Make Cozy Memories With These 12 Holiday Dessert Recipes

Twinkly lights, decorated trees and familiar tunes of the season are all signs that the holidays are here, but nothing brings festive feelings quite like a plate of decadent desserts! During the holidays, a tray of cookies or fudgy brownies add a dash of cheer to any occasion — Friday movie night, a school or work function or a low-key gathering.

One of the best parts about holiday desserts is that making them is just as fun as eating them. It’s so nice to call your little helpers into the warm, bright kitchen and bake together. For many families, making these memories and carrying on these traditions are the highlights of the holiday season. Plus, it never hurts to have some extra nibbles around for unexpected guests, or as a little snack after the kids come in from playing outside.

Start making new memories — this season, try these dozen delightful sweets that feature favorite holiday flavors. When you Holiday the Food Lion way, putting together a variety of pleasing treats is a piece of cake!

Peppermint

Holiday desserts are all about seasonal flavors. Refreshing, cooling peppermint is a beloved winter flavor, reminiscent of chilly weather and evergreens.

Regular chocolate brownies get a merry makeover when topped with crushed peppermint candies! These Peppermint Hot Fudge Candy Shop Brownies are an irresistible take-along to any holiday event — kids and adults alike will love them. Tip: You can adjust the amount of mint by adding more or less candy.

Mocha fans will enjoy that storied flavor duo in these bite-sized Peppermint Mocha Mini Cookie Cups. A clever pressing technique creates easy, homemade cookie cups, and the pudding filling comes together in minutes flat. A sprinkling of crushed candy canes, chocolate morsels and whipped topping completes the look.

When they’re hooked over a mug of coffee or hot chocolate, these Peppermint Kellogg's Rice Krispies® Treat Ornaments are as cute as can be! After shaping the “ornaments,” let the kids help to decorate them with sprinkles and mini candy canes.

White Chocolate

Whether or not there’s snow on the ground, white chocolate reminds us of the clean, smooth look of freshly fallen snowflakes. Its mild flavor pairs especially well with cranberry, citrus and nuts, which are other popular holiday baking ingredients.

Tart dried cranberries play off the sweet sugar cookie and silky white chocolate in these White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie Bars. Cut into neat rectangles, they look pretty when displayed on a decorative plate or nestled into a cookie tin.

Citrus fruits are in-season in winter, and they make vibrant additions to all types of desserts. In these White Chocolate Lemon Cookies, zesty lemon extract and peels meld beautifully with creamy white chocolate chips.

Red and white are one of the most iconic holiday color combinations, on full display in these mini Strawberry & White Chocolate Cheesecake bites. Feel free to use fresh raspberries for a pairing that’s equally yummy.

Milk and Dark Chocolate

Pretty much every holiday features chocolate in some way, and this festive season is no exception! Its rich, complex flavor works well with so many other ingredients, like nuts, spices, fruit and dairy. Whether you prefer dark or milk chocolate, you’ll find plenty of ways to incorporate it into your holiday sweets.

Chocolate and orange are a traditional holiday pairing. Set out a tray of Double Chocolate Orange Cupcakes after a family meal and watch them disappear! Fluffy chocolate cake, luscious ganache frosting and slices of fresh oranges are a winning combination.

Homemade fudge might sound like a big project, but the step-by-step instructions in this recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake Swirl Fudge makes it totally doable. The finished fudge, swirled with layers of dark chocolate, white chocolate and cheesecake, looks so impressive!

These pleasantly chewy Chocolate Pecan Bars bring all the flavors of pecan pie with just a fraction of the work! A generous drizzle of melted chocolate is the perfect finishing touch.

Gingerbread

Warm baking spices, like ginger, allspice and clove, bring a much-needed coziness to winter baking. Gingerbread is a classic way to incorporate these flavors into holiday desserts.

Cookie bars are a fabulous baking project because they’re so easy to make. These Gingerbread Cookie Bars only take 15 minutes to prep! The soft, spiced cookies are topped with a delicious caramel frosting and sprinkles for a charming effect.

Gingerbread Cookies with Eggnog Frosting combine two beloved holiday flavors into one tasty bite. The frosting even contains real eggnog! Serve these with cold milk or eggnog for a fantastic finish to a holiday feast.

Fun and shareable, this no-bake Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip is a creative dish that looks great on a snack or dessert table! The best part? It takes just seven ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare.

Stop by your neighborhood Food Lion today to stock up on everything you need to make wonderful memories this holiday season. Happy baking!