Discover best Christmas desserts designed to make Christmas entertaining easy and effortless
This festive season, delight in desserts that promise minimal fuss and deliver maximum flavour. Each of these Christmas dessert recipes is designed for ease and convenience, ensuring you spend less time in the kitchen and more time savouring the holiday joy. From classic cakes to innovative trifles, these treats are all about saving time without compromising on taste.
01
Christmas tree mud cake
Dreaming of a white Christmas? This stunning white chocolate mud cake with 'snow-covered pine trees' is the answer - it’s quick to prepare and comes together effortlessly. Use your favourite flavoured mud cake for this recipe. Caramel or chocolate are just as delectable as white chocolate!
02
Chocolate, hazelnut & caramel tarts
Golden, buttery pastry shells filled with a rich, creamy chocolate-caramel spread and sprinkled with hazelnuts make for a stress-free yet impressive dessert. Easy to assemble, you can also use up any bottled jam in place of the caramel spread. Try raspberry or orange marmalade for a fruity twist.
03
Peach & doughnut trifle with spiced berry syrup
This innovative dessert is a cinch to put together. Transform classic doughnuts into a festive trifle layered with thick, creamy custard, whipped cream, raspberries, peaches and cinnamon doughnuts, all drizzled in a spiced berry syrup. No doughnuts? You can also swap them with a chopped sponge or mud cake.
04
Shaved frozen watermelon & coconut yoghurt parfait
Perfect for summer, shaved frozen watermelon and coconut yoghurt parfait will be a hit with everyone. It's light, refreshing and bursting with tropical flavour. Drizzle this dish with a little honey to add extra sweetness.
05
Little ginger & honey cakes
Moreishly sweet with a touch of ginger spice, these mini cakes made of stacked gingernut biscuits and cream cheese will make the perfect addition to any festive spread. No gingernuts? Use your favourite biscuits, such as butternut snap or choc ripple.
06
Eggnog panna cotta with plums in brandy syrup
Serve a creamy dessert bursting with Christmas flavour this festive season. Topped with whipped cream, juicy plums and brandy syrup, these easy eggnog panna cottas will steal the show. Helpful hint: Try using packaged eggnog instead of custard.
09
Steamed Christmas pudding
Homemade fruit mince makes this old-fashioned Christmas pud extra special. Grated apples and breadcrumbs help keep the pudding moist and spongy, and making the fruit mince ahead of time ensures plump fruit that adds texture and bursts of sweetness. This also doubles as the perfect edible gift.
10
Easy traditional Christmas cake
Intensely spiced and rich with dried fruit, brown sugar and rum, this Christmas cake is as traditional as festive sweets come. Pop the kettle on and pour a cuppa to serve with a thick slice of this Christmas cake for morning or afternoon tea.
11
Easy pavlova
Does it get more classic than a crisp pavlova filled with a marshmallowy centre? This pavlova recipe is a cinch to make as the meringue can be prepared the night before, meaning most of the work is already done. Simply top with cream, your favourite summer fruit, a drizzle of honey and serve.
12
Cherry & raspberry lamington trifle
Rich, decadent and luxurious, this tall trifle is befitting an indulgent Christmas feast. Plump cherries and raspberries add a refreshing touch and store-bought lamington cakes make for a clever shortcut. It’s the perfect no-bake dessert.
13
Watermelon & berry hack cake
A Christmas fruitcake with no sultana in sight. Use this striking stack as a lighter (and quicker) dessert, or serve as a show-stopping centrepiece of a large sweet spread.
14
Prosecco jelly cups
Jelly cups like you’ve never seen them. Adding Prosecco gives these elegant desserts a festive (and adult) spin, and the topping of passionfruit and nectarine is ideal for balmy summer evenings.
15
Easy gingernut wreath cake
This wreath is the ultimate no-bake dessert. Whether you've been asked to bring a plate or host the festivities, this easy cake recipe is sure to impress. Crown this wreath with fresh berries and peaches to highlight the best of seasonal summer fruit.
16
Brown-sugar meringue stack with cinnamon cream
This decadent brown-sugar meringue stack – with layers of cinnamon cream, raspberries and chocolate sauce – will tantalise your guests’ taste buds. It’s light and full of flavour, which is perfect for a summer treat.
