Make-ahead Christmas dessert recipes

Get ahead at Christmas with this showstopping cake boasting white chocolate, cherries and festive spice. You can bake the sponges, meringues and biscuits the day before assembling

Try this ultimate make-ahead dessert for Christmas: meringue, white chocolate, cream and cherries are combined to make a luscious centrepiece

You can make this no-cook tiramisu ahead to save on time when hosting a party. Made with Irish cream liqueur, it's a truly grown-up dessert

Love trifle? This white chocolate custard and passion fruit combination is really something special – the perfect dessert for a celebration

We've blended two tempting sweet treats – rocky road and cheesecake – to create this irresistible make-ahead dessert.

Make this grown-up dessert for a celebration dinner, or as an alternative to Christmas pudding. Spiked with coffee liqueur, it’s sophisticated and luxurious

Take trifle to the next level for the festive season. Make the jelly with raspberries and enrich the custard with clotted cream for ultra indulgence

Make this beautifully rich Christmas cake a month ahead of the big day. With brandy-soaked fruit in every bite, it's a taste of the season

Pair dark chocolate and rum for this grown-up dessert. With raisins and a decadent, hidden layer of salted caramel, they're also completely make-ahead

Cross a Mississippi mud pie with a marmalade martini and the result is this grown-up Christmas trifle. It makes a wonderful indulgent end to a festive menu

Make this stunning layered, citrussy dessert ahead of time if you're entertaining. It's a crowd-pleaser that's part key lime pie, part cheesecake, part trifle

When a mince pie meets baklava, it’s a match made in Christmas heaven. Serve warm with ice cream for dessert, or cut into smaller bites to enjoy with coffee

Easy to transport and serve, this is a great dessert to take to a party. Everyone loves tiramisu and everyone loves cheesecake so it's a winner all round

Chocolate truffles, amaretti biscuits and a few edible Christmas flourishes make these festive brownies an extra-special dessert no one could resist

Fancy a lighter dessert after a heavy main course? These mojito possets deliver. They have all the flavours of a mojito cocktail, including a rum cream

Cross a Christmas pudding with a cheesecake and what do you get? A fantastic alternative festive dessert with a crunchy ginger base and creamy filling

You'd never guess that this spectacular dessert is dairy-free, decorated with a zesty ganache using orange juice instead of cream

This make-ahead festive dessert is deliciously different and incredibly simple to make, with amaretti biscuits, fresh oranges and double cream

Get ahead for a dinner party or celebration with this indulgent, fruity cake which can be frozen for up to 2 months

Bake this festive fruit cake in advance of Christmas and feed it regularly with rum, brandy or whisky to build the flavour and keep it moist

Our make-ahead salted caramel cheesecake means you can serve up a showstopper, save time in the kitchen and spend time with your guests

Try this twist on a favourite childhood ice-cream dessert with coffee and chocolate layers. Made with just five ingredients, it's a great make-ahead pud