Everyone knows that while the turkey (or ham, pork, or seafood) is a wonderful addition to the Christmas table, it’s the dessert that everyone is there for. However, instead of trying your hands at the dessert recipes at the very last minute or having sleepless nights about having to bake some sweet treats on the big day, change things up a little this Christmas and make your dessert a few days in advance.
This way, you will not only tick off one thing from your neverending to-do list but will also remain stress-free. To help you out, here are a few make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes that will make things easier for you. While some of them are freezer-friendly, others can be made using your slow cooker to take some of the weight off your shoulders. Just pop them in there and whip them out when it is time to serve your dishes.
Mince Pie Ice Cream Sandwich
You can go one of two ways here, make, assemble, and freeze them, or enjoy a few minutes of relief from the chaos, by spooning the ice cream you’ve made a week ahead into the cookies on the big day. This Christmas dessert recipe will be a hit among the kids as it combines two of their favorite things — cookies and ice cream.
White Christmas Cheesecake
Ring in the festive cheer with this easy cheesecake recipe. It’s a great make-ahead dessert recipe for Christmas that you can prepare at least 3-4 days in advance and store in the refrigerator. You can also make it 1-2 weeks ahead of your celebration and freeze it. It’s an excellent recipe for all the busy moms out there who have too much on their plate and need to get as many things out of the way as possible.
Vegan and Gluten-Free Christmas Cake
With fruit mince (which has to be made a week before you make the cake) and brandy, this dense make-ahead Christmas cake tastes just like the original. Moreover, this cake is just what people with egg, dairy, and gluten allergies are looking for.
After baking the cake, wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container to store in the refrigerator or freezer to enjoy later. Do not store it at room temperature (unless you plan to serve it immediately after), or else it might spoil easily.
Slow Cooker Christmas Pudding
Let your slow cooker make this one for you while you snooze. This is one of the easiest make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes as you simply have to put all the ingredients in your slow cooker and let it do its magic, saving you both time and energy.
Chocolate Caramel Tart
Make it ahead of time and let this Christmas dessert recipe set for a day in the fridge and sprinkle the hazelnuts on top right before serving. This sweet treat will surely be a show-stopper at your holiday celebration.
Frozen Yogurt Berry Slice
Not only is this sweet treat pretty to look at, but you can also make this a week or so before the big day. Moreover, it has berries and yogurt, making it the perfect dessert for kiddos of all age groups.
Salted Caramel Slice
You won’t need the oven to make this Christmas dessert recipe. Moreover, you can save some room in the fridge and easily store this one in the freezer until you’re ready to serve it to your loved ones.
Christmas Rocky Road
Instead of making your traditional rocky road, try this make-ahead dessert recipe for Christmas, which incorporates gingerbread and shortbread fingers for a unique flavor. Serve it alongside coffee to start your Christmas celebration on a sweet note.
Tiramisu
Tiramisu is best when made the day before and tastes even better when you make it in individual glass portions. Think of the space in the fridge you’ll save, so do try your hands at this dessert recipe this Christmas.
Sticky Date Pudding
Sticky date pudding is a show-stopper that tastes even better if you have the time to make it around two days before the big day. Heat it slightly before serving and voila, you have a heavenly sweet treat for your Christmas celebration.
Ice Cube Tray Lemon and Passionfruit Cheesecakes
As the name suggests, all you will need for this make-ahead Christmas dessert recipe are ice cube trays. Just pop the bite-sized cheesecakes out at the time of serving and see the guests gobbling them down in mere seconds.
Plum Pudding Truffles, Christmas Shortbread Biscuits, Festive Cherry and Raspberry Tart, and Retro Trifle are a few other dessert options that you can make ahead of the big day for a stress-free celebration with your loved ones. So, pick some recipes you want to try, make them ahead of Christmas, and let us know if they made the kitchen duty a tad bit easier this year in the comment section below.
