146 show-stopping desserts for Christmas

This smorgasbord of Christmas desserts will have the whole family cheering. Cap your festive feast with one (or more, we don’t judge!) of these tasty treats.

Nov 24, 2025

Mango daiquiri trifle

“This trifle is sure to be the the star of your festive table, too!” – Kerrie McCallum

Yotam Ottolenghi's sunset pavlova with orange syrup

Rosemary, orange and passionfruit pavlova.

You can never go wrong with a pav. But you’ve also never had one quite like Yotam Ottolenghi’s. It’s guaranteed to please – and surprise – everyone.

Mango and passionfruit tiramisu

Give your favourite Italian dessert a tropical takeover with this mango and passionfruit tiramisu. This showstopping dessert balances silky-smooth layers of fluffy passionfruit mousse and rum savoiardi biscuits to create a heavenly combination of light and airy textures with bright, summer-filled flavours. Perfect as a sweet centrepiece for Christmas day, this delicious dessert is one that is sure to impress.

Christmas tree pavlova

Add some extra festive spirit into your pav this year with our Christmas tree pavlova recipe.

Tropical trifle

Bring out the bright flavours of summer with this tropical mango trifle. Mangoes are the hero of this delicious Christmas dessert, with a vibrant mango jelly layer at the base and juicy slices fanned on top to pair with the golden passionfruit, green kiwi fruit and starfruit for a show-stopping visual. Fluffy chunks of Malibu-spiked madeira cake sink into the smooth whipped coconut cream filling, creating a luxurious texture of this velvety-smooth festive dessert. You’ll need an 8-cup (2L) capacity trifle dish, and you’ll need to start this recipe at least 4 hours ahead.

Fresh ideas

Yotam Ottolenghi's sunset pavlova with orange syrup

(5)

Serves 8

You can never go wrong with a pav. But you’ve also never had one quite like Yotam Ottolenghi’s. It’s guaranteed to please – and surprise – everyone. What you need to know before you start Begin this recipe the night before to allow the meringue base to cool completely. You’ll also need a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and uninterrupted access to an oven overnight. If you don’t have a stand mixer, feel free to use electric beaters or even a whisk for an arm workout. You’ll also need some basic cooking equipment like a baking tray, spatula, saucepan, a mandoline to shave the fruit (or a sharp knife) and mixing bowls. Why is this the best sunset pavlova with orange syrup recipe? Crunchy meringue with pillowy interiors, luscious cardamom cream, beautiful fresh Aussie summer fruit and sweet and vibrant syrup come together to create the perfect centrepiece for your Christmas feast or family barbecue. Created by famed chef and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi, you’ll love the chewy-marshmallow base of the meringue, the sweet and spicy aromatic cardamom-spiked whipped cream that pairs beautifully with in-season stone fruit, and the sweet and sticky rosemary-infused orange syrup. While it looks mighty impressive, don’t let that daunt you – once you nail the basics, it’s simple to recreate at home, and you’re free to make your own tweaks like adding cherries or fresh basil leaves. Why do you make pavlova the day before? Starting your pavlova recipe the day before you’re ready to serve allows the base to cool completely after it has baked. This slow cooling process prevents it from cracking too much – but don’t fret if it does! The imperfections of a cracked pavlova can easily be hidden with a dollop of cream, and this will in no way affect the overall final taste of the dish. What ingredients you’ll need Egg whites: Egg whites form the base of the meringue. For this 8-person pavlova, you’ll need roughly 6-7 large eggs at room temperature. Caster sugar: Caster sugar dissolves easily into the egg whites, helping to create a smooth, glossy texture and adding a touch of sweetness. It’s also used in the orange syrup and cardamom cream. Cornflour: Cornflour is added to the meringue to give the pavlova its characteristic soft, marshmallow-like interior. Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar helps to stabilise the egg whites and strengthens the meringue, ensuring it holds its shape during baking, and adds acidity and brightness to the rosemary syrup. Orange juice: Orange juice forms the base of the syrup. It provides a fresh, tangy sweetness that balances the richness of the pavlova. Rosemary: Fresh rosemary infuses the syrup with a subtle, aromatic herbal note. Lemon juice: Lemon brightens the syrup and helps to cut through the sweetness of the pavlova and orange juice. Thickened cream: Thickened cream adds a rich, velvety texture to the cardamom cream. Mascarpone: Mascarpone contributes a creamy, slightly tangy flavour that enhances the richness of the whipped cream. Cardamom pods: Crushed cardamom pods release their aromatic, spicy-sweet flavour, infusing the cream with warm notes. Nectarines: Nectarines add a juicy, fragrant sweetness with a hint of tartness to the finished dish. Yellow or red plums: Choose yellow or red plums for their burst of fruity flavour to help balance the sweetness of the pavlova. Green grapes: Grapes add a crisp, refreshing sweetness and a slight tartness to the dish. Passionfruit: Passionfruit brings a tangy-sweet flavour, adding to the summer tropical flair of the pavlova. What are the secrets of pavlova? There are a few tips and tricks you can follow to nail the perfect pavlova: If you can, avoid making your pavlova on a humid day. This can cause your meringue to absorb the moisture in the air, turning it soft and sticky Use fresh, room-temperature eggs for your meringue to create a more stable and lighter base. Don’t forget the cornflour and vinegar to stabilise the egg whites and prevent the pavlova from ‘weeping’ – a term used to describe the liquid that leaks from a pav. It’s also very important that you ensure that you have fully dissolved the sugar when whisking, or your pav will weep. Check by rubbing the egg white mixture between your fingers, and whisk until you cannot feel any granules of sugar. Take the time to cool the meringue base completely. This will prevent too much cracking. How to store leftover pavlova A dressed pavlova is best enjoyed on the day, as the crispness of the meringue will soften over time once toppings have been added. If you do have leftovers, store them wrapped in plastic or in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 2-3 days. You may notice the base isn’t as crispy as it once was, and leftover pav can look a bit messy, but it's still super delicious. Try serving it in individual glasses, Eton mess-style, topped up with fresh fruit. How to serve Ottolenghi’s sunset pavlova with orange syrup Serve this showstopping pavlova on a platter at the centre of the dinner table after your main course of Christmas turkey, ham and sides. When you’re ready to plate up, top the meringue with a dollop of cream and spread it across the base, hiding any cracks (if any) and leaving a 2.5cm border around the edges. Gently place the fruit on top of the cream and pour over the syrup (removing the rosemary sprigs first). Feel free to dress it in the kitchen, or bring some theatrics to your dinner table by decorating in front of your guests. When it’s time to dig in, serve onto individual plates with dessert forks. If you love Yotam Ottolenghi’s sunset pavlova with orange syrup recipe, try this For more fresh and fruity summer desserts, try our favourites: Summer prosecco jelly Lemon and lime tart Passionfruit cheesecake slice

