These are the best holiday desserts to serve at any Christmas festivity from cookie exchanges to holiday parties! They not only taste heavenly but will wow family and friends. Keep this list handy as these easy holiday treats will have you covered whenever you need holiday dessert recipes all season long!
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Best Christmas Holiday Desserts
I look forward to making holiday treats each year. Whether it’s Christmas cookies, pies, candy and more, there are so many delicious Christmas dessert recipes and ideas to whip up!
One of my hands-down favorite parts of the holidays is all of the holiday desserts that everyone bakes up. I feel like it is my personal duty to taste test as many of the treats as possible—it is my job, after all! :)
In case you haven’t quite figured out what you’d like to leave out for Santa, I’ve rounded up some of the BEST holiday dessert recipes! You’ll find all of your favorites in this holiday desserts list. So what are you waiting for?! Get to baking!
Christmas Cookies
There’s a good reason that cookies are first on this list. You’ve got to make sure you have a Christmas dessert to leave out for Santa with a glass of milk, after all! Plus, baking cookies as a family is such a sweet Christmas tradition. Make a few of these recipes to hand out as gifts to neighbors, friends, and any stray reindeer you come across.
Ginger Molasses Cookies
Soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies are made with plenty of ground ginger, cinnamon and molasses then rolled in sugar! These cookies are a holiday favorite.
Total Time: 33 minutes
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Christmas Sugar Cookies
These Christmas sugar cookies are the best with a soft texture, sweet buttery taste and decorated with an easy icing. These festive cookies are perfect for the holiday season!
Total Time: 1 hour 28 minutes
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Snickerdoodle Cookie Recipe
This is the best snickerdoodle cookie recipe with soft and chewy texture and lots of cinnamon sugar flavor in every bite. This classic cookie is family favorite!
Total Time: 30 minutes
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M&M Christmas Cookies
Thick and chewy M&M Christmas cookies with crispy edges, a soft center and bursting with chocolate flavor. These are the ultimate cookie recipe to make this holiday season!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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Peanut Butter Blossoms
Easy sugar coated peanut butter blossoms topped with a chocolate kiss. This classic holiday cookie is soft, chewy and adds a festive touch to any Christmas cookie platter.
Total Time: 18 minutes
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Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
These chocolate crinkle cookies are fudgy on the inside with a crisp crackly top! Rich and decadent and adored by any and all chocolate lovers.
Total Time: 38 minutes
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Easy Oatmeal Cookies
These easy oatmeal cookies are a quick treat made in only one bowl. They turn perfectly every time with a buttery brown sugar taste, crisp edges and a soft, chewy center!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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White Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
These white chocolate dipped peppermint chocolate cookies are made with a double chocolate cookie base with peppermint cookie flavor then dipped in white chocolate.
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Butter Cookie Recipe
These butter cookies have a melt in your mouth texture with the best buttery flavor! This old fashioned recipe only needs 6 ingredients and can be made in 30 minutes.
Total Time: 26 minutes
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Soft Gingerbread Man Cookies
Soft and chewy gingerbread man cookies full of ginger spice flavor. This classic Christmas treat is the perfect cookie to decorate with your family this season!
Total Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
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Mexican Wedding Cookies
These Mexican wedding cookies are so simple and take only 5 ingredients to make! The perfect bite-sized cookie recipe that will literally melt in your mouth.
Total Time: 28 minutes
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Pistachio Cookie Recipe
Soft, chewy and festive pistachio cookies are easy to make with instant pistachio pudding mix. A little green food coloring makes them perfect for Christmas or St. Patrick's Day!
Total Time: 1 hour
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Cinnamon Roll Cookies
These cinnamon roll cookies are soft, filled with cinnamon flavor and topped with a cream cheese frosting.
Total Time: 50 minutes
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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
These soft and chewy white chocolate cranberry cookies are a holiday staple with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. So festive for any cookie tray!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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Shortbread Cookies
These classic shortbread cookies are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients. They are irresistible with tender, butter melt-in-your-mouth texture!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Chocolate Turtle Cookies
Rich and decadent these turtle cookies are made with soft chocolate cookies, rolled in pecans, filled with caramel and then topped with a chocolate drizzle!
Total Time: 50 minutes
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Candy
When I think of Christmas, I immediately think of all of the delicious homemade candy recipes. They holidays just aren’t the same without fudge, caramels, toffee and more. These simple holiday dessert recipes make a great gift for neighbors or the perfect addition to your holiday goodie plate!
