You don't need to be an expert baker to make something delicious for the holidays. These desserts are foolproof, forgiving, and still taste like you put in real effort. No complicated steps, no fancy equipment, just simple recipes that work. If you're new to baking or just want something stress-free, these are your best bet.
Chocolate Eclair Cake
This no-bake, easy chocolate eclair cake is an elegant dessert you can easily make from scratch using a few simple everyday ingredients! With layers of crunchy graham crackers, homemade diplomat cream, and decadent chocolate ganache to finish, it is simple enough to indulge in at home yet impressive enough to serve on special occasions.
Go to the recipe: Chocolate Eclair Cake
Pecan Brownies
This fudgy pecan brownie recipe might just become your favorite brownie recipe all year round! This brownie with pecans is the perfect combination of thick, fudgey, gooey inside and a crinkly, crispy top, with an intense chocolate taste, crunchy pecans, and a pinch of cinnamon. It is rich yet very well-balanced in sweetness!
Go to the recipe: Pecan Brownies
Cream Puff
This easy cream puff recipe is the perfect combination of fancy and simple! With a crisp choux pastry shell, a silky chantilly cream filling, and a dusting of sweet powdered sugar, this French-style favorite is just as perfect for a cozy night at home with friends and family as it is for an elegant dinner party or special event.
Go to the recipe: Cream Puff
Tiramisu Brownies
If you've ever struggled to choose between tiramisu or fudge brownies for dessert, these tiramisu brownies will make your life much easier! This mouthwatering treat offers the best of both worlds, combining decadent, homemade brownies topped with a smooth, elegant tiramisu layer. After one bite, you'll never look at tiramisu or chocolate brownies the same way again!
Go to the recipe: Tiramisu Brownies
Tiramisu Cake Roll
My tiramisu cake roll recipe consists of a super fluffy Japanese style sponge cake, that is easy to roll without breaking it. The sponge is drizzled with rich espresso, then rolled up with an airy, light whipped mascarpone cream filling. Finally, generous dust of cocoa powder and a super easy, yet decorative whipped mascarpone piping added on top making it the ultimate, elegant Tiramisu cake roll!
Go to the recipe: Tiramisu Cake Roll
Lemon Curd Cookies
These tart and tangy lemon curd cookies explode with citrus flavor in your mouth! Packed with fresh lemon flavor and topped with creamy, homemade lemon curd, these bright and fragrant treats are a dream come true for lemon lovers!
Go to the recipe: Lemon Curd Cookie
Basque Burnt Cheesecake
Basque burnt cheesecake is a delicious dessert with a creamy, custard-like center and a beautifully caramelized top. The cake is cooked under high heat, which gives it its distinctive dark color and a slightly burnt flavor that contrasts perfectly with the creamy interior. This cheesecake is an excellent choice for novice bakers as it requires only five simple ingredients and does not need a water bath. Moreover, its rustic appearance also means that it's forgiving of imperfections.
Go to the recipe: Basque Burnt Cheesecake
White Chocolate Cupcakes
Try these deliciously decadent white chocolate cupcakes with a moist sponge and silky smooth frosting. They're dainty and elegant, yet pack a punch of flavor while remaining balanced in sweetness.
Go to the recipe: White Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Salami
Salami and chocolate might not be the first pairing that comes to mind, but this no-bake chocolate salami recipe will change that! Don't worry—there's no actual salami involved. Instead, you'll find a mouthwatering mix of rich dark chocolate, crushed tea cookies, citrusy orange zest, and crunchy chopped nuts, all rolled into a delicious package that the whole family will love!
Go to the recipe: Chocolate Salam
Chocolate Mousse Cups
These no-bake, five-ingredient chocolate mousse cups are a chocolate lover's dream come true! Made with rich dark chocolate and topped with delicious airy chantilly cream and sweet chocolate shavings, they are the perfect treat to satisfy your post-dinner sweet tooth.
Go to the recipe: Chocolate Mousse Cups
Star Bread
For a festive treat to bring the family together during Christmas, you will want to have this easy star bread recipe handy! This delicious cinnamon bread is not just tasty but also eye-catching, with an impressive star shape, tender, buttery dough, and warm cinnamon sugar filling. It will surely be the highlight of the dessert table!
