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Plan in advance with these easy, make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes. Whether it’s cookies, cakes or other tasty treats, you can make these desserts a few days in advance of the holiday. Plus, these desserts only require 30 minutes of prep time, so you can focus on preparing the rest of the meal. Desserts like Cranberry Cheesecake Bars and Peppermint-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark are healthy, seasonal and delicious.
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Peppermint-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark
View Recipe
02of 16Flourless Chocolate CookiesView RecipeThese flourless cookies get their volume from whipped egg whites (like a meringue) instead of grains, making them gluten-free and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A chocolate chip in each bite adds to the rich chocolate flavor.
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Flourless Chocolate Cookies
These flourless cookies get their volume from whipped egg whites (like a meringue) instead of grains, making them gluten-free and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. A chocolate chip in each bite adds to the rich chocolate flavor.
03of 16Purple Sweet Potato PieView RecipeThis purple version of classic sweet potato pie has a shot of brandy, which adds another layer of seasonal flavor. Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream.
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Purple Sweet Potato Pie
This purple version of classic sweet potato pie has a shot of brandy, which adds another layer of seasonal flavor. Serve with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream.
04of 16Cranberry Crumble BarsView RecipeThese cranberry-orange bars freeze well. Make a batch on a free afternoon and pop them in the freezer so you’ll always have a healthy dessert on hand when company calls.
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Cranberry Crumble Bars
These cranberry-orange bars freeze well. Make a batch on a free afternoon and pop them in the freezer so you’ll always have a healthy dessert on hand when company calls.
05of 16Spritz CookiesView RecipeIt’s time to break out your spritz cookie press for these festive Christmas spritz cookies! These easy Christmas cookies can be decorated with sprinkles or flavored with citrus, spices or sweet sugar glaze. And if you’re looking for healthy cookies, these fit the bill thanks to whole-wheat pastry flour that keeps their texture soft while giving them a boost of fiber. For ideas on how to dress up these spritz cookies even more with different flavorings or a glaze, see Tips below.
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Spritz Cookies
It’s time to break out your spritz cookie press for these festive Christmas spritz cookies! These easy Christmas cookies can be decorated with sprinkles or flavored with citrus, spices or sweet sugar glaze. And if you’re looking for healthy cookies, these fit the bill thanks to whole-wheat pastry flour that keeps their texture soft while giving them a boost of fiber. For ideas on how to dress up these spritz cookies even more with different flavorings or a glaze, see Tips below.
06of 16Pecan Pie BarsView RecipeThese delectable bar cookies are great for holiday cookie trays, to bring out at casual gatherings, or just to enjoy with a cup of coffee.
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Pecan Pie Bars
These delectable bar cookies are great for holiday cookie trays, to bring out at casual gatherings, or just to enjoy with a cup of coffee.
07of 16Cranberry Cheesecake BarsView RecipeA great dessert option for your next holiday party, these sweet cheesecake bars have an oat crust and a cranberry-orange sauce that’s swirled on top and baked right in.
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Cranberry Cheesecake Bars
A great dessert option for your next holiday party, these sweet cheesecake bars have an oat crust and a cranberry-orange sauce that’s swirled on top and baked right in.
08of 16Fresh Fig TartView RecipeThis fresh fig tart looks stunning, and it’s super-simple to make. Sweet fresh figs pair naturally with almond, but if fresh figs are scarce, topping with other fresh, in-season fruit like peaches or strawberries will work well too.
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Fresh Fig Tart
This fresh fig tart looks stunning, and it’s super-simple to make. Sweet fresh figs pair naturally with almond, but if fresh figs are scarce, topping with other fresh, in-season fruit like peaches or strawberries will work well too.
09of 16Mint Chocolate CakeView RecipeJohnny AutryThis mint chocolate cake is an homage to Andes Crème de Menthe Thins. It’s rich and quite easy to whip up. Add a touch of food coloring to make the mint buttercream filling pale green if you’d like.
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Mint Chocolate Cake
Johnny Autry
This mint chocolate cake is an homage to Andes Crème de Menthe Thins. It’s rich and quite easy to whip up. Add a touch of food coloring to make the mint buttercream filling pale green if you’d like.
10of 16Venetian Spice Cookies (Bicciolani)View RecipeThe intense blend of spices in these cookies is a tip of the hat to Venice’s history as a conduit for the spice trade between Europe and the Far East.
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Venetian Spice Cookies (Bicciolani)
The intense blend of spices in these cookies is a tip of the hat to Venice’s history as a conduit for the spice trade between Europe and the Far East.
11of 16One-Bowl Irish Stout CakeView RecipeThis Irish stout cake can’t get any easier: everything is mixed in one bowl, poured into the cake pan and is in the oven in 15 minutes flat. Lining the cake pan with parchment paper makes removing the cake easy and helps with cleanup. After this rich chocolate cake has cooled, enjoy it with the espresso- and Irish whiskey-laced whipped cream topping.
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One-Bowl Irish Stout Cake
This Irish stout cake can’t get any easier: everything is mixed in one bowl, poured into the cake pan and is in the oven in 15 minutes flat. Lining the cake pan with parchment paper makes removing the cake easy and helps with cleanup. After this rich chocolate cake has cooled, enjoy it with the espresso- and Irish whiskey-laced whipped cream topping.
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
13of 16Vegan Meringue CookiesView RecipeMagical aquafaba–the liquid from canned chickpeas that often gets poured down the drain–mimics egg whites in these airy vegan meringue cookies. The other magical thing? These cookies require just three ingredients! Save the chickpeas themselves for hummus, stew or any one of our other recipes that call for canned chickpeas.
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Vegan Meringue Cookies
Magical aquafaba–the liquid from canned chickpeas that often gets poured down the drain–mimics egg whites in these airy vegan meringue cookies. The other magical thing? These cookies require just three ingredients! Save the chickpeas themselves for hummus, stew or any one of our other recipes that call for canned chickpeas.
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Chocolate Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies)
15of 16Gluten-Free Fudgy Teff BrowniesView RecipeWhole-grain teff flour (made from a tiny ancient grain) has a nuance of cocoa flavor to start with, making it a natural choice for brownies. These gluten-free brownies are moist and satisfying, intensely chocolaty and have a tender texture.
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Gluten-Free Fudgy Teff Brownies
Whole-grain teff flour (made from a tiny ancient grain) has a nuance of cocoa flavor to start with, making it a natural choice for brownies. These gluten-free brownies are moist and satisfying, intensely chocolaty and have a tender texture.
16of 16Carob Molasses Cake (Sfouf b' Debs)View RecipeWith all due respect to baklava, we’ve found a new favorite Lebanese dessert. This rich, moist cake is sweetened with carob molasses and has a hit of anise. We may or may not have fought over it in the Test Kitchen.
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Carob Molasses Cake (Sfouf b' Debs)
With all due respect to baklava, we’ve found a new favorite Lebanese dessert. This rich, moist cake is sweetened with carob molasses and has a hit of anise. We may or may not have fought over it in the Test Kitchen.
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