10 Holiday Desserts That Are Going To Wow Your Family

The holidays are fast approaching and I’m sure you want to be ready to serve your family some delicious holiday treats. You always want to be ready to bring the best food to a family holiday party. There are a lot of recipes for some easy holiday desserts that are going to blow your family away at your next holiday party.

1. Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

3/4 cups softened butter

3/4 cups brown sugar

2/3 cups molasses

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions:

-In a large bowl beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and molasses. After a few minutes add the egg and vanilla extract. 

-In a medium bowl whisk flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. In a mixer slowly add in the wet ingredients. 

-Divide the dough and wrap them in plastic wrap. Let chill for 3 hours. 

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Unwrap chilled dough then roll onto a floured surface. Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out gingerbread shapes. Put the shapes on the baking sheets. 

-Bake for about 10 minutes till slightly puffed up. Let cool for 5 minutes.

-After cooling decorate with icing or candy for a yummy holiday dessert. (optional)

2. Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup softened butter

1 cup of sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon milk

Directions:

-In a large bowl whisk flour, baking powder, and salt.

-In another bowl mix butter and sugar until fluffy. Then add egg, milk, and vanilla extract till well combined. Gradually add dry ingredients till well combined. 

-Wrap dough in plastic wrap then chill for 1 hour.

-Preheat oven to 350.

-Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface.

-Use cookie cutters to cut dough out into shapes. Place shapes on a lined baking sheet.

-Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes till edges are golden.

-After cooling for a few minutes decorate with frosting and sprinkles. (optional)

3. Fudge

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

2 3/4 cups chocolate chips

1 can sweeten condensed milk

2 tablespoon heavy cream

4 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

-Line 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper and spray on cooking spray. 

-In a saucepan over medium heat melt chocolate, condensed milk, heavy cream, butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Heat until smooth then pour into a lined baking pan.

-Add toppings of your choice. (optional)

-Let set in the refrigerator for 2 hours then cut into squares and serve.

4. Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

12 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

12 ounces white chocolate, chopped

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

8 crushed candy canes

Directions:

-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

-Fill the bottom of a large pot with water and bring to a simmer. Put on medium heat. 

-Bring down the heat to low, then put a large heatproof bowl on top. Add chocolate and stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted. Once melted add in peppermint extract. 

-Pour into the prepared baking sheet and spread it into an even layer.

-Refrigerate for about 20 minutes.

-Over the same pot of simmering water, place another heatproof bowl. Add white chocolate and stir until melted. Pour white chocolate over hardened semisweet chocolate then top with candy canes. 

-Refrigerate for about 20 minutes then enjoy this classic holiday dessert.

5. Thumbprint Cookies

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cups softened butter

1/2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/3 cups assorted jams

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

-In a large bowl whisk all the dry ingredients.

-In a separate bowl mix butter and sugar until fluffy. After beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients till well combined.

-Spread balls of cookie dough out onto the lined baking sheet. Press a thumbprint into each cookie then pour in a spoon of jam or choice.

-Bake for about 13 to 14 minutes until the sides are golden.

6. Milk and Cookie Shots

Ingredients:

1 premade store-bought cookie dough

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 teaspoon coconut oil

1/3 cup Baileys Irish Cream

1/3 cup milk

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

-Grease a muffin tin with cooking spray, then fill each one with a small ball of cookie dough pressing down gently in the center. 

-Bake for 14 to 16 minutes till the sides are golden and the center is light.

-Once they are out use a grease shot glass to press down the center of the cookie. 

-Let cool for 5 minutes then take out of the tin and let cool completely.

-In a microwave-safe bowl combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. 

-Microwave in 25-second intervals, stirring in between till chocolate is melted. 

-Line the inside of each cookie dough cup with the melted chocolate and refrigerate until the chocolate has hardened.

-In a shaker shake ice, Baileys Irish Cream, and milk then pour into the cookie shot glasses. Enjoy this fun and easy adult holiday dessert.

7. Santa Hat Cupcakes

Ingredients:

1 box cake mix of your choice

1/2 cup softened unsalted butter

2 8 ounce packages softened cream cheese

3 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

red food dye

Directions:

See Also

-Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.

-Make cupcakes according to packaging then allow them to cool.

-In a bowl mix cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla extract till well combined. 

-Put some frosting in a bowl and dye frosting red with red food dye. 

-Pipe red frosting into a cone shape on the cupcake then add details for a Santa hat with white icing for a cute holiday dessert.

8. Linzer Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup almond flour

1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup raspberry jam

2 tablespoon powdered sugar

Directions:

-In a bowl mix in all the dry ingredients till well combined.

-In separate bowl whisk eggs and vanilla.

-In a large bowl using a hand mixer mix in butter and sugar till fluffy. Then add egg mixture then dry ingredients till all is well combined. 

-Divide dough in half and roll out each half onto a baking sheet. Refrigerate for 2 hours till chilled.

-Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line the baking sheet with parchment paper.

-Use a cookie cutter to cut out round shapes for the cookies. Use a knife or smaller cutter to cut the small window in half the cookies.

-Bake the cookies for about 7 to 9 minutes till lightly golden.

-Microwave in a bowl of water and jam. Spread mixture onto cookie then top with the second cookie that has a window. Top off with powdered sugar for a simple and yummy holiday dessert.

9. Oreo Truffle

Ingredients:

1 package of Oreos

1 8 ounces package of cream cheese

White chocolate bark

Directions:

-Finely crush about 7 oreo cookies.

-Crush the rest of the cookies into the cream cheese.

-Roll the dough into one inch balls and place on wax paper.

-Refrigerate till chilled.

-Melt the white chocolate then dip the chilled dough balls into the chocolate till fully coated.

-Chill in the fridge then enjoy!

10. Chocolate Rugelach Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/8 teaspoon salt

200 ounces cold unsalted butter, cubed

200 ounces cold cream cheese, cubed

1 cup Nutella or another filling 

Powdered sugar

Directions:

-Mix together all dry ingredients into a bowl. Add butter then mix till crumbly texture. Add cream cheese then keep mixing together till it’s combined. 

-Lightly flour dough then wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-Cut dough into three pieces and refrigerate till worked with. Roll out one piece of dough till flat and spread on filling of choice. Once done filling roll dough to form a log. Slice even pieces of the log with a knife. Repeat with other pieces of dough.

-Bake for 30 minutes till golden brown. Once cool dust with some powdered sugar. 

Which of these holiday desserts are you going to try to make? Do you already make any of these holiday desserts? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to share with your family and friends so they know what holiday desserts to make for their next holiday party!

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Sara-Frances Sassine

Hi, my name is Sara and I'm a 22-year-old college student in New York. I'm a corporate communications major excited and passionate about writing and art. When I graduate from Baruch College I hope to pursue my dream of getting a cosmetology license and hope to one day be working in the beauty industry.

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