20 alternative Christmas desserts

Christmas desserts for chocolate lovers

1. Rocky road cheesecake pudding

We've elevated cheesecake to something with even more crowd appeal – this festive rocky road extravaganza. Drizzled with white chocolate and decorated with edible glitter, gold sprinkles and chocolate truffles, this truly is the alternative Christmas dessert of dreams.

Find more dazzling desserts to impress in our Christmas dessert collection.

2. Millionaire’s ice cream bombe

Finish your Christmas dinner with this festive ice cream showstopper. This recipe is best for those looking to master a more adventurous recipe, but we can guarantee it'll go down a storm with friends and family.

If you like of look of this, check out this Christmas pudding ice cream bombe and panettone cherry ice cream bombe with chocolate sauce.

3. Double chocolate cheesecake

Chocolate takes centre stage in this choc lover's cheesecake, featuring a biscuit base and creamy filling, as well as a chocolate sauce for drizzling and chocolate curls to finish. Perfect for those with a dislike for Christmas cake and a penchant for chocolate.

For more chocolate-flavoured desserts, see our collections of chocolate desserts, chocolate puddings and dark chocolate recipes.

4. Chocolate orange-tini trifle

We've crossed a Mississippi mud pie with a marmalade martini to create this stunning dessert showpiece. Layering madeira cake with orange posset, a vodka-laced fruit layer, chocolate custard and dark chocolate mousse, it's a perfect grown-up dessert to impress adults at a Christmas party.

Check out more trifle recipes and chocolate orange recipes.

5. Chocolate cream pie

Chocolate cream pie makes for a wonderful indulgent end to a festive menu, boasting a rich chocolate filling, whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Achieve chocolate heaven with our indulgent chocolate desserts, whether its indulgent tarts or elegant cakes you're after.

6. Christmas chocolate cake

Put a festive spin on chocolate cake with this alternative Christmas dessert. It may look like a regular chocolate cake, however the sponge and buttercream are spiced with warming ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Check out these chocolate sponge cakes for more indulgent bakes.

7. Chocolate & peanut butter pavlova

Pavlova is seen as a fruity dessert reserved for summer, but it doesn't have to be that way. We've combined sweet and salty peanut, crisp meringue and a chocolate crémeux mixed with rich peanut butter cream to make a Christmas-flavoured pavlova, and the result is a sensory delight!

Discover more of our best pavlova recipes.

8. Irish cream tiramisu

Indulge in this crowd-pleasing tiramisu for Christmas, pepped with Irish cream liqueur for a sophisticated twist. You can make this no-cook tiramisu ahead, meaning you can save time when hosting.

We've got plenty more tiramisu recipes, as well as no-bake desserts and make-ahead Christmas recipes.

9. Chocolate truffle & honeycomb torte

Using just five ingredients, this chocolate & honeycomb torte is great for cutting corners at Christmas. As well as making an impressive centrepiece, it's easy to carry to a gathering.

Find more in our chocolate torte recipe collection.

10. Melt-in-the-middle espresso martini brownies

Inspired by the popular espresso martini cocktail, these decadent brownies make an inspired choice if you want to shake things up this year with a unique bake.

Check out these brownie recipes and our top 5 twists on an espresso martini.

11. Chocolate & chestnut Christmas pudding

Chocolate lovers will adore this cocoa-flavoured spin on a Christmas pudding, complete with earthy chestnuts and fiery stem ginger.

12. Caramelised white chocolate fridge cake

This towering creation transforms blonde white chocolate and rich tea biscuits into a stunning seasonal dessert. Finish with bright red and green sweets for extra festive fun.

13. Double chocolate, raspberry & pistachio roulade

This stunning alternative Christmas centrepiece is entirely gluten-free and ultra-light – perfect for filling with pillowy whipped double cream, pistachio butter and raspberries.

14. Baileys cream & chocolate choux

Although a little more effort, your guests will be greatly rewarded with these moreish Baileys cream-filled choux buns, topped with melted chocolate sauce, flaked almonds and gold pearls for a glamorous touch.

More alternative Christmas desserts

15. Pistachio & sour cherry baked alaska

Bring the retro dessert bang up to date with pistachio and tart sour cherries. It requires more effort, but results in a seriously impressive-looking dessert.

16. Pistachio tiramisu

Delight in wonderfully nutty flavours in this sophisticated twist on tiramisu. Featuring a pistachio cream filling and pistachio topping, it makes a perfect finish to a festive dinner party with friends.

Find more ways with pistachio in our pistachio recipe collection.

17. Christmas pavlova

Give pavlova a pretty Christmas makeover with the addition of clementines, pistachios, mint and dark chocolate, plus a rum-infused and mincemeat cream filling for extra-festive zing.

See more pavlova recipes.

18. Mince pie cheesecake

Partial to a mince pie? Take your love of this festive treat further by adding it to a cheesecake base. It's also a brilliant way to beat Christmas food waste if you're left with too many.

See more ways with mince pies, or check out these no-bake cheesecake recipes.

19. Black Forest Christmas fool

Transform Christmas cake into a fun and achievable dessert which can be rustled up in 10 minutes. It's simple and quick to assemble, however it doesn't cut corners when it comes to indulgence: Christmas cake is crumbled into glasses, topped with cherries, a dollop of cream and a drizzle of kirsch, then scattered over with chopped chocolate.

Find more creative ways to use up Christmas pud with our leftover Christmas pudding recipes.

20. Christmas pudding cheesecake

Level up your Christmas pudding with this festive twist on an all-year-round dessert: cheesecake. With a crunchy ginger base and creamy filling, it makes a fantastic Christmas alternative for hardcore cheesecake lovers.

Discover more fun cheesecakes twists in our cheesecake recipe collection.