14 Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Recipes to Bring to Holiday Potlucks

Taylor Swift Chai Cookies

Taylor Swift adapted this cookie recipe from Joy the Baker and our editor Meredith Holser gave them a go in her kitchen. She was starstruck by how easy they were to make!

Blake Lively's Sausage And Brie Puff Pastry

Lively recreates one of her favorite personal recipes using locally sourced meats and ingredients with Elletra's Goodness. (via Vogue)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson's Roast Chicken with Lemon Pepper Rub

If you're over turkey and turkey leftovers, this flavorful roast chicken from the Modern Family star will mix up your holiday meal with lemon-y deliciousness.

Bundle “Le Emilia” By Emilia Clarke

• 2 fl oz Pegasus Vodka
• 1/2 fl oz Eau D'or Liqueur
• 1/2 fl oz simple syrup
• 1 fl oz lime juice
• 5-6 fresh mint leaves

1. Shake and strain in a cocktail glass.
2. Add Eau D’Or foam.
3. Decorate with fresh mint leaves and lime zest.
4. Suggested glassware: Riedel Sour Glass

Joanna Gaines' Friendsgiving Casserole

This chicken casserole is the perfect one-pot meal to take to your holiday potluck or just whip up for a delicious winter meal for days. (from Magnolia)

Dolly Parton's Walnut Pie

• 1 fold-out pie crust (thawed)
• 3 eggs
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 3/4 cup of light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped walnuts
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 Tbsp butter, melted
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• whipped cream

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees. Roll out the crust and line a 9-inch pie plate with it.
2. Beat eggs in a large bowl with hand mixer. Gradually add the sugar, corn syrup, vanilla, and salt. Continue mixing until combined. Add the melted butter and beat until thoroughly incorporated.
3. Pour the egg mixture into the pie shell. Add the walnuts, spreading them evenly within the mixture. Bake for 10 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to 300 degrees and bake 45 minutes more. Place a collar of foil around the edge of the crust after 30 minutes.
5. Serve with a Dolly-up of whipped cream.

Kristen Bell's Everything Cookies

For your next cookie party serve up the Bell's favorite Everything Cookie (oats, butterscotch and chocolate, oh my!). Get points for gluten-free too! (from Today)

Sarah Michelle Gellar's Gingerbread Cookies

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum makes this adorable Gingerbread family at home with her two little ones. (from Us)

Chrissy Teigen's Sweet Potato Streusel Pie

Buttery pecan topping? Yes, please! Thanks to Cravings by Chrissy Tiegen for the recipe.

Martha Stewart's Shortbread Cookie Wreaths

Slay your cookie party with these candied flowered cookies from the baking queen.

Kylie Jenner's Calabasas Combo

Ingredients:

• 2.0 oz 818 Tequila Blanco
• 1.0 oz Lime Juice
• 4.0 oz Grapefruit Juice
• 0.25 oz Agave Syrup
• 2.0 oz Kylie Jenner’s Grapefruit or Lime Sprinter Vodka Soda

Gwyneth Paltrow's Potato Apple Latkes with Smoked Salmon

We never met a fried potato we didn't like. This Hanukkah hit from GP makes a great holiday breakfast or side dish. (from Goop)

Cameron Diaz's Cambrusco Spritz

Here's my twist on the classic Shirley Temple that's become my favorite fall cocktail — the Avaline Cambrusco Spritz! It combines Avaline's fruity, fizzy Lambrusco with refreshing pomegranate-cranberry juice and lemon-lime sparkling water. It’s the perfect blend of tart, bubbly, and not-too-sweet, with a nostalgic touch from the maraschino cherries. Whether you’re hosting happy hour or planning a dinner party with fresh fall produce, this spritz will add a fun pop of color (and flavor) to your autumn gatherings. Cheers to making new memories! - Cameron

• In a tall glass, add ice
• 2 oz Avaline Lambrusco
• 2 oz 100% Pom-cran Juice

1. Fill to top with sparkling water
2. Add 1 squeeze of a lemon wedge
3. Add 1-3 maraschino cherries for garnish

Kylie Jenner's Famous Matzo Ball Soup

Warm up a winter holiday day with a bowl of matzo ball soup courtesy of the Kardashians star. She walks you through her recipe — the matzo balls can be made by following the instructions on the box.

Meghan Markle's The TIG Cozy Cocktail

The duchess calls this warm and cinnamon-y bourbon-based drink "the very best apres ski drink I can think of." Cue the roasting fire. (from The Mail)

Jamie Chung's The Moet 75

A twist on one of our faves, the French 75, this official Golden Globes cocktail created by the The Misfits star has a kick of tequila. (from Haute Living)

Kourtney Kardashian's Pomegranate Champagne Punch

So easy and so tasty! Give this festive Champagne-based cocktail a swig to ring in the new year in style. (from In Style)

Carly Pearce's Pumpkin Pie

The country music singer, based in Nashville, shared her mom's pumpkin pie recipe with us and we are all over it.

