These are our favourite Christmas dessert recipes for a proper Aussie Christmas. Some are big and showy for the table, some are little bits you can make weeks ahead and pull out of the fridge when people drop in.
It’s usually hot on the day, so there’s a good mix of cold and no-bake options here too. Nobody wants the oven on at 2pm on Christmas Day.
Table of Contents
Make these weeks ahead
Get these done early and you’ll thank yourself in the last week of December.
Traditional Christmas Cake
Brandy soaked fruit, baked low and slow and fed every week until the big day. Start it in early November.
Boiled Fruit Cake
The shortcut fruit cake. The fruit simmers in a pot, so you can bake it the week before and nobody will know.
Rum Balls
No baking, about 20 minutes, and they keep for 2 weeks in the fridge. There’s an alcohol-free version for the kids too.
White Christmas
Rice cereal, coconut and bright glace fruit set in a creamy base. Cut it into squares and keep it cold.
Jelly Slice
Biscuit base, creamy middle, red jelly on top. Looks festive with zero effort and it’s lovely on a hot day.
The big centrepiece
Pavlova
Crisp shell, soft marshmallowy middle, piled with cream and fruit. Top it with strawberries, kiwi and passionfruit and it’s red, green and gold. Bake the base up to 2 days ahead.
Sticky Date Pudding
If you want a warm pudding but can’t face a traditional plum pudding, this is it. Make it ahead, freeze it, and warm it with the butterscotch sauce on the day.
No-bake sweet treats
Good for platters, gifts and that afternoon slump when everyone’s too full for a proper dessert but still wants something sweet.
Rocky Road
Chocolate, marshmallows, peanuts and cherries. Break it into chunks and pop it in jars for easy gifts.
Honeycomb
Four ingredients and a bit of kitchen magic. Dip it in chocolate and it makes a great little present. Just keep it sealed, humidity is its enemy.
Caramel Tarts
Bite-size shortcrust shells with condensed milk caramel and a pinch of sea salt. Make the shells and caramel the day before.
Quick comparison
| Dessert | Make ahead | Oven? | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas cake | 4 to 8 weeks | Yes | Medium |
| Boiled fruit cake | Up to a week | Yes | Easy |
| Rum balls | 2 weeks | No | Easy |
| White Christmas | 2 weeks | No | Easy |
| Jelly slice | 3 days | No | Easy |
| Pavlova | 2 days (base only) | Yes | Medium |
| Sticky date pudding | Freeze up to 3 months | Yes | Easy |
| Rocky road | 2 weeks | No | Easy |
| Honeycomb | 2 weeks, sealed | No | Medium |
| Caramel tarts | 3 days | Yes | Easy |
A simple dessert plan
You don’t need all ten. For most Christmas in Australia lunches, one big dessert and one or two little ones is plenty.
- Early November: start the Christmas cake.
- 2 weeks out: rum balls, rocky road or white Christmas. They all keep in the fridge.
- 2 or 3 days out: jelly slice or caramel tarts.
- Christmas Eve: bake the pavlova base and leave it in the oven overnight.
- On the day: whip the cream, cut the fruit and top the pav just before serving.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most popular Christmas dessert recipes in Australia?
Pavlova, Christmas cake, pudding, trifle, rum balls, white Christmas and rocky road are all Aussie favourites. Cold and no-bake desserts are popular because it’s summer.
What Christmas desserts can I make ahead?
Rum balls, rocky road and white Christmas keep for about 2 weeks in the fridge. Christmas cake is made 4 to 8 weeks ahead.
What’s a good no-bake Christmas dessert?
Rum balls, white Christmas, rocky road and jelly slice all need no oven at all.
How many desserts should I make for Christmas lunch?
One big dessert plus one or two small treats is usually plenty, as people are full after lunch.
Which Christmas dessert recipes are good for gifts?
Rocky road, rum balls, honeycomb and small Christmas cakes all pack and travel well.
Pick a couple of these Christmas dessert recipes, get the make-ahead ones done early, and enjoy the day instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
Merry Christmas,
Ella x
