65 Make-Ahead Holiday Desserts From Christmas Crack to Fudge

For those of us that are planners, organizers and schedulers, this time of year is when we start to think about all things holiday and Christmas-related! And these 65 easy make-ahead holiday desserts are sure to put you in that spirit a little sooner.

Related: 80 Best Christmas Candy Recipes

From before Thanksgiving until the New Year, the days become a blur of so many activities and events, if you are a little more organized, it can truly take some of the stress out of your holiday, and let you enjoy them even more.

What Desserts Can Be Made and Frozen

When it comes to planning holiday meals and treats, there are so many ways you can get a jump on things so you aren’t trying to have it all come together at the last minute.

pies can be made a couple days ahead, and certain ones can be frozen for a month before
cookies and candy can be frozen weeks in advance
pineapple upside down cake and cheesecake
angel food and pound cakes can both be frozen and defrosted quickly

Related: 50 Best Christmas Cupcakes

What Is The Most Popular Dessert At Christmas

While we all have our favorite sweet treats we look forward to every year at Christmastime, there is in fact one that beats out all the rest when it comes to popularity.

The Classic Christmas Yule Log is the #1 beloved holiday dessert. You can learn how to make one for your Christmas table here.

Easy Holiday Desserts

Having your sweet treats in the freezer, waiting for the moment you are ready to plate them for your guests, or box them up to mail to your loved ones really puts the joy back into holiday baking! Launch the gallery to find 65 holiday sweets you can be making right now!

Russian Tea Cakes, Mint Chocolate Macaroons and Christmas Cut-Out Sugar Cookies make perfect gifts. You will also find some tasty desserts you can make a couple of days ahead (or the night before), like my Candy Cane Fluff and Snowy Day Gingerbread.

Get a jump start on your holiday baking this year by devising a plan to curb some of the hustle and bustle of the season. Be sure to jot down your favorites, pin them and share too!

Related: 70 Best Winter Desserts

Best Make-Ahead Holiday Desserts

Peppermint Pattie Snowdrifts

Betty Crocker

Think peppermint patty candy, but in cookies!

Get the recipe: Peppermint Pattie Snowdrifts

Related: 200+ Christmas Cookies

How do you make peppermint bark better? Add Oreos of course!

Get the recipe: Peppermint Oreo Candy Bark

Everyone’s favorite after dinner mint made into a yummy cookie.

Get the recipe: Andes Mint Cookies

A holiday twist on the original Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Get the recipe: Peppermint Crunch Cookies

A festive dessert you can eat for breakfast.

Get the recipe: Gingerbread Muffins

Have it with a glass of milk after dinner, or with coffee for breakfast.

Get the recipe: Snowy Day Gingerbread

A basic sugar cookie dough gets a festive upgrade.

Get the recipe: Candy Cane Cookies

Peppermint lovers will lick the bowl clean.

Get the recipe: Candy Cane Fluff

Almost too pretty to eat.

Get the recipe: Orange Linzer Wreath Cookies

With only 4 ingredients, anyone can be a fudge expert.

Get the recipe: Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Related: 25 Fabulous Fudge Recipes

The perfect cookie for the chocolate lovers in your life.

Get the recipe: Chewy Double Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Think pumpkin pie without the crust!

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Fluff

This classic Christmas candy is still beloved today.

Get the recipe: Peanut Brittle

This simple chocolate fudge can be made with or without nuts.

Get the recipe: Easy Chocolate Fudge

A peppermint filling sandwiched between two sugar cookies.

Get the recipe: Giada’s Peppermint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

A little boozy addition to your cookie platter.

Get the recipe: Rummy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Light, fluffy and filled with Oreos through and through.

Get the recipe: Cookies and Cream Fluff

A chewy brownie and chocolate cookie all in one bite.

Get the recipe: Brownie Peppermint Cookies

The colors of Christmas in every bite.

Get the recipe: Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies

A great way to let the kids help decorate this year.

Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Oreos

Related: 45 Chocolate Cookies for Santa

Perfect for holiday parties served with animal crackers or gingerbread men.

Get the recipe: Christmas Cake Batter Dip

Crescent roll crust topped with pecan pie filling.

Get the recipe: Crescent Roll Pecan Pie Bars

Festive colors and sweet white chocolate chips.

Get the recipe: Christmas White Chocolate Chip Cookies

The favorite holiday beverage, now in cookie form.

Get the recipe: Eggnog Cookies

This could be the star of those Christmas candy tins this year.

Get the recipe: Easy Christmas Fudge

A gingery twist to a classic thumbprint cookie.

Get the recipe: Ginger Molasses Thumbprint Cookies

A new festive, yummy way to enjoy eggnog.

Get the recipe: Eggnog Cake

So much festive flavor and color in such a small package.

Get the recipe: Funfetti Shortbread Bites

If you don’t think you like fruitcake, this will change all that.

Get the recipe: Icebox Fruitcake

Related: 20 Amazing No-Bake Icebox Desserts

Add a refreshing flavor to your Christmas cookie platter this year.

Get the recipe: Lemon Snowball Cookies

Layers of white and dark chocolate topped with crush peppermint candy.

Get the recipe: Peppermint Bark

So soft and buttery, they will practically melt in your mouth.

Get the recipe: Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

A light and fruity thumbprint cookie.

Get the recipe: Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Sweet and salty in every bite.

