How to Make Desserts Ahead of Time for the Holidays
Desserts are definitely the showstoppers of any holiday party, but who has time to make them all from scratch at the last minute? Especially alongside dinner, that can be overwhelming. Batch cooking desserts for the holidays ahead of time is the key to making sure you have a variety of sweet treats ready to go without the stress.
From cookies to pies, you can freeze a wide range of desserts, saving time & energy as all the festivities come blazing by you.
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Recap Part 1: Batch Cooking Thanksgiving Holiday Dishes
I don’t know about you, but I always look forward to a good dessert. So when it’s the holiday/gathering season, I expect multiple good desserts to be available at my functions. But I’ll never whip them all up on the day of the event anymore because…
Well…been there, done that.
So I’m skipping it as much as possible these days.
Name of the game is to batch cook desserts either all at once ahead of time & freeze (or can).
OR multiply one or two favorite recipes 3-5x, however much is needed. And you always need to save some extra for Dad & home!
But you should do this too, girl – even if you don’t like baking.
Because newsflash!
You can batch desserts that don’t require baking upfront or at all!
(Like oat bars, date energy balls, banana pudding or no-bake cheesecake stuffed strawberries!)
Best Batch Cooking Desserts for the Holidays
Now you can batch decadent, you can batch simple. You can batch fruity or light/airy. Here’s some of the best desserts that batch well:
- Cookies: Both baked or unbaked since cookie dough freezes perfectly. Make a large batch & freeze in individual portions. Or, if you house hop during the holidays, then portion them by houses. Small tray for this house, big tray for that one.
- Brownies: Gahhhhh I batch these even when it’s not the holiday season because I love eating a spoon or two of the mix every now & again. Anyway, bake your brownies ahead, cut into pieces & freeze. (If you’re doing this just for yourself like I do, vacuum seal the individual brownies so you’re not tempted to eat more than you want in one sitting.)
- Cinnamon Rolls: Freeze unbaked cinnamon rolls & when you’re ready, pop them into the oven for a fresh, warm dessert that takes…..20-ish min depending on how gooey you like yours.
- Cheesecakes: Mini cheesecakes & whole pies freeze well. I’ve done it mannnny, many times & they defrost beautifully. So make ahead, freeze how you want & serve when ready. If you like, have either fresh seasonal fruit or homemade whipped cream available for that “freshly made” effect.
- Pies / Muffins / Crumbles: Easy gimme. Don’t spend $18 on the store-bought frozen one. Instead, whip up some homemade pie crusts in a jiffy (easy batch here too) & then fill with any number of toppings. Pumpkin, sweet potato, apple, pecan. Pie freezes exceptionally well so definitely make sure you save some freezer space for this. For a fruit crumble, simply batch your crumble mixture & freeze too. Then when ready, throw fresh seasonal fruit into a crockpot & top with the crumble when ready. OR pop the top on some homemade, home canned pie filling (or fruit). A few slabs of butter in the oven right quick & your pre-made crumble will come right back to life.
This is the best, moistest zucchini bread muffin recipe you’ll ever try!
Freezer-Friendly Batch Cooking Dessert Tips
To keep your desserts fresh & tasty, follow these tips:
- Pre-Bake vs. Freezing Dough: Some desserts like cookies can be frozen as dough & baked fresh, while others like pies & cakes should be baked ahead & frozen whole.
- Packaging for Freshness: Use freezer-safe containers or double-wrap desserts in plastic wrap & aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn.
- Maintain Texture: For best results, avoid frosting or decorating desserts until after they’ve been defrosted.
Related Blog Post: How Long Does Dough Last (Fridge/Freezer)?
Other Batch Cooking Hacks for Desserts
One of the easiest ways to simplify holiday dessert prep is by incorporating canned (or otherwise preserved) ingredients into your recipes. After all, if you’ve taken the time to preserve fruits, crusts, or fillings earlier in the year, whip ’em out now! This is what we preserve for, hello. Preserved ingredients will give you a wider range of flavors from throughout the year to enjoy during festivities – taking seasonal eating to a new level.
Imagine popping a top on a jar of peach filling you canned over the summer & turning those perfectly ripe peaches into a warm, comforting peach crumble for Thanksgiving or Christmas. In the cold & dark of winter, that would surely add a smidge of summer brightness to your table.
Some other quick tips are prepping your dry mixes ahead of time for things like the brownies, cookies, etc. That way all you need to do when you’re ready to batch is add the wet ingredients. Embracing allllll the no-bake treats there are. And finally, getting into the habit of making 1-2 extra pans of anything whenever you’re in the baking mood. This would slowly but surely build up a nice holiday stash.
Reheating & Serving Frozen Desserts
When it’s time to serve your desserts:
Defrosting: Most desserts can be defrosted in the refrigerator overnight or on the counter for an hour or two beforehand. For items like cookies, you can reheat them in a low oven to restore their crisp texture.
Finishing Touches: Add fresh garnishes like whipped cream, seasonal fruit or berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar just before serving for that just-made look. Because…who really has to know it was batched, eh?
Key Take-Aways
Batch cooking desserts saves you time while still offering a smorgasbord of variety. You just need to pick the faves of your people, decide whether you’ll bake ahead or just freeze unbaked. Portion & store accordingly. Make sure you have something for that just-made look & then girl, enjoy!!!
No better way to skip the crazy chaos of holidays. 🥂
