Editors' Favorite Holiday Desserts

Updated December 06, 2013
Credit: Oxmoor House

From gooey bread pudding to slow cooker cake, these mouthwatering desserts are our editors' top picks this holiday season.

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Chocolate Mint Pots de Crème

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Chocolate Mint Pots de Crème Recipe

These elegant, individual custards can be made a few days ahead of time for a party. Allowing the mint to steep in the milk and cream intensifies the flavor. If you like a rich custard, use all cream.

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Buttermilk Bundt Cakes

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Sarah Smart

Buttermilk Bundt Cakes Recipe

Here we offer three options for garnishing these adorable, delicious cakes: Simply dust with powdered sugar, pipe a bit of glaze over the top, or completely dunk the cakes for a heavier coating. Make the cakes up to two weeks ahead. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and freeze, omitting any garnishes.

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Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie Recipe

Dark, rich, and intensely chocolatey, this is our favorite new twist on pecan pie. Make it even more special and serve with sweetened whipped cream.

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Double Chocolate Bread Pudding with Dulce de Leche

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Stephana Bottom

Double Chocolate Bread Pudding with Dulce de Leche Recipe

Chocolate bread pudding just got better with the addition of decadent dulce de leche.

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Maple-Glazed Pumpkin-Cranberry Coffee Cake

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Maple-Glazed Pumpkin-Cranberry Coffee Cake Recipe

This moist, pretty cake features your favorite holiday flavors--warm spices, tangy cranberries, and sweet maple syrup.

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Brown Sugar Soufflés with Crème Anglaise

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Brown Sugar Soufflés with Crème Anglaise Recipe

The combination of brown sugar and browned butter gives this rich dessert an intense caramel flavor.

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Caramel-Mocha-Sea Salt Cupcakes

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Caramel-Mocha-Sea Salt Cupcakes Recipe

This cupcake is a combination of salty and sweet blended with mocha.

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Cranberry-Apple Pie

Credit: Charles Masters

Cranberry-Apple Pie Recipe

This juicy double-crusted beauty combines two favorite fall flavors. Grade B maple syrup is less refined and has a stronger maple taste, though grade A will work just fine in this recipe.

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Grapefruit Pound Cake

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Grapefruit Pound Cake Recipe

This sweet, tangy cake blossoms from the floral essence of grated grapefruit rind while fresh grapefruit juice packs refreshing flavor into the powdered sugar glaze.

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Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce

Credit: Oxmoor House

Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

The layer of sauce in the middle of this decadent bread pudding is the secret to this velvety-rich interior.

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Double Apple Cake

Credit: Oxmoor House

Double Apple Cake Recipe

If you’re an apple lover, look no further for dessert than this tasty cake recipe. It takes just 1 to 1 1/2 hours to bake in the slow cooker, making this apple cake the perfect, mouth-watering treat for busy holiday gatherings.

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Tiramisu Bread Pudding

Credit: Oxmoor House

Tiramisu Bread Pudding Recipe

Drizzled with a rich mascarpone cheese sauce, this moist, coffee- and Kahlúa-flavored bread pudding offers the flavors of its Italian dessert namesake. Plus, it bakes in the slow cooker so you won't have to worry about competing for oven space.

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