Dough:

• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

Filling:

• 2 cups of unsweetened pure pumpkin puree
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4 cups half-and-half
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/3 teaspoon of ground cloves (we like to add an extra pinch!)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1. For the dough, mix together flour, sugar and salt evenly in a bowl
2. Lightly beat in butter and egg
3. Cover the dough in plastic and let chill in refrigerator for 2 hours
4. Once chilled, sprinkle flour on a flat surface and roll out dough, then roll dough onto pie pan. Leave about half an inch extra around the edge and fold underneath the edge of the crust.
5. Pinch edges of pie with your fingers, then freeze the shell for 30 minutes.
6. Add parchment paper over the pie shell and fill with pie weights (this can be dried beans or even sugar)
7. To prep the dough for the filling, bake on a baking sheet for 30 minutes on 375 degrees, or until pie shell is golden brown
8. Take the crust out of the oven and remove the weights, then let the crust cool.
9. Set oven temp to 350 degrees
10. For the filling, mix the pumpkin puree, evaporated milk, half-and-half, light brown sugar and spices and eggs into a bowl. Whisk until smooth.
11. Pour mix into pie crust, bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
12. Remove from oven, let pie cool for 30 minutes

Amy Grant's Fudge Sauce

The 6-time Grammy Award winner shared with us her mom Gloria's recipe for fudge sauce. Dip cookies, add to ice cream or drizzle on pie:

• 4-5 unsweetened chocolate squares
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 stick butter

In a double-boiler, melt Chocolate Squares and Sweetened Condensed Milk, then fill empty can with water. Add water, a little at a time, to the melted chocolate mixture. Allow it to cook down, and add more water and repeat. After about 20 minutes, remove from heat, add butter and beat until shiny.

Pamplemousse La Croix and Lavender Mocktail

Grapefruit tastes delicious in the winter, which makes this mocktail a great option for any holiday parties or girls' nights you have coming up. (via Brit + Co)

Sunshine Juice

This Sunshine Juice is the perfect summer cool-down drink, but considering we don't get as much sun as we need in the winter, it also provides a healthy dose of vitamin C that will help you feel sunnier *and* boost your immune system. (via Brit + Co)

Pomegranate White Tea Fizz

Swap the sparkling wine for sparkling grape juice to make this drink kid- and expectant mom-friendly. White tea pairs well with the pomegranate because of its full flavor, and it's unsweetened for those of us who don't like super sweet drinks. (via Brit + Co)

Morning Metabolism Boost Drink

The lemon juice and apple cider vinegar add plenty of flavor to this sipper, but the ginger and cinnamon add some nice spice, too. (via Two Spoons)

Blood Orange Lemonade

This Blood Orange Lemonade combines oranges with lemonade (two of our favorite things) and is like the winter counterpart to the raspberry lemonade we love to make in the summer. (via The Endless Meal)

Preggy Punch Mocktail

Add a little bit of summer to your winter bashes with this Preggy Punch Mocktail, which mixes ginger and limeade with pineapple coconut juice. Jelly beans are optional, but could we get some extra cotton candy? (via A Spicy Perspective)

Vanilla Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour

The flavors in this Vanilla Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour are all of our favorite winter picks mixed into one. While this recipe originally calls for bourbon, Tieghan's mocktail variation swaps it for apple cider. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Non-Alcoholic Spiced Holiday Sangria

We'll drink sangria at just about any gathering, and we love to make it, too! It's a great option for parties because of how easy it is to set up. This booze-free version makes for a tasty punch that kids (and kids at heart) can equally enjoy.

The Grinch

If The Grinch is a holiday movie that you have on repeat throughout the Christmas season, then this is one holiday mocktail you have to make. The green color comes from matcha powder, which has antioxidants as well as great flavor. It's a win-win.

Semi-Sweet Cranberry Mocktail

This is another mocktail that's great for people who don't like super sweet drinks. Lay out different fruits and garnishes that your guests can add to their glasses, and you can also add some simple syrup to the table if any of your friends have a sweet tooth.

Christmas Morning Sparkling Mocktail

You can't beat an orange and cranberry mix for the holiday season, and this holiday mocktail adds sparkling apple cider for a whole other layer of flavor that we can't get enough of. Rosemary and cranberries make the perfect garnishes, but we wouldn't say no to edible glitter.

Strawberry Fizz

This drink is full of strawberry flavor, from the strawberry drinks to the cubes of real strawberry you can add right into the beverage. If you can't find lychee sparkling water (or don't want to buy two different drinks), swap the strawberry and sparkling water for strawberry soda. Nix the soju to make it fully N/A.

