Rob Palmer
The festive season is upon us, and what better way to unwind after a long, arduous year than with a decadent spread of Christmas desserts. Following the mains and sides, were you planning to serve up a show-stopping trifle or is a classic pavlova more up your ally?
If you’re planning your baking now and want some more Christmas dessert ideas, we’ve got you covered. Here are our 44 best recipes for Christmas desserts that will impress all your guests, from boozy Christmas puddings to decadent cheesecakes and more.
Our top 41 Christmas desserts
Inspired by candy cane lollies, these shortbread cookies are the perfect gift to give this Christmas. With a hint of mint, it’s perfect with a cup of tea or on its own!
Bring a white Christmas into your home with this delicious white chocolate Christmas mousse cake. It tastes as good as it looks!
Everybody loves receiving sweet treats for Christmas and these santa hat and bauble cupcakes are sure to be a hit!
Macadamia and chocolate are a match made in heaven, so add them into a flourless torte with honeycomb pieces and you have a dessert to marvel at!
There’s a reason this sour cherry and almond roulade was the Editor’s pick from the December issue! Encased by a deliciously sweet and crispy meringue is a fluffy amaretto (or cointreau) cream and fresh berry compote. It’s like a flavour explosion in your mouth and an absolute winner at the dinner table.
Create this ahh-worthy marvel for a show-stopping moment at the Christmas table this year with this deliciously gorgeous wreath dessert.
Make your Christmas desserts an absolute showstopper this year with these gorgeous mini coconut Christmas trees. They’re easy to make and would look so cute as a present.
This chocolate caramel Christmas crack will win over even the pickiest eaters. Made with a perfect combination of crispy salada biscuits, chocolate and caramel, they’ll make perfect gifts for loved ones.
One of the most popular Christmas desserts is fruit cake, and making these mini versions as gifts for your guests is an idea that they’ll thank you for. Spread cheer with these moist, delicious and fun mini fruit cakes.
10
Double chocolate mousse trifle
You can’t beat this stunningly decadent take on a traditional trifle! A homemade chocolate case is filled with white chocolate custard, sponge, fruit, jelly and nuts – what’s not to love?
11
Pavlova cheesecake
There are so many ways to make pavlova, but if you’re after a show-stopping dish to impress your guests, look no further.
12
Christmas fruitcake
Give your traditional fruitcake a speccy makeover. Decorate with sparklers and pretty sprigs from the garden, wrapping the stems in foil.
13
Choco-caramel popcorn icecream cake
Cake-it-away with this ice-cream dream. Turn a tub of yum into lolly-filled layers of amazing – and it’s so easy!
14
World’s easiest Christmas pudding wreath
If making a traditional Christmas pudding or fruitcake is too time consuming, this incredibly simple but delicious dessert is the answer to your seasonal prayers.
15
Pavlova Christmas tree
If you normally opt for a classic circular-shaped pav, how about giving the Christmas centrepiece a merry, tree-shaped makeover?
16
Mango no-bake cheesecake tart
When you’re looking for an easy dessert to bake this Christmas… don’t. Bake, that is! You should definitely make dessert, just don’t turn on the oven, as it’s not needed for this terrific mango tart.
17
Berries and cream mille-feuille
Give your Christmas cake a summer makeover with berries, ice-cream and flaky pastry.
18
Classic steamed pudding
Love a traditional Christmas pudding? Your search is over. Serve your perfectly turned-out pudding drizzled with creme anglaise – which is the fancy way to say homemade pouring custard.
19
Watermelon star pavlova with rosewater cream
This modern twist on the classic pav will be the crowning glory of your dessert table. Cut watermelon slices into stars using different-sized cutters for a nice festive touch.
20
Rum-soaked fig, ginger and white chocolate ice-cream
Serve up this sophisticated sweet this year that takes ice‑cream to dizzying new heights.
21
Pina colada trifle
Give your favourite dessert a pina-colada cocktail-inspired taste twist with coconut-flavoured cream, pineapple jelly, fresh fruit and toasted coconut flakes.
22
Cranberry chocolate crunch bundt cake
This spectacular sweet is easy to achieve with a ring-shaped mould and shards of chocolate.
23
Coffee and fig fruit cakes
Get in quick! These rich, snowflake-shaped cakes won’t last long.
24
Chocolate semifreddo with raspberries and honeycomb
Ice-cream lovers will devour this decadent chilled dark-chocolate semifreddo.
25
Chocolate cherry and brandy yule log
Layered with cake, jam, cream, icing and chocolate bark. We’re drooling.
26
Cheat’s pavlova
Create your own masterpiece on a shop-bought meringue base. Talk about minimal effort, maximum impact!
27
Dark chocolate, fig and spiced rum cakes
Shards of chocolate resembling tree bark surround cakes full of spiced, rum-soaked prunes, raisins and figs.
28
Grand Marnier ganache-filled Christmas pudding
Bake a ganache ball – made with chocolate and cream – in your Guinness-flavoured pud for a rich, gooey, to-die-for dessert.
29
Mango ice-cream cake
Divinely decadent, this Weiss Bar-inspired cake uses mango sorbet and macadamia ice cream – made by you – topped with Rafaello balls. Wow!
30
Luxe dessert platter
A divine dessert spread is as easy as fresh fruit, nuts and indulgent choccies, teamed with sweet cheat’s tarts and pavs. Amazing!
31
Summer fruit cheesecake with lemon ginger crust
It may look elaborate, but this no-bake cheesecake is easy to make and exciting to decorate.
32
Paris-Brest with plums and honey mascarpone
An elegant addition to your Christmas table, this dessert will have everyone talking.
33
Mini lime pies
Add your own festive flair to this famous dessert. You just add white chocolate swooshes to custard-filled, cream-topped pies to give them wings!
34
Mini strawberry yoghurt bundt cakes
Piled with fairy floss and rose petals, these bite-sized bundt cakes have all the grace and style of beautiful swooshing dancing dresses.
35
Mini spiced choc-cherry ripple cakes
These luscious mini drums make for the most delicious beats around! The tiny drumsticks are edible, too.
36
Choc-caramel rocky road pavlova
Loaded with classic rocky road flavours and textures, this is your most divine pavlova ever. The choc-caramel shard toppers look super fancy but are a cinch – just melt, swirl, roll and crack.
37
Fruit cake and peach trifle
The hero ingredients for a luxe trifle with a twist could be hiding in your fridge and pantry!
38
Festive ice-cream sandwiches
These bite-sized beauties are styled for a white Christmas but designed for warm-weather festivities.
39
Berry tiramisu
Serve your guests a very merry and berry Christmas with this decadent dessert, layered up with bikkies, berries, jam and cream. Flavour with Chambord for adults only, or go PG with cherry juice.
40
Christmas kalua and chocolate tart
A naughty but oh-so-nice Noël tart that chocolate lovers will rejoice over! Make the crust from store-bought bickies for a smart shortcut.
41
Mini pavlova Christmas trees
Turn your Christmas dessert into a whimsical masterpiece with these mini pavlova Christmas trees.
42
Tangy passionfruit and lemon meringue ice cream pie
Put a twist on lemon meringue and turn it into an ice cream pie.
43
Ginger, mango and honey cheesecake
A dreamy dessert to star on your table topped with ribbons of mango and crumbled pistachios!
44
Frozen burnt brandy butter Christmas pudding
Scoop your way to the coolest dessert of the season with brandy-infused fruit, ice-cream and shards of toffee and honeycomb!