Microwave Fudge
Creamy homemade fudge made in the microwave with only 3 ingredients! Top with a gooey salted caramel or mix in your favorite chopped nuts. You won't believe how easy and delicious this chocolate fudge recipe is!
Total Time: 13 minutes
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Fantasy Fudge Recipe
Original fantasy fudge is just like the recipe from the back of the Kraft marshmallow cream jar. A holiday classic!
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
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Caramel Candy Recipe
This soft and chewy homemade caramel candy recipe is a treat you'll reach for again and again. This easy candy recipe is perfect for gifting to friends and family!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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Peppermint Bark Recipe
This peppermint bark is easy to make with delicious layers of peppermint infused white chocolate, dark chocolate and crushed candy canes. A classic holiday treat for gifting!
Total Time: 45 minutes
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Christmas Crack Recipe
This Christmas crack recipe is the best sweet and salty treat made with a layer of saltine crackers, sweet toffee and chocolate! So easy and irresistible!
Total Time: 27 minutes
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Chocolate Turtles Recipe
This easy homemade chocolate turtles recipe is made with crisp pecans, chewy caramel and creamy chocolate with flake sea salt on top.
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Peanut Butter Fudge
This peanut butter fudge is smooth, creamy and easy to make in the microwave with 3 ingredients in 3 minutes. One of my favorite recipes to make during the holiday season!
Total Time: 3 minutes
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Homemade Toffee Recipe
This rich and buttery homemade toffee recipe takes only thirty minutes to make and is super easy, too! Perfect for parties, holiday gifts, and snacking!
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Homemade Peanut Brittle Recipe
This homemade peanut brittle recipe is a sweet and buttery old-fashioned candy with a touch of maple flavor! It's easy to make on the stovetop and is a holiday favorite.
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Rocky Road Candy
This rocky road candy is easy to make with chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts for the best sweet and salty homemade candy. This no-bake holiday treat is heavenly!
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
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Buckeye Candy
This easy buckeye recipe is made with peanut butter balls dipped almost all the way in a crispy chocolate shell. A popular no-bake candy for the holidays!
Total Time: 35 minutes
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White Chocolate Fudge
This easy white chocolate fudge is creamy, sweet and simple to make! It's rich flavor makes it perfect for gifting at Christmas or any other holiday.
Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
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Peppermint Graham Cracker Toffee Recipe
This peppermint toffee bark with graham crackers is an easy holiday treat! Made with a graham cracker base, a toffee layer and white chocolate with crushed candy canes on top!
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Eggnog Fudge Recipe
This eggnog fudge will melt-in-your-mouth with rich, creamy white chocolate and nutmeg flavor! It's the perfect holiday treat for gifting with decadent eggnog flavor.
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Rocky Road Fudge Recipe
Rich and decadent rocky road fudge is easy to make in the microwave and loaded with mini marshmallows and nuts. It's indulgent with sweet, salty, crunchy and chewy taste.
Total Time: 1 hour 13 minutes
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Easy peanut butter balls made with creamy peanut butter, powdered sugar and covered in a sweet chocolate coating. So easy to make and the perfect holiday treat!
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Snickerdoodle Fudge
Rich and creamy snickerdoodle fudge with a cinnamon-sugar crunch on top. Made in just 10 minutes with 5 simple ingredients!
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
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Divinity Candy
Soft, chewy and snow white, old fashioned divinity candy is a homemade Southern candy with sweet flavor and pillowy texture. My grandma made this recipe at the holidays!
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
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Easy Graham Cracker Toffee
This graham cracker toffee is completely addicting and easy to make with graham crackers, buttery brown sugar toffee, chocolate and nuts. Perfect for the holiday season
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Sweet and salty Rolo pretzel turtles are made with square pretzels, chocolate caramel Rolo candy and then topped with a pecan. It's the easiest holiday treat!
Total Time: 13 minutes
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Peppermint Oreo Balls
These no-bake peppermint Oreo balls have a chewy mint cookie and cream cheese center with a hardened chocolate shell and crushed candy canes on top! The perfect one-bite mint chocolate dessert for the holidays!
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
This chocolate peanut butter fudge combines the two classic flavors in a 4-ingredient recipe made in the microwave. It's rich, creamy and easy to make for the holidays!
