118 christmas baking recipes

Soft, cake-style pumpkin spice cookies built on egg whites and pumpkin puree with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, baked tender for a lighter holiday cookie tin.

Chocolate orange cheesecake with bittersweet chocolate, orange oil, and a cocoa-cinnamon graham cracker crust. A rich, fudgy baked cheesecake dusted with cocoa powder.

Christmas kuchen bakes a buttery yeast bread scented with lemon, orange, mace, and coriander, then ribbon-tied for gifting. German-inspired holiday loaf that freezes for two months.

Chocolate diamond cookies with unsweetened chocolate, pecans, and vanilla. A fudgy, brownie-like holiday cookie baked in one pan and cut into festive diamond shapes.

Double-crust apple cranberry pie with crystallized ginger, lemon zest, and allspice. Decorated with pastry leaves and finished with demerara sugar for sparkle.

A layered no-bake Christmas dessert with a pecan shortbread crust, cream cheese filling, swirled chocolate and vanilla pudding, and whipped topping. Four layers of crowd-pleasing holiday indulgence.

Spells & Bells are festive Christmas cookies cut into holiday shapes and deep fried until golden and puffed, then served plain, sugared or glazed. A cream-rich fried dough that's crisp outside and tender within.

Versatile yeasted bread dough that bakes into two loaves or shapes into Parkerhouse and cloverleaf rolls. Make-ahead friendly with overnight refrigeration option.

Loaded oatmeal cookies packed with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins, and walnuts in a brown sugar and cinnamon dough. Chewy, chunky, and stuffed with mix-ins.

Basic enriched bread dough with scalded milk, egg, and yeast, perfect for rolls, loaves, or sweet breads. Old-fashioned all-purpose dough that rises on the counter or rests overnight in the fridge.

Jelly Christmas Eyes are sandwich cookies with a window cutout showing raspberry or strawberry jelly through the center, coated in sugar. A festive holiday cookie plate classic.

Mazurka cookie bars with an almond shortbread base topped with a fruity filling of apricots, figs, raisins, walnuts, and candied orange peel, finished with powdered sugar icing.

This beautiful spiced apple cake, not only satisfy the eyes but also satisfy your taste. Rich seasonal spices and lovely presentation make this a holiday treat. It's also high in fiber and low in fat! No guilt decadence.

Pear and ginger cheesecake bakes a granola crust around a filling of simmered pears, crystallized ginger, and a lightened cottage-and-cream-cheese base. A cozy holiday dessert with less heft than classic cheesecake.

Whole wheat Christmas fruit cake with grated carrot, raisins, almonds, hazelnuts, and warm spices, lightly sweetened and finished with a brandy soak. A wholesome, nutty take on the classic holiday cake.

This holiday fruitcake recipe may change your mind about fruitcakes. Golden, buttery, and chock full of fruits and nuts make this delicious from the first bite to the last.