Editors' Favorite Holiday Desserts

Updated: October 11, 2014
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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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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Pumpkin-Cranberry Coffee Cake

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst
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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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

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

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

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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