142 holiday dessert recipes

Mexican wedding cakes are always a holiday favorite but this recipe takes it up a notch or two, writes Mary Wilhelm of Sparta.

Peanut butter balls dipped in melted chocolate get mini M&M irises pressed into the center for spooky Halloween eyeball treats that kids love making and eating.

No-bake frozen fruitcake salad with sour cream, whipped topping, candied cherries, pineapple, bananas, and pecans. A retro holiday dessert that freezes into a creamy, fruity slice.

Jewish rugelach with a flaky cottage cheese dough, apricot jam, cinnamon-sugar, walnuts, and currants rolled into golden crescents. A holiday cookie jar essential for Hanukkah or Christmas.

Cranberry pear crisp with a brown rice base topped with oats, pecans, and coconut. A unique fall dessert with tart cranberries and sweet pears.

Mexican wedding cookies shaped into crescents with butter, crushed pecans, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Tender, crumbly, and melt-in-your-mouth with just six ingredients.

Macaroon is always a delicious and healthy substitution of rich buttery cookies, they are so light and meringue gives the different texture when you bite into it; make some macaroons to delight your guests!

Mary Wilhelm of Sparta sent her signature cookie, which she said she has prepared for the Food Network, Warrens Cranfest and Taste of Home magazine. Two classic flavor pairings - brown sugar and cashews, and orange and cranberry - come together.

Mother's Day baked apple-cinnamon French toast assembles overnight, then bakes into a puffed, custardy casserole with dried apples, raisins, and warm spices. Zero morning-of stress.

A vegan butternut squash pie with soy milk and agar flakes, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, garnished with pecans and a barley malt glaze. An egg-free and dairy-free twist on the classic holiday pie.

Homemade golden peach butter with cinnamon, cloves, and lemon zest. Slow-simmered from ripe peaches and water bath canned for pantry storage. A beautiful holiday gift or toast topper.

I always do them, not only at Chrsitmas, sometimes I change some kinds of nuts, or use blueberries or strawberries, all go well!

Cranberries and pistachios are the complementary flavors of this cookie recipe submitted by Jane Bortz of Beaver Dam.

Crustless pumpkin pie sets with unflavored gelatin into a silky no-bake dessert with classic pumpkin pie spice. Gluten-free, low-calorie holiday alternative.

Preschoolers will love these delicious cub-shaped cookies, made with nutty butter and crispy graham crackers. You and the kids can even create these cookies together!

No-bake peanut butter snowballs with chopped dates and walnuts, dipped in icing and rolled in coconut. Christmas cookie tin classic. No oven, kids love them.