Do you know what you are making for Christmas brunch? These festive desserts are just the thing to celebrate the occasion. Bursting with the flavours of the season, they will make everyone around the table a little merrier.

Grab the kids and take the time to decorate some Christmas cupcakes, or make some Christmas bars that adults will love alongside a night cap or strong coffee. Semifreddo, an Italian Christmas classic, is a great make-ahead dessert that will never fail to impress. (If you can get your hands on a good panettone, do it like the Italians do and serve a slice with the semifreddo!)

For those looking for something quick to bring together, the cranberry-pear crumble is a no-fail recipe that anyone can follow. Of course, we also have a recipe Christmas pudding, a great British tradition. 

5 wonderful desserts for Christmas brunch

1. Christmas Cupcakes 

All you really need on Christmas is Santa Claus on a cupcake (well, aside from presents under the tree). Brush up on your cupcake decorating skills and try making these cute Santa cupcakes that use a mix of plain flour and almonds for a fragrant, not-too-sweet cupcake covered with a sugar fondant Santa Claus. Make sure to have those fondant cutting tools ready, you will need them to cut up the tiny little Santa parts!

2. Christmas Bars

Make your Christmas brunch all that much sweeter with these lovely nut bars made with candied fruit. Full of candied fruits, nuts, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, these Christmas bars are like Christmas in a mouthful. A great alternative for those who aren't so into the traditional Christmas cakes, but still enjoy the flavours of the festive season.

3. Cranberry-Pear Crumble

Here's a simple recipe for a Christmas dessert that is visually stunning and full of holiday flavour. All you need to do is mix together the fruit and spices, rub the flour and butter together, divide into ramekins and bake for 15 minutes. Very little effort, but lots of impact. This pretty cranberry and pear crumble tastes good cold as well, so if you have a busy day ahead get it done the day before and keep them in the fridge. Just add whip cream and dessert is served!  

4. Semifreddo

Make this fancy Italian dessert that's all dressed up for Christmas with layers of mascarpone cheese, fruit cake and candied fruit. You want to start this one ahead as the semifreddo needs at least four hours in the freezer to firm up. A great Christmas dessert you can make even up to a week ahead, ready for whenever unexpected guests turn up. Semifreddo is traditionally eaten alongside panettone, an Italian leavened sweet bread loaded with candied fruit and raisins. 

5. Christmas Pudding

Christmas pudding laced with spices and dried fruit is a British tradition - and a labour of love. Get the entire family involved by making it a game of stirring the uncooked pudding mixture whenever one passes through the kitchen. Once boiled, Christmas pudding keeps for a very long time, but this delicious British dessert won't be left alone for long. It's also delicious toasted with a generous smear of butter for the morning after.

Got some friends coming over who are self-confessed Italophiles? Take your pick from some of these classic Italian Christmas desserts. From tiramisu to panettone cakes filled with cream, from chocolate panforte to sticky-sweet struffoli, from Naples, we have 8 recipes for the Italy-lover, or any sweet tooth really.