Time to pull out the confectioners' and course sugar because these desserts are begging to dusted, rolled and sprinkled with an extra dose of sugar. Just don't forget the napkins!
65 Sugar-Dusted Desserts
Updated on Sep. 23, 2024
1/65
Raspberry Pistachio Thumbprints
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Thumbprint cookies are a Christmas classic, and I especially like my updated version with pistachios. The rich, buttery bites are not only delicious, but they are also pretty enough to give for gifts—if you manage to share them! —Laura Murphy, Columbus, Mississippi
2/65
Pear Bundt Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Next time you make cake from a mix, try my easy and delicious recipe. The pears and syrup add sweet flavor and prevent the cake from drying out. And since there's no oil added to the batter, this tender fall-perfect cake is surprisingly low in fat. —Veronica Ross, Columbia Heights, Minnesota
3/65
Chocolate Macaroon Cupcakes
Total Time
50 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A delightful coconut and ricotta cheese filling is hidden inside these chocolate cupcakes. —Dolores Skrout, Summerhill, Pennsylvania
4/65
Mexican Cinnamon Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My extended family shares a meal every Sunday. The aunts and uncles take turns bringing everything from main dishes to desserts like this traditional Mexican cinnamon cookie called reganadas. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
5/65
Rum Balls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I make these rum balls for special occasions with my wonderful family and friends. The treats are so easy to make and pack a festive punch. — Diane Duschanek, Council Bluffs, Iowa
6/65
Strawberry Cream Cake Roll
Total Time
35 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There are plenty of strawberry patches near my hometown, and soon they’ll be brimming with red berries. I discovered this recipe a few summers ago and have made it often. Believe me, it tastes as good as it looks!
7/65
Finnish Pinwheels
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
about 7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When my sister was hosting an exchange student from Finland, she served these cookies I'd made to her guest. The young lady instantly recognized what they were. So I know they're still being made in our ancestors' country. —Ilona Barron, Ontonagon, Michigan
8/65
Deep-Fried Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My kids love this delicious, indulgent treat. I like to give the batter a kick by adding a pinch of cinnamon and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. — Margarita Torres, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
9/65
Pear Pie
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I entered this pie in a local baking contest and ended up winning! Bartlett pears hold up well when baked, adding a nice layer of texture. —Darlene Jacobson, Waterford, Wisconsin
11/65
Key Lime Pie Balls
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The classic creamy filling, graham cracker crust and burst of lime are all mixed together in every bite of these rolled cookies. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
12/65
Chocolate Walnut Crescents
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 10-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I use a round cookie cutter to form the crescent shapes for these nutty favorites. They're so pretty sprinkled with sugar and drizzled with chocolate. —TerryAnn Moore, Vineland, New Jersey
13/65
Old-Fashioned Pear Cake
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Old-fashioned pear spice cake is a wonderful ending to a meal. It's not too heavy or rich, but the moist treat is brimming with flavor.—Audrey Golden, Cary, North Carolina
14/65
Caramel Apple Tartlets
Total Time
35 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Good-for-you things come in small packages when you make a batch of these tiny apple tartlets. Sweet and cinnamony, these mouthwatering tarts are a delightful addition to a dessert table or snack tray. —Mary Kelley, Minneapolis, Minnesota
15/65
Holiday Nuggets
Total Time
50 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Mom made these family favorites every year for the holidays. I still remember how much I enjoyed “helping” with the mixing bowl. Now my son helps me! —Anna Minegar, Wauchula, Florida
16/65
Italian Horn Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family has been making these delicate, fruit-filled Italian horn cookies for generations. They’re light and flaky, with the look of an elegant old-world pastry. —Gloria Siddiqui, Houston, Texas
17/65
Hot Cocoa Souffle
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A friend invited me to go to a cooking demo at her church years ago, and one of the recipes prepared was this luscious souffle. It was so easy—and absolutely delicious. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
18/65
Cherry Almond Snowdrops
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As soon as I was old enough, I helped make these distinctive almond cookies. You can freeze the dough, so they’re perfect for the busy holidays. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
19/65
Banana Chocolate Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This light-as-air chocolate cake has a yummy banana flavor. It’s scrumptious as is, but you can also dress it up with nuts or light frostings. —Tina Bellows, Racine, Wisconsin
20/65
Mole New Mexican Wedding Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Heat and sweet is such an amazing combination. I added chili powder and chocolate chips to give a new twist to traditional Mexican cookies. They melt in your mouth, and then the spice hits you. I just love them. — Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
21/65
Blackberry-Orange Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother made luscious fruit pies and cobblers using blackberries from her garden. I decided to follow her lead and create a blackberry cake that's always lovely with a summer meal. —Lisa M. Varner, El Paso, Texas
