15+ Fun and Easy Christmas Potluck Desserts
Packed for Life contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure policy for more info.
Looking for Christmas potluck desserts that are easy to make, fun to share, and a little different from the usual holiday treats?
Between Christmas Eve gatherings, Friendsmas celebrations, and all those holiday parties, I know how quickly the baking list can get out of hand.
I’ve rounded up some of my family’s favorite festive sweets, from cute Rudolph brownies and no bake fudge to creamy cheesecakes, Christmas cookies, and easy dessert dips.
Whether you’re short on time or want to bring something extra special, there are plenty of delicious ideas here to help you tackle your next holiday potluck without spending all day in the kitchen.
Yummy Christmas Dessert Ideas for Potlucks
1. Rudolph Mini Brownie Bites
Get the kids in on the holiday fun by letting them decorate these Rudolph Mini Brownie Bites with their own silly reindeer faces. My youngest loves helping out, and eating all the extra M&Ms.
Fudgy brownies and peanut butter cups get a festive makeover with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and bright red noses.
Start with brownie mix or premade bites to keep things easy, then add them to your Christmas potluck dessert table for a sweet treat that’s almost too cute to eat.
Check out more cute Reindeer snacks.
Get the recipe: Rudolph Mini Brownie Bites
2. Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake combines creamy pumpkin filling with warm spices and a crunchy pecan topping for a rich holiday dessert.
If you’re looking for Christmas party potluck ideas, this is a fun change from the usual cookies, bars, and brownies. I love that creamy combo of pumpkin & cream cheese, and the pie cust adds that extra special touch.
It’s easy to slice and share, with plenty of cozy pumpkin flavor in every bite for fun pumpkin desserts.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
3. Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are for those times when you can’t decide between sweet, salty, chewy, or crunchy. Why not have it all?
They’re loaded with M&Ms, pretzels, potato chips, chocolate, and festive sprinkles, and I love how every bite is a little different.
Bring a batch to a Christmas potluck or cookie exchange, make them with the kids, or leave a couple of the biggest ones out for Santa.
Get the recipe: Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
🎄 You may also like more of our favorite Christmas shortbread cookies and these delicious Chocolate Christmas Cookies and German Christmas Cookies which are also fun for potlucks.
4. Mini Apple Crisp Cheesecakes
Mini Apple Crisp Cheesecakes bring two of my favorite desserts together in one cute little bite.
They have a creamy vanilla cheesecake filling, cinnamon apples, and a buttery oat crumble on top, with no slicing or water bath to worry about.
Make these apple desserts ahead for a Christmas potluck or holiday party, and don’t be surprised if you’re wishing you’d made a double batch.
Get the recipe: Mini Apple Crisp Cheesecakes
5. White Chocolate Christmas Fudge
White Chocolate Christmas Fudge is my kind of holiday treat: easy, festive, and only three ingredients.
It takes just minutes in the microwave, then I add plenty of Christmas sprinkles because in our house, sprinkles are never really optional.
Cut it into bite sized squares for a Christmas potluck, add it to holiday treat boxes, or make a batch with the kids when you need something sweet without a lot of fuss.
Get the recipe: White Chocolate Christmas Fudge
6. Reindeer Holiday Wafers
These Reindeer Holiday Wafers are almost too cute to eat, and they’re ridiculously easy to make.
Dip vanilla wafers in chocolate, then add pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a bright red M&M nose for a fun Rudolph treat the kids can help decorate.
They’re one of my favorite holiday potluck cookies when I need something festive without turning on the oven.
You can even skip the dipping and start with chocolate wafers when you’re really short on time.
Get the recipe: Reindeer Holiday Wafers
7. Apple Pie Bars
If you love apple pie but could happily skip the fuss of making pie dough, these Apple Pie Bars are for you.
They have a buttery shortbread style crust, tender cinnamon spiced apples, and a sweet crumble topping that gives you a little bit of everything in each bite.
I like cutting them into smaller squares for Christmas potlucks and dessert trays, although warming one up with vanilla ice cream is pretty darn good too.
Get the recipe: Apple Pie Bars
🎄 Also try some more fun holiday potluck food ideas, and festive party treats like these no bake Christmas desserts and kid friendly no bake party treats.
8. Short Cut Candy Cane Fudge
This Short Cut Candy Cane Fudge is one of those easy Christmas treats that looks like you put in way more effort than you actually did.
