40 Festive Desserts for Christmas Potluck
These easy Christmas potluck desserts travel well, serve a crowd, and guarantee your treats will sweeten the season. From spicy gingerbread to refreshing peppermint, rich chocolate to creamy cinnamon, all the flavors of the holiday are here.
Bringing dessert to a Christmas potluck is always a win but choosing just the right recipes makes all the difference.
You want something that is easy to prep ahead, travels beautifully, and holds up on a crowded holiday buffet so guests can grab a slice or scoop with zero fuss.
This list of festive Christmas potluck desserts includes no-bake favorites, easy cakes, creamy dessert dips, holiday cookies, and plenty of make-ahead treats that set up perfectly in the fridge.
Every recipe includes helpful tips for travel, storing and serving, so you can arrive confident and ready to celebrate.
Get ready for some sweet holiday magic at your next potluck party dessert table!
Candy Cane Pie
This no bake candy cane pie is a potluck party dream because you make it ahead the day before and it sets up perfectly in the fridge.
Press the candy canes in on top just before serving to avoid having the colors run into the Cool Whip as it rests in the fridge.
Easy Panettone Bread Pudding
Turn that classic Italian Christmas cake into an easy panettone bread pudding and serve it warm with amaretto sauce drizzled over the top. You can easily travel with the two items separately and just place them near each other on the dessert table.
Swedish Chocolate Balls
These no bake Swedish chocolate balls are perfect for a potluck because they are bite-sized and sturdy, nothing to break in transit here! With a hint of coffee in the mix, they make an excellent after dinner treat.
Easy Peppermint Patty Brownies
Cool, minty, and super rich, these peppermint patty brownies hold their shape really well for travel, too. Pack them in layers separated by parchment paper so they don't stick together and it will be easier for guests to grab just what they need.
Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars
Soft, frosted Christmas sugar cookie bars are easier to transport than a tray of individual cookies. Just bring them right in the baking pan and slice them on site. This is great because guests can take a bite-sized square or a generous portion as they desire!
Cherry Cake with Almond Icing
This charming cherry cake with almond icing stays perfectly moist and is easy to take right in the 9x13-inch pan it was baked in. Garnish it with the maraschino cherries just before serving so the juices don't run into the icing.
Grasshopper Poke Cake
Chocolate and mint lovers will flock to this rich grasshopper poke cake. Serve it chilled for an extra cool experience. It will travel perfectly in the baking pan and slices neatly for the buffet table.
OREO Blondies
White chocolate cookie squares filled with everyone's favorite chocolate sandwich cookie, these OREO blondies are the perfect travel-friendly treat!
Shortbread Pecan Pie Bars
These rich shortbread pecan pie bars feel fancy enough for the holidays and travel like a charm. Bring them in a covered container and let guests choose the perfect sticky square.
Original Fantasy Fudge
This classic Christmas treat, original fantasy fudge, is the ultimate potluck winner. No refrigeration is needed and you can make the fudge in advance. It makes a great sized batch for feeding a crowd, a little goes a long way and you slice it into small squares for serving.
Hot Cocoa Cheesecake Dip
Warm up the buffet with this cozy chilled hot cocoa cheesecake dip served with thin chocolate wafer cookies or even fresh fruit. I love to garnish it with my favorite hot cocoa toppings for flair.
Crescent Roll Cheesecake Bars
Buttery, cinnamon sugar topped crescent roll cheesecake bars slice so neatly and are a great make ahead treat to bring to a potluck. Keep them chilled before serving but they are delicious at room temperature, too.
For a Christmas variation, layer in cherry pie filling before topping with the upper crust.
Mint Chocolate Lasagna
This layered no-bake dessert looks impressive but is very potluck-friendly. My mint chocolate lasagna started as a St. Patrick's Day dessert but with a maraschino cherry on top is cute as can be for a Christmas party.
Best Cannoli Dip
My easy cannoli dip is a fun interactive dessert for a potluck party table. Serve the chilled creamy dip in a pretty holiday dish and then top with chocolate chips and chopped pistachios. Buttery waffle cookies make the perfect dipper and are a sturdier option when you need to take the treat on the go.
Irish Shortbread Cookies
If I'm baking cookies for a Christmas potluck, you can bet they'll be a pan of sturdy Irish shortbread cookies that beat anything you can buy at the store. With a short list of ingredients and no cookie shaping needed, this shortbread has the best texture you've ever tried.
Foolproof Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
If you want to bring a cookie tray, be sure to add in a batch of these easy rolled Mexican hot chocolate cookies. The hint of cayenne adds the perfect bit of heat to complement the rich chocolate cookie. They have a perfect texture and won't break easily in transit.
Cherry Delight Dessert
This retro cherry delight dessert was what my mom served for Christmas when I was a kid. An easy 9x13 chilled pan with bright red cherry topping is the prettiest addition to the party table. Don't forget to bring canisters of whipped cream for topping each slice.
Cranberry Bliss Bars
A bakery-style treat that is even better homemade, these cranberry bliss bars stay fresh and sturdy during transport to the party. Keep them chilled before serving so they slice neatly.
Saltine Cracker Toffee
There's no way you'll be able to stop at just one bite of these sweet and salty saltine cracker toffee bits. Pack them in a pretty Christmas tin which doubles as travel carrier and party platter all in one.
Tres Leches Cake
This ultra-moist tres leches cake is a great make-ahead cake that is best served chilled. That soothing dash of cinnamon on top is an excellent flavor for after dinner.
Apple Snickerdoodle Dump Cake
Warm and juicy apple snickerdoodle dump cake is a fun and easy dessert that uses a snickerdoodle cookie pouch. Serve it with whipped cream or bring a tub of vanilla ice cream to the party for simple sundaes. It's best to check with the host about freezer space first!
Festive Mint Oreo Truffles
These no bake mint OREO truffles are little bites of holiday cheer that pack easily into a Christmas tin for travel. Make them ahead and keep them in the fridge until just before serving.
Triple Berry Sauce for Topping a Plain Cheesecake
Grab a store bought cheesecake, I love the ones from Costco, and then make this fresh triple berry sauce for topping! This is a thoughtful potluck upgrade that shows you put in some effort but still want to feed a crowd.
Old Fashioned Chocolate Eclair Cake
This classic no-bake chocolate eclair cake has been a potluck party staple for generations because it is a budget-friendly way to serve a crowd. Keep it cold during transport so the layers stay cool and creamy.
OREO Cream Pie
Fluffy, crowd-pleasing OREO cream pie is an easy Christmas potluck party dessert that can be prepped in minutes. Keep the cookie garnishes off the top until just before serving if you want to ensure they stay crisp.
Easy Tiramisu
My easy tiramisu feels fancy but is actually a perfect potluck party dessert because you make it ahead and serve it chilled. This a perfect, elegant dessert for anyone shy about baking. You beat the creamy layer together and then simply layer it in a dish!
Banana Pudding (No Bananas)
Here in the south there's no such thing as a potluck without banana pudding on the table. Our family is of the opinion that bananas are the only thing wrong with this beloved dessert.
So I made mine without the bananas, for Christmas use the holiday-themed cookies available for an extra-special touch.
Rich Chocolate Flourless Torte
This decadent chocolate flourless torte is naturally gluten-free and slices into elegant, potluck-friendly wedges. Dust it with powdered sugar before serving.
BONUS POINTS: Make a batch of this creme anglaise vanilla sauce for serving in a small pitcher next to the torte.
New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
A warm and cozy dessert that could also be served at room temperature is this delicious New Orleans bread pudding with bourbon sauce. Offer the dishes separately, the bourbon flavor might be too strong for the kids.
Easy Gingerbread Cookies
Always a classic, gingerbread is a Christmas cookie staple.
If you're going to travel with these gingerbread cookies, I recommend decorating them with a simple glaze like my vanilla glaze or this brighter lemon glaze for a festive accent. Then you won't need to worry about frosting getting ruined in transit.
Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad
This nostalgic pistachio fluff fruit salad is a light and refreshing dessert to bring to a potluck. Serve it in a chilled bowl to keep it cool.
BONUS: For extra Christmas flair, top it with maraschino cherries before serving.
Easy Gingerbread Dip
This creamy gingerbread dip tastes just like the beloved cookie classic and can be paired with pretzels, graham crackers, or even fresh fruit. It's a fun dish to offer if kids will be at the party.
Make-Ahead Cranberry Fluff
For those that want their sweets with a hearty dose of tart, this easy make-ahead cranberry fluff is a winner! That sweet pink treat looks so pretty on the buffet table and is a lighter alternative dessert for those that don't want all the richness on display.
Strawberry Cheesecake Dip
I originally made this strawberry cheesecake dip as a Valentine's Day treat but it would look so cute on the Christmas party table surrounded by bright red berries. Arrange the dip in a pretty container, set it in the center of a big platter, and then just scatter the fruits all around before serving.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
This creamy no-bake peanut butter pie sets up firmly in the fridge and travels with ease. Bring extra peanut butter cups for garnishing the top for extra attention in a sea of stunning desserts.
Coconut Chex Mix with Almonds
You could serve this easy coconut Chex Mix with almonds in a large serving dish or you could be extra-thoughtful and scoop it into smaller individual portions in cellophane bags and tie them with pretty bows. This lets the potluck party guests who have to leave early grab a treat before they leave.
More Potluck Party Recipes
Potluck parties are such a budget-friendly way to entertain during the holidays with everyone contributing to the buffet. Looking for more easy ideas? Here are a few of my favorites:
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