Top 10 Christmas for Your 2026 Holiday Gatherings

The holidays are a treasured time for sweet lovers. It feels like almost every holiday activity—from business luncheons to Friendgivings—includes an exchange of treats. Few events call for a grander dessert spread than the big family holiday dinner.

Whether you’re a dessert pro that’s been eagerly waiting for the season to give you yet another excuse to bake or you’re scrambling to have something to bring to a holiday potluck at the last minute, FreshDirect has something both you and your friends and family will love.

1. Cookie Ideas That You’ll Love for Years

Recently, FreshDirect celebrated the holidays with 12 Days of Cookies, bringing a new holiday-themed recipe each day, ranging from the experimental and hipster to classic and traditional dishes. It’ll take more than one holiday season to try them all, but here are a few highlights!

S’mores Cookie Dough Bites

It’s never been easier to bake up a little bit of comfort food. These s’mores cookie dough bites don’t even need to be baked! Just mix all the ingredients together, make little dough balls, and get a downright sinful treat to enjoy over the holidays.

Matcha Shortbread Cookies

Want to try something a little more experimental? How about cookies with a matcha twist? If you’re a cookie lover that can already make chocolate chip cookies in your sleep, you might enjoy something a little more off the beaten path. This year, experiment with new flavors and bring something you know won’t get duplicated at a holiday potluck.

Traditional Greek Melomakarona

Nothing beats a time-tested family recipe. In this case, Two Birds One Scone shared their family melomakarona recipe. Melomakarona is a honey-flavored walnut cookie. It’s a flavor you won’t see too often in American desserts, but no less delicious than the big piles of sugar we’re used to. Give them a try, and you might fall in love.

Sugar Cookie Trees

For those with an artistic flair, sugar cookie trees are a majestic treat that’ll look great decorating the dining room—right up until your guests realize they’re actually edible! Don’t expect them to last long after that.

2. Pre-Made Pies of Every Stripe

No holiday dinner is complete without a centerpiece pie. From pecan to pumpkin, no matter your preference, FreshDirect can provide a pre-made oven-ready pie. If you are looking to make your own, FreshDirect can supply all the ingredients you need, including organic and gluten-free pie shells for those with specific dietary preferences or restrictions.

3. Handmade Tarts From a Local, Belgian-Inspired Bakery

While you’re considering your fruit dessert of choice, don’t neglect the pie’s close cousin: tarts! Pika’s Farm Table tarts are a delightful twist on pie-making made locally in New York. Like a lot of local small businesses, Pika’s Farm Table is founded on the traditional recipes of the founders’ Belgian ancestors, maintained and made by hand to this day. Made with both chocolate and a variety of fruits, Pika’s tarts are a guaranteed hit at the dinner table.

4. Easy To Bake Mini Berry Galettes

For those who want to get their hands dirty, try FreshDirect’s mini berry galette recipe. Galettes are a simple, low-tech alternative to pies and tarts. Extremely quick and easy to make, they are perfect for those who want to add a personal touch to their holiday feast without spending all weekend in the kitchen. All you need is a bit of pie dough, berries of your choice, and a few dashes of baking staples. Dessert baking doesn’t get any easier (or more delicious) than this.

5. Easy Pre-Made Cupcakes for Work Parties

A staple of work holiday parties everywhere, the humble cupcake is a delicious out-of-the-box option for bringing holiday cheer wherever you go. When work decides this year’s holiday party is going to have a dessert potluck and you don’t know what to get, order a trio cupcake platter or two from FreshDirect.

Far beyond your basic vanilla cupcakes, the platter offers a variety of decadent and Instagram-worthy cupcakes. This trio of flavors, from a classic chocolate buttercream to rich red velvet and even an adventurous carrot cupcake topped with cream cheese frosting, will please a wide range of tastes. These are guaranteed to impress and delight at any gathering you bring them to.