It’s creamy, sweet, and pepperminty, with crushed candy canes on top for a little crunch, and everything comes together in one pot.
I make it for holiday potlucks, treat boxes, and teacher gifts, although I usually have to hide a few pieces if I want any left for myself.
Check out more festive fudge recipes.
Get the recipe: Short Cut Candy Cane Fudge
9. Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Can’t decide between a cinnamon roll and a cookie?
These Cinnamon Roll Cookies give you the best parts of both, with soft pumpkin cookies, a cinnamon sugar swirl, and sweet maple glaze drizzled over the top.
I love bringing them to fall and holiday potlucks, but they’re especially hard to resist with a strong cup of coffee and a little quiet time.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Cookies
10. Mini Chocolate Reindeer Treats
These Mini Chocolate Reindeer Treats are such a fun little treat to make around Christmas, especially if you have kids who like to help in the kitchen.
Chocolate almond bark, pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and bright red M&M noses turn into adorable Rudolph bites with about 20 minutes of prep.
Add these chocolate holiday treats to a Christmas potluck or dessert tray, or make a batch for snacking on during a Rudolph movie night.
Get the recipe: Mini Chocolate Reindeer Treats
11. Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Shortbread has always been my favorite cookie, and these Pecan Shortbread Cookies are one I make every holiday season.
They have that buttery, melt in your mouth texture I love, with plenty of crunchy pecans mixed in and around the edges.
Make the dough ahead, then slice and bake a batch for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges, potlucks, or homemade gifts for friends and neighbours.
Get the recipe: Pecan Shortbread Cookies
12. Caramel Apple Trifle Desserts
Sometimes you just need a dessert that’s quick, easy, and still looks like you made an effort.
These Caramel Apple Trifle Desserts layer cinnamon apples, soft pound cake, whipped cream, and buttery caramel into cute individual cups.
They take about 15 minutes to put together, which makes them great for Christmas, Friendsmas, or a holiday potluck when you already have a million other things to do.
Get the recipe: Caramel Apple Trifle Desserts
13. Reindeer Christmas Bark
Reindeer Chocolate Bark is such a cute no bake Christmas treat, and it’s surprisingly easy to make.
Melted chocolate gets topped with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and bright red M&M noses to make little Rudolph faces that kids can help put together.
We’ve made it for Christmas parties and office potlucks and tucked pieces into holiday tins for neighbours and family, usually while singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer along the way.
Get the recipe: Reindeer Christmas Bark
14. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls With Maple Cream Cheese Icing
These Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls are one of those recipes I save for a slow weekend morning, when I can make a cup of coffee and let the dough rise without watching the clock.
They’re soft and fluffy with pumpkin and warm cinnamon spice, then finished with a maple cream cheese icing that my kids would happily eat by the spoonful.
I usually make a few extra because they never seem to last long, whether we’re eating them at home or bringing a batch to a holiday brunch or potluck.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
15. Nutella Cream Cheese Christmas Dip
Need something fun for the Christmas potluck dessert table that doesn’t require turning on the oven?
This sweet and creamy Nutella and cream cheese dip takes less than 15 minutes to make, then candy eyes, a red nose, and pretzel antlers give it the cutest Rudolph makeover.
It’s also a favorite in our house for our yearly Rudolph movie night, served with plenty of graham crackers and fruit for dipping.
Get the recipe: Nutella Cream Cheese Christmas Dip
16. Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars
Apple desserts always remind me of childhood trips to my grandparents’ orchard, where we’d gather apples to bring home for pies, applesauce, and whatever else my mom had planned.
These Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars layer creamy cheesecake, spiced apples, buttery oat streusel, and caramel into an easy to share dessert.
Make them ahead, cut them into smaller squares for a crowd, and watch them hold their own alongside all those Christmas cookies, fudge, and other holiday favorites.
Get the recipe: Apple Caramel Cheesecake Bars
Final Thoughts: Easy Christmas Potluck Desserts for a Crowd
Whether you’re bringing something to a family gathering, office party, or Friendsmas celebration, I hope these Christmas party potluck ideas give you plenty of inspiration for your next get together.
From cute reindeer sweets and creamy cheesecakes to easy no-bake fudge and cookies, there are lots of holiday treats to choose from, even when you’re short on time.
I especially love recipes you can make ahead, because December is busy enough without spending hours in the kitchen. So pick a few favorites, make a double batch if you’re feeding a larger group, and enjoy sharing some delicious desserts for a crowd with the people you love.