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Yotam Ottolenghi's sunset pavlova with orange syrup

(5)

Serves 8

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Grapes

Grapes are at their peak right now, look for firm, bright fruit for a sweet juicy snack.

Clam shell pavlova with lemon curd and macadamia crunch

Clam shell pavlova with lemon curd and macadamia crunch.

Update your pav game this year with Mark LaBrooy's clam shell pavlova, layered with swirls of lemon curd, sweet chantilly cream and a delicate macadamia nut crunch for added texture.

Passionfruit and coconut pavlova stack

“For me, nothing says ‘celebrate’ like a pavlova, and this one just says ‘party’ to me! To counter the sweetness of meringue, I love to incorporate tangy flavours on my pavs, and passionfruit is my go-to. I combine this with coconut for a totally tropical feel.” – Darren Purchese

Kirsten Tibballs' strawberry trifle with white chocolate mousse

Images and text from Chocolate All Day by Kirsten Tibballs, photography by Armelle Habib. Murdoch Books RRP $49.99.

“Enter a world of strawberry syrup-soaked sponge, seductively sweet white chocolate mousse and an abundance of fresh summery strawberries. The beauty of this knockout trifle comes from the varying shapes and sizes of the fresh strawberry slices. The best part is we’re not aiming for perfect uniformity, which makes this simply stunning effect very easy to create.” – Kirsten Tibballs. Images and text from Chocolate All Day by Kirsten Tibballs, photography by Armelle Habib. Murdoch Books RRP $49.99.

Cranberry and cherry pavlova stack

"Most of the pav problems people ask me about are weeping pavs, browning pavs, soft pavs and pavs that disintegrate when handling. This pavlova stack solves all of those dilemmas. So much of the challenge of a pav is in the cooking; by spreading the meringue into thin layers, we simplify the process." - Emelia Jackson

Orange and raspberry cake

“When I think of making my celebration cakes, I consider the seasons. When I’m decorating, I draw creativity and inspiration from my surroundings, and the person I’m making the cake for.” – Kimmy Gastmeier

Eggnog cherry trifle

Eggnog Trifle.

"Eggnog is a much loved Christmas drink in other parts of the world, but less well known here in Australia. It’s essentially a spiked, spiced thin custard, and is absolutely delicious. I’ve turned it into a thicker, more stable custard, perfect for layering in your trifle centrepiece this year." - Emelia Jackson

Mangomisu: the mango tiramisu

Mangomisu - Mango Tiramisu

The mangomisu is one of delicious. magazine's most popular recipes ever. Light, fresh and full of juicy summer mango, it's the tropical rendition of classic tiramisu and the perfect entertaining dessert. Try it for your next dinner party, or add it to your repertoire of no-bake favourites. You'll need a 22cm springform cake pan for this recipe.

Pavlova rocky road

Start pav season early with this delicious pavlova rocky road. This festive chocolate treat is perfect as a Christmas gift idea, combining our favourite summer dessert with fluffy marshmallows, dried fruit and crunchy and toasted nuts all swirled through a pool of silky white chocolate. Recipe note: You’ll need a 20cm square baking pan

Matt Preston’s Christmas pudding with brandy custard

And you've got to have a generous lashing of brandy custard.

Gingerbread and orange trifle

“This stunning yet effortless trifle is the perfect show-stopper dessert for Christmas, and you don’t need to tell anybody how easy it was to put together!” – Lucy Nunes