10 Fancy Christmas Desserts That Any Level of Home Cook Can Master

If there was ever a time to ditch the Ben & Jerry’s pint and go all out on sweet treats, it’s the holidays. Consider this your chance to finally break out that recipe you’ve had earmarked all year—when else are you going to have time (and a formal reason) to dedicate an hour to the creation of a four-layer spice cake? Plus, the fact that whatever you make will wow any and all dinner party guests is just the (potentially real) cherry on top. 

To aid you in your quest for confectionery bliss, we’re sharing all the fancy Christmas dessert recipes on our bookmark list. Some are admittedly more involved than others, but between chocolate truffles and decadent tortes, there’s something for every kind of baker here. 

If You’re a Rookie Cook

Orange Cranberry Torte

Serve up The Life Jolie’s cake post-meal with some coffee for a not-too-sweet end to a multicourse dinner. Pro tip: Bake it the night before to avoid any last-minute snafus.

Chocolate Truffles 

You’d never know it to look at them, but Food Faith Fitness’s little drops of chocolatey goodness are actually healthy (okay, healthy-ish). They’re vegan and made with avocado as a creamy base—so don’t feel too guilty if you accidentally eat the whole batch before it even makes it to the buffet table. 

Gingersnap Icebox Cake

It’s no-bake, it’s great for a crowd, and thanks to a topping of sugared cranberries, it’s also perfectly festive—The Every Kitchen’s recipe has all the trappings of a memorable Christmas dessert. 

If You Know the Difference Between a Bread Knife and a Chef’s Knife

Rose Sugar Cookies

For the slightly seasoned chef, Rose & Ivy’s rose-accented cookies are a perfect match. Make a tray of these to bring to the office or pass them out to friends—then sit back and wait for the compliments to roll in. 

Gingerbread Bundt Cake

Bundt cakes get the short end of the stick when it comes to traditionally fancy confections, but it would be a mistake to overlook Salt & Baker’s gingery take. Glazed with a maple drizzle, it looks just as impressive as anything layered. 

Crinkle Cookies With Peppermint Cream

Somewhere between cookie and cake, these fluffy, cream-filled treats by The Modern Proper are a great way to use up leftover candy canes. 

Apple, Pomegranate, and Ginger Cobbler

Climbing Grier Mountain’s cobbler has all the flavor and flair of a pie, but it requires half the effort. Serve each individual portion in mini cast-iron skillets for an adorable presentation. (Psst: These Amazon ones are best-sellers.)

If You Could Understudy Ina Garten

Malabi With Rosemary Caramel

If you know how to make pudding from scratch, you can handle What Jew Wanna Eat’s recipe. Make some extra rosemary-infused salted caramel sauce to have on hand for those days where you just want (no, need) ice cream for dinner. 

Spiced Layer Cake

With a cinnamon buttercream frosting sandwiched between each delicious layer, The Beach House Kitchen’s cake is definitely worth the extra effort it will take to ice it.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

The Cookie Rookie’s version of the beloved English classic is definitely unique—to say nothing of the fact that she recommends taking a blowtorch to the finished product to give a brûléed glaze. Make sure your fire alarms are working, then get cracking. 

Dress up the dessert table with these servingware picks:

See more dishes to make this holiday season: Hear Us Out: The Best Holiday Brunch Dish Is Quiche These Butternut Squash Recipes Are Autumn on a Plate 3 Cookie Dough Recipes You Can Eat While You Bake