23 New Year's Eve Desserts
Ring in the new year with these delectable desserts.
Whether or not you plan to stay up until midnight, ring in the New Year with an impressive and delicious dessert. Indulge in a rich Chocolate Mousse Cake or try something a little boozy, like a Spiked Eggnog Bundt. You might be tired of cookies and pies from the holidays, but consider New Year's Eve your opportunity to make an impressive cake or one more big, beautiful dessert before the year is over and healthier eating commences. Celebrate the cranberries and citrus that are in season or lean into the chocolate desserts that pair perfectly with a glass of champagne and fireworks.
Sea Salt-Caramel Cake
This is an impressive cake bound to wow guests. The rich caramel frosting is finished with a touch of flaky sea salt for the right balance of salty and sweet. We'll bet that once friends and family get a taste of this cake, you'll be making it on repeat in the New Year.
Chocolate Fondue
Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
What better way to celebrate the new year than with a bowl of silky chocolate? Chocolate fondue is an instant crowd-pleaser. Everyone will have so much fun dipping all the different bites in chocolate. For a boozy twist, stir a little of your favorite liquor into the pot.
Chocolate-Coconut Pavlova
If you're tired of icing cakes from the holidays, this dessert is for you. Layers of crispy baked meringue and coconut whipped cream make a dreamy dairy-free and gluten-free dessert that looks impressive with very little decorating.
Cappuccino Swirl Bars
These impressive-looking coffee-flavored bars are easier than you would think to pull off. Store-bought chocolate wafer cookies make up the easy crust while chocolate-covered espresso beans are a sophisticated and delicious garnish.
Hot Buttered Rum Bread Pudding
Bread pudding gets an upgrade with the help of gold rum in this recipe. With the addition of all of the warm spices (don't skip the black pepper!), it's the perfect cozy winter dessert to eat while watching the fireworks.
Crème Brûlée Cheesecake
Have the best of two desserts in one with this recipe. Thanks to a layer of torched granulated sugar, this rich and creamy classic cheesecake has a caramelized top just like crème brûlée.
Chocolate Mousse Cake
Three layers of chocolate combine in this cake for the ultimate chocolate lover's dessert. Tart berries help cut through the richness of this cake, adding a brightness that allows you to enjoy more of the dessert than you could on its own.
Chocolate Trifle
These beautiful individual trifles look like they would take hours to make, but thanks to a handful of grocery store shortcuts, they couldn't be easier. From brownie mix to boxed pudding, this dessert is a breeze for those of us who by New Year's are exhausted from all the holiday baking.
Butter Pecan Layer Cake with Browned Butter Frosting
Some say butter makes everything better, but browned butter tops the plain stuff, at least when it comes to frosting. In this cake, the nutty browned butter frosting is the perfect match for the butter pecan cake layers.
Chocolate Eclair Cake
This cake is a sight to behold and even more of a delight to eat. Inspired by the French dessert, it has chocolate ganache, crispy pastry, and cream-filled layers.
Bushwacker
A milkshake is dessert, right? And this one spiked with dark rum, coffee liquor, and Irish cream, will help keep the spirits up long past midnight.
Chocolate Torte
A simple and elegant dessert with an intense dark chocolate flavor. Feel free to get creative with how you serve it, from making freshly whipped cream to go with, to adding berries or fruit compotes on top of a slice.
Mexican Chocolate Pudding Cake
This ooey-gooey warm chocolate cake is a late-night dessert dream. Serve with vanilla ice cream, a creamy and cool contrast to the rich and slightly spicy cake.
Salted Caramel Cheesecake
From top to bottom, this cheesecake delivers on the caramel. The crust is made with crushed caramel cookies while the top gets a generous drizzle of thick dulce de leche so each bite is full of bittersweet caramel flavors.
Pecan Spice Cake with Caramel-Rum Glaze
Would you believe this cake only requires 30 minutes of hands-on cooking? It does! But you wouldn't know that looking at it. Pop this cake in the oven. put your feet up, and relax with some New Year's Eve re-runs while it bakes.
Coconut-Carrot Cake with Coconut Buttercream
In charge of bringing dessert to the party? This sheet cake carrot cake not only feeds a crowd but travels well. Carrot curls and coconut flakes are easy flourishes that make this cake look great without too much extra effort.
Mini Cranberry-Cheesecake Pies
Sometimes just a few bites of dessert are all you really need and these mini cranberry cheesecake pies are a satisfying two-bite treat for those times. Plus, you won't need a springform pan or water bath for these mini cheesecake desserts to turn out perfect every time.
Spiked Eggnog Bundt Cake
While you might be done with eggnog for the year, this ultra-rich bundt made with the flavors of the holiday drink is a fun new way to enjoy the seasonal treat. With both nutmeg and bourbon in the batter, this cake is a cozy winter delight.
Caramel Apple Cake
This is a showstopper dessert that nobody will be able to resist. To make it extra decadent, we even topped it with a delicious Apple Brandy-Caramel Sauce, but don't worry this cake comes together easily.
The Lane Cake
This classic isn't the easiest to make, but it's the kind of recipe you break out for big celebration. Packed with Southern flavors like toasted pecans, coconut flakes, and dried peaches, it's the perfect way to end the year with a bang!
7UP Bundt Cake
Add a little pop to your New Year's dessert with 7UP. Topped with a lemon-lime cream cheese frosting and sugared citrus peels, this cake might not look like the 7UP bundts your mom made, but we promise it's a delicious update.
Cranberry-Orange Cake with Orange Buttercream
Cranberry and orange are a classic flavor pairing for a reason. Here they come together for a moist layer cake that is perfectly sweet and tart.
Pink Champagne Cake
If you're already pulling out the flute glasses for a midnight toast, then maybe this Pink Champagne Cake is the dessert for you. You'll definitely want to pop some champagne for this recipe; we included it in both the cake and icing.
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