Cranberry + Apple Cider Mocktail

Covering your cranberries with sugar takes your holiday mocktail garnish up a notch. We love that it looks like they're covered in snow! Don't forget to add some sugar (ahem, snow) to your glass, too.

Lime La Croix Mocktail

Orange juice will give your drink that opaque look and (mixed with water and lime juice) a toned-down color. Add a dried grapefruit or orange slice to each glass for a sophisticated garnish.

Apple Cider Spritz

Sparkling apple cider tastes delicious when paired with cranberries, rosemary, and cinnamon. It's a good thing this recipe makes a whole batch, because we will definitely be drinking the whole thing.

Rudolph's Holiday Mocktail

If you love Shirley Temples, then you'll love Rudolph's Holiday Mocktail. Add orange juice and cranberry juice to your usual mix of grenadine and ginger ale for multiple flavors and a sweet and tart mix that will become a Christmas party staple.

Smoked Rosemary Lemon Ginger Mocktail

Light your rosemary on fire (trust us) and let it smoke under the glass so that your whole drink is infused with that smoky, herbal taste and smell. It'll engage all your senses and honestly it just looks really cool.

N/A Apple Cider Margarita

Change out your usual sugar rim for cinnamon for a spicy edge to your drinks. It'll set them apart and help you cut down on your sugar intake.

New Year's Ball Drop Mocktail

We are absolutely obsessed with this cotton candy and edible glitter technique and we will be trying it at all our holiday parties for the foreseeable future.

Cranberry Apple Holiday Mocktail

Simple syrup offsets the tart flavor of cranberry juice, but with the sparkling apple cider, the drink doesn't taste too heavy. You can't forget the apples and sugared cranberry garnish!

Fruity Ice Cube Mocktail

Fruity ice cubes (learn how to make 'em here) will take the look of your drinks to the next level while also adding another fun element to the flavor of your drinks. We'll take two, please.

"All I Want for Christmas Is You" – Mariah Carey

It’s tiIiiime! This song is literally everywhere during Christmas. Its catchiness is unavoidable, but I know you love it all the same. Mariah’s most popular Christmas song has *got* to be on repeat as you embrace all things red and green this winter.

"Last Christmas" – Wham!

Another undeniable Christmas classic, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is a mainstay in my personal Christmas playlist. It’s equal parts cheery and nostalgic. It’s 80s vibes all the way. I even added Remi Wolf’s more recent cover of “Last Christmas” to our Christmas playlist for added vibes, because this track is one I can just listen to over and over again.

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" – Andy Williams

This song reminds me of New York City during the holiday season – not that I’ve experienced it for myself, but Andy Williams’ deep, soothing voice brings forth those elegant feelings I associate with Christmas movies that depict NYC, like Elf and Home Alone 2. It’s energetic and highly illustrative, and a must-listen every year.

"Blue Christmas" – Elvis Presley 

Thanks to thePriscilla movie, the Elvis hype is way up in 2023. Work in his pouty “Blue Christmas” into your holiday song rotation this year to embrace the 50s aesthetic while you’re decorating the tree! Even if you’re not missing someone special this Christmas, the woeful lyrics are going to make you yearn.

"O Tannenbaum" – Vince Guaraldi Trio

This jazzy, Peanuts-approved instrumental track begs to be played as you’re sipping hot chocolate by the fire this Christmas. It provides a nice moment of calm no matter when you’re listening to it, which we all know is definitely needed amongst all the holiday hubbub.

"White Winter Hymnal" – Fleet Foxes

Though not explicitly a Christmas song, “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes is a winter playlist staple. Its folky instrumental work and vocals really channel the coziness we all associate with Christmas season. The consistent harmonies and tambourine beats will certainly put you in a calm, spirited mood this year if this track isn’t already on your radar.

"Auld Land Syne" – Guy Lombardo

Typically played at the end of the year to ring in the New Year, the original rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” done by Guy Lombardo plays through silky-smooth brass and woodwind arrangements that everyone will confide in this Christmas season. This is another very calming track, so play it when you’re moving at a slower pace.

"Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)" – Bing Crosby

This island-inspired Christmas song is the epitome of jolly. The driving guitar and drums back Bing Crosby’s classic voice to create an energetic song option this season.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" – Judy Garland

This Judy Garland number is a classic! Her very lyrical, emotional way of delivering the spirited lyrics transport you to mid-century Christmas, when the track first appeared in Meet Me in St. Louis.

"Christmas Wrapping" – Spice Girls

It wouldn’t be a B+C playlist without a little 90s throwback! In this song, the Spice Girls cover the classic Christmas song that was originally sung by early-80s band, The Waitresses. It has that fun Y2K twist to get you groovin’!

Listen To Our Christmas Playlist Here!