17
Banoffee Mille-feuille
Satisfy every sweet tooth with this dazzling banoffee mille-feuille. It’s made of crispy puff pastry layered with caramel, cream and fresh banana. To try something a bit different, layer this dessert with berries and a chocolate-hazelnut spread instead of banana and caramel. Yum!
18
Easy Eton mess tart
Make the most of fresh stone fruit and berries while they’re in season and great value this Christmas. Covered in jam, cream, peaches, plums, cherries and raspberries, this easy Eton mess tart is the perfect dessert for a light way to spoil a group of guests.
19
Doughnut Christmas tree
End your festive feast on a high with a picture-perfect doughnut Christmas tree. Budget-friendly and ready in just 15 minutes, this easy dessert delivers maximum wow-factor for minimum work.
20
Spiced gingerbread cake with white peaches
’Tis the season for gingerbread. Spread the holiday cheer with this soft, moist gingerbread cake. Topped with peaches and drizzled in caramel sauce, it’s a decadent way to celebrate the traditional Christmas flavours you know and love.
21
Peach jelly & vanilla bean panna cotta cups
Every creamy spoonful of these delicious peach jelly and vanilla bean panna cotta cups is a step in the direction of deliciousness. Served in style in individual vessels, they’re an ideal make-in-advance treat for a summer evening soirée.
22
Cherry & raspberry lamington trifle
A must-have for your Christmas table, this eye-catching raspberry-and-cherry lamington trifle will impress guests with its versatility and ease. Don’t have a trifle bowl? No problem! You can use any type of glass vase or bowl with at least four-litre capacity. Fill it up and dig in.
23
Pineapple-curd tart
This colourful, tropical pineapple-curd tart is topped with cream, caramelised pineapple and toasted coconut for a transportive dessert experience. Ready in under an hour, it’s sweet, slightly sour and full of summertime flavours.
24
Mixed berry Martini trifles
Don’t let your Christmas fruitcake go to waste. Reuse leftovers to make indulgent mixed berry martini trifles with raspberry jelly, coffee cream and almond brittle. Perfect to ring in the New Year.
25
Fruitcake rocky road
Get smart with your leftovers. Your family won't get enough of this decadent rocky road recipe with reused Christmas fruitcake, dark chocolate, dried figs and marshmallows.
26
Raspberry & lemon myrtle meringue wreath
Make your Christmas one step easier with this sumptuous wreath that uses premade Woolworths lemon myrtle meringues and a homemade raspberry coulis. Entertaining couldn’t get any breezier!
27
Gingerbread trifle
Got too many gingerbread people lying around? Reuse leftovers and take your festive trifle to the next level with this simple, show-stopping gingerbread-inspired recipe. It will win small hearts and stomachs.
28
Raspberry shortcakes
Stacked with fresh raspberries and whipped cream, this easy festive cake will satisfy any sweet tooth. Make ahead and freeze for up to three months. To serve, thaw the shortcakes at room temperature, or gently reheat them from frozen in a warm oven.
29
Strawberry & cream meringues
Whip up these incredibly easy festive meringues to wow a crowd with minimal fuss. Sprinkle with crushed dried strawberries and serve with fresh cream and berries for that extra wow factor.
30
Creamy chocolate yule log
Embrace the holiday spirit with this yule log. This traditional Christmas dessert is surprisingly straightforward to make, offering a rich and chocolaty centrepiece for your festive table in under 30 minutes.
31
Frozen tiramisu
It'll take just one hour to make this super simple frozen tiramisu, which uses premade vanilla and coffee ice-creams to pack a familiar punch. It’s an ideal make-ahead dessert, perfect for a no-stress Christmas day.
32
Espresso Martini trifles
Impress your guests with delectable espresso martini trifles. Espresso jelly topped with coffee cream, coffee liqueur-spiked panettone and almond brittle. They’re quick to assemble and even easier to eat!
33
Vegan choc-cherry brownie ice-cream cake
Try this easy vegan ice-cream cake that makes life easier and uses a store-bought chocolate brownie and refreshing frozen dessert. It's sure to be a hit with everyone. Perfect for pleasing all palates this Christmas!