Ask five families what the “one” Christmas dessert is and you will get five very different answers. For some it is a tray of iced sugar cookies, for others it is a rum soaked cake that only comes out once a year, or a tin of special cookies that means the holidays have officially started.
For this guide, we went looking for the most beloved Christmas desserts in every corner of the United States. That includes all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In each place, we picked one dessert that really shows up at Christmas, then found a recipe you can use at home.
This is not a formal vote or a strict popularity contest. It is a curated look at what shows up again and again in state dessert lists, holiday cookie maps, local food blogs, and community traditions. The goal is simple: help you discover a dessert (or ten) that you have not tried yet, and give you a solid recipe for each one.
Key Takeaways
- This guide covers 56 Christmas desserts, one for every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., and the five permanently inhabited U.S. territories.
- Many regions share the same dessert style, but with local twists like pecans in the South, maple in New England, or coconut in the islands.
- Every dessert includes at least one trusted recipe link so you can recreate it at home and build your own state by state dessert tour.
How We Chose These Christmas Desserts
Holiday desserts are emotional, not scientific. To build this list, we started with nationwide “favorite Christmas cookie” and “holiday dessert by state” maps based on search trends and social data from outlets like Google Trends and national food sites. Those gave us a first pass on what people actually look for in December.
From there, we cross checked against official state desserts, regional Christmas traditions, and local food writers. Some states lean hard into a single classic (like New Mexico and biscochitos), while others have several strong contenders. When there was a tie, we picked the dessert that felt the most Christmassy or that showed up most consistently in multiple sources.
For recipes, we tried to highlight reliable, well tested versions. When possible, we prioritized recipes from within the state or region itself, or from long running bakers who are clearly steeped in that tradition. In a few cases, there are nationally beloved recipes that everyone seems to copy, so we went straight to those roots.
Christmas Desserts by State
Alabama: Lane Cake
Alabama’s official state dessert shows up on many Southern Christmas tables. Lane cake is a white layer cake filled with a rich custard spiked with bourbon, dried fruit, coconut, and pecans. It is a special occasion project cake, but slices like pure Christmas nostalgia.
Try this version: Alabama Lane Cake Recipe by Stacy Lyn Harris
Alaska: Gingerbread Cookies
In long dark winters, soft spiced gingerbread cookies feel just right. Alaska families often decorate gingerbread people, moose, and snowflakes with lots of icing and candy for cookie swaps and school parties.
Try this version: Best Gingerbread Cookies by Sally’s Baking Addiction
Arizona: Mexican Wedding Cookies
With deep ties to Mexican and Southwestern food traditions, Arizona’s Christmas dessert table often includes Mexican wedding cookies. These tender, nutty little balls are rolled in powdered sugar and sometimes flavored with cinnamon.
Try this version: Mexican Wedding Cookies by House of Yumm
Arkansas: Pecan Pie Bars
Arkansas grows plenty of pecans, and pecan pie bars make that classic pie easier to share at church socials and family gatherings. The shortbread base and gooey pecan topping travel well on cookie trays.
Try this version: Pecan Pie Bars by Taste of Home
California: Buche de Noel (Yule Log)
California’s Christmas dessert scene is full of patisserie inspired showstoppers. A chocolate sponge cake rolled with cream and decorated like a tree log is a favorite on many holiday menus, especially in cities with strong French and pastry traditions.
Try this version: Buche de Noel by Preppy Kitchen
Colorado: Peppermint Bark
In Colorado, ski towns and mountain resorts sell tins of peppermint bark all December. At home it is an easy, no bake treat: layers of dark and white chocolate topped with crushed candy canes.
Try this version: Peppermint Bark from Ghirardelli
Connecticut: Italian Christmas Cookies
Connecticut’s strong Italian American communities keep trays of soft, glazed anise cookies on the table all season. They are simple, lightly flavored, and covered with rainbow sprinkles that feel festive without being fussy.
Try this version: Italian Christmas Cookies by Savoring Italy
Delaware: Italian Christmas Cookies
Delaware often tracks with its Mid Atlantic neighbors when it comes to holiday sweets. Those little glazed Italian cookies are just as likely to appear at a Delaware cookie swap as in neighboring Pennsylvania or New Jersey.
Use the same recipe: Italian Christmas Cookies by Savoring Italy
Florida: Key Lime Pie
Even when the rest of the country is shoveling snow, Florida Christmas can feel more like late spring. Key lime pie is already iconic here, so many families simply decorate it with extra whipped cream and red and green garnishes for the holidays.
