51 irresistible Christmas dessert ideas to impress your guests with

Stuck for Christmas dessert ideas?  Take inspiration from our selection of festive dessert ideas from the woman&home archive.

Opt for a Christmas dessert filled with festive flavors like rich coffee, chocolate, sweet amaretto, and cherry, or keep it light with citrus fruits and Christmas cheesecake recipes. We've also included some of the best Bailey's recipes that we find ourselves returning to year after year.

For more inspiration, head to our dedicated guide on Christmas cheesecake recipes, or if you're entirely out of time and have to admit defeat, discover the Christmas cake that won our blind taste test this year.

Christmas dessert ideas the whole family will love

Lemon Meringue Arctic Pie

This lemon meringue arctic pie is a really modern take on a retro dessert. It's easy to make and really zingy, making it the perfect dessert to enjoy after a heavy meal - especially around Christmas! Not everyone likes a rich fruit cake, so this makes a lovely alternative showstopper that's really elegant and a delight to eat.

Get the recipe here: Lemon meringue arctic pie 

Chocolate coffee brownie mince pies

These chocolate coffee brownie mince pies are a moreish twist on a classic festive treat. The blend of bitter coffee, sweet brownies, and festive mincemeat makes for a sweet crowd-pleasing dessert that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate coffee brownie mince pies 

Mulled Berry Snowflake Tart

Make the most of seasonal cranberries with this rich tart which is delicious served with cream. The pastry stars add a light, festive touch.

Get the recipe here: Mulled berry snowflake tart,

Chocolate and Chestnut Christmas Log

Make this stunning log desert, which has rich festive flavors but also makes a chocolate dessert that everyone will love. It's covered in a light dusting of edible glitter too, which makes it extra special.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate and chestnut Christmas log

Chocolate, Hazelnut and Salted Caramel Cake

This stunning chocolate, hazelnut and salted caramel cake is a real Christmas showstopper, but it's easier than you think to get that smooth frosting and gorgeous drizzle effect. 

Get the recipe here: Chocolate, hazelnut and salted caramel cake recipe.

Stracciatella chocolate orange bombe Alaska Recipe

With a fusion of textures and flavors, this show-stopper looks and tastes like it would be complicated to put together - but it's not. The end result? Think Terry’s chocolate orange meets Vienetta.

Get the recipe here: Stracciatella chocolate orange bombe Alaska Recipe

White Chocolate Cheesecake

This stunning white chocolate cheesecake will have everyone in awe, but this no-bake recipe is actually very easy to make and is ready in 30 minutes. It uses creme fraiche and ricotta cheese, which results in a beautifully light but decadent cake.

Get the recipe here: White chocolate cheesecake recipe.

Salted Caramel Wreath Cake

This stunning salted caramel wreath cake looks impressive but is actually very simple to make and ready in one hour. The chocolate and salty-sweet caramel are a perfect match, and if you love this recipe as much as we do, you can always use it beyond Christmas in a regular cake tin.

Get the recipe here: Salted caramel wreath cake recipe.

Chocolate, hazelnut and Irish cream liqueur bombe

Make this chocolate, hazelnut and Irish cream liqueur bombe up to a week ahead and stash in the freezer until the grand reveal. This impressive recipe can be completed in three steps in just 45 minutes, making it the ultimate low-effort, maximum-impact dessert.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate, hazelnut and Irish cream liqueur bombe 

Nougat Cheesecake

This show-stopping nougat cheesecake would make an impressive Christmas dessert and you won't believe it but it only takes 20 minutes to prepare, with no baking required. With a low-fuss dessert like this, you will have plenty of time to get on with the multitude of other tasks you'll have to take care of when making Christmas lunch, like preparing your Christmas vegetable side dishes and entrees.

Get the recipe here: Nougat cheesecake

Orange and Grand Marnier Trifle

An impressive boozy cake that uses all-butter Madeleine sponges instead of trifle sponges. You can make the trifle the day before, but decorate before serving - it will hold well, decorated, for three hours. Not one for the kids.

Get the recipe here: Orange and Grand Marnier trifle recipe

Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline Recipe

Serve this rich Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline for a festive crowd-pleasing dessert. Similar to a chocolate brownie mix, this rich chocolate cake also happens to be gluten-free.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline 

Caramel Cheesecake

We'd happily eat this all year round if it wasn't so decadent. This caramel cheesecake, which uses ginger nut biscuits and dulce de leche is easily one of our favorites on this list.

Get the recipe: Caramel cheesecake

Pistachio And Raspberry Meringue Cake

Make the meringue ahead, but assemble it with pistachios, raspberries and cream just before serving. With all its delicate layers, this light dessert looks seriously glam too.

