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Every December, we pull out our coats, turn up our thermostats, and get excited for winter parties, holiday baking, and the best excuse of all for staying cozy indoors instead of going out (snow, ofc!). But what if you don’t celebrate the holidays (or are just not feeling them this year)? And what about after the holidays are behind us? Don't fall into a winter slump! Join us as we attempt to ward away the winter sads by keeping up with comfort baking during and even after the holidays are over. We’ve got recipes for all the winter-wonderland-inspired desserts you could ever want, many full of warming spices and flavors that’ll keep you feeling extra cozy. Check out our 72 winter treats for ideas—they’re sure to help keep away those winter blues this year.
Though we’re big proponents of making recipes you love all year long, no matter the season, there is something particularly lovely about recipes featuring wintery flavors like peppermint, gingerbread, cranberry, tiramisu… the list goes on. Our cranberry bliss cupcakes, our peppermint sheet-pan bars, our gingerbread trifle, and our tiramisu dip are just a few of the options included here that just scream winter.
Alternatively, you could make desserts inspired by winter instead. Check out our igloo cake, our snowflake cookies, our snowball cookies (including ones stuffed with kisses), our baked Alaska, or our eggnog truffles. A number of these make great use of snowy powdered sugar, and we dare you to not laugh when you get covered in it while making them.
Is the weather outside frightful? Make your home feel extra delightful by baking up one of our recipes here that employ special ingredients that will make you feel all warm and cozy. Try our eggnog crème brûlée, our sticky toffee pudding, our spiced hot chocolate brownies, our gingerbread cake, or our cranberry bread pudding to see what we mean. They’re comforting, delicious, and are as enjoyable whether you're staying in or need something to warm you up after a snowball fight.
And don’t forget about wintery drinks too, like hot chocolate, coquito, or eggnog. Want more of a buzz? Check out our favorite winter cocktails too.
Nutella-Stuffed Snowball Cookies
Nothing signals Christmas quite like a snowball cookie. The nutty, shortbread-style cookies can come in several iterations, typically with different types of nuts. You can usually find snowballs made with walnuts or pecans, but this version opts for hazelnuts as well as everybody’s favorite hazelnut-based spread: Nutella.
Hot Chocolate Brownie Cups
It's officially hot cocoa season, and we've got the cutest dessert ever to celebrate with. They look a little tricky, but they couldn't be easier. We gave ours a Christmas spin with red and green sprinkles, but they're perfect for any winter holiday or snow day.
Get the Hot Chocolate Brownie Cups recipe.
Melted Snowman Cookie Dough Bites
Using our delicious edible cookie dough recipe, white chocolate ganache, and a couple of candy decorations, these melted snowman bites are the perfect sweet treat to bring to any holiday party. Plus, they’re ready in just 30 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute gifts and get-togethers.
Cranberry Bread Pudding
With bright pops of cranberries, almond- and clove-scented custard, and a sweet icing made with orange zest, this wintery bread pudding is impressive enough to serve for dessert at a dinner party, and not to sweet to serve as breakfast.
Get the Cranberry Bread Pudding recipe.
Cookie Butter Snowflake Crisp
For fans of Rice Krispies treats, meet snowflake crisp, a popular Taiwanese confection. Think of this as a lighter version of nougat, but much easier to make at home with just a few ingredients.For our take, we use crunchy Biscoff cookies, which lend subtle sweet notes of caramel and malt.
Get the Cookie Butter Snowflake Crisp recipe.
Edible Pine Cones
The holidays are upon us, and you’re already buried in a to-do list that’s longer than Santa’s naughty list…but wait! We’ve got a festive treat that’s sure to knock your elf socks off and impress even the Grinchiest of holiday guests, without too much effort or a ton of hard-to-find ingredients.
Get the Edible Pine Cones recipe.
White Russian Cupcakes
These sweet treats have everything you love about a White Russian cocktail, in extra shareable and celebratory cupcake form. We added Kahlúa to the buttercream frosting and finished these off with chocolate shavings to really take them over the top.
Get the White Russian Cupcakes recipe.
Chocolate Truffles
Dessert truffles are not only a chocolate lover's dream, but they're also completely customizable and so easy to make. Top these with even more chocolate, or even Christmas toppings like candy canes or festive sprinkles to add some holiday cheer to any celebration.
Get the Chocolate Truffles recipe.
Sticky Toffee Blondies
Sticky toffee pudding is synonymous with holidays in the U.K., so we've turned it into chewy, handheld blondies that're extra shareable. The toffee sauce is really easy to make—you can drizzle it over the blondies, then top it with some flaky sea salt to give that salted caramel vibe.
Get the Sticky Toffee Blondies recipe.
Eggnog Crème Brûlée
We love any opportunity to combine two desserts into one, and this eggnog crème brûlée is no exception. The creamy, crackling sugar-topped custard you already love gets an eggnog base, a splash of whiskey, and plenty of fresh nutmeg to help you celebrate the holiday season in style.
Get the Eggnog Crème Brûlée recipe.
Spiced Hot Chocolate Brownies
Mexican hot chocolate is rich in chocolate, not too sweet, and the added spices will surprise yet comfort you. Inspired by that classic drink, these brownies are reminiscent of those iconic flavors with a little something extra—a whipped, smoked frosting on top that melts in your mouth.
Get the Spiced Hot Chocolate Brownies recipe.
Tiramisu Whoopie Pies
Whoopie pies have endless possibilities in my mind, and this tiramisu version might be one of my favorites. The filling is a mascarpone and coffee whipped cream, giving it all of the flavors you’d normally find in a tiramisu, plus a silky, whipped texture that makes it extra decadent.
Get the Tiramisu Whoopie Pies recipe.
Cannoli Icebox Cake
With the not-too-sweet creamy filling inside a crispy shell, cannoli are a nearly perfect dessert. Making your own is a fun little project but a little time consuming, and frying the shells can be intimidating. This easy icebox cake is the perfect alternative.
Get the Cannoli Icebox Cake recipe.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Traditionally a date-studded sponge cake topped with a rich toffee sauce, it’s the perfect dessert for holiday meals or special occasions. Even if you’re not a date fan (and we get it, they’ve got a bad health food rap), trust us—they bring a lot of molasses-y sweetness to the cake and help keep it light and moist.
Get the Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe.
Snowman Cupcakes
Baby, it’s cold outside! We can’t think of a better way to welcome the first snow of the season than with these adorable snowman cupcakes. Marshmallow snowmen sit atop sweet, frosted coconut cupcakes to create a dessert guaranteed to put you in a festive mood.
Get the Snowman Cupcakes recipe.
Chocolate Kisses Snowball Cookies
Snowball cookies are one of our favorite holiday cookies, so this year we switching things up. Hidden inside these snowball cookies are chocolate kisses for the sweetest surprise.
Peanut Butter Snowballs
If all snowball fights always involved these sweet and salty peanut butter snowballs, we'd gladly participate in each and every one. These holiday treats coat peanut butter balls in sweet melted white chocolate, before being decorated with festive holiday sprinkles. Bite-sized and too adorable, this easy dessert is a perfect last-minute addition to your holiday spread.
Get the Peanut Butter Snowballs recipe.
Gingerbread Millionaire Shortbread Bars
If you love a soft gingerbread cookie, then you’ve got to try these gingerbread millionaire’s shortbread bars. Layers of chocolate and ginger caramel top tender spiced shortbread for a festive twist on this classic British bar.
Swiss Roll
This rich cocoa cake roll is filled with fluffy whipped cream and covered with chocolate ganache for a dessert that is light and creamy and intensely satisfying all at the same time. Chocolate dessert fans—this Swiss roll will not only satisfy those decadent dessert cravings, but will make you look like a baking pro.
Get the Swiss Roll recipe.
Peppermint Ice Cream
News alert—there’s more to holiday desserts than cookies. It's time for ice cream to take center stage, specifically this peppermint ice cream. It's delicious served plain, topped with chocolate sauce, or layered into a Christmas sundae with brownies, whipped cream, and shards of peppermint bark.
Get the Peppermint Ice Cream recipe.
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