6. Brownies

Nobody can resist a classic done right. Brownies are a time-tested staple for a reason. You might already have your own brownie recipe, but if you want to try something a little different, take your brownies to the next level with this salted fudge brownie recipe. The savory-sweet combo of salt and fudge is addictive. If you haven’t gotten out of your comfort zone and experimented with your brownie flavors, then you owe it to yourself to try.

7. Classic Pre-Made New York Cheesecakes

Tap into a local tradition and get a New York-style cheesecake! It’s a holiday treat New Yorkers have been eating for over a century. If you’ve gone all this time without trying one, New York cheesecakes use heavier baking materials to create a richer, creamier cake.

Like a lot of local delicacies, it first became a New York tradition thanks to good old Philadelphia cream cheese, but since then, bakers have also spent decades using cottage cheese. FreshDirect stays closer to tradition with a delicious, cream cheese-laden cheesecake that will meet any New Yorker’s standards. Get one for the holiday party, and you won’t have leftovers!

8. Decadent No-Fuss Soufflés

Soufflés are an infamously difficult dessert to get right. While the recipe itself is simple enough, it’s also strict and precise—even by baking standards. Even a small slip up can topple your soufflé. The soufflé’s reputation as a dessert that’ll eat budding pastry chefs alive has made it a pretty rare commodity at the home dinner table. So imagine the look on your guests’ faces when they’re greeted by this one-of-a-kind holiday dessert!

Enjoy their delighted surprise with a batch of rich chocolate soufflés from FreshDirect. Just put them in the oven and they’ll be ready in minutes. Powder on some sugar, add a dollop of ice cream on the side, and you’ll have a decadent dessert that looks like it came out of a restaurant.

9. Pre-Made Red Velvet Cakes To Round Out Your Dinner

Speaking of decadence, it’s hard to get much more sinful than red velvet cake. That rich, crimson cake is a fantastic option next to a classic chocolate cake and perfect for the holiday season! FreshDirect sells this delicious treat in a number of shapes and sizes, from full size cakes to miniature, handheld cupcakes. No matter how you prefer your dessert, there’s an option for you.

10. Desserts With Diet Restrictions

Diet restrictions can take a bit of thinking ahead, but the extra work is worth watching your friend’s face light up when they realize there’s something they can actually eat at your holiday party.

Vegan Banana Bread

Baking can be particularly hard for vegans to enjoy, especially at a holiday function where they don’t have control over the menu. How many recipes have you baked that called for an egg or splash of milk? Unless it’s baked specifically with vegans in mind, there won’t be much you can put on the table that they can eat.

FreshDirect’s vegan banana bread recipe, however, will solve that problem and give you something you can offer the vegan in your life without compromising on flavor.

Gluten-Free Snickerdoodles

As a basic part of most bread and baked goods, gluten is also tough to escape during the holiday season. If you have loved ones with a gluten allergy, try this snickerdoodle recipe that will have them smiling ear to ear.

Snickerdoodles are a New England classic that’s been around for centuries. Simple, soft, and loaded with cinnamon and sugar, they’re a great treat for those that adore the simple pleasures in life. They’re also pretty straightforward to bake and a great way to learn the art.

Nut-Free Options

Another common allergy to contend with is a tree nut allergy. If you’re looking for a recipe to add that personal touch, look at the matcha cookies, salted fudge brownies, and sugar cookie trees, as well as the banana bread.

If seeking a pre-made option, all FreshDirect products will mention if nuts are used in the product. But please note that even if they are not directly used in a particular product, FreshDirect does use tree nuts in its kitchens.

Get the Holidays Delivered to Your Door

Whether you want a beautifully hand-crafted dessert that will wow your guests or want to get your own hands dirty baking the perfect sweet, FreshDirect is here to help.

Host your holiday party your way. With a wide range of recipes and pre-made options, you can find an option that’s right for you no matter your experience or price point.

If your time is at a premium, you can get it delivered right to your door. Whether you need something ready to go out of the box or just want all the ingredients to bake the perfect pie all in one bag, FreshDirect can deliver what you need for maximum convenience. If you’re hosting a particularly large party, you can also get a catered dessert platter for your guests.