Transform your holiday dessert spread into a fantasyland by serving traditional French buche de Noel, or yule log cake. Rich chocolate genoise (sponge cake) is rolled in a coffee- and brandy-flavored buttercream, then decorated with marzipan berries, pinecones and mushrooms. The look of awe on your guests' faces will be well worth the effort.

These delicate holiday treats are great for brunch or as a light dessert. For assembly, Giada De Laurentiis pipes rich mascarpone frosting onto cut strawberries, reserving the strawberry tip for Santa's hat.

For the final act in your holiday meal, whip up this gooey cake made with sweet rum-soaked dates and generously topped with toffee sauce.

Trimming the tree gets new meaning when it comes to decorating these adorable cheesecake pops.