35 Best Winter Desserts for a Cozy Night In
The sweetest way to warm up on a chilly night!
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Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful! 'Tis the perfect time of year to cozy up with one of these best winter desserts. Whether it's a hot chocolate recipe on a blustery snow day or a comforting pie recipe for a winter dinner party, this list has all the treats you need for the coldest months of the year. It all kicks off with a few Christmas desserts for the holidays, then it gets right into Valentine's Day treats and other sweet and wintry delights.
If the gloomy weather has you in a slump, try one of these winter dessert recipes to brighten your day! There are plenty of brownies and cookies that you can make during the week. There are also tons of seasonal holiday favorites, like peppermint and marshmallow recipes, plus easy desserts for one like your own mocha mug cake. We've even included desserts for two that are perfect for a cozy date night. Try the warm and gooey lava cakes or the red velvet brownies with festive, bright colors.
For the ultimate night in, you'll want to bundle up with a throw blanket and pair these sweet treats with your favorite winter cocktail. There's even an eggnog ice cream for when you're already cozied up by the fire and can handle a frozen dessert. After all, if you're stuck inside, you might as well enjoy every sweet moment. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
Chocolate Fondue
There's nothing better than a pot of warm, melted chocolate. You'll practically want to dive right in! But you should probably save it for dipping strawberries, cookies, pretzels, or even cubes of pound cake.
Get the Chocolate Fondue recipe.
Red Velvet Brownies
Why choose between brownies and cheesecake when you can have both? Plus, red velvet is so perfect for both Christmas and Valentine's Day (though let's be honest, you don't need to wait for a holiday to make them).
Get the Red Velvet Brownies recipe.
Sticky Toffee Pudding
You don't just need extra toffee sauce on a cold winter night―you deserve it. Warm, sticky, and sweet, this traditional British dessert gets even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get the Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe.
Eggnog Ice Cream
Speaking of ice cream, you probably don't immediately think of it when it's cold outside. But if you're warm by the fire anyway, what wouldn't be better than a seasonal flavor spiked with rum?
Get the Eggnog Ice Cream recipe.
Pecan Pie Cheesecake
This show-stopping cheesecake starts with a speculoos cookie crust followed by a simple vanilla bean filling. But it's the sugary-sweet pecan pie topping that makes it extra decadent.
Get the Pecan Pie Cheesecake recipe.
Brownie in a Mug
When the craving for a warm, ooey, gooey brownie hits, this quick and easy recipe will come in handy! It takes less than ten minutes and it's perfect for those days when it's too cold to go to the bakery.
Get the Brownie in a Mug recipe.
Olive Oil Cake
This cake is simple yet so unique since it uses olive oil instead of butter for an extra moist crumb. The bright, winter citrus is featured both in the cake flavor and as a garnish.
Get the Olive Oil Cake recipe.
Chocolate Peppermint Sheet Cake
This chocolate sheet cake gets a hint of peppermint extract in the cake batter. But if you really want to make it shine, just as crushed candy canes on top of the frosting!
Get Ree's Chocolate Peppermint Sheet Cake recipe.
Heart Cookies
Nothing says, "I love you," like a heart-shaped cookie! Make them for your kid's Valentine's Day treats or whip them up as a gift for your sweetheart or friends.
Get the Heart Cookies recipe.
Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate
Making hot chocolate in a slow cooker is the easiest way to serve the warm, decadent drink to a crowd. If you're serving adults, you can even spike the chocolate with Irish cream liqueur.
Get the Crock-Pot Hot Chocolate recipe.
Champagne Cupcakes
From New Years to Valentine's Day to a special birthday party—any celebration is worthy of a festive batch of cupcakes. Especially when they're made with bubbly champagne!
Get the Champagne Cupcakes recipe.
Christmas Cranberry Cake
Whether you serve it for Christmas or any other chilly night of the week, this seasonal cake is sure to be a hit! The sugared cranberries are optional but they make everything look a little more festive.
Get the Christmas Cranberry Cake recipe.
Mexican Hot Chocolate
The addition of cayenne and cinnamon to your hot chocolate will give it a spiced flavor with a bit of heat. It's the perfect way to warm up from the chilly weather.
Get the Mexican Hot Chocolate recipe.
Homemade Marshmallows
Hot chocolate and marshmallows are a match made in heaven. But store-bought marshmallows have nothing on these! They're light, fluffy, and perfect in your mug.
Get the Homemade Marshmallows recipe.
Peppermint Brownies
Inspired by Ree's Candy Coated Christmas movie, these brownies are loaded with peppermint flavor! They even have crushed peppermint candies on top!
Get the Peppermint Brownies recipe.
Chocolate Lava Cakes
These mini cakes are best served warm from the oven so the chocolate "lava" stays gooey and decadent. It's great for sharing with your loved one on Valentine's Day or any chilly night of the week.
Get the Chocolate Lava Cakes recipe.
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Sometimes referred to as snowball cookies, it's easy to see why! These buttery cookies are lightly flavored with orange zest and completely covered with powdered sugar.
Get the Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe.
Chocolate Raspberry Cake
Looking for a show-stopping cake this holiday season? Well, here you have it! The rich chocolate cake is layered with raspberries for an impressive dessert table centerpiece.
Get the Chocolate Raspberry Cake recipe.
Peppermint Cheesecake
Nothing will get you in the holiday spirit quite like peppermint! Oh, and chocolate! And cheesecake! It's basically the perfect Christmas dessert.
Get Ree's Peppermint Cheesecake recipe.
Hot Chocolate Cookies
These festive cookies taste just like a comforting mug of hot cocoa—which makes sense since they're made with actual hot cocoa mix! To give them the full hot chocolate effect, they're topped with fluffy marshmallows, of course!
Get Ree's Hot Chocolate Cookies recipe.
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