Get the recipe: Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark

The kids will love helping to make these fun treats.

Get the recipe: Santa Bellies

Who doesn’t love a soft cookie with tons of sprinkles?

Get the recipe: Soft Sugar Cookies

These old fashioned cookies are buttery and delicious.

Get the recipe: Spritz Cookies

One of the prettiest cookies on your Christmas dessert tray this year.

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies

These buttery cookies will melt in your mouth.

Get the recipe: Butter Cookies

Soft and chewy peppermint sugar cookies.

Get the recipe: White Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Related: 25 Very Pretty Christmas Cookies

A dainty shortbread cookie that is elegant and delicious.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Cherry Almond Christmas Cookies

A festive treat using all your favorite snacks and candy.

Get the recipe: Christmas Candy Bark

A 5-minute dessert perfect for parties.

Get the recipe: Christmas Cookie Dip

Look what you can do with saltine crackers!

Get the recipe: Christmas Crack

Kids will be grabbing these off the Christmas cookie tray left and right.

Get the recipe: Christmas M&M Cookies

Move over chocolate and peanut butter, there is a new favorite fudge in town.

Get the recipe: Easy Gingerbread Fudge

Airy bites of lemony goodness.

Get the recipe: Grandma’s Meringue Cookies

A no-bake creation from peanut butter and crunchy chow mein noodles.

Get the recipe: Haystack Cookies

Made with boxed cake mix and eggnog, this simple treat is sweet and delicious.

Get the recipe: Holiday Blondie Bars

A light and airy dip perfect for pretzels, cookies or even apples.

Get the recipe: Marshmallow Fluff Christmas Dip

Related: 12 Recipes With Mini Marshmallows

If you’re looking for a cookie that gives major wow factor, you found it.

Get the recipe: Mint Chocolate Macaroons

Crisp on the outside with a chewy center.

Get the recipe: Molasses Sugar Cookies

A classic Christmas cookie that is always on everyone’s baking list.

Get the recipe: Peanut Butter Blossoms

Grab the kids and cookie cutters and have some fun.

Get the recipe: Perfect Gingerbread Cookies

You might know these as wedding cookies too.

Get the recipe: Russian Tea Cakes

A spiced, crisp cookie popular in Germany, Austria, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Get the recipe: Speculaas Spiced Cookies

A crispy butter cookie filled with vanilla flavor and topped with coarse sugar.

Get the recipe: Vanilla Pretzel Cookies

A cigar shaped cookie with a lemony, ground nut filling.

Get the recipe: Roczki Cookies (Kolacky)

This classic cookie is a must on every Christmas table.

Get the recipe: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Individual pies perfect for a holiday party.

Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Hand Pies

Related: 34 Sweet and Savory Hand Pie Recipes

Its like a stained glass window for your cookie plate.

Get the recipe: Christmas Tree Linzer Cookies

A fun, festive twist on a classic no-bake cookie.

Get the recipe: Hot Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

These will be the cutest cookie on your dessert table.

Get the recipe: Meringue Christmas Trees

A whole new way to enjoy this festive fruit.

Get the recipe: Cranberry Fluff

A traditional German cookie sweetened with honey and molasses.

Get the recipe: Pfeffernüsse Spice Cookies

Related: 25 Must Have Christmas Cookies

Up next, 200+ easy Christmas cookie recipes your family will love!

Trending Now

65 Make-Ahead Holiday Desserts From Christmas Crack to Fudge

What Desserts Can Be Made and Frozen

What Is The Most Popular Dessert At Christmas

Easy Holiday Desserts

Best Make-Ahead Holiday Desserts

Peppermint Pattie Snowdrifts

Peppermint Oreo Candy Bark

Andes Mint Cookies

Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Gingerbread Muffins

Snowy Day Gingerbread

Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Fluff

Orange Linzer Wreath Cookies

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge

Chewy Double Chocolate Candy Cane Cookies

Pumpkin Fluff

Peanut Brittle

Easy Chocolate Fudge

Giada’s Peppermint-Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

Rummy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Cookies and Cream Fluff

Brownie Peppermint Cookies

Candy Cane Crinkle Cookies

Christmas Tree Oreos

Christmas Cake Batter Dip

Crescent Roll Pecan Pie Bars

Christmas White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Eggnog Cookies

Easy Christmas Fudge

Ginger Molasses Thumbprint Cookies

Eggnog Cake

Funfetti Shortbread Bites

Icebox Fruitcake

Lemon Snowball Cookies

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Raspberry Almond Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies

Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark

Santa Bellies

Soft Sugar Cookies

Spritz Cookies

White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies

Butter Cookies

White Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Chocolate Cherry Almond Christmas Cookies

Christmas Candy Bark

Christmas Cookie Dip

Christmas Crack

Christmas M&M Cookies

Easy Gingerbread Fudge

Grandma’s Meringue Cookies

Haystack Cookies

Holiday Blondie Bars

Marshmallow Fluff Christmas Dip

Mint Chocolate Macaroons

Molasses Sugar Cookies

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Perfect Gingerbread Cookies

Russian Tea Cakes

Speculaas Spiced Cookies

Vanilla Pretzel Cookies

Roczki Cookies (Kolacky)

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Christmas Tree Hand Pies

Christmas Tree Linzer Cookies

Hot Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

Meringue Christmas Trees

Cranberry Fluff

Pfeffernüsse Spice Cookies

Related Articles