Total Time: 1 hour 54 minutes
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Pies and Cakes
Mmmm, it doesn’t get much better than buttery, flaky pie crust topped with warm toppings. Pie is traditional but cakes are some of the best holiday desserts, too!
Easy Pumpkin Pie Recipe
This easy pumpkin pie recipe is a classic for Thanksgiving dinner. If you can't imagine the holidays without a slice of Libby's pumpkin pie, this recipe is fail proof!
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
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Apple Cranberry Pie
This homemade apple cranberry pie is filled with juicy apples and fresh, tart cranberries in a flaky buttery pie crust. The perfect holiday dessert for Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Total Time: 5 hours 35 minutes
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Easy Banana Cream Pie
Quick and easy banana cream pie is an old-fashioned favorite done in minutes! Sliced bananas and instant banana pudding make this no bake dessert amazing.
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
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Chocolate Silk Pie
A slice of French chocolate silk pie is heavenly with a chocolate crust, rich and silky chocolate filling, topped with homemade whipped cream and chocolate curls.
Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
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Razzleberry Pie
This homemade razzleberry pie is one of my all time favorite pies! Filled with 3 different types of berries and topped with a beautiful lattice crust.
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
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Oreo Peanut Butter Pie
This Oreo peanut butter pie is made with an Oreo crust and creamy peanut butter mousse filling then topped with chopped peanut butter cups. An easy no-bake dessert favorite!
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
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S’mores Pie Recipe
Easy and delicious s'mores pie loaded with gooey marshmallows, chocolate and a graham cracker cookie crust. No campfire needed to make this classic summertime treat!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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Brown Bag Apple Pie
Easy brown bag apple pie with a crumb topping, tender apples and golden brown pie crust. The brown paper bag seals in all of the delicious flavors and no oven mess!
Total Time: 2 hours
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Rich, gooey and over-the-top decadent chocolate chip cookie pie is so easy to make. Everyone always loves this giant chocolate chip cookie baked in a pie crust!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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Old Fashioned Coconut Cream Pie
Flaky pie crust filled with a creamy custard filling, then topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut. This coconut cream pie is sweet, smooth and rich…every bite is perfection!
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
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Pecan Pie Bars
A crowd-pleasing, easy dessert, pecan pie bars are made with a buttery shortbread crust and gooey pecan filling. It's pie in a portable handheld dessert for the holidays!
Total Time: 55 minutes
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Eggnog Pie
Easy no-bake eggnog pie is creamy and full of eggnog flavor. This light and fluffy pie is perfect for eggnog lovers and always makes an appearance at the holidays!
Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
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Yule Log Cake (Bûche de Noël)
This Christmas make a traditional yule log cake (bûche de noël). A chocolate sponge cake is filled with creamy mascarpone, then covered with chocolate ganache for the bark.
Total Time: 2 hours 18 minutes
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Gingerbread Cake
This gingerbread cake is spiced with the warm flavors of molasses, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. It's perfect for the holidays with a moist crumb and cream cheese frosting!
Total Time: 45 minutes
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Easy Holiday Desserts
These sweet treats are easy, delicious and practically guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser! Plus, most of these recipes are made with just 5 ingredients or less!
Oreo Balls
These OREO balls are made with just 3 simple ingredients and are such an easy dessert recipe to make. Drizzle with chocolate or top with your favorite colored sprinkles for the perfect decorative treat!
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Rolo Pretzels
Only 3 ingredients to make and the perfect blend of salty and sweet, crunchy and chewy, and all around delicious! These Rolo pretzels are the easiest holiday treat and are so fun and festive
Total Time: 13 minutes
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Sugar Cookie Truffles
No-bake sugar cookie truffles made with only 4 ingredients! An easy and delicious treat for the holidays that is super easy to make.
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Christmas Pretzel Hugs
These Christmas pretzels hugs are an easy festive treat to make for holiday gifting and snacking! All you need are 3 ingredients including pretzels, Hershey's Hugs and M&Ms.
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Sweet and salty chocolate covered pretzel rods are a fun and easy to make treat to snack or gift! Customize the toppings to any celebration from birthdays to holidays.
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Christmas Oreos
These chocolate covered Christmas Oreos are an easy holiday treat dipped in chocolate then decorated in fun and festive ways. Perfect for sharing and gifting at Christmas!
Total Time: 45 minutes
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Sweet Chex Mix Recipe
This ooey gooey sweet chex mix is a classic party snack made with chex, coconut and sliced almonds. It's a crispy and chewy treat that is irresistible!
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Rolo Pretzel Reindeer
These Rolo Pretzel Reindeer are the perfect treats for the holiday season and so easy to make! Only takes 4 ingredients and a few minutes to bake.
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Snowman Oreo Balls
These snowman Oreo balls are festive, adorable and fun to make with kids! No-bake truffles with Oreos, cream cheese and white chocolate are the perfect holiday dessert.
Total Time: 45 minutes
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Copycat Chick-fil-A Peppermint Milkshake
This tastes just like the Chick-Fil-A peppermint milkshake! This copycat recipe is easy to make at home and is thick and creamy with peppermint flavor and chocolate chips.
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Christmas Chex Mix
Sweet and salty Christmas chex mix made with just 5 simple ingredients. The perfect holiday snack mix coated in white chocolate.
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe
This saltine cracker toffee recipe is made with just 3 simple ingredients in 15 minutes! A seriously addicting treat that's super easy to make.
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Muddy Buddies
Muddy buddies (aka puppy chow) is a classic snack made with crunchy Chex cereal coated in peanut butter and chocolate then tossed in powdered sugar. It's addicting!
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Cornflake Wreaths
These cornflakes wreaths are an easy to make Christmas treat that comes together in minutes made with butter, cornflakes and marshmallows.
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Bars and Brownies
Bars and brownies top my list of holiday dessert ideas because they are perfect to make for a crowd. These recipes can easily be doubled or tripled and doled out to all your friends and family.
M&M Cookie Bars
These Christmas M&M cookie bars are gooey, soft and loaded with M&M's and chocolate chips. So easy to make and perfect for a cookie exchange or holiday party!
Total Time: 40 minutes
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7-Layer Bars
7-layer bars (aka magic cookie bars) loaded with gooey layers of graham cracker crumbs, chocolate and butterscotch chips, pecans and coconut. They really are seven layers of magic!
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Homemade Snickers
Delicious homemade snickers bars filled with layers of chocolate, nougat, peanuts and caramel. These taste like the real candy bar but are made from scratch at home!
Total Time: 3 hours
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Raspberry Jello Pretzel Salad
Raspberry jello pretzel salad is sweet, salty and crowd-pleasing! A cream cheese and Cool Whip mixture sits on a pretzel crust layered with Jell-O for an irresistible dessert salad.
Total Time: 4 hours
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Frosted Brownies
The ultimate rich and decadent fudge frosted brownies that are topped with a smooth, luscious chocolate ganache. These are any chocolate lover's dream!
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
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Chocolate Lasagna
This no-bake chocolate lasagna has layers of crushed Oreo's, cream, chocolate pudding and chocolate chips! Does it get any better than that?!
Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
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Strawberry Santa Hat Brownie Bites
Strawberry Santa Hat Brownie Bites…cute, easy and delicious! The perfect no-bake treat for Christmas that everyone always loves!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Peppermint Brownie Mix in a Jar Recipe
This peppermint brownie mix in a jar is the perfect holiday gift! Just a few simple ingredients are needed for this easy, festive and delicious homemade brownie mix.
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Chocolate Mint Brownies
Soft and fudgy chocolate mint brownies are layered with a mint frosting and topped with chocolate ganache. Everyone loves this decadent mint brownie recipe!
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
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Peppermint Brownies
Rich and fudgy peppermint brownies topped with a peppermint buttercream frosting and a silky chocolate ganache. This indulgent dessert is perfect to enjoy this Christmas!
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
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More Christmas Recipes
Categorized as: Christmas, Desserts, Recipe Roundup
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I’m drooling! Great collection! Thx for including mine, Katie. :)
They look so good! Thank you for sharing all of these recipes!
Mmmmm – seriously I think I gained 20 pounds just reading this. YUM
What a round up! I think I just gained 10 lbs from looking at it.
what an awesome round up! wowee. i think i gained about 5 lbs just looking through all of them. thanks for including me!
mmm all these desserts look amazing! Thanks for including my rice krispies treats!
Katie, Thank you so much for including my Rocky Road Fudge in this amazing round up of fantastic Holiday treats I think I gained 5 pounds just looking at all the yumminess!!!