7 Spectacular Holiday Desserts

Candy Cane Cake
Our whipped cream cake sprinkled with crushed peppermint might just become your next holiday tradition.

Orange Ribbon Cheesecake
This creamy cheesecake has a glistening topping of caramelized, candylike orange slices.

Cranberry Pumpkin Upside-down Cake
Caramel-coated walnuts and cranberries top this tender cake, based on one in Emily Luchetti’s book A Passion for Desserts (Chronicle Books, 2003; $35). It’s very easy to make.

Vanilla-bean Leaf Cookies
These crisp, buttery, easy Christmas cookies are just right for those who want a small bite of something sweet after dinner.
Variation: Ginger Leaf Cookies

Spice Cake with Coffee Toffee Crunch
This towering cake, garnished with chunks of coffee-flavored toffee, makes a luscious centerpiece for the holiday dessert table.

Coffee Toffee Crunch
Although it was developed as a topping and filling for our spice cake, this candy tastes great with a cup of joe too.