11 fabulous and festive holiday desserts
Light up the holiday party with these bakes.
Date
December 10, 2025
Sure, cookies get all the spotlight this time of year, but there’s a lot more baking to do. We’ve got holiday desserts to make for your festive parties, Hanukkah gatherings, Christmas Eve dinners, and New Year’s toasts. From brag-worthy showstoppers like Bûche de Noël to simple-but-stunning desserts like a one-bowl olive oil cake, all the holiday recipes you need are right here.
1) Chocolate Bûche de Noël with Cookie Butter Whipped Ganache
The ultimate showstopper, this classic Bûche de Noël is a maximalist dessert worthy of celebration. Created by pastry chef Lasheeda Perry, it features a deeply chocolatey cake that won’t crack as you roll it; a luscious speculoos-spiced ganache that’s soft but stays put; and, of course, plenty of decorations, including chocolate bark, meringue mushrooms, and matcha moss. Want some help as you make it? Watch this On-Demand class and bake along with Lasheeda!
Get the recipe: Chocolate Bûche de Noël with Cookie Butter Whipped Ganache
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Small Offset Spatula
2) Souche de Noël (Tree Stump Cake)
Want to go a slightly different route than the typical Bûche de Noël? Try this easier variation: a Souche de Noël, which mimics a tree stump instead of a log. Ideal for smaller gatherings where you still want an impressive centerpiece, it’s made by stacking and frosting zebra cake layers with chocolate buttercream decorated to look like tree bark.
Get the recipe: Souche de Noël (Tree Stump Cake)
To make this recipe, you’ll need: 6" round layer cake pan
3) Crème Brûlée Buns
A fun alternative to fussy croquembouche, these crème brûlée buns make a conversation-worthy party dessert — crack the caramel as your guests ooh and ahh. Filled with vanilla pastry cream and topped with shattered sugar, these no-knead brioche buns have the flavors and textures of classic crème brûlée but in an adorable handheld form (no torch required).
Get the recipe: Crème Brûlée Buns
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste
4) White Russian Cake
Nothing says party like a boozy cake! Inspired by its namesake drink, this cake features chocolate-and-vanilla layers soaked in Kahlua and swathed in mocha frosting. There are many components to this cake, so we recommend spreading out the baking and assembling over several days to make things more manageable.
Get the recipe: White Russian Cake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Espresso Powder
5) Gingerbread Bundt Cake
Dark with molasses and scented with gingerbread spice, this cozy cake is a holiday staple. Add a spiced rum glaze for a gorgeous finish and extra festive flair.
Get the recipe: Gingerbread Bundt Cake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Original Classic Bundt® Pan
6) Chocolate Peppermint Pavlova
For something a little different on your holiday dessert table, we recommend this festive pavlova. We gave the classic dessert a wintry spin with refreshing chocolate-peppermint whipped cream and peppermint bark garnish. Assemble it with plenty of whimsy and very little precision: Pavlovas are breezy, elegant desserts, not fussy ones. To serve, simply slice like a cake, revealing a gorgeous cross-section within.
Get the recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Pavlova
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Peppermint Bark
7) Cranberry-Orange Olive Oil Cake
Is this the cake that can do it all? Let’s run it down: The cake batter is mixed by hand in just 10 minutes, and because it’s made with olive oil, it’s reliably soft and moist every time. (You can’t mess it up!) And instead of stacking and frosting, the finished cake is decorated with a gorgeous cranberry-orange glaze that delivers punchy flavor and stunning color.
Get the recipe: Cranberry-Orange Olive Oil Cake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: 8" square pan
8) Eggnog Cheesecake
If you took a glass of eggnog and turned it into a rich, creamy dessert, you’d have this party-worthy cheesecake. A combination of nutmeg, vanilla, and rum in the filling evoke the flavors of the classic holiday drink, and the press-in crust made with chopped nuts couldn’t be simpler.
Get the recipe: Eggnog Cheesecake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Springform Pan
9) Jelly Doughnut Cake
Perfect for Hanukkah celebrations or any other winter gathering, this jam-filled cake is simple to make (the batter is whisked by hand in a single bowl) yet still impressive. Each slice has a beautiful stripe of raspberry jam and a crunchy sugary shell that clings to the cake with the help of melted butter and, for a hint of fried flavor, olive oil. (Make it gluten-free with our Measure for Measure flour!)
Get the recipe: Jelly Doughnut Cake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Unbleached Cake Flour or Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour
10) Candy Bar Pecan Tart
Like a grownup candy bar, this decadent tart features a blanket of velvety chocolate ganache, a pecan-studded caramel filling, and a nutty rye crust to hold it all together.
Get the recipe: Candy Bar Pecan Tart
To make this recipe, you’ll need: Organic Medium Rye Flour
11) Cinnamon Roll Cake
Cinnamon rolls are a staple holiday breakfast, but transform them into a nighttime dessert with this cake. Melted butter and yogurt make the batter easy to mix and wonderfully tender — plus great for last-minute gatherings — while pockets of cinnamon sugar and a tangy cream cheese frosting deliver a cinnamon-roll-like eating experience.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Cake
To make this recipe, you’ll need: 8" round cake pan
Cover photo and food styling by Liz Neily.
