While there's no end to delicious food to eat around Christmas, it doesn't all have to be heavy and calorie-laden! These lighter Christmas desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth without weighing you down.
31 Lightened-Up Christmas Desserts
Updated on Sep. 27, 2024
Cranberry Swirl Biscotti
A friend of mine, who is known for her excellent cookies, shared this recipe with me. The mix of cranberries and cherry preserves is so refreshing. —Lisa Kilcup, Gig Harbor, Washington
Also, check out these Christmas cheesecake recipes, perfect for your upcoming festive get togethers.
1/31
2/31
Citrus Cornmeal Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cornmeal adds a rustic quality to this delicate dessert flavored with citrus and almond. It’s sure to be a staple in your Christmas desserts collection and also makes a great holiday party hostess gift. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
3/31
Eggnog Mousse
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will always find room for this light, fluffy, mouthwatering mousse. It makes an elegant, refreshing finish for heavier holiday meals—and it’s also a great way to use up any extra eggnog in the fridge. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
4/31
Winter Fruit with Prosecco Sabayon
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings (3/4 cup sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is special to me because it allows me to treat my dinner guests to a special, unusual dessert. The bright, vivid colors are perfect for the holidays. Omit the Prosecco when serving to children. —Jerry Gulley, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Is it snowing outside? Take this opportunity to make the unique snow ice cream!
5/31
Gingerbread Meringue Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The best of both worlds, I combined my grandmother’s gingerbread recipe with my aunt’s special brown sugar meringue to make these lovable dessert bars. —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles, California
6/31
Chocolate Peppermint Log
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
What a great make-ahead dessert! This cake log is perfect for the holidays because you can make it when you have time, store it in the freezer and scratch dessert off of your to-do list. —Brenda Sinclair, Princeton, Missouri.
Hungry for more? Try these chocolate Christmas desserts.
You can also explore these unique peppermint desserts!
7/31
Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois
8/31
Poached Pears with Orange Cream
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
End the meal with a flourish with this easy and elegant dessert. A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine’s bold taste. —Julianne Schnuck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
9/31
Warm Chocolate Melting Cups
Total Time
40 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These little cakes have become a favorite of our guests. They are always surprised that such chocolaty desserts are so light—less than 200 calories apiece! —Kissa Vaughn, Troy, Texas
10/31
Cranberry Pear Tart
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our test cooks came up with this lighter pear tart with dried cranberries. While it’s delicious as is, it would also be good served warm with ice cream. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen
11/31
Pumpkin Pecan Frozen Yogurt
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I always keep fat-free frozen yogurt on hand. By combining it with just four other ingredients, I can quickly whip up this great-tasting treat.—Anne Smithson, Cary, North Carolina
12/31
Tiramisu
Total Time
25 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tiramisu is Italian for pick-me-up, and this one is definitely true to its name! My version of the classic Tuscan trifle has both coffee and espresso for layers of java flavor. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
13/31
Soft Gingersnap Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Soft gingersnaps embody the tastes and smells of the Christmas season, but they are perfect for any fall or winter gathering. I enjoy the blend of cloves, ginger and cinnamon in this delicious cookie. —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina
14/31
Sour Cream Bavarian
Total Time
15 min
Servings
8 servings (1-1/4 cups sauce)
From the Recipe Creator:
Are you ‘sweet on’ someone who’s counting calories? Show them you care with this light and refreshing dessert. It’s sinfully creamy and so pretty with the tart raspberry sauce. No one would ever guess that it’s fat-free! —Judi Janczewski, Berwyn, Illinois
15/31
Cinnamon Nut Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Classic dessert bar meets good-for-you ingredients in this updated recipe. If you have the patience, after the bars are cool, store them in a tin for a day to allow the flavors to meld…I think they taste even better the next day.— Heidi Lindsey, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
16/31
Cannoli Cake
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A luscious, chocolate-studded cannoli filling separates the tender vanilla layers of this rich cake, which starts with a package mix. It’s best when served well chilled.—Antoinette Owens, Ridgefield, Connecticut
17/31
Coconut Christmas Mice
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Off-the-charts cuteness makes it nearly impossible for guests to resist these fluffy, coconutty treats. Luckily, they’re really easy to make—no oven needed. Merry Christ-mouse to you! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
18/31
Makeover Cranberry Trifle
Total Time
25 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You’d never guess that this showstopper fruit trifle recipe has been lightened up because it boasts all of the original’s festive flavor, but only half the fat and way fewer calories! —Sonya Labbe, Santa Monica, California
19/31
Orange Ricotta Cake Roll
Total Time
55 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I come from a big Italian family where my mom cooked and baked many delicious meals and desserts from scratch. Now I like to do the same for my family. This cake is my finale to our Italian Christmas Eve dinner. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California
20/31
Ginger Apple-Pear Crisp
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Taste autumn aromas—apples, cinnamon and spices—in this delicious recipe. It’s even better with a scoop of vanilla or homemade pumpkin ice cream! Whipped cream is always an option. —Holly Battiste, Barrington, New Jersey
21/31
Pumpkin Pie Custard
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Instead of traditional pumpkin pie, try this flavorful light holiday dessert. My husband’s aunt shared the recipe after she brought this treat to a family party. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey
22/31
Makeover Sweet Kugel
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a traditional recipe I make for the holidays. My close friend and I used to bake together until she moved 1,300 miles away. Now when I make this dish, I’m reminded of our time together. —Eileen Wolf, Abington, Pennsylvania
23/31
Meringue Cookies
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Want to learn how to make meringues? This meringue cookie is light, airy morsels and the perfect fat-free treat to really beat a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
24/31
Chocolate Pudding
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delightful pudding is always a treat and easy to whip up with pantry staples. I usually top it with M&M's. My husband prefers whipped topping, and our daughter loves to dip fresh strawberries in hers. —Carrina Cooper, McAlpin, Florida
25/31
Chewy Cranberry Pecan Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve been making these for several years as I really enjoy the combination of flavors and the relative ease of preparations. They’re not only great for the holidays, but year round if you have cranberries in your freezer. —Virginia Anthony, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
26/31
Buttery Spritz Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 7-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This tender spritz cookie recipe is quite eye-catching on my Christmas cookie tray. The dough is easy to work with, so it's fun to make these spritz cookies into a variety of festive shapes. This is hands-down the best spritz cookie recipe ever. —Beverly Launius, Sandwich, Illinois
27/31
Hot Cocoa Souffle
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend invited me to a church cooking demo years ago, and one of the recipes we prepared was this luscious souffle. It's decadent and delicious. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
28/31
Pear Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there’s no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
29/31
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 bars
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe caught my eye and was extremely popular at the annual Christmas party sponsored by our Extension Homemakers. It's a great dessert for fall.
30/31
Contest-Winning Chocolate Angel Food Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I take this different kind of angel food cake to church bake sales, it goes before I can get it on the table!—Mary Ann Iverson, Woodville, Wisconsin
31/31
Baked Pumpkin Pudding
Total Time
50 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Even after your favorite turkey dinner, you’ll find room for this perfect pudding dessert—a treat served hot or cold. Mildly spiced, it will leave you sweetly satisfied, but not overly full, assures Gerri Saylor from Graniteville, South Carolina.
