These cute Christmas dessert ideas are big on fun, flavour and style
From a tiny Pavlova to mini chocolate puddings, here’s 20 Christmas dessert ideas which are small in size but huge in flavour.
This silly season will be all about serving Christmas desserts on a platter so your guests can help themselves – and we’ve rounded up the best ones. We’ve got everything from tiny cheesecakes to miniature muffin pan fruit cakes to petite desserts made in a pie maker!
Mini gingerbread cheesecakes
Air fryer gin mince pies
We’ve given the Christmas staple an air fryer treatment - with a splash of gin! These mince pies have a soft and crumbly pastry, stuffed with all the usual fruity and nutty suspects.
Mini Baileys Basque cheesecakes
Basque cheesecakes are known for their dark, “burnt” look. These mini versions are made in a silicone cupcake pan and flavoured with Baileys Irish Cream liqueur. They are extra creamy and indulgent, a perfect dinner party dessert.
2-ingredient condensed milk truffles
Little lemon meringue tarts
Baby gingerbread ripple cakes
We’ve taken our best old-school choc ripple cake, made it mini and given it a Christmas twist! These easy individual desserts are made by simply layering gingernut biscuits with a sweet ginger and cinnamon cream and a butterscotch caramel sauce. If ginger beer isn’t your thing, you can replace it just with milk.
Mini gin and tonic trifles
These quick mini desserts are the easy way to entertain without spending hours in the kitchen.
Mini Fantale custard tarts
Lolly lovers will be well-chuffed with these mini tarts - there’s a hidden Fantail inside each one! Covered with creamy custard and encased in store-bought tart shells, this is an easy sweet treat to pull together.
Mini pavlovas
Pavlova cries out for cream, chocolate and fruit! Top these mini ones with decadent caramel, a fruity-boozy syrup or creamy chocolate ganache (see recipe notes).
Mini lemon delicious puddings
These tangy citrus puddings are the ultimate winter treat. Grab a spoon and dig into the fluffy top to real an oozy lemon sauce.
Pie maker pina colada tarts
Fall in love with the tropical flavours with these adults-only dessert tarts!
Cheat’s mini tiramisu
This classic Italian dessert works just as well in mini portions.
Air fryer mini Oreo cheesecakes
Made with just four ingredients, these mini desserts have a creamy Mars bar cheesecake filling, sandwiched between Oreo biscuits. Whip them up quickly in an air fryer when those sugar cravings hit or make a few batches as sweet finger food at your next party.
Muffin pan lemon custard tarts
Rocky road ice-cube tray dessert pies
When you need an easy dessert fix these mini rocky road pies will save the day. They are made with the help of an ice-cube tray and use puff pastry plus a sweet filling of your choice. We’ve filled these ones with marshmallows and Toblerone pieces but check out the Notes section for more ideas.
Muffin pan white Christmas crackles
Nothing beats a no-bake Christmas treat, especially when a muffin pan is involved. This white Christmas recipe is made by melting condensed milk, butter and white chocolate in a pan and then adding all those traditional white Christmas ingredients - and some vibrant raspberry lollies, because why not? If you prefer, you can make them smaller in patty pans or mini muffin tins – but maybe this is one of those times where bigger is better! This recipe requires 2 hours and 30 minutes refrigeration so make sure you make it ahead of time.
Mini mint drop cheesecakes
These minty delights are easy to make and only require a handful of supermarket ingredients. We’re talking Choc Ripple biscuits, topped with a mixture of cream cheese and condensed milk with a surprise whole Lindt ball inside. They are just as good without the topping, but a dollop of cream and a sprinkle of chocolate really transforms them into a show-stopping dinner party dessert. They can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge, just add the topping when you’re ready to serve.
Mini gluten-free gingerbread puddings
Mini pavlova lamingtons
Give meringues a lamington ice-cream twist for a melt-in-your-mouth moment!
Mini chocolate puds
These mini chocolate puds will be the toast of the Christmas table.
For more recipe ideas, go to taste.com.au or check out the Taste Test Kitchen now.
Originally published as These cute Christmas dessert ideas are big on fun, flavour and style
Secrets behind Big Mac sauce finally revealed
Love your Big Mac? Well we have very, very good news for you.
Surprising array of dishes you can make in the slow cooker
From bread to a lemon cheesecake, there’s an amazing selection of recipes which go well in the slow cooker. Check out 32 options here.