10 Terrific Holiday Desserts

Some of you probably settled on your holiday menu weeks ago, nailing down every detail from appetizer through dessert. Others may be more like me, leaving such decisions to the last minute. With Christmas now just days away, it’s high time to make some decisions, and choosing dessert is always at the top of the list. Are we going cake or pie? Chocolate or cranberry? Pumpkin or persimmon? Fancy or fuss-free?

To help with the process, I’ve curated 10 holiday favorites from my recipe archives. A couple of notes:

• With the exception of the eggnog floats, all the recipes can be made a day ahead.
• My aim is for desserts to be festive and fabulous, but I also like to make them more wholesome than most. The majority of these pack in less sugar and include nourishing ingredients, like pumpkin, persimmons, nuts, and whole-grain flour.
• I prioritize ease. The holidays are busy enough without desserts that take all day to bake.
• If you want to serve any of these with whipped cream, consider taking it to the next level by making yogurt whipped cream, as I do in this recipe or Crème Fraîche Whipped Cream. Folding yogurt or crème fraîche into whipped cream gives it a heavenly texture and pleasing tang.

Cran-Raspberry Pecan Tart with Whole-Grain Crust

Dark Chocolate Dried Fruit Almond Bark

Persimmon Pudding Cake

Molasses Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake

Rustic Italian Apple Cake

Lighter Chocolate Pot de Creme

Apple Walnut Tart

Light Vanilla Eggnog Floats

Big Chewy Molasses Cookies