22/65
Ice Cream Kolachkes
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet pastries have Polish and Czech roots and can also be spelled "kolaches." They are usually filled with poppy seeds, nuts, jam or a mashed fruit mixture. The ice cream is a unique twist on traditional kolachkes, and it's simplest to use a square cookie cutter to cut the dough. —Diane Turner, Brunswick, Ohio
23/65
Lemon Tart
Total Time
45 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For a change from ordinary lemon bars, we added grated orange zest to both the crust and filling to turn the recipe into a lemon tart. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
24/65
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I baked these moist, fudgy cookies for the first time, my three preschool children went wild over them! But I like them because they're lower in fat and easy to mix and bake. —Maria Groff, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
25/65
Almond-Coconut Lemon Bars
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Give traditional lemon bars a tasty twist with the addition of almonds and coconut. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
26/65
Linzer Tarts
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
With a creamy chocolate and hazelnut filling, these decadent Christmas cookies look and taste amazing. Guests will never guess how relatively easy they are to make. —Mary Maddox, Bellmore, New York
27/65
Raspberry Chocolate Puffs
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This chocolaty, flaky dessert is one of my favorite show-off recipes because
it makes a spectacular presentation. The best part? It’s actually surprisingly easy and quick to make. —Anneliese Deising, Plymouth, Michigan
28/65
Lemon Snowflakes
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll need just four ingredients to make these delightful lemon snowflake cookies. Confectioners’ sugar highlights the cracked tops to give them their snowflake appearance. —Linda Barry, Dianna, Texas
29/65
Apple Pie
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested that maybe a slice of hot apple pie would make me feel better. She was right. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
30/65
Tender Pecan Logs
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks always ask me to make these tender nutty logs. Not overly sweet, they're just right with a steaming cup of coffee or tea. —Joyce Beck, Gadsden, Alabama
31/65
Cinnamon Sugar Crackle Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I get lots of compliments on these crunchy cookies. They're always part of my Christmas cookie platter. —Sarah Miller, Wauconda, Washington
32/65
Contest-Winning Moist Chocolate Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You don't have to spend a lot of time to serve an elegant and delicious dessert. Just mix up the batter in one bowl, bake and get ready for people to love this moist dark chocolate cake recipe. —Christa Hageman, Telford, Pennsylvania
33/65
Peach Blueberry Pie
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
What a flavor! That's what I hear most often when guests taste this pie. —Sue Thumma, Shepherd, Michigan
34/65
German Christmas Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This little spice cookie tastes very European and is similar to Pfeffernüsse or “peppernut.” We make ours with cozy spices, anise flavoring, almonds and candied citron. —Carole Mueller, Florissant, Missouri
35/65
Spiced Peach Puffs
Total Time
1 hour 35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
We always made cream puffs for special occasions when I was growing up in our family of seven. Sometimes we used a custard filling, but this version with whipped cream and peaches is the best. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario
36/65
Coconut Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma
37/65
Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes
Total Time
55 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These luscious cupcakes have a touch of semisweet chocolate in the batter and white chocolate in the filling. They melt away fast at our house. —Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
38/65
Walnut-Filled Pillows
Total Time
40 min
Servings
28 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
These tender cookie pillows, filled with a delicious walnut mixture, are my husband's favorite. He says it wouldn't be Christmas without them. —Nancy Kostrej, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
39/65
Rustic Cranberry Tarts
Total Time
35 min
Servings
2 tarts (6 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I like to serve colorful desserts for gatherings with family and friends. These beautiful tarts are filled with cranberry and citrus flavor, and they’re easy to make and serve. —Holly Bauer, West Bend, Wisconsin
40/65
Kipplens
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My Great-Aunt Hilda makes this recipe every Christmas, and everybody loves them! Kipplens taste a lot like Mexican wedding cakes, but I like my aunt's version better. —Susan Bohannon, Kokomo, Indiana
41/65
Raspberry Coffee Cake
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
One of my mother's friends used to bring this over at the holidays, and it never lasted long. With tangy raspberry filling, tender cake and crunchy topping, it has become a favorite at our house. —Amy Mitchell, Sabetha, Kansas
42/65
Chocolate Gingersnaps
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When my daughter Jennifer was 15 years old, she created this recipe as a way to combine two of her favorite flavors. They're perfect with a glass of milk. —Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah
43/65
Beignets
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sweet French doughnuts, inspired by the ones found in Cafe du Monde in New Orleans, are square instead of round and have no hole in the middle. They're a traditional part of breakfast in New Orleans. —Beth Dawson, Jackson, Louisiana
44/65
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As part of a Mexican tradition, I tucked these sugar-dusted Mexican wedding cookies into small gift boxes for the guests at my sister's wedding. Most folks said the cookies never made it home! We bake them around the holidays too. —Sarita Johnston, San Antonio, Texas
45/65
White Chocolate Easter Egg Candies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 2 dozen (1-1/2 pounds)
From the Recipe Creator:
Candy making can be easy! Have kids help roll the candies in sprinkles, colored sugar or jimmies. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
46/65
Easy Apple Cake
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
After testing many apple cake recipes with fresh apples, I found this old-fashioned easy apple cake that is moist, dense and down-home delicious. Even better, it's quick to fix, and when it's served warm with whipped cream or a dollop of frozen custard, it's one of my family’s very favorites. —Sherry Ashenfelter, Waterville, Ohio
47/65
Jumbo Chocolate Cutouts
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The recipe for these light cookies has been passed down from generation to generation. Have a little extra fun with frosting if you like. They freeze well, too!—Helen Brown, East Dover, Vermont
48/65
Apricot-Blackberry Pie
Total Time
1 hour 20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Blackberries became my favorite fruit after I harvested them from my grandfather’s yard in Greece. I mix them with apricots to make the pie of my dreams. —Simone Bazos, Baltimore, Maryland
49/65
Holiday Kipferl Cookie
Total Time
45 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family has been making the classic kipferl cookie on December 1 every year since I can remember. During the last two weeks of December, we make them with the addition of dried cranberries and toasted pecans for Christmas time. —Brooke Maynard, Poughkeepsie, New York
50/65
Raspberry Peach Tart
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There’s no shortage of fresh peaches and raspberries where I live. I use the fruit I grow to bake up this sweet and special fruit tart.— Mary Ann Rempel, Southold, New York
51/65
Linzer Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This specialty cookie takes a little extra effort, but the results are sweet! They really help to make the holidays feel special. —Jane Pearcy, Verona, Wisconsin
52/65
Lemon Cheesecake Tarts
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
To make these cute tarts more quickly, add the filling to store-bought phyllo tart shells. —Sarah Gilbert, Beaverton, Oregon
53/65
Chocolate-Strawberry Pretzel Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Every year I come up with a new recipe, and this is one that's been requested over and over. Who would ever guess how good pretzels are in cookies? —Isabel Minunni, Poughkeepsie, New York
54/65
Pumpkin-Spice Sugar Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been making these quick and easy cookies for over 20 years. They're the first to go at our annual church bake sale.—Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
55/65
Cranberry-Carrot Layer Cake
Total Time
45 min
Servings
14 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This moist cake smothered with rich cream cheese frosting makes any dinner festive. Every autumn, I go to a cranberry festival in Wisconsin and load up on fresh cranberries to freeze for year-round cooking. —Nellie Runne, Rockford, Illinois
56/65
Kolacky Cookies
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
As a child, I always looked forward to eating these goodies at Christmastime. Now I make them for my own family. —Sharon Kurtz, Emmaus, Pennsylvania
57/65
Honey-Lime Almond Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Decades ago my grandmother passed this buttery lime cookie recipe to me. Through years of baking, our cookie memories keep the family connected, although we’re miles apart. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania
58/65
Blueberry Rhubarb Country Tart
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When the rhubarb comes in, mix it with blueberries for a rustic and bubbly tart. Offer it to a friend with a warm cup of tea. —Jeanne Ambrose, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
59/65
Crispy Norwegian Bows
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I've been fixing these cookies for so long, I don't recall where the recipe came from. They're a "must" at our house.—Janie Norwood, Albany, Georgia
60/65
Baki’s Old-World Cookies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My uncles have always called these "cupcake cookies" because of the unique, pretty way they're baked. My maternal grandmother mixed many batches. —Marilyn Louise Riggenbach, Ravenna, Ohio
61/65
Triple Nut Snowballs
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 6 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This super-crunchy, not-too-sweet cookie is a fun update on the classic snowball. I used cashews, macadamia nuts and pecans, but you can mix and match other nuts to your liking. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
62/65
Kourabiedes
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I had to bake something from my heritage for school. So, I made this heavenly kourabiedes recipe. —Rebecca Sprague, St. Louis, Missouri
63/65
Pecan Roll-Ups
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe is so delicious and is sure to become a favorite of your family. The pecans make them so rich.—Lee B. Roberts, Racine, Wisconsin
64/65
Go Bananas Whoopie Pies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love anything with peanut butter, so when I saw this recipe for soft banana cookies with a yummy peanut butter filling, I had to make them. Use a cookie scoop to keep them nicely rounded and all the same size. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
65/65
Pfeffernuesse Cookies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
A German holiday tradition, these fragrant pfeffernuesse cookies pack a warm rush of spices in every bite. Also called peppernuts, they go wonderfully with coffee or tea.—Joanne Nelson, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