Try this version: Key Lime Pie by Brown Eyed Baker
Georgia: Classic Pecan Pie
Pecans are a major crop in Georgia, and classic pecan pie is a must at many Christmas tables. The flaky crust and glossy, nutty filling are simple but rich, especially with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Try this version: Classic Pecan Pie on Allrecipes
Hawaii: Chocolate Haupia Pie
In Hawaii, coconut based haupia has long been a celebration dessert. Around the holidays, chocolate haupia pie, with layers of chocolate custard, coconut haupia, and whipped cream in a pie shell, is a staple at family gatherings.
Try this version: Chocolate Haupia Pie from Hawaiian Electric
Idaho: Candy Cane Sugar Cookies
Idaho’s Christmas cookie plates are often piled high with classic cut out sugar cookies. Twisting the dough into candy cane shapes or tinting part of it red gives them a playful, kid friendly feel.
Use this base recipe: Classic Sugar Cookies by Crayons & Cravings (shape into candy canes and add crushed peppermint if you like).
Illinois: Holiday Fudge
From Chicago bakeries to small town church basements, pans of rich chocolate fudge are a Christmas classic in Illinois. It keeps well in tins, ships easily to family, and is endlessly customizable.
Try this version: Basic Chocolate Fudge on Allrecipes
Indiana: Shortbread Cookies
Indiana leans toward simple, buttery bakes for the holidays. Classic shortbread cookies, often cut into small wedges or fingers and dusted with sugar, show up on many Christmas platters.
Try this version: Shortbread Cookies by Joy of Baking
Iowa: Frosted Sugar Cookies
Iowa families are big on community cookie exchanges. Soft, frosted sugar cookies decorated with colored icing and sprinkles are a reliable crowd pleaser for kids and adults.
Use this recipe: Classic Sugar Cookies by Crayons & Cravings
Kansas: Peanut Butter Blossoms
Kansas potlucks are full of “kiss” cookies. Peanut butter blossoms, with their soft peanut butter base and chocolate candy pressed into the center, hit that nostalgic Christmas note perfectly.
Try this version: Peanut Butter Blossoms from Betty Crocker
Kentucky: Bourbon Balls
In Kentucky, Christmas often comes with a touch of bourbon. Bourbon balls are bite sized candies made with crushed cookies or nuts, sugar, and a generous splash of bourbon, all dipped in chocolate.
Try this version: Kentucky Bourbon Balls by The Southern Lady Cooks
Louisiana: New Orleans Pecan Pralines
New Orleans style pralines are pure holiday magic. These brown sugar, cream, and pecan candies are a Southern Christmas staple and make excellent gifts when wrapped in pretty bags.
Try this version: Louisiana Pralines by I Heart Recipes
Maine: Snowball Cookies
In a state known for snowy winters, powdered sugar coated “snowball” cookies fit right in. They are buttery, nutty, and melt in your mouth, perfect with hot cocoa after sledding or skiing.
Try this version: Snowball Cookies on Allrecipes
Maryland: Smith Island Cake
Maryland’s official state dessert, Smith Island cake, is a many layered yellow cake with chocolate frosting between every thin layer. On the Eastern Shore, it is a centerpiece at holiday gatherings.
Try this version: Mrs. Kitching’s Original Smith Island Cake from Visit Maryland
Massachusetts: Italian Rainbow Cookie Trays
Boston and its suburbs have a long Italian American baking tradition. Trays piled with assorted Italian Christmas cookies, especially glazed anisette cookies and rainbow layered treats, are common gifts and potluck contributions.
Use this base recipe: Italian Christmas Cookies by Savoring Italy
Michigan: Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
In Michigan, many families make kid friendly Christmas wreath cookies. Cornflakes are coated in green tinted marshmallow, then shaped into wreaths and decorated with red candies.
Try this version: Christmas Wreath Cookies by Taste of Home
Minnesota: Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
These same cornflake wreath cookies are also very popular across the Upper Midwest. In Minnesota they are a nostalgic favorite that shows up at Scandinavian Christmas coffee hours alongside krumkake and spritz.
Use the same recipe: Christmas Wreath Cookies by Taste of Home
Mississippi: Mississippi Mud Pie
Mississippi mud pie is a chocolate lover’s dream for the holidays. It usually layers a chocolate cookie crust, dense brownie or pudding filling, and whipped cream, often topped with chocolate shavings.
Try this version: Mississippi Mud Pie by Simply Recipes
Missouri: Peanut Butter Blossoms
Missouri cookie trays often look similar to Kansas and other neighbors, with plenty of peanut butter blossoms. They bring together peanut butter cookie dough and chocolate in such a simple, satisfying way.
Use this recipe: Peanut Butter Blossoms from Betty Crocker
Montana: Frosted Sugar Cookies
In Montana’s small towns, Christmas gatherings often lean toward big platters of classic cookies. Cut out sugar cookies with buttercream frosting and sprinkles are easy to transport to school programs and potlucks.