Get the recipe here: Pistachio and raspberry meringue recipe.

Ginger and Amaretto Panna Cotta

This unusual panna cotta recipe is spiced with warming ginger and a splash of booze. The combination of the two makes for a lovely Christmas dessert. 

Get the recipe here: Ginger and amaretto panna cotta

Mandarins In Orange And Caramel Syrup

This easy festive dessert uses just 3 ingredients for a no-fuss sweet that's ready in 30 minutes, and lighter than a Christmas pudding or cake. It does admittedly feel quite retro, but it's a great alternative to cake, especially if you're all full after Christmas dinner.

Get the recipe here: Mandarins in orange and caramel syrup recipe.

Baileys Cheesecake Recipe

This no-bake Baileys cheesecake is so easy to make and perfect for cream liqueur lovers, plus it takes just 40 minutes to prepare

Get the recipe here: Baileys cheesecake 

Chocolate And Chestnut Layer Cake

This stunning layer cake brings together two flavors that complement one another beautifully, making for a great alternative to Christmas cake that still keeps the festive flavors. 

Get the recipe here: Chocolate and chestnut layer cake recipe.

Red Velvet Roulade

This gorgeous red velvet roulade takes the classic red velvet recipe to a whole new level and is the perfect show-stopper for the Christmas table, covered in white chocolate, white chocolate curls, and gold edible glitter.

Get the recipe here: Red velvet roulade.

Chocolate Florentine Torte

Show off with this stunning torte, topped with broken Florentines and dusted with icing sugar - plus, it can be gluten-free if you need it to be. This one is a real showstopper and would look lovely as a centerpiece to any buffets or get-togethers you’ve got coming up.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate Florentine  torte

Chocolate and hazelnut roulade

This chocolate and hazelnut roulade comes with an optional Baileys Irish cream liqueur filling for an extra festive and boozy twist. We recommend assembling the roulade several hours ahead of your your guests arriving. Then just pop it in the fridge until you are ready to serve it.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate and hazelnut roulade 

Chocolate Wreath Cake

Another chocolate wreath cake, but this one is slightly lighter as it uses pear purée instead of butter. It also looks impressive but couldn't be easier to make, which is a winner in our books.

Get the recipe here: Easy chocolate wreath cake recipe

Chocolate Mousse and Cherry Trifle

This easy trifle recipe replaces custard with chocolate mousse, sponge with brownie bites, and jelly with black cherries in kirsch for a chocoholic's take on Christmas trifle.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate mousse and cherry trifle recipe.

Chocolate Truffle Torte

Dark and rich chocolate torte is more of a dessert than a cake. It's flourless, so it's like a baked chocolate mousse poured with glossy chocolate ganache and chocolate curls. Divine.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate truffle torte recipe.

Double Decker Tart

We've reinvented the iconic chocolate bar as a smart and glossy dessert with a crispy, sticky base, nougat filling and shiny chocolate top. It's topped with gold leaf for an extra special finish.

Get the recipe here: Double Decker tart recipe.

Orange and Cranberry Cheesecake

This orange and cranberry cheesecake is super easy to make and can be prepared two days in advance so you can relax on the day. Plus, it's packed with seasonal flavors, making it the perfect Christmas dessert.

Get the recipe here: Orange and cranberry cheesecake

Nut Meringue Cake with Baileys Cream

This nut meringue cake with Baileys cream recipe is the ideal dish to follow a big roast dinner. It's light, fluffy and really tasty and makes use of our favorite creamy liqueur in a really smart dessert.

Get the recipe here: Nut meringue cake with Baileys cream

Chocolate, Orange and Hazelnut Torte

A sophisticated Christmas chocolate torte recipe that brings together festive flavors of chocolate, orange and hazelnuts is perfect for the festive period. The chocolate is beautifully rich while the orange adds a light citrusy edge.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate, orange and hazelnut torte 

Lime Syllabub

Lime syllabub can be made ahead of time and is so easy to assemble using just a handful of ingredients. It's ready in just 30 minutes. While it's a great festive dessert, it will be a crowd-pleaser all year round.

Get the recipe here: Lime syllabub.

Chocolate Orange Cake

This is a perfect pud if you've got gluten-free or dairy-free guests, as this chocolate orange cake is suitable for both!  Not that you can tell, it tastes just like any other chocolate cake.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate orange cake

Rich Coffee, Chocolate and Mascarpone Torte

A thin slice of this decadent coffee, chocolate and mascarpone torte will be enough to round off Christmas dinner. The black coffee gives it a real edge.

Get the recipe here: Coffee, chocolate and mascarpone tort

Raspberry Macaron Trifle

Take your Christmas trifle to the next level using elegant macarons. Much lighter than its traditional counterpart, this sophisticated trifle is still beautifully decadent. 

Get the recipe here: Raspberry macaron trifle recipe.

Vanilla Panna Cotta With Port Jelly

The port jelly adds a bit of festive flair to this simple panna cotta. And it's ready in just 30 minutes! 

Get the recipe here: Vanilla panna cotta with port jelly recipe.

Cherry Chocolate Mousse Cake

Indulge in double the helping of chocolate with this cherry chocolate mousse cake recipe. A more exciting twist on classic black forest gateaux, this cake is light, fluffy and irresistible.

Get the recipe here: Cherry chocolate mousse cake recipe.

Meringue Roulade with Orange and Passion Fruit

This impressive meringue roulade with orange and passion fruit has a lovely balance of sweet and sharp, with a mallowy wrap.

Get the recipe here: Meringue roulade with orange and passion fruit 

Millionaire's Ice Cream

Salted caramel, chocolate and biscuit ice creams come together in this decadent millionaire's ice cream recipe that you can make without an ice cream machine.

Get the recipe here: Millionaire's ice cream recipe

Sticky Ginger and Treacle Cake with Rum and Pecan Praline

A show-off centerpiece that's actually super easy to make and decorate, this sticky ginger and treacle cake with rum and pecan praline recipe will wow your guests.

Get the recipe here: Sticky ginger and treacle cake with rum and pecan praline

Intense Chocolate, Caramel and Nut Tart

Rich and nutty, this sophisticated tart recipe makes a show-off Christmas dessert.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate and caramel tart

Blackberry Roulade

This squidgy meringue blackberry roulade recipe will bring the whole family together for seconds! Plus it's just as easy to make with frozen berries if you can't find fresh ones at the supermarket.

Get the recipe here: Blackberry Roulade 

Boozy Tiramisu

This boozy tiramisu recipe has a rich and satisfying hit of coffee, cream, and liqueur. This is a real grown-up pud, so if you're feeding kids, make sure you've got something else lined up for them!

Get the recipe here: Boozy tiramisu recipe 

Lemon and Marzipan Drizzle Cake

The richness of marzipan and just a touch of amaretto in the zingy lemon drizzle take this cake from simple to something really extra special.

Get the recipe here: Lemon and marzipan drizzle cake recipe

Chocolate and Salted Caramel Canapés

These special chocolate canapes are incredibly moreish - don't say we didn't warn you! A sneaky tip is to use Carnation's caramel-flavored condensed milk which saves bags of time rather than boiling the cans.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate and salted caramel canapés 

Clementine Meringue

This simple clementine meringue recipe puts all those Christmas clementines to use. Topped with pineapple and passion fruit, this is a beautifully light and zesty dessert.

Get the recipe here: Clementine meringue recipe 

Marsala and Mascarpone Syllabub

This surprisingly light syllabub is great if you've overdone it during your meal. The liqueur-soaked peaches add a delicate but indulgent touch.

Get the recipe here: Marsala and mascarpone syllabub recipe

Macadamia Praline and Frangelico Parfait

Looking for something different? This macadamia praline and Frangelico parfait recipe is just perfect. You don't need many ingredients for this one, just a few powerful ones, such as macadamia nuts, peaches and Frangelico.

Get the recipe here: Macadamia praline and Frangelico parfait recipe 

Pecan and Maple Meringue Roulade

This pecan and maple meringue roulade recipe is light as air and the perfect festive dessert. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Get the recipe here: Pecan and maple meringue roulade recipe 

Peach Panettone Trifle

A new take on your standard trifle, this delightfully fruity panettone trifle features sweet peaches with a rich panettone for a true dessert heaven. The praline shards make it particularly special (not to mention, eye-catching!)

Get the recipe here: Peach panettone trifle

Black Forest Trifle

This decadent trifle recipe features Greek yogurt, black cherries and brownies for a twist on a traditional Christmas classic.

Get the recipe here: Black forest trifle recipe

Chocolate and Coffee Roulade

An indulgent pudding that doesn't hold back on flavor, but is light enough to enjoy after a heavy Christmas meal. This chocolate and coffee roulade recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.

Get the recipe here: Chocolate and coffee roulade 

Spiced Winter Fruit Compote

This compote is perfect for a holiday brunch or a healthy-ish dessert when you can't face another piece of Christmas cake.

Get the recipe here: Spiced winter fruit compote recipe,