31 Lightened-Up Christmas Desserts

Read Time: 10 mins

31 Lightened-Up Christmas Desserts2/31 Citrus Cornmeal Cake 4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Citrus Cornmeal Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Cornmeal adds a rustic quality to this delicate dessert flavored with citrus and almond. It’s sure to be a staple in your Christmas desserts collection and also makes a great holiday party hostess gift. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California 3/31 Eggnog Mousse 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

Guests will always find room for this light, fluffy, mouthwatering mousse

Guests will always find room for this light, fluffy, mouthwatering mousse. It makes an elegant, refreshing finish for heavier holiday meals—and it’s also a great way to use up any extra eggnog in the fridge. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 4/31 Winter Fruit with Prosecco Sabayon 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Winter Fruit with Prosecco Sabayon Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings (3/4 cup sauce) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This recipe is special to me because it allows me to treat my dinner guests to a special, unusual dessert. The

bright, vivid colors are perfect for the holidays

bright, vivid colors are perfect for the holidays. Omit the Prosecco when serving to children. —Jerry Gulley, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin Is it snowing outside? Take this opportunity to make the unique snow ice cream! 5/31 Gingerbread Meringue Bars 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Gingerbread Meringue Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The best of both worlds, I combined my grandmother’s gingerbread recipe with my aunt’s special brown sugar meringue to make these lovable dessert bars. —Eden Dranger, Los Angeles, California 6/31 Chocolate Peppermint Log 3

—Brenda Sinclair, Princeton, Missouri

Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 50 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: What a great make-ahead dessert! This cake log is perfect for the holidays because you can make it when you have time, store it in the freezer and scratch dessert off of your to-do list. —Brenda Sinclair, Princeton, Missouri. Hungry for more? Try these chocolate Christmas desserts. You can also explore these unique peppermint desserts! 7/31 Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I dressed up

A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine’s bold taste

an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois 8/31 Poached Pears with Orange Cream Test Kitchen Approved Poached Pears with Orange Cream Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: End the meal with a flourish with this easy and elegant dessert. A hint of orange lends just enough sweetness to temper the wine’s bold taste. —Julianne

These little cakes have become a favorite of our guests

Schnuck, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 9/31 Warm Chocolate Melting Cups 46 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 40 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These little cakes have become a favorite of our guests. They are always surprised that such chocolaty desserts are so light­—less than 200 calories apiece! —Kissa Vaughn, Troy, Texas 10/31 Cranberry Pear Tart 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Cranberry Pear Tart Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Our test cooks came up with this lighter pear tart

with dried cranberries

with dried cranberries. While it’s delicious as is, it would also be good served warm with ice cream. — Taste of Home Test Kitchen 11/31 Pumpkin Pecan Frozen Yogurt 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Pumpkin Pecan Frozen Yogurt Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I always keep fat-free frozen yogurt on hand. By combining it with just four other ingredients, I can quickly whip up this great-tasting treat.—Anne Smithson, Cary, North Carolina 12/31 Tiramisu Test Kitchen Approved Rich and Creamy Tiramisu Recipe photo by Taste of

Home Total Time 25 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Tiramisu is Italian for pick-me-up, and this one is definitely true to its name! My version of the classic Tuscan trifle has both coffee and espresso for layers of java flavor. —Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 13/31 Soft Gingersnap Cookies 73 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Soft Gingersnap Cookies Recipe photo by Jena Carlin for Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Soft gingersnaps embody the tastes and smells of the Christmas season, but they are perfect

for any fall or winter gathering

for any fall or winter gathering. I enjoy the blend of cloves, ginger and cinnamon in this delicious cookie. —Lara Pennell, Mauldin, South Carolina 14/31 Sour Cream Bavarian 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings (1-1/4 cups sauce) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Are you ‘sweet on’ someone who’s counting calories? Show them you care with this light and refreshing dessert. It’s sinfully creamy and so pretty with the tart raspberry sauce. No one would ever guess that it’s fat-free! —Judi Janczewski, Berwyn, Illinois 15/31 Cinnamon Nut Bars 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved

Cinnamon Nut Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Classic dessert bar meets good-for-you ingredients in this updated recipe. If you have the patience, after the bars are cool, store them in a tin for a day to allow the flavors to meld…I think they taste even better the next day.— Heidi Lindsey, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin 16/31 Cannoli Cake 74 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved The Best Cannoli Cake Recipe Recipe photo by Leticia Almeida for Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings

12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A luscious, chocolate-studded cannoli filling separates the tender vanilla layers of this rich cake, which starts with a package mix. It’s best when served well chilled.—Antoinette Owens, Ridgefield, Connecticut 17/31 Coconut Christmas Mice 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Coconut Christmas Mice Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings about 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Off-the-charts cuteness makes it nearly impossible for guests to resist these fluffy, coconutty treats. Luckily, they’re really easy to make—no oven needed. Merry Christ-mouse to you! —Taste of Home

Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 18/31 Makeover Cranberry Trifle 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Makeover Cranberry Trifle Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 15 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You’d never guess that this showstopper fruit trifle recipe has been lightened up because it boasts all of the original’s festive flavor, but only half the fat and way fewer calories! —Sonya Labbe, Santa Monica, California 19/31 Orange Ricotta Cake Roll 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I come from a

Now I like to do the same for my family

big Italian family where my mom cooked and baked many delicious meals and desserts from scratch. Now I like to do the same for my family. This cake is my finale to our Italian Christmas Eve dinner. —Cathy Banks, Encinitas, California 20/31 Ginger Apple-Pear Crisp 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Ginger Apple-Pear Crisp Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Taste autumn aromas—apples, cinnamon and spices—in this delicious recipe. It’s even better with a scoop of vanilla or homemade pumpkin ice cream! Whipped cream is always an

option. —Holly Battiste, Barrington, New Jersey 21/31 Pumpkin Pie Custard 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 55 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Instead of traditional pumpkin pie, try this flavorful light holiday dessert. My husband’s aunt shared the recipe after she brought this treat to a family party. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court House, New Jersey 22/31 Makeover Sweet Kugel 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Makeover Sweet Kugel Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a

traditional recipe I make for the holidays

traditional recipe I make for the holidays. My close friend and I used to bake together until she moved 1,300 miles away. Now when I make this dish, I’m reminded of our time together. —Eileen Wolf, Abington, Pennsylvania 23/31 Meringue Cookies 55 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Want to learn how to make meringues? This meringue cookie is light, airy morsels and the perfect fat-free treat to really beat a sweets craving. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 24/31 Chocolate Pudding 132 Reviews Test Kitchen

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