Use this base: Classic Sugar Cookies by Crayons & Cravings
Nebraska: Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
Like Michigan and Minnesota, Nebraska adopted cornflake wreath cookies as a fun, kid friendly Christmas dessert. They are brightly colored, easy to portion, and nostalgic for many Midwestern families.
Use this recipe: Christmas Wreath Cookies by Taste of Home
Nevada: Holiday Cheesecake
Las Vegas buffets and family tables alike love cheesecake at the holidays. A classic New York style cheesecake dressed up with cranberry or berry topping feels celebratory without being overly fussy.
Try this version: Classic Cheesecake by Sally’s Baking Addiction
New Hampshire: Classic Sugar Cookies
New Hampshire Christmas baking tends to be cozy and traditional. Simple sugar cookies in bell, star, and tree shapes, decorated by the whole family, show up at many gatherings.
Use this recipe: Classic Sugar Cookies by Crayons & Cravings
New Jersey: Italian Christmas Cookies
New Jersey’s Italian bakeries are famous for their Christmas cookie assortments. Those soft glazed cookies, flavored with anise or almond and showered in sprinkles, are on almost every holiday dessert table.
Use this recipe: Italian Christmas Cookies by Savoring Italy
New Mexico: Biscochitos
New Mexico’s official state cookie, biscochitos, are deeply tied to Christmas. These crisp, lard based cookies are flavored with anise and cinnamon, coated in sugar, and often baked by the hundreds for holiday parties and church events.
Try this version: Biscochitos Recipe from NewMexico.org
New York: Holiday Cheesecake
It is hard to think of New York desserts without cheesecake. For Christmas, many families bake or buy a classic New York style cheesecake and top it with cherries, cranberries, or other seasonal fruit.
Use this recipe: Classic Cheesecake by Sally’s Baking Addiction
North Carolina: Moravian Spice Cookies
In and around Winston Salem, Moravian spice cookies are a serious Christmas tradition. These ultra thin, crisp cookies are intensely flavored with molasses and warm spices, and are often sold in festive tins.
Try this version: Moravian Spice Cookies by King Arthur Baking
North Dakota: Spritz Cookies
North Dakota’s strong Scandinavian heritage shows up in trays of spritz cookies at Christmas. The dough is pressed into little wreaths and trees, then decorated with colored sugar.
Try this version: Classic Spritz Cookies by Betty Crocker
Ohio: Buckeyes
Ohio’s signature Christmas treat is the buckeye, a peanut butter ball dipped in chocolate so it resembles the nut of the buckeye tree. They are easy to make ahead and almost impossible to stop eating.
Try this version: Buckeyes on Allrecipes
Oklahoma: Pecan Pie
Oklahoma’s holiday tables, like much of the Southern Plains, often feature sticky sweet pecan pie. It is a familiar, comforting dessert that pairs nicely with coffee after a big Christmas meal.
Use this recipe: Classic Pecan Pie on Allrecipes
Oregon: Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies
Oregon is famous for its hazelnuts, so it makes sense to see them in Christmas cookies. Hazelnut thumbprint cookies filled with jam or chocolate highlight that local crop.
Try this version: Hazelnut Thumbprint Cookies by A Beautiful Plate
Pennsylvania: Pizzelles
Pennsylvania’s Italian and Pennsylvania Dutch communities both love pizzelles. These thin, crisp, snowflake patterned cookies are flavored with anise or vanilla and dusted with sugar.
Try this version: Pizzelle Recipe by King Arthur Baking
Rhode Island: Italian Christmas Cookies
Small but mighty Rhode Island has a big Italian influence in its food. Trays of glazed Italian Christmas cookies are a standard dessert at parties, open houses, and office celebrations.
Use this recipe: Mom’s Traditional Italian Cookies on Food.com
South Carolina: Red Velvet Cake
Red velvet cake has Southern roots and remains popular at Christmas in South Carolina. The dramatic red crumb and cream cheese frosting look especially festive with holiday decorations.
Try this version: Red Velvet Cake by Sally’s Baking Addiction
South Dakota: Classic Sugar Cookies
South Dakota’s Christmas desserts lean practical and family friendly. Classic sugar cookies cut into stars, snowmen, and trees are simple to bake in big batches for school and church events.
Use this base recipe: Classic Sugar Cookies by Crayons & Cravings
Tennessee: Buche de Noel
While Tennessee has plenty of pies, Yule log cakes and other showpiece desserts are increasingly popular at holiday gatherings. A chocolate Buche de Noel decorated with meringue mushrooms feels perfect for a cozy mountain cabin Christmas.
Use this recipe: Buche de Noel by Preppy Kitchen
Texas: Snowball Cookies
Texas has a huge variety of holiday sweets, but snowball cookies (also known as Mexican wedding cookies or Russian tea cakes) rank very high in December search trends. They are easy to make and hold up well in the heat if the holidays are warm.
