72 Easy Holiday Desserts To Take Some Stress Off Your Plate

If you’re like us, life around the holidays can get crazy chaotic. While we’ve all got dreams of decking the halls and Christmas baking, the reality is we don’t always have the time or the expertise. Luckily, we’ve got a ton of sweet treats here that’ll keep up your holiday spirit even if you’ve got a busy schedule or aren’t that confident in the kitchen. Whether you’re looking to jazz up a store-bought dessert, want something homemade but completely no-bake, or are willing to turn on your oven but not for long, we’ve got recipes here for you. Check out our best super-easy holiday desserts—they’ll keep you feeling jolly all season long.

When it comes to Christmas desserts, cookies are practically a competitive sport. While we’re not immune to the pull of wanting to create over-the-top versions completely from-scratch (see our new ugly sweater cookies for proof), we’re just as big of fans of adding easy ingredients to store-bought to make them extra festive. Check out our reindeer Milanos, our melted snowmen cookies, our mini gingerbread houses, our Santa hat cheesecake bites, or our Oreo penguins for ideas. They’re really ALL about the decorations, so get creative!

Want a recipe that takes a bit more effort but still don’t want to get your oven involved? We’ve got a ton of no-bake options on this list that are still sure to impress. Try our Oreo truffles, our Rice Krispie snowballs (stuffed with peanut butter cups), our mint chocolate chip pie, our cookies 'n' cream ice cream, or our bourbon balls. They’re still completely homemade, but you won’t have to bend over backward to make them.

If you're willing to turn on your oven to achieve holiday dessert greatness, we’ve got additional options for you. You’ll only need to use your oven to toast nuts or par-bake crust for these recipes, so they’re still pretty low-stress. Try our cranberry pie, stained glass cookies, chocolate coconut balls, or sweet & salty holiday toffee to see what we mean. They look extra-impressive, and only you’ll know how little effort they took. 😉

Want even more Christmas inspiration? Check out our top Christmas appetizers, dinners, and cocktails too.