Dessert Table, Sorted
The holidays call for more than one dessert — a tray of bars for the office party, a chocolate-and-peppermint something for the family gathering, a make-ahead treat that survives a few days in the fridge. This roundup pulls together seven holiday desserts and treats, from a five-minute chocolate mousse to a layered seven-bar classic, all built with whole-food ingredients and a few Purely Elizabeth granola flavors folded in for extra crunch.
Most of these can be made a day or more ahead, which makes them especially useful during a season when the oven is already working overtime.
The Recipes
1. Cookie Granola Mini Tarts
Prep time: 20 minutes · Cook time: 7 minutes · Serves 12 · Easy
A no-fuss mini dessert built on a crust of blended Cookie Granola, dates, and coconut oil, filled with a simple dark chocolate and coconut cream ganache, and finished with coconut whipped cream and mini chocolate chips. The crust comes together in a food processor in minutes, no rolling pin required.
Why it works: Blending the granola straight into the crust instead of using a traditional graham-cracker base means the crust holds its own sweetness and texture, so the filling can stay simple — just two ingredients.
→ Get the recipe — Cookie Granola Mini Tarts
2. Double Chocolate Brownies
Prep time: 10 minutes · Cook time: 20 minutes · Serves 16 · Easy
Rich, fudgy brownies made with dark chocolate, coconut sugar, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola folded into the batter for crunch. The whole recipe comes together in one bowl with a quick microwave melt — no stand mixer needed.
Why it works: Melting the chocolate, butter, and coconut sugar together in the microwave (rather than creaming butter and sugar separately) is what gives these brownies their dense, fudgy texture instead of a cakier one.
→ Get the recipe — Double Chocolate Brownies → Shop Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola
3. Seven-Layer Bars with Cookie Granola Crust
Prep time: 15 minutes · Cook time: 25 minutes · Serves 8 · Medium
A better-for-you spin on the classic seven-layer bar, built on a granola-and-date crust and layered with a vegan coconut-cream "condensed milk," date caramel, pecans, coconut flakes, more granola, and chocolate chips. It's a make-ahead favorite — the bars can chill overnight for the layers to fully set.
Why it works: Swapping traditional sweetened condensed milk for a blended coconut cream, maple syrup, and vanilla mixture keeps the classic gooey texture of a seven-layer bar while making the whole recipe dairy-free.
→ Get the recipe — Seven-Layer Bars with Cookie Granola Crust → Shop Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola
4. Peppermint Bark
Prep time: 10 minutes · Cook time: 60 minutes · Serves 1 tray · Medium
The classic layered dark-and-white chocolate bark, finished with crushed peppermint candy and a sprinkle of granola for crunch. Most of the "cook time" here is just chilling time in the fridge between layers, so it's a low-effort project that looks impressive on a dessert table or holiday tin.
Why it works: Letting the dark chocolate layer firm up completely in the fridge before adding the white chocolate is what keeps the two layers distinct instead of swirling together — patience here is what makes the bark look store-bought.
→ Get the recipe — Peppermint Bark → Shop Vanilla Chocolate Chip Granola
5. Peppermint Chocolate Tart
Prep time: 15 minutes · Cook time: 20 minutes · Serves 10 · Medium
A showstopper for a holiday gathering: a granola crust filled with a rich coconut milk and dark chocolate ganache, flavored with cashew butter, vanilla, and just a drop or two of peppermint extract. It needs at least six hours (or overnight) in the fridge to set, which makes it an ideal make-the-night-before dessert
Why it works: Using cashew butter in the filling alongside the chocolate and coconut milk gives the tart a denser, almost truffle-like texture rather than the lighter, more pudding-like consistency a standard chocolate tart filling would have.
→ Get the recipe — Peppermint Chocolate Tart → Shop Chocolate Sea Salt Granola
6. Easy 10-Minute Chocolate Mousse
Prep time: 10 minutes · Cook time: 10 minutes · Serves 4 · Easy
A genuinely fast dessert built on a base of avocado, cocoa powder, and maple syrup, blended smooth in a food processor and topped with Coconut Cashew Grain-Free Granola and crushed freeze-dried raspberries. No dairy, no eggs, no waiting for anything to set.
Why it works: Avocado replaces the heavy cream or eggs found in a traditional mousse, giving this version the same rich, silky texture while keeping the ingredient list short and naturally gluten-free.
→ Get the recipe — Easy 10-Minute Chocolate Mousse → Shop Coconut Cashew Grain-Free Granola
7. Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Prep time: 20 minutes · Cook time: 12 minutes · Medium
Rich and deeply chocolatey, these crinkle cookies are rolled generously in powdered sugar before baking so they crack open in the oven, revealing a soft, fudgy center. Almond flour and Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola give the dough structure and crunch, and they're naturally gluten-free.
Why it works: The contrast between the cracked, sugar-dusted exterior and the dense, brownie-like interior is what makes these a standout on any holiday dessert table — and they hold up well on a tray alongside richer, denser treats like bark or tart.
→ Get the recipe — Chocolate Crinkle Cookies → Shop Chocolate Chip Cookie Granola
How to Build a Holiday Dessert Spread
Mix textures, not just flavors. A good dessert table has something chewy (crinkle cookies), something fudgy (brownies), something crunchy (bark), and something creamy (mousse or tart) — variety keeps a spread from feeling repetitive even if chocolate shows up in every recipe.
Lean on make-ahead desserts. The Seven-Layer Bars, Peppermint Chocolate Tart, and Peppermint Bark all benefit from (or require) time in the fridge, which means they can be fully finished a day or more before they're served — one less thing to manage on the day of.
Let one crust do more than one job. Several of these recipes use a granola-based crust instead of a traditional graham cracker or pastry crust, which adds whole grains and a more distinct flavor without any extra steps.
Scale for a crowd. Bars, bark, and brownies all cut into smaller pieces easily, making