Try this version: Snowball Cookies on Allrecipes
Utah: Pistachio Pudding Cookies
Bright green pistachio pudding cookies show up on many Utah Christmas cookie plates. They are soft, chewy, and festive, often studded with white chocolate chips.
Try this version: Pistachio Pudding Cookies by Sugar Dish Me
Vermont: Maple Sugar Cookies
In Vermont, maple shows up in almost everything, including Christmas desserts. Maple glazed sugar cookies bring that familiar flavor into a classic holiday treat.
Use this base recipe: Classic Sugar Cookies by Crayons & Cravings (swap some of the vanilla for maple extract and finish with maple icing).
Virginia: Peanut Butter Blossoms
Virginia’s Christmas cookie tins often include peanut butter blossoms. They are easy for kids to help shape and decorate, and they hit that peanut butter plus chocolate sweet spot.
Use this recipe: Peanut Butter Blossoms from Betty Crocker
Washington: Snowball Cookies
Washington’s rainy winters still feel wintry enough for snowball cookies. They bring a little powdered sugar “snow” to holiday dessert tables from Seattle to Spokane.
Use this recipe: Snowball Cookies on Allrecipes
West Virginia: Snowball Cookies
In West Virginia, these same powdered sugar coated cookies are a long running Christmas favorite. They are simple enough for new bakers and special enough to save for December.
Use this recipe: Snowball Cookies on Allrecipes
Wisconsin: Kringle
Wisconsin’s Danish communities helped make kringle the state’s signature pastry. Around Christmas, nut and fruit filled kringles in wreath shapes are everywhere, from local bakeries to holiday breakfast tables.
Try this version: Danish Kringle Recipe by Platter Talk
Wyoming: Italian Christmas Cookies
Wyoming does not have a single official state dessert, so holiday tables tend to borrow crowd pleasers from elsewhere. Italian Christmas cookies, with their easy dough and colorful sprinkles, are one of those adopted favorites.
Use this recipe: Italian Christmas Cookies by Savoring Italy
Washington, D.C.: Christmas Crack (Saltine Toffee)
In the nation’s capital, “Christmas crack” is a wildly popular homemade gift among coworkers and neighbors. It is just a layer of saltine or cracker base, toffee, chocolate, and toppings, broken into shards of crunchy, sweet, salty candy.
Try this version: Christmas Crack (Ritz Cracker Toffee) by A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
Christmas Desserts in the U.S. Territories
The United States has sixteen territories in total, but only five are permanently inhabited. Each of these has its own living food traditions and beloved Christmas desserts. Here is a sweet taste of each one.
Puerto Rico: Coquito
In Puerto Rico, Christmas is not complete without coquito. This creamy coconut based holiday drink is sometimes called “Puerto Rican eggnog,” usually made with coconut milk, sweetened condensed milk, warm spices, and rum.
Try this version: Coquito Recipe on Simply Recipes
Guam: Latiya
On Guam, latiya is a classic Chamorro dessert served at gatherings year round, including Christmas. It is made from sponge cake pieces covered in a rich vanilla custard and dusted heavily with cinnamon.
Try this version: Latiya Recipe by Annie’s Chamorro Kitchen
Northern Mariana Islands: Apigigi
Across the Marianas, including the Northern Mariana Islands, apigigi is a beloved Chamorro treat. Grated cassava and young coconut are sweetened, wrapped in banana leaves, and grilled until fragrant, making a naturally gluten free dessert with deep island flavor.
Try this version: Apigigi Recipe from Pay-Less Markets
American Samoa: Paifala (Pineapple Half Moon Pies)
In American Samoa and across Samoa, paifala is a popular dessert for holidays and celebrations. These individual hand pies are filled with sweet pineapple custard and baked in a tender, coconut enriched crust.
Try this version: Paifala Recipe by Tara’s Multicultural Table
U.S. Virgin Islands: Caribbean Black Cake
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, as in many Caribbean islands, Christmas often means black cake. Dried fruits are soaked in rum and wine for weeks or months, then baked into a dense, dark, spiced cake that is sliced thinly and shared with family and friends.
Look for a trusted Caribbean Black Cake recipe that uses long soaked fruit and plenty of warm spices.
What To Do Next
You could pick one dessert from your own state and make it your new Christmas tradition. Or you could turn this list into a long term project and bake your way across the country, choosing a different state or territory each year.
If you love turning travel inspiration into at home experiences, pair this guide with a cozy holiday movie night, a “Christmas around the U.S.” tasting party, or a themed baking day that features desserts from two very different regions. Over time, your dessert table will start to look like a sweet little map of everywhere you still want to go.
