14 Easy Christmas Desserts: Festive Boards, Bars & No-Bake Treats
Dec 20, 2024 Updated Nov 08, 2026
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In my humble opinion, the best easy Christmas desserts are the ones that bring you and yours some holiday cheer, and let everyone dig in and build their own! So I’ve rounded up my most festive Christmas dessert ideas, from dessert boards and toppings bars to all things chocolate. They’re perfect for feeding a crowd, and so much fun to put together!
Plus, you can customize each and every board to your guests’ tastes and needs. Entertaining some kiddos? Choose a board that doubles as an activity! Having an adults-only affair? Make it boozy (try my Snow Globe Cocktails)! Trying to avoid gluten or dairy? Go for the candy or fruit options!
Leave them out for folks to pick at throughout the day or present them as a festive dessert after the big feast. You can even leave one of these boards out for Santa!
For more savory Christmas board ideas, check out my Christmas Charcuter-tree Board, Charcuterie Chalet, Epic Holiday Charcuterie Board, Santa Charcuterie Board, and Snowman Cheese Ball.
Christmas Dessert Boards
Christmas Dessert Board
My favorite part of any holiday party? The sweets! Pile peppermint bark, red Oreos, gingerbread men, and all your favorite holiday candy onto one festive board.
Sweet & Simple Christmas Tree Dessert Board
The easiest way to impress! Line up gummy trees, gingerbread men, and holiday sweets in a Christmas tree shape, then top it with a chocolate star.
Christmas Brie Dessert Board
Oh Christmas brie, oh Christmas brie, how lovely you are for snacking! Serve this Christmas sweet and savory board to kick your Christmas spread up a notch.
Chocolate & Berry Dessert Board
Start with this simple chocolate and berry board and make it Christmas in five minutes: swap in peppermint bark, red and green M&Ms, and your favorite holiday cookies.
Christmas Movie Night Candy Board
Planning a family night with Elf or Home Alone? Fill this board with popcorn, holiday candy, peppermints, and gingerbread cookies for a festive concession stand at home.
Build-Your-Own Christmas Dessert Bars
Cheesecake Toppings Bar
Creamy, decadent, and versatile, cheesecake is my favorite Christmas dessert. Load this cheesecake toppings board with all your holiday faves and dig in.
Ice Cream Sundae Toppings Bar
In my opinion, ice cream is always in season! Use peppermint or eggnog ice cream and holiday toppings — crushed candy canes, crumbled gingerbread, and red and green sprinkles — and let everyone build their own Christmas sundae.
DIY Caramel Apple Bar
This DIY caramel apple board is dessert and a fun activity all-in-one. While this board isn’t explicitly a Christmas recipe, all you have to do is holiday-ify the toppings and get dipping!
Chocolate Christmas Desserts & Drinks
Christmas Crack
If you haven’t heard of Christmas crack, your life is about to change for the better! This holiday treat is salty, sweet, and a super simple Christmas dessert recipe to make.
S’mores Dip
This oven-baked s’mores dip gives you cozy fireside flavor without the fire. Top it with crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist that makes it Christmas-ready.
Avocado Chocolate Dip
Make this avocado chocolate dip recipe for a healthier kind of dessert dip. You can also serve it on any of the other sweet holiday boards listed here!
Fresh Fruit Board with Chocolate Dip
Need a break from all the rich holiday treats? Load up this board with red and green fruit and add a bowl of melted chocolate for dipping. Balance!
Build Your Own Hot Chocolate Bar
Hot chocolate is a must during the holidays, especially when you serve it with a spread of all the best toppings. Everyone will love making a cup!
Spiked Hot Chocolate Recipe
As I said, hot chocolate is a must! Make it even more fun for adults with these three warming, spiked hot chocolate recipes.
FAQs
Plan on two to three dessert options for 10–20 guests, or one large dessert board serving 15 or more.
I always start with a color palette, and for Christmas it’s a no-brainer: red, green, and white! Put smaller candies like gummies and candy corn in ramekins to anchor the board, then arrange bigger items (gingerbread men, cookies, peppermint bark) in uniform patterns around them.
My favorite trick? Stand red Oreos on their side so the frosting shows. Fill any gaps with candy cane bites, and you’re done. See my full Christmas Dessert Board.
Build it in rows that get narrower as you go up: start with a row of gummy trees at the bottom, then shortbread stars, gingerbread men, and so on. Make the point with mini candy canes (curved side down) and top it with a chocolate star.
Pro tip: dust your candy canes with powdered sugar so they don’t stick together!
Or skip the measuring and use my Charcuterie Tree Map Board, which is already tree-shaped!
Sockerbit (a Swedish candy shop) and Dylan’s Candy Bar are my go-tos for unique, colorful candy. Both are easy to order from online. Amazon works too, but you can’t always tell the quality, color, or freshness.
Show Me Your Christmas Desserts
I hope this round-up inspires you to create one of my easy Christmas dessert ideas. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the festive snacks and sweets you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!
And, if you liked these recipes, please rate and review.
