These dessert recipes will help get you through the holidays and make an impression on your family and friends.

We also have you covered on holiday desserts that we like to call “easy wows.”

These fabulous holiday dessert recipes taste divine and will absolutely dazzle on yourChristmas tableat the end of the night.

Southern Living Red Velvet Bundt Cake sliced on a cake plate ready to serve

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It’s a great unexpected twist on a classic.

Pecan Snowball Cookies

These nostalgic treats will remind you of Christmases past.

These are simple & insanely delicious!

Flourless Chocolate-Orange Cake

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Highly recommend this recipe- a little something different for the holidays!

While fudge or other candies can be quite tricky, this tasty treat is foolproof.

Topped with a simple ring ofSugared Cranberries, this dessert is primed and ready for its closeup.

Southern Living White Poinsettia Layer Cake with Cranberry-Orange Filling

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Sprinkle Stocking Cookies

These whimsical cookies will be the prettiest treat Santa has ever seen.

Prepare the dough and let it chill up to 24 hours before baking.

No one will even realize you used store-bought cake for the layers.

Southern Living Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies on a plate to serve

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Dust it with powdered sugar or sliced almonds just before serving.

you might make these brownies in advance of the holiday season and freeze them.

We used strawberry jam, but you might opt for your favorite filling flavor.

Southern Living Googie’s Rosabelles stacked on a plate.

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Plus, our Test Kitchen shares three ways you could make this delightful dessert ahead of time.

It is so delicious!

wrote one reviewer who left five stars.

Cranberry Apple Pie - Southern Living

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I baked it according to the time recommended and just until a skewer came out clean.

It was tender and moist.

It was a huge hit at the holiday party at which I served it.

Southern Living Chocolate Bundt Cake

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I’ll make it many many times again!

This cake takes that festive flavor and puts it in a decadent and soft layer cake.

We recommend preparing this trifle in advance as the flavors will only get better as it sits.

Pecan Snowball Cookies - Southern Living

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Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake

Calling all eggnog lovers!

You’ve got to make thispretty Bundt.

Snowy Christmas Pavlova

This vanilla dessert is anything but boring.

Southern Living Fruitcake Cookies on a tray to serve

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This cranberry-orange dessert requires just 35 minutes of hands-on time to create.

Plus, it can (and should!)

be made ahead of time as the flavors will have longer to develop.

Saltine Cracker Toffee - Southern Living

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Apples, apricots, cherries, and pecans are a stellar combination that makes all the difference.

Even your dinner guests will be surprised at the taste of this version.

If you want a Christmas dessert that’sSouthern Livingcover-worthy, top this classic white cake with edible cake ball ornaments.

Gingerbread cake with cranberry-vanilla frosting on white cake stand

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You are just about to exceed your own dessert expectations.

This impressive three-layer cake will be heaven on earth for winter season mint lovers.

Try getting away with keeping this recipe to yourself.

sprinkle stocking cookies

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Be prepared to share.

Talk about a true nod to snow-capped, holiday fir trees.

That isif you’re able to part with these festive, minty blondies.

Ambrosia Trifle

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We dare you to share.

Forget sprinkles or store-bought decorations, bake your own cake topper with ourGingerbread Cookies.

You just might find that the icing used for the cake is a perfect match for those cookies.

Southern Living Cranberry Pistachio Bark

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The mini portions are perfect for easy serving.

You will feel as if you are running the kitchen in Santa’s workshop.

Rum Balls

These boozy dessert balls will complete any holiday dessert spread.

Southern Living Cranberry Upside Down Cake sliced on plates to serve

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Unlike many bourbon or rum balls that call for corn syrup, this recipe opts for honey.

Believe it or not, none of these tasty treats will make it home from the potluck.

Swap out the white frosting for your favorite fudgy frosting to make these brownies even more chocolatey.

peppermint brownies

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Do you think the sweetness might be too much?

Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

Iain Bagwell

Effortless to pull off?

Tastes better the longer it sits?

Southern Living Sparkling Linzer Cookies on a platter ready to serve.

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Make this beauty up to one day before company arrives, and have that holiday dessert nailed.

The light and fluffy layer of whipped cream will cover it.

Your holiday companions will only notice the delightful holiday flavors.

Christmas Tree Cake - Southern Living

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Plus, it’s possible for you to chill the assembled stacks up to 24 hours ahead of time.

White Cake With Cranberry Filling And Orange Buttercream

This cake will be the star of yourholiday meal.

Your guests will be begging for the recipe, we promise.

Southern Living Gingerbread Bundt Cake on a cake plate ready to serve

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And don’t forget the charm of dessert for breakfast around the holiday season.

Top this rich trifle with a sprinkle of chocolate curls for an extra pretty presentation.

Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

Jim Franco

Let this elegant chocolate cheesecake be the centerpiece of your holiday tablescape.

Southern Living Chocolate-Peppermint Bars decorated on a plate to serve

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Between decadent flavor and a gorgeous white chocolate snowflake in the center, this dessert will steal the show.

