Make your holiday season sweeter and stress-free with desserts you can prepare ahead of time! From festive cakes to no-fuss pies, this collection of the Best Holiday Desserts To Make In Advance will save you time and stress, letting you savor every sweet moment of the season.
The holidays are all about creating special moments, and for me, that starts in the kitchen. There’s nothing better than having homemade desserts ready to share, especially when life gets busy. By making a few desserts ahead of time, I can focus on what matters most: spending time with family and friends. Whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, a cozy night by the tree, or a last-minute get-together, these make-ahead holiday desserts are my go-to for spreading a little sweetness without the stress.
Eggnog Pound Cake
It wouldn’t be Christmas without eggnog, and that’s how we know you will love all of the season’s flavors in this Eggnog Pound Cake. This cake freezes beautifully so it’s a perfect Christmas dessert that you can make now and freeze for later. When it’s time for serving, whip up a little eggnog glaze and dessert is done.
Homemade Gingerbread Cake
This Homemade Gingerbread Cake doesn’t just taste amazing, it’s going to make your home smell amazing too. Rich flavors of molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves all come together for a moist and delicious cake that everyone will love. You can refrigerate it for up to a week, or free it for up to two months so that you can get head on your Christmas desserts.
More Decadent Cakes to Sweeten Your Holidays
Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake
This Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake is the easiest fall dessert you’ll make! Ready in one bowl with just eight ingredients, it’s the perfect cozy treat for pumpkin lovers.
Southern Pecan Pound Cake
Made with 7 simple ingredients, this Pecan Pound Cake is a family favorite that I know will become one of your family’s favorites, too! This cake is perfect for when you need a quick, last-minute dessert. Enjoy it after dinner or for a mid-afternoon coffee or tea break.
Pumpkin Snack Cake
Tender, fluffy pumpkin cake squares topped with sweet, cream cheese frosting are easy to make and yummy to eat! Make these tender, fluffy pumpkin cake squares topped over with luscious, cream cheese frosting as soon as possible. This „scratch made” cake recipe is simple, easy to make, and just right for the pumpkin lovers in your life.
Million Dollar Pound Cake
Million Dollar Pound Cake is buttery, soft, has rich flavors of vanilla and almond, and is a dessert that’s worthy of its name! This classic recipe not only looks impressive but also tastes amazing and, believe it or not, is very simple to make with just 7 ingredients.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Southern Pound Cake
This velvety dessert combines the richness of chocolate with the dense and moist texture of a traditional pound cake. Old Fashioned Chocolate Pound is soft with a tender texture that melts in your mouth with every heavenly bite.
Best Lemon Pound Cake
This Lemon Pound Cake is made with fresh, squeezed lemon juice and zest for a cake that tastes like summer with every bite. If you love classic pound cake, you’ll be head over heels for this citrus-loaded version!
Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie
Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie is a show-stopping dessert perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Its balance of nutty crunch and caramel-like sweetness is pure decadence, making it an unforgettable centerpiece for your dessert spread. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to take this festive treat to the next level!
Southern Sweet Potato Pie
Southern Sweet Potato Pie is a cherished holiday staple that combines creamy, spiced sweet potatoes with a perfectly flaky crust. This pie is a must-have for Thanksgiving, with its warm blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla that fills the kitchen with a comforting aroma. It’s a perfect choice for those looking to add a bit of homemade charm to their holiday table.
More Pies Worth Saving Room For
Creamy Pumpkin Icebox Pie
Creamy Pumpkin Icebox Pie is a mind-blowing fall dessert that will win you over after just one bite! With a smooth, silky texture and a graham cracker crust, this easy-to-make pie is terrific for any autumn occasion and perfect to add to your holiday menu.
Million Dollar Pie
This Million Dollar Pie is always highly requested by my family and for good reason. It’s packed with sweet pineapple and a sweet fluffy whipped filling and it only takes a few minutes to pull together (no baking involved)!
By tackling a few key tasks now, you can set yourself up for a stress-free season filled with more joy and less chaos!
Mom’s Homemade Fudge
Christmas and my recipe for Mom’s Homemade Fudge go hand in hand, and the season wouldn’t be the same without it. Many people are intimidated by the thought of making fudge, but it’s really easy. Once you have made this velvety smooth delicious treat it will keep for two weeks on the counter, a month in the refrigerator, or three months in the freezer.
Peanut Butter Fudge
My recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge makes a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth treat that’s perfect for the holidays. Whether you’re creating a festive dessert platter or wrapping up sweet gifts for friends, peanut butter fudge is a timeless favorite that everyone loves. Its smooth texture and sweet, salty flavor make it a must-have for holiday gatherings.
Tiger Butter Fudge
Tiger Butter Fudge is a visually stunning and decadently delicious addition to your holiday dessert table. This fudge combines the creamy sweetness of white chocolate with a swirl of rich peanut butter and dark chocolate, creating a marbled “tiger stripe” effect that’s as fun to look at as it is to eat.
No one can resist delicious, thoughtful, Homemade Christmas Food Gifts made with love at the holidays! Whether muffins, bread or cookies, seasoning blends, or spiced nuts, gourmet goodies are always a welcome Christmas gift.
Snowball Cookies
Snowball Cookies are a Christmas treat that everyone loves. They are easy to make and perfect for gifting and holiday guests. These light buttery cookies have a nice crunch from the pecans and just the right amount of sweetness. These cookies can be stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to five days.
Snickerdoodle Cookies
Even the big guy himself will be excited about these pillowy soft, flavorful cookies on Christmas Eve. Filled with delicious flavor from a combination of warming spices, these Snickerdoodle Cookies are a Christmas classic.
Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies are a Christmas classic and they are the perfect introduction to baking desserts if you are a novice cook. These delicious shortbread cookies are filled with jam for a delightful homemade cookie that’s perfect for gifting or dessert. Make them up to three days in advance and keep them in an airtight container on the counter.
Cookies to Bake, Share, and Savor
Holiday Cookies are the heart and soul of festive baking! These sweet bites of joy are perfect for cookie exchanges, family traditions, or leaving out for Santa on Christmas Eve. Bake a variety to create a beautiful holiday platter that will bring smiles to every celebration.
Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers (Easy Puff Pastry Cookies)
Palmiers, elephant ears, or angel wings, it doesn’t matter what you call these sweet, flaky cookies, you’ll be smitten after just one bite! They are super easy to make with just four ingredients and are baked to golden perfection in about 10 minutes.
Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These infamous Fudgy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies are crispy on the outside with a deliciously soft and gooey center and a beautiful powdered sugar top! They are rich, extra chocolaty and I promise you’ll love every fudgy bite.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Ambrosia Macaroon Cookies
These delicious cookies have all the flavors of the classic holiday salad that’s full of pineapple, coconut, and red maraschino cherries. Ambrosia Macaroon Cookies are not only beautiful they are also an outstanding treat for friends, neighbors, and perfect for the holidays!
Monster Cookies
Monster Cookies are quick and easy to whip up, and with a hint of peanut butter and chocolate chips throughout, everyone will love them! This cookie recipe has the perfect ratio of M&M’s to dough, so you get lots of sweet bursts with every bite.
The holiday season is filled with events to attend and parties to host, so having a selection of make-ahead desserts like these can be a lifesaver. You can make them up when you have a little bit of free time and know that you have a little something sweet to serve at a party or share with a holiday visitor.
What are your favorite holiday make-ahead desserts?
