versions would also look stunning amidst your Christmas table decorations ...
If your family loves eggnog make these little eggnog panna cottas in pretty glasses with gingerbread stars:
Or try this eggnog panna cotta version with spiked cranberry sauce ...
And again if you love the shape of a Christmas pudding but find it too heavy make this clementine panna cotta in a pudding basin ...
Christmas Tarts
Christmas tarts make beautifully simple Christmas desserts that still look seasonally stunning.
The white chocolate topping in this cranberry Christmas tart recipe makes a beautiful base for whatever toppings you want to add ...
Big Christmas tarts can be made ahead and frozen but if pastry making gives you the heebie jeebies try these mini chocolate cheesecake tarts you can whip up easily with bought pastry shells ...
Or for chocoholics make this utterly divine chocolate clementine torte ...
Croquembouche
The classic croquembouche has a bit fallen out of fashion but is always a winning Christmas dessert recipe with a hungry hoard of kids.
You can pile up a great tree of profiteroles or choux buns ...
Or alternatively mini doughnuts ...
There are some helpful tips here on making your own choux pastry and on how to build your Christmas croquembouche around a cone ...
Choux Buns
If you do not have the energy to build a Croquembouche, a simple plate of choux buns with a few added decorations can look lovely especially if the buns are deliciously filled with brandy custard ...
Christmas Rice Pudding
Rice pudding might not sound special for Christmas dinner but super rich recipes are traditional Scandinavian Christmas desserts.
And with a great flourish of red fruit they will actually look stunning on your Christmas table.
You can serve your Christmas rice pudding with cranberries ...
Or in this classic Danish Christmas rice pudding recipe with cherries ...
Christmas Ice Cream Desserts
Fantastic ice cream Christmas desserts are a huge winner with kids and can look stupendous.
Christmas Ice Cream Bombes
This panettone based Christmas ice cream bombe from Jamie Oliver looks awesome!!
Or for a lighter Christmas dessert try this white chocolate ice cream with clementine sorbet bombe ...
Christmas Ice Cream Cakes
Ice cream bombes do need a certain amount of nerve to pull off. Ice cream cakes like this recipe still look stunning but are pretty simple to make ahead ...
And recipes like this coffee ice cream cake make glamorously grown up Christmas desserts ...
Christmas Ice Cream
Christmas ice cream might feel like a cop out but sometime it is just what we need after filling up with carbs.
And it is very easy to make deliciously Christmasy flavours.
This bourbon eggnog flavour ice cream is a no churn recipe you can make easily without a machine ...
Or for something super rich try this gingerbread ice cream recipe which does need a machine ...
For non-dairy eaters you can make this vegan gingerbread ice cream:
Christmas Cakes
If you are eating Christmas dinner in the evening, Christmas cakes of all sorts obviously make wonderful Christmas desserts.
For ideas check out my top 10 best Christmas cake recipes ...
Christmas Ginger Cakes
Or if you are doing Christmas food on a budget opt for a scrumptious Christmas ginger cake which is cheap to make and can look stunning with simple decorations.
The barely there cream cheese frosting on these ginger cakes looks incredibly beautiful with little rosemary trees and sugared cranberries ...
Or gingerbread reindeer ...
Christmas Puddings
No Christmas dessert collection would be complete without a traditional Christmas pudding recipe.
We make ours every year on Stir Up Sunday in November using my grandma's battered recipe book.
It is not quick as the pudding needs to be steamed for hours but is much easier than you think and I have two really easy to follow Christmas pudding recipes for you here.
This first Christmas pudding recipe answers all those burning questions you have always wanted to ask ...
And this second Christmas pudding recipe has really easy to follow photographic steps ...
If you missed making your Christmas pudding in advance then try Delia's cheat Christmas pudding which is much quicker but still delicious.
Christmas Poached Fruit
Much, much lighter Christmas desserts can be the perfect end to a beautiful Christmas dinner.
These pears poached in red wine and cinnamon look divine but will slip down easily ...
Christmas Jelly & Jello
Gorgeously grown up jelly - or jello - is another lovely light sweet with which to end a Christmas meal.
These clementine jellies looks lovely in individual glasses ...
Or you could just serve a plate of champagne jello shots ...
Christmas Petits Fours
Little Christmas petit fours are a beautiful way to end Christmas dinner as a final post dessert sweet or as a mini Christmas dessert in their own right.
Christmas Bark
This Christmas bark is super easy to make in advance and looks beautiful broken into shards ...
Peppermint Creams
These peppermint creams are perfect for filling for that final tiny gap ...
And these green tea peppermint creams are especially delicate ...
Christmas Candies
Other simple homemade Christmas candies make delicious petits fours including Turkish delight, coconut ice and rock candy. I have here 20 wonderful homemade Christmas candy recipes ...
Christmas Fudge
Or if you are big fans of Christmas fudge try these homemade Christmas fudge recipes ...
Christmas Cupcakes
Finally, Christmas cupcakes are wonderful way to offer boozy flavours and elegant designs to the grown ups and classic Christmas flavours and cute Christmas cupcake decorations to the kids ...
And there you go, over 50 delicious Christmas dessert recipes that truly will look stunning on your Christmas table. I do hope you found inspiration and ideas that you love.
For more simple Christmas ideas explore these guides to ...
And follow my Christmas food board on Pinterest ...
If you haven't already don't forget to bookmark or save the post ...
Other images under Creative Commons : Christmas Pudding
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