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.
Citrus Cornmeal Cake
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, CaliforniaEggnog Mousse
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 KitchenWinter Fruit with Prosecco Sabayon
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, WisconsinIs it snowing outside? Take this opportunity to make the unique snow ice cream!
Gingerbread Meringue Bars
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, CaliforniaChocolate Peppermint Log
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!
Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake
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, IllinoisPoached Pears with Orange Cream
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, WisconsinWarm Chocolate Melting Cups
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, TexasCranberry Pear Tart
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 KitchenPumpkin Pecan Frozen Yogurt
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 CarolinaMust-Have Tiramisu
This is the perfect guilt-free version of a classic Christmas dessert. My friends even say that they prefer my lighter recipe over other tiramisu.—Ale Gambini, Beverly Hills, CaliforniaTriple-Ginger Gingersnaps
Ginger cookies are holiday hits. To package these Christmas cookies, tuck them into clean, recycled coffee cans wrapped in decorative paper. With a glue gun, add ribbon or trim. —Jessica Follen, Waunakee, WisconsinSour Cream Bavarian
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, IllinoisCinnamon Nut Bars
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, WisconsinChocolate Cannoli Cake
Hints of orange and coffee lend standout flavor to this elegant cannoli-inspired cake. A variation of this cake was a finalist in the Best Cake in Michigan contest. —Mary Bilyeu, Ann Arbor, MichiganCoconut Christmas Mice
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, WisconsinMakeover Cranberry Trifle
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, CaliforniaOrange Ricotta Cake Roll
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, CaliforniaGinger Apple-Pear Crisp
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 JerseyPumpkin Pie Custard
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 JerseyMakeover Sweet Kugel
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, PennsylvaniaVanilla Meringue Cookies
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, WisconsinLight & Creamy Chocolate Pudding
This pudding is exactly what its name promises—light and creamy. Because it uses soy milk, it’s a smart dairy-free milk alternative if you’re lactose intolerant. —Deborah Williams, Peoria, ArizonaMaking cheesecake doesn’t have to be hard. Check out our ultimate guide for making cheesecake.