Black pepper may not be the most common dessert ingredient, but don’t skip it.

Those who are lucky enough to try this will notice the flavorful difference.

ugly sweater cake

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Spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, these cookies are a holiday staple.

Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisu Trifle

This dessert hybrid is as merry and bright as it gets.

The presentation makes it almost too pretty to eat.

Southern Living Frosted Sugar Cookie Snowflakes on a plate to serve

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Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes

Bourbon and butterscotch are the dream team in this recipe.

These single-serving cakes ensure nobody is fighting over the last slice this Christmas.

Don’t forget to make a batch of your favorite French roast to pair with this decadent dessert.

Gingerbread Layer Cake

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Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

Sprinkle haters need not apply!

Beneath the praline topping, our trick to the smoothest ever cheesecake is using room temperature cream cheese.

The cranberry concoction is not only strikingly festive, but deliciously tart, too.

Southern Living The Redbird Cake sliced on a cake plate to serve

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The balance between cake and filling is sweet perfection.

Who can say no to that?

The toasty flavor will score you extra points.

Southern Living Triple-Vanilla Trifle in the trifle dish to serve

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Holiday guests will do a delighted double take at this new-school version of a classic.

And once the indulgence has commenced, they might just forget about anyone else’s version.

This just might be the last minute dessert recipe that gets you out of multiple potluck jams.

Southern Living Hot Chocolate Lasagna sliced on a plate to serve

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Customize these party treats with your favorite cookie cutters and sprinkles.

Flurried with powdered sugar, Almond Snowballs are asweet winter treat.

What a wonderful reminder of the magic that the season brings.

Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake

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They’re almost too adorable to eat (almost).

Homemade Christmas Tree Cakes

This recipe will convert you away from the store-bought version for good.

When preparing, give this cake its sweet time to soak up all of that tasty rum.

Southern Living Let It Snow Pavlova on a cake plate ready to serve

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To sweeten the deal even further: this pretty pie recipe only requires 20 minutes of active work.

What could be better?

To emphasize the crackle effect, coat the cookies really well in powdered sugar just before baking.

cranberry-orange cake on a pedestal

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Cassandra’s ‘Light’ Fruitcake

Bourbon makes every recipe better, and fruitcake is no exception.

This lighter and liquored-up cake will move even the most stubborn fruitcake skeptics.

It’s possible they may not even know it is fruitcake.

Southern Living Heavenly Hash in a bowl to serve

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Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

These darling tarts add a pop of festive color to the holiday dessert spread.

Creamy cheesecake is enhanced by tart cranberry flavor cocooned in a miniature gingersnap crust.

These bite-size delights will win over your well-fed guests.

Southern Living White Christmas Buche de Noel topped with meringue mushrooms and sugared rosemary

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Give this recipe a make a run at create some converts.

Ambrosia Pudding Pie

Custard pie makes for a decadent dessert for holiday guests.

This gives the classic salad a bit of a makeover and the results are delicious.

Southern Living Chocolate Thumbprints baked on a plate to serve.

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A hint of cinnamon and sprigs of rosemary win the best supporting role award in this outstanding holiday dessert.

This time around, she got to create the recipe for it.

Southern Living Fruit Cake sliced and ready to serve

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Bourbon Ball Tart

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Snowy Vanilla Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

Eggnog Layer Cake with Bourbon-Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting

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Chocolate Peppermint Cake

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Buche De Noel

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Best-Ever Brownies

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Chocolate Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

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eggnog spice cake

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White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

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Best White Cake

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Triple B Milk Punch

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread - Southern Living

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Rum Balls - Southern Living

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Red Velvet Brownies

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Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

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Chocolate-Peppermint Cheesecake

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Triple Chocolate Brownie-Mousse Stacks

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White Cake With Cranberry Filling and Orange Buttercream

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Mexican Hot Chocolate Trifle

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Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake

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Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

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Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding

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Molasses Crinkles Recipe

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Red Velvet-Raspberry Tiramisù Trifle

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Butterscotch-Bourbon Lava Cakes

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Bourbon-Chocolate Cake with Browned Buttercream

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Sprinkle Sandwich Cookies

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Bourbon-Praline Cheesecake and Vanilla Custard with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce

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Spice Cake with Cranberry Filling

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Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake

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Spice Cake with Citrus Filling

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Sea Salt-Caramel Cake

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Red Velvet Cheesecake

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Bourbon Balls

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Molten Red Velvet Cakes, red velvet cake recipe

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5-Ingredient Sugar Cookies

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Almond Snowballs

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red velvet cake balls - southern living

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Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

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Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies

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Nicola’s Christmas Rum Cake

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peppermint pie

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No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

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Chocolate-Peppermint Crackle Cookies

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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

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Cassandra’s “Light” Fruitcake

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Japanese Fruitcake with Lemon-Coconut Frosting

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Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies

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White Fruit Cake

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Ambrosia Pudding Pie

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cranberry christmas cake

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Mama’s Rum Cake

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Red Velvet Doberge Cake With Cheesecake Custard

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