Our 10 Most-Saved Holiday Desserts to Make This Season

These are the holiday desserts our readers keep coming back to.

By Laila Ibrahim
Published December 02, 2025
Slice of pecan pie cheesecake on a plate with a fork and mug on a table

Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Holiday sweets tend to inspire strong loyalties. Some people swear by pie, others won't budge from cake, and plenty of us simply go with whatever tastes best alongside a scoop of ice cream. During the holidays, dessert becomes something to plan for, request in advance, and save room for.

If you're searching for a standout treat for your holiday table, it helps to see which ones others are saving and returning to. These are the holiday desserts our readers have saved most often using MyRecipes, our free tool for keeping and organizing favorite recipes.

Love these recipes? With MyRecipes, your personal home for recipes, easily save and organize your favorites, plus thousands more, in one convenient place.

  • Old-Fashioned Jelly Roll

    20191105-jelly-roll-vicky-wasik-19
    Vicky Wasik

    This old-fashioned jelly roll wraps a light, flexible sponge around tart jam for a simple, nostalgic dessert that never goes out of style.

  • Maple Walnut Cake

    A slice of cake with layers of frosting and walnut garnish on a plate a partially sliced cake and a drink in the background

    Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

    A moist, walnut-studded cake sweetened with maple syrup, ideal when you want something homey, warm, and easy to slice and share.

  • Pecan Pie Cheesecake

    Slice of pecan pie cheesecake on a plate with a fork and mug on a table

    Serious Eats / Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

    This cheesecake starts with a silky, creamy base and is topped with a gooey layer of pecans and syrupy caramel, making it a standout choice for any holiday table.

  • The Best Apple Crisp

    20140929-apple-crisp-vicky-wasik-24.jpg
    Vicky Wasik

    This apple crisp combines tender, cinnamon-spiced apples with a golden, buttery topping, creating a cozy dessert that's perfect for chilly evenings and holiday gatherings.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

    Overhead view of a whole Apple Cider Dough Cake

    Serious Eats / Fred Hardy

    This moist, warmly spiced cake captures all the cozy flavor of an apple-cider doughnut in a sliceable, easy dessert—no trip to the orchard needed.

  • Soft Molasses Cookies

    molasses cookie

    Stock: Foodcollection / Getty Images

    These soft molasses cookies combine rich molasses and warm spices, baking up tender and crackly-topped for an easy addition to any holiday cookie spread.

  • Pecan Tassies

    Decorative board with pican tassies on it, on top of a dark green velvet fabric. Smaller plate with 3 tassies on it, one bitten into. 2 cups of water.

    Serious Eats / Robbie Lozano

    These pecan tassies feature a crisp, tender shell and a sweet, sticky pecan filling, making them perfect little bites for festive gatherings.

  • Sticky Toffee Pudding

    Side view of pouring sauce on sticky toffee pudding

    Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

    This warm pudding layers moist cake with rich toffee sauce for a festive and comforting holiday dessert that feels like a hug in a bowl.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • Classic Pecan Pie

    20151017-pecan-pie-vicky-wasik-15.jpg
    Vicky Wasik

    This classic pecan pie fills your table with sticky-sweet pecans and buttery crust—a holiday staple that always gets seconds.

  • BraveTart's Epic New York Cheesecake

    20190520-cheesecake-vicky-wasik-34

    This cheesecake offers that iconic creamy texture and subtle tang, all atop a crisp graham crust—ideal for a holiday gathering when you want something classic but impressive.

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