3 Christmas Dessert Ideas and Recipes

The Sweetest Gift You Can Give - Christmas Dessert Ideas

Want to make a wonderful Christmas dessert that will have everyone craving for more? The following three recipes are great for satisfying the cravings of anyone with a sweet tooth and can be brought to Christmas parties, potlucks, and even family gatherings. Best of all, they are easy to make, bursting with flavor, and also work great as gifts for loved ones. If you know anyone who loves coffee and desserts, then you have no excuse not to get into the kitchen and try to create one of these stunning Christmas dessert ideas!

1. Gingerbread Tiramisu Ice Cream

This is one of the most versatile options out of all of our Christmas dessert ideas. Our version of gingerbread tiramisu ice cream does away with churning and complexity and replaces it with earnest simplicity. This is the best recipe if you are really trying to wow your friends and family by creating a dessert that looks complex, tastes amazing, and can be served in multiple ways.

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 250g of mascarpone cheese
• 200g of pouring cream
• 4 tablespoons of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 40ml of quality espresso
• 1/4 tsp of ground ginger
• 3 tablespoons of marsala
• 4 ladyfinger biscuits (Italian sponge cookies)
• gingerbread men, to serve

Method:

Step 1:

Place your mascarpone cheese, cream, vanilla, and sugar into a bowl and whisk the ingredients together until they are combined and fluffy. 

Step 2:

Brew a quality shot of espresso. Start by grinding your favorite coffee beans with a burr grinder. Once you have the consistency you desire, use an espresso machine or Moka Pot to extract your coffee. 

Step 3:

Add your coffee, ginger, and marsala in a small bowl. Break your ladyfinger biscuits into four pieces each, and add them into your coffee mixture. Mix everything together until your biscuits are soft and combine with the coffee mixture.

Step 4:

Add your biscuit and coffee mixture into the larger bowl with your fluffy cheese mixture. Combine until both sets of ingredients have been perfectly combined and have a smooth texture.

Step 5:

Freeze your mixture for at least one hour before serving. You can present your creation in the form of scoops of ice cream, or even use it as a topping for other Christmas dessert ideas you might have in mind. 

2. Marvelous Mocha Mousse

As far as wonderful Christmas dessert ideas go, you can’t get any more classic and delicious than mousse. This chocolatey, gooey goodness will ensure you become the talking point of every party, and can even be offered up as a great gift! If you have anyone in your life that can’t get enough of chocolate and coffee, then our marvelous mocha mousse is a must-try, especially since it’s so simple to make!

Ingredients (serves 4):

• 200g of dark chocolate
• 2 eggs, whites, and yolks separated
• 1/3 cup (60g) of golden caster sugar
• 1/3 cup (80ml) of thickened or pure cream
• 40ml of quality espresso
• fresh raspberries, to serve
• icing sugar, to serve

Method:

Step 1:

Heat up your chocolate and place into a large bowl. You can either microwave it directly in the bowl or transfer it from the stove. Just ensure the end result is smooth and creamy.

Step 2:

Brew a shot of quality espresso using fresh coffee of your choice. Use a grinder to ensure your coffee beans are broken down to the right consistency and then extract a shot of coffee.

Step 3:

Add your egg yolks, sugar, cream, and coffee in a medium-sized saucepan. Whisk your ingredients until they are combined and smooth. Then, turn on the heat to a low setting and stir consistently for 3-4 minutes. Once the sugar has melted, you can turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down to room temperature. By the time it cools, it should look like custard.

Step 4:

Add your egg whites to a bowl and whisk them until fluffy.

Step 5:

Add your egg custard into the chocolate mixture you created earlier, and then fold in the egg whites, too. Gently mix until it is smooth and fully incorporated together. 

Step 6:

Split your mousse into four servings and put them into the fridge for an hour. You can serve these Christmas dessert treats with raspberries and a light dusting of icing sugar.

3. White Chocolate Cappuccino Cookies

If you’re hunting for a Christmas dessert idea with some serious personality, then look no further! These cookies are sure to be a hit with family, friends, or co-workers, especially if you purchase inexpensive festive cookie cutters and shape them for the holiday season! 

Ingredients (45 cookies)

• 2 cups of cappuccino
• 1 tablespoon of hot water
• 1 cup of butter, softened
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
• 2-1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon of salt
• 8 ounces of white candy coating, melted
• Baking cocoa, optional

Method

Step 1:

Brew 2 cups of cappuccino. You’ll need to grind down your coffee beans, extract 2 shots of espresso, and make sure you split each cup of coffee into a ratio of 1/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3  foam. You can use an electric frother to get your foam just right.

Step 2:

Combine cream, butter, and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add in your cappuccino and egg yolk and continue to beat the mixture until everything is fully combined. 

Step 3:

 In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, and salt. Add this to your cream mixture and beat until everything is smoothly incorporated.

Step 4:

Divide up your dough into two sections and place into the fridge for 30 minutes. 

Step 5:

Preheat oven to 375°f (190c). While the oven is heating, roll your dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to bring this Christmas dessert idea to life! Try and find festive shapes for the most fun result! 

Step 6:

Place raw cookies on baking sheets and put them into the oven for 10-12 minutes.

Step 7:

Pipe white candy coating onto your cookies as decoration, or simply dip your cookies into your white candy coating and let it dry. 

Bring Your Christmas Dessert Ideas to Life

Now that you have a trio of simple Christmas dessert ideas to try out, you can create sweet treats for those you love. Remember that the above recipes are just basic guidelines and you can take these Christmas dessert ideas and tweak them in any way that your heart desires. At the end of the day, the holidays are all about enjoyment, so we sincerely hope you give these recipes a try and enjoy the cooking process and the eating even more!