Go to the recipe: Star Bread
Floating Island
Also known as île flottante in French, a floating island is a light, fluffy, and creamy classic French dessert that is, in fact, no-bake and super easy. Made with milk, sugar, egg, and vanilla, the floating island dessert isn't just simple to make but also gluten-free!
Go to the recipe: Floating Island
Coffee Cookies
These coffee cookies have a delectable taste that the addition of chocolate chips makes even better. They are a soft and chewy, indulgent treat for those who particularly enjoy gooey desserts. For these espresso chocolate chip cookies, brown sugar creates a deep, rich flavor that perfectly complements the coffee taste.
Go to the recipe: Coffee Cookies
Palmiers
Sweet and sugary palmiers are a crisp, easy puff pastry recipe. They contain just two ingredients, and if you use store-bought puff pastry, they take just 40 minutes! Serve palmiers with a cup of coffee; it's one of the quickest, easiest dessert pastry recipes. They are the ideal choice of sweet puff pastry recipes for beginner bakers.
Go to the recipe: Palmiers
Red Velvet Brownies
You have to try these perfectly moist, dense, and fudgy red velvet brownies with a rich, marbled cream cheese crackly top! This easy recipe offers the famous red velvet flavor in brownie format—the best of both worlds!
Go to the recipe: Red Velvet Brownie
Pear Tarte Tatin
This pear tarte tatin is a stunning take on the classic French upside-down tart, apple tarte tatin. Caramelized pears melt into a rich, buttery caramel sauce beneath layers of flaky puff pastry that bake to a perfect golden crust. It’s a timeless dessert that feels both rustic and refined.
Go to the recipe: Pear Tarte Tatin
Raspberry Tiramisu
This no-bake raspberry tiramisu takes the classic dessert to a mouthwatering new level! Featuring layers of smooth, homemade mascarpone cream, spongy raspberry-soaked ladyfingers, and fresh raspberry sauce, it's the perfect finish to a picnic, celebration, or delicious Italian dinner!
Go to the recipe: Raspberry Tiramisu
Danish Butter Cookies
For a simple yet flavorful dessert or snack that the whole family will love, these buttery and soft Danish butter cookies (also known as Danish biscuits) will not disappoint! Using the same six ingredients from the classic Royal Dansk Danish cookies in the blue tin that many know and love.
Go to the recipe: Danish Butter Cookies
Coconut Cupcakes
This recipe takes moist vanilla cupcakes, infuses them with fresh shredded coconut, and tops them with creamy coconut frosting to create the perfect tropical treat. If you love the taste of coconut, this recipe is your dream come true!
Go to the recipe: Coconut Cupcake
Mocha Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
Chocolate marshmallow cookies are fudgy, brownie-like cookies with a hint of espresso and a gooey marshmallow center! These marshmallow-stuffed cookies are easy to make in one bowl with simple ingredients.
Get the recipe: Mocha Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
Gingerbread Madeleines
Madeleines are simple, quick, and easy...and yet they manage to be elegant, too! I knew that I needed to make a holiday version, and this seemed like just the thing: Gingerbread Madeleines (with vanilla bean glaze)!
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Madeleines
Chocolate Orange Truffle Pie w/ Gingersnap Crust
This chocolate orange truffle pie is amazing! It tastes just like Christmas—spicy gingersnap crust, dark chocolate truffle layer, and rich orange chocolate mousse topped with lightly whipped cream. It’s silky smooth, and the flavors are unreal! And you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how simple it is to whip up!
Get the recipe: Chocolate Orange Truffle Pie w/ Gingersnap Crust
Eggnog Tres Leches Cake
Rich, creamy, and bursting with eggnog-y goodness, this eggnog tres leches cake is a festive twist on a favorite classic. While this recipe makes a snack cake-friendly 8" x 8" cake, be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for other size options, including sheet cakes and cupcakes.
Get the recipe: Eggnog Tres Leches Cake
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