Winter is when I struggle most with identifying what makes a seasonal baked good. It’s not as clear to me as pumpkins in Fall or peaches in the Summer. So what makes good Winter Recipes? I think maybe winter baking is just about food that is flavorful with ingredients you can still find on-hand. Oh, and they should be comforting and cozy. And Winter is definitely the time for decadence! With this in mind, here are the 30+ Best Winter Baking Recipes from Live to Sweet!
This post of The Best Winter Baking Recipes has been broken down into these categories:
Cakes & Cupcakes
Pies & Tarts
Cookies & Brownies
Bread & Muffins
Pastries
Cheesecakes
Everything Else!
Of course, I’m a big fan of making whatever you want, whenever you want. That said, these recipes have flavors that are warm, cozy, and indulgent. Make them anytime, but especially in Winter!
Winter Cake & Cupcake Recipes
Cake is definitely a year-round treat! Here are some decadent, cozy, seasonal cake recipes that are perfect for the Winter months!
Chocolate Cake with Dark Chocolate Italian Buttercream
This one is for all the chocolate lovers out there, especially my oldest son, James. This is his "ultimate" birthday cake.
A just-sweet-enough orange olive oil cake topped with candied navel, cara cara, and blood oranges! Served with a sweetened sour cream, you can definitely sneak this one in as breakfast!
Pies and tarts dominate dessert tables in Summer and Fall, but what about Winter? These pies and tarts feature seasonal fruit and aaaaall the chocolate!
Coconut Mocha Pie
This Coconut Mocha Pie has a toasted coconut pastry crust filled with dark chocolate custard, topped with dalgona coffee swirled with whipped coconut cream! It's toasted coconut meets a mochaccino and I am HERE for it!!
Grapefruit rarely get the spotlight, but it's all about the sweet-tart grapefruit in this Ginger Grapefruit Tart! A sweet, grapefruit-and-ginger pastry crust filled with grapefruit curd and topped with toasted honey meringue and crystallized ginger!
Is there anything cozier than curling up with a warm mug of tea, coffee, or hot cocoa with a cookie or two? These flavors (chocolate, dates, lemon, cranberries) just scream Winter to me!
Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
These soft, chewy cookies have Bailey's chocolate chips and homemade Bailey's Irish cream in both the cookies and the buttercream!
These Date Nut Swirl Cookies have a buttery brown sugar dough filled with swirls of dates and pecans. These babies are crisp, chewy, crunchy, and gooey all in one bite!
These fudgy Oatmeal Brownies have a buttery, crisp oatmeal crust! A recipe tried-and-true from my childhood, and a regular occurrence at my house during the holidays!
These Lemon Sugar Cookies are simple, lemony perfection!! Crisp on the edges, chewy in the middle, and with fantastic lemon flavor, you won't be able to stop at one!
These crisp Mocha Swirl Cookies combine chocolate cookie dough and espresso-cocoa nib cookie dough for a not-too-sweet treat! Pro tip: for a little extra sweetness, use chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans instead of nibs!
Nothing smells better than freshly baked bread and muffins in your kitchen! I love how baking warms the house up in the Winter, and these recipes are the perfect way to do it!
Butterscotch Banana Muffins
These Butterscotch Banana Muffins are soft, moist banana muffins with butterscotch chips throughout and on top! A twist on a classic! <3
These Honey Ginger Pear Muffins are made with whole wheat pastry flour and no refined sugar! The sweetness from the honey and spiciness from the ginger make them a fabulous breakfast (or anytime) treat!
This (The Best Ever) Banana Bread is everything banana bread should be: great banana flavor without being heavy or slimy, and light in texture without being dry. I also add a sprinkle of raw sugar to the top of mine just before baking for a sweet crunch. (I save that part for last…my kids eat it first.)
Here we have pastries with winter coziness and decadence, specifically sweet rolls and cream puffs! This section has the best ways to start and end your Winter days!
Mocha Sweet Rolls
Sweet rolls filled with chocolate-espresso filling, topped with espresso glazed and crushed chocolate-covered espresso beans!
These gorgeous Dulce de Leche Cream Puffs are filled with dulce de leche cream, dipped in thick, shiny dark chocolate glaze, then drizzled with more dulce de leche!
These soft sweet rolls are filled with chocolate filling and homemade dulce de leche, then topped with dulce de leche cream cheese frosting swirled with chocolate ganache! The ultimate in breakfast decadence!
This Cookie Dough Brownie Cheesecake is three desserts in one! A fudgy brownie is topped with (eggless!) chocolate chip cookie dough, then with a layer of no-bake vanilla bean cheesecake!
Last but not least, here’s the miscellaneous section! Not to be overlooked, these recipes for candy, meringues, and hot cocoa mix bring the cozy all season long!
Hazelnut Espresso Truffles
Dark chocolate, hazelnuts, and espresso combine into a decadent treat! Beautiful and delicious!
