4 Jaw-Dropping Christmas Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

Looking to spice up your holiday baking game? If you’re trying to wow your friends and family this holiday season with something a bit more sophisticated than your typical Christmas desserts, these colorful to-“dye”-for Christmas dessert recipes may be just what you need.

These Instagram-worthy, crowd-pleasing recipes will impress everyone from Santa to your stepfather. Crafted especially to deliver on both aesthetic and taste without requiring hours in the kitchen, they’ll add some punch to your Christmas dinner table this year.

Grab some eggnog, put on this Spotify Christmas playlist and get ready - because these recipes are going to put you in the holiday spirit pronto.

RED VELVET CAKE WITH ROSEMARY AND SUGARED CRANBERRIES

This gorgeous red velvet cake is easier than it looks. If you’re short on time, consider swapping fresh raspberries for the sugarcoated cranberries. It will save you a step and look just as great!

 

What you’ll need:

 

For the Cake:

 

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 T baking powder
• 1 t salt
• 2 T unsweetened baking cocoa
• 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 t vanilla
• 1 t Super Red Liqua-Gel Food Coloring
• 2 eggs

 

For the Frosting:

 

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 T vanilla
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 1 ½ cups butter, softened

 

For the Topping:

 

• 2 cups water
• 3 cups granulated sugar, divided
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• 5 branches of fresh rosemary

 

Method:

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms and sides of 3 (8- or 9-inch) round pans with butter and flour lightly.
2. Beat cake ingredients in a large bowl and pour into pans.
3. Bake 25 - 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Then, remove the cake from pans and place them on a cooling rack to cool completely, for about 1 hour.
4. In a medium saucepan, mix ½ cup flour and 1 ½ cups milk with whisk until smooth. Cook over medium heat until mixture is very thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. In large bowl, beat 1 ½ cups sugar and the butter with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour mixture and beat on high speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla.
5. Fill and frost cake, using 1 cup frosting between layers.
6. Prepare the topping by combining 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Wait until mixture comes to a simmer (approximately 6 to 7 minutes), and remove it from the heat. This will form a syrup. Add cranberries to the hot syrup and allow the cranberry and syrup mixture to cool. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Spread a baking pan with approximately 1 cup sugar. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the berries out of the syrup and on to the pan and shake to coat cranberries.
7. Top your cake with the rosemary sprigs and sugared cranberries and store covered in the refrigerator.

 

AIRBRUSH SNOWFLAKE COOKIES

Don’t get us wrong – there is something to be said for the classic Christmas sugar cookie. Show off your baking artistry this year by using airbrush colors to create a snow-like effect. Pro tip: skip the red and green coloring and use Hawaiian Blue for a “Frozen”-like look that your kids will love.

 

What you’ll need:

 

For the cookies:

 

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 t baking soda
• ½ t baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 1 egg

 

For the icing:

 

• 4 T Chefmaster Meringue Powder
• ½ cup plus 3 T warm water
• 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
• Chefmaster Airbrush Colors Kit

 

Method:

 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
2. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough and cut out snowflakes using a snowflake cookie cutter.
3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks. Cool completely.
4. Meanwhile, make the icing. Using a mixer, mix the meringue powder and water on medium-high speed until frothy, approximately 1-2 minutes. Add the confectioner’s sugar and mix on low for the first 30 seconds. Turn the mixer on medium high for up to four minutes until the icing is stiff.
5. Cover cookies with icing. Pipe dots or lines if desired and let dry overnight.
6. Spray airbrush color evenly onto cookies and enjoy!

METALLIC CAKE POPS

 

Who doesn’t love cake pops? Add some shimmer to your Christmas treat table with these metallic cake pops everyone will love.

 

What you’ll need:

 

• One unfrosted 9"x13” cake
• ½ cup frosting
• 32 ounces coating chocolate
• 40 six-inch lollipop sticks
• Chefmaster Candy Colors oil-based food coloring
• Chefmaster Airbrush Metallic 6 Colors Kit
• Sprinkles and other decorative elements

 

Method:

1. Follow Chefmaster’s Cake Pop Tutorial to make cake pops.
2. After your cake pops are complete, spray Chefmaster’s airbrush metallic food coloring on top for some extra holiday shimmer.

 

CHRISTMAS CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

What’s already red and green and sweet all over? Strawberries! These strawberries are a great option if you’re pressed for time and looking for something different to bring to your next holiday party. Among a sea of cakes and cookies, these strawberries will stand out (and perhaps save folks a few calories!).  

 

What you’ll need:

 

• 4 T canola oil
• 1 bag (12 oz) of white chocolate chips
• 1 bag (12 oz) of semi sweet chocolate chips
• Chefmaster Candy Colors oil-based food coloring
• 2 pounds of strawberries, washed and dried
• Festive sprinkles
• Nonpareils, chopped nuts, or any other toppings you’d like to use.

 

Method:

 

1. Pour white chocolate and semi sweet chocolate into separate microwavable bowls.
2. Add 1 T of oil into each bowl. Heat in microwave for 20-30 seconds at a time until melted. Stir.
3. Pour the white chocolate into separate bowls – as many as you’d like colors - and add 1-2 drops of food coloring into each. Stir well.
4. Dip strawberries into chocolate.
5. Place each dipped strawberry onto wax paper and continue to coat or drizzle with different toppings.
6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and enjoy!

 

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU CELEBRATE!

Our mission at Chefmaster is to help you celebrate all of life’s moments. From our kitchen to yours, Merry Christmas from the entire Chefmaster family! Come say hello on Facebook and Instagram and visit our blog for more baking guides and tips throughout the holiday season. Ho Ho Ho, and cheers to a very happy holiday season!