25 Christmas Treats You'd Only Find On Grandma's Dessert Table

Southern Living Cranberry Fluff Salad in a bowl to serve
Photo:

Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Nothing hits the spot during the holiday season like one of Grandma's tried-and-true Christmas dessert recipes. After all, there’s a reason these goodies have stood the test of time. Some of these treats date as far back as the 1700s, while others were developed during the penny-pinching of the Great Depression or the liveliness of the 1950s. Regardless of the era you or your grandparents grew up in, these recipes will remind you of the long history of festivities this time of year. Bring Grandma’s timeless wisdom to your holiday table with this assortment of cookies, candies, and Christmas spirit.

01 of 25

Mrs. Floyd's Divinity

Mrs. Floyd's Divinity
Southern Living

This classic candy's name isn't a coincidence. Pecans add an extra crunch and touch of festivity to this divine treat.

02 of 25

Classic Peanut Brittle

Peanut Brittle
Charles Walton

Peanut brittle is basically a requirement during the holiday season, though we wouldn't blame you if you made this recipe year-round.

03 of 25

Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad

Strawberry-Pretzel Jello Salad in a red dish with strawberry linen

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Simple to make and hard to get wrong, strawberry-jello salad is sure to please all ages of holiday guests. Consider your nostalgia appeased.

04 of 25

Hello Dolly Bars

Hello Dolly Bars - Southern Living

Courtney West

No matter what you call this dessert, the combination of graham cracker, pecan, chocolate, and coconut flavors will tantalize your tastebuds.

05 of 25

Mamie Eisenhower's Chocolate Fudge

Southern Living Mamie Eisenhower Chocolate Fudge cut and ready to serve

Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

This recipe — once called Million Dollar Fudge —hails from an era when politicians' wives were often asked to share recipes, and we're sure glad Mrs. Eisenhower did.

06 of 25

Bourbon Balls

Bourbon Balls on a tin plate

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Small bite, big flavor — this old-fashioned holiday treat brings centuries of baking wisdom to your tastebuds.

07 of 25

Cranberry Fluff Salad

Southern Living Cranberry Fluff Salad in a bowl to serve

Antonis Achilleos, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Smooth, creamy fluff topped with crunchy pecans — that's how you finish off Christmas dinner the right way.

08 of 25

Potato Candy

Potato Candy
Emily Laurae

Originating in the South during the Great Depression, this treat is designed to make the most of inexpensive ingredients.

09 of 25

Saltine Cracker Toffee

Saltine Cracker Toffee - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Cracker Toffee (or Cracker Candy, Pine Bark, Toffee Bark, Faux Toffee, Saltine Sweeties, Fooler Toffee, Christmas Crack, or whatever you call it!) features layered saltines with toffee, chocolate, and toasty pecans

10 of 25

Tea Cakes

Tea Cakes
Southern Living

This simple, no-fuss cookie has been a staple in centuries' worth of cooking books — and for good reason.

11 of 25

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies

Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
Southern Living

Raspberry jam pairs beautifully with lemony cookies in these festive treats. They're also super simple and fun to decorate.

12 of 25

Coconut Balls

Coconut Balls
Micah A. Leal

Similar to traditional Martha Washingtons, these coconut balls are an easy, homemade upgrade to your favorite coconut-almond candy.

13 of 25

Cherry Winks

Cherry Winks
Joy Howard

These tender, fruit cake-like cookies have stood the test of time. Maraschino cherries add a pop of color and balance the cookies' sweetness.

14 of 25

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread

Old-Fashioned Gingerbread on a serving plate with fork

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Nothing says Christmas like a freshly-baked pan of gingerbread — the actual bread, not the cookies or decorating kits.

15 of 25

Cheesecake Cookies

Cheesecake Cookies
Caitlin Bensel

Mix up your Christmas flavor palette with these adorable cheesecake confections. But be careful — they tend to disappear if left unsupervised.

16 of 25

Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

Easiest Peanut Butter Cookies

Hannah Zimmerman / Southern Living

With just four ingredients and a total time of 35 minutes, these peanut butter cookies are the easiest and sweet treat we can think of.

17 of 25

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies

Toasted Oatmeal Cookies Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

Hailing from the November 1992 issue of Southern Living, these cookies utilize a brilliant technique that enhances flavor without extra effort.

18 of 25

Transparent Pie with Whipped Crème Fraîche and Sugared Cranberries

Transparent Pie with Whipped Creme Fraiche and Sugared Cranberries

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

The original transparent pie is a delicious Kentucky classic, but we added some embellishments for extra festivity.

19 of 25

Millionaire Candy

Millionaire Candy

Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

This classic boxed candy is available in grocery stores across the South, but you'll want to invest in this easy homemade version.

20 of 25

Slice-and-Bake Sugar Cookie Bites

Slice-and-Bake Sugar Cookie Bites
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Ah, the classic sugar cookies — infinitely customizable and perfect for gifting or enjoying at home. Allow these melt-in-your-mouth goodies to brighten your holiday season.

21 of 25

Santa's Kitchen-Sink Cookies

Santa's Kitchen-Sink Cookies

Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

While we love just the pretzel pieces, chocolate chips, and marshmallows included in this kitchen sink cookie recipe, you can add all the sweet or salty mix-ins you desire.

22 of 25

Old-Fashioned Pecan Logs

Pecan Logs
Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner

These vintage confections were popularized by Southern-favorite convenience store Stuckey's, but making your own is simple thanks to melted caramel candies.

23 of 25

Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines

Buttermilk-Pecan Pralines on a baking sheet
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

Pecan pralines represent Southern ingenuity paired with old-world European tradition. Simultaneously crunchy, creamy, and sweet, this recipe is one for the history books.

24 of 25

Christmas Fudge

Christmas Fudge
Micah A Leal

This recipe uses sweetened condensed milk and butter to transform semi-sweet and unsweetened chocolate into a sweetened and milky ganache, leaving you with the perfect fudge texture.

25 of 25

Chocolate-Pecan Tassies

Chocolate-Pecan Tassies
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This twist on a traditional Southern cookie takes only 35 minutes and yields 20 mini pies, making it an excellent option for feeding large families or for gifting.

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