Feeling the Winter Blues? These Cozy Dessert Recipes Will Help Beat Them

The days may be getting a little longer, but we’re still in the thick of those dark, cold months. Thankfully, we’ve got this list of some of the best winter desserts to beat those pesky winter blues.

Real talk, the span from January to March can be pretty tough, so do what you need to do to get through it. Edible cookie dough? Red velvet cake brownies? Orange cinnamon rolls? We can already feel our mood lifting.

Whether you’re in the mood for a quick cozy bake or something different to shake things up, you’ll find all the snow day treats you need on this list.

 

25 Best Winter Desserts to Beat the Blues

1. Edible Sugar Cookie Dough

This recipe for edible sugar cookie dough delivers all the yums to our mouths, and doesn’t even need to bake. You only need five ingredients, and it mixes together in just a few minutes. New Year’s resolution: try not to make this every day.

Get the Edible Sugar Cookie Dough recipe.

 

2. S’Mores in the Oven

S’Mores without the inevitability of smelling like campfire smoke for days? Looks like 2024 is already winning.

This sheet pan recipe is easy to create in bulk for any winter gatherings, and you don’t even need to remember the kindling.

Get the S’Mores in the Oven Recipe

 

3. Sticky Toffee Pudding

Between crafting the sauce, batter, and the 30-minute baking time, this pudding might take a little more effort to make. But just blast the latest Jack Harlow and dance around while you’re baking. Then think about all the non-vanilla things you can do with that toffee sauce…

Get the Sticky Toffee Pudding recipe.

 

4. Lemon Crinkle Cookies

These cookies feel like cheating. Only three ingredients and 12 minutes in the oven stand between you and the extra sprinkle of serotonin you need.

Get the Lemon Crinkle Cookie recipe.

 

5. Lemon Blueberry Sheet Cake

This easy sheet cake features the classic lemon and blueberry combination that’s always a winner in baking, and it can feed a crowd, so it’s great for January Sucks parties. Those exist, right?

Get the Lemon Blueberry Sheet Cake recipe.

 

6. Arroz Con Leche (Mexican Rice Pudding)

While you stay at home in sweats, let your palate travel the globe with this international treat. Okay, you may need to travel to the grocery store for cinnamon sticks, rice, milk, and sugar, but that’s as far as you’ll have to go. Promise.

Get the Arroz Con Leche recipe.

 

7. Caramel Apple Dump Cake

If you’re not quite ready to let go of Fall flavors (#pumpkinspiceforever), this warm dessert is the perfect cozy January bake. Dump all the ingredients for apple pie filling into a casserole dish, top it off with dry cake mix, and enjoy.

Get the Caramel Apple Dump Cake recipe.

 

8. Fudgy Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies

Red velvet anything is a sure way to beat the winter blues. And with just four ingredients, including white chocolate chip and red velvet cake mix, you can’t be blue about the prep time required for these.

Get the Fudgy Red Velvet Cake Mix Brownies recipe.

 

9. Peanut Butter Blossoms

Channel some childhood nostalgia with these adorable 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies. And let’s be real, Hershey Kisses are the only kisses we need.

Get the Peanut Butter Blossoms recipe.

 

10. Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes

If you see some good-lookin’ strawberries on the shelves, whip up these vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and strawberry crunch topping for a summer-y treat that will almost make you forget it’s winter. Just don’t look out the window.

Get the Strawberry Crunch Cupcakes recipe.

 

11. Chocolate Sprinkle Cookies

Sprinkles are the new crinkles. Either way, these rich chocolate cookies, made with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and chocolate sprinkles, can fix anything.

Get the Chocolate Sprinkle Cookies recipe.

 

12. Ferrero Rocher Brownies

Now these are the ooey-gooey brownies we need to turn our frowns upside down. Packed with fudgy chocolate, Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and Nutella, these are packed with chocolate hazelnut realness.

Get the Ferrero Rocher Brownies recipe.

 

13. Orange Cinnamon Rolls

Dessert for breakfast or breakfast for dessert? These warmly spiced cinnamon rolls made with soft orange brioche dough make us feel all the good feels on dreary January days.

Get the Orange Cinnamon Rolls recipe.

 

14. Key Lime Cookies

Key lime pie is the ultimate summer dessert, but you can breathe a little warmth into your day with these zesty and chewy cookies. Beach towels and tans are not guaranteed.

Get the Key Lime Cookies recipe.

 

15. Gooey Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cookies

There’s no need to be in peppermint withdrawal. Make those Christmas vibes last a little longer with these yummy cookies, made with cream cheese, Oreo cookies, and Andes candies. Plus, there’s no need to share with Santa.

Get the Gooey Chocolate Peppermint Oreo Cookies recipe.

 

16. Strawberry Shortcake Truffles

These truffles have a golden Oreo and strawberry cream cheese base, so they pretty much can’t be bad. Make a batch and eat them all week (or eat them all in a day, you deserve it queen).

Get the Strawberry Shortcake Truffles recipe.

 

17. Hot Cocoa Cupcakes

Can we eat and drink hot cocoa at the same time? Yes, yes we can, thanks to these cupcakes that have hot cocoa mix in the batter and chocolate whipped cream frosting. This is what “living in the future” really means.

Get the Hot Cocoa Cupcakes recipe.

 

18. Butter Tart Bars

Buttery shortbread topped with a sugar-butter filling that comes together in under an hour? Winter blues, meet your official cure.

Get the Butter Tart Bars recipe.

 

19. Chai Cookies

Since 2023 was the year of Taylor Swift (and let’s be real, 2024 probably will be, too) we had to include her beloved Chai Cookies recipe. Best enjoyed listening to any song on Evermore.

Get the Taylor Swift Chai Cookies recipe.

 

20. Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies

These warm and melty brownie cookies are the perfect indulgence for a chilly winter day, stuffed with peanut butter and melted chocolate and ready in under half an hour. Sub in Nutella if you’re feeling fancy (possible side effect: death by chocolate).

Get the Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies recipe.

 

21. Mug Cake

Mug cakes remind us why it’s always smart to keep a box of cake mix and pint of frosting in the house at all times. Big cries can come out of nowhere, and mug cakes are ready in minutes.

Get the Mug Cake recipe.

 

22. Strawberry Brownies

We did it, we found the perfect treat to enjoy while watching the new Mean Girls movie musical. All you need is strawberry cake mix, two eggs, and some veggie oil. How fetch is that?

Get the Strawberry Brownies recipe.

 

23. Funfetti Blondies

This easy, fun, and colorful bake is sure to brighten up your day. And in only the time it takes to watch one Parks and Rec episode, too.

Get the Funfetti Blondies recipe.

 

24. Biscoff Cookie Butter Skillet

The skillet cookie is a Hail Mary, but we guarantee it will put a smile on your face. Add cookie butter to your Biscoff cookies and you might just swoon with happiness. (Or is that just the sugar high?)

Get the Biscoff Cookie Butter Skillet recipe.

 

25. No Bake Peanut Butter Pie

What? A delicious winter dessert without turning on the oven? Oh wait, we needed that for warmth purposes. Anyway, after one bite of this peanut butter pie featuring a chocolate cookie crust, you’ll get over it.

Get the No Bake Peanut Butter Pie recipe.