4 Desserts sure to impress guests at your next holiday party

Dessert boards can be a cute, creative way to feed guests.
Dessert boards can be a cute, creative way to feed guests. | Zack Flanagan/Board & You, Indianapolis Star via Imagn Content Services, LLC

With everything from office parties to family dinners, the end of the year is filled with no shortage of holiday gatherings. One of the hardest parts about being a good host can be deciding what to serve at your holiday celebrations. Here are four desserts your guests are sure to be talking about well into the new year.

While there’s no shortage of delicious dessert recipes out there, the challenge can be choosing the right one for your event. For more casual events like ugly sweater parties, it may be better to choose quick handheld treats, but a five-course dinner may call for something a little more elegant.

Luckily, this season, there’s no shortage of popular desserts, new and old, that have people more excited for the final course than ever.

Decorated sugar cookies

Decorated sugar cookies seem to be a staple at just about every major event these days, and that’s because they’re a reliable treat. These cookies remain a classic because they’re simple, handheld, tasty, and easy to keep on theme. Whether homemade or made to order, sugar cookies are always a fan favorite that guests are happy to devour from any dessert table.

Trifles

Although they look quite fancy, trifles are a fun, layered dessert that many amateur bakers can easily recreate. These desserts are popular holidays, as the flavor combinations are easily customizable, allowing chefs to experiment with fun, festive flavors.

Dessert boards

Charcuterie boards and grazing tables have been all the rage the last few years, with new variations popping up regularly. If you’re entertaining a small crowd, a dessert board can be the perfect way to cater to different guests. Dessert boards can include everything from cookies and candy to pretzels or a spread of holiday-themed chocolate truffles.

This is a fun way for hosts to get creative with flavors and displays, as everything from the desserts to the actual board can be customized.

Matcha Yule log

Tea and coffee-infused desserts are pretty popular this season, and a matcha Yule log is the perfect way to enjoy this trend with a festive twist. Much like a roll cake, this dessert combines a soft, matcha-flavored sponge cake with a sweet cream filling. Add fresh chopped strawberries to the cream or dust the cake with powdered sugar to enhance the taste and add a little extra holiday flair.

While these are just a handful of the dessert options available out there, any one of them is sure to impress the guests at your next holiday party.