Holiday hosting is tough enough. (Did you make the eggnog? Is the turkey in the oven? What about the apps? For the love of Santa, what about the apps?) Luckily, making dessert doesn’t have to be a chore. Here are 17 easy treats you can whip up in 45 minutes or less.
17 Easy Christmas Desserts You Can Make in 45 Minutes or Less
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Published Dec 16, 2019
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Matcha White-chocolate Bark With Berries And Coconut (25 Minutes)
One way to dress up a simple Christmas bark? Add matcha powder. It will look fancy and festive.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
2. Cake Batter Dip (5 Minutes)
Five minutes isn’t enough time to bake a cake, but it’s plenty of time to mix up cake batter dip—with sprinkles, of course.
Sarah Copeland/Chronicle Books
3. Sarah Copeland’s Chocolate Chip Cookie For Modern Times (45 Minutes)
Cookbook author Sarah Copeland calls this an “easy, all-about-the-chocolate chocolate chip cookie,” and we couldn’t agree more. Plus, a batch of 36 is done in just 45 minutes.
What’s Gaby Cooking
4. Crinkle Top Brownie Bites (17 Minutes)
Grab a mini cupcake pan, because it’s the very best vessel for Gaby Dalkin’s brownie bites. (Oh, and did we mention they’re done in about 15 minutes?)
Two Peas and Their Pod
5. Peppermint Flourless Chocolate Cake (40 Minutes)
Leave it to Maria Lichty to invent a decadent chocolate cake topped with crushed peppermint candies and a to-die-for chocolate ganache.
Floating Kitchen
6. Champagne Marshmallow Treats (10 Minutes)
Adult Rice Krispie treats? They involve Champagne, and we’re here for it. (Thanks for making our holiday dreams come true, Liz Harris.)
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Glazed Blueberry Cake (40 Minutes)
Plenty of pantry ingredients go into this blueberry-topped yellow cake that’s out of the oven in 40 minutes flat.
Gimme Some Oven
8. Gingerbread Cookies (35 Minutes)
This classic Christmas dessert is ready faster than you’d think. (Although you might want to add a little extra time for the fun part, decorating.)
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
9. Sweet Potato Sugar Cookies With Marshmallow Topping (30 Minutes)
We all know a sweet potato is more of a dessert than a vegetable, which is why it makes a fabulous, egg-free base for these marshmallow-topped cookies.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
10. Chocolate Chip Cookie In A Mug (7 Minutes)
Who can resist a warm mug with a gooey cookie inside? Definitely not the chef. Thanks to your microwave, this dessert is ready to eat in seven minutes flat.
Half Baked Harvest
11. Quick + Easy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Peanut Butter Fudge Parfaits (30 Minutes)
When all else fails, dump chocolate chips, peanut butter, cream cheese and oatmeal cookies into parfait glasses. Dessert = done.
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Rocky Road Cookies (30 Minutes)
Got a chocoholic in your midst? Serve up these rocky road cookies complete with mini marshmallows and chopped pecans.
Cupcake Project
13. Dulce De Leche Cake (35 Minutes)
The trick to Stefani Pollack’s speedy cake? Thick and creamy store-bought dulce de leche.
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
14. Cookies-and-cream Shortbread Cookies (40 Minutes)
Ready to win the cookie exchange? These are like Oreos, but a million billion times better.
Two Peas and Their Pod
15. Deep-dish Gingerbread Truffle Cookies (35 Minutes)
The hidden Lindor truffle inside Maria Lichty’s gingerbread will surprise and delight even the most Scrooge-like guest.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
16. Thumbprint Cheesecake Cookies (30 Minutes)
Jam? Yawn. Cheesecake filling is how we’re rolling this year.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
17. Chocolate-chip Cookie Dough Dip (5 Minutes)
Who are we kidding? We really only make cookies so we can lick the bowl. This dip is cream cheese–based and ultra-delicious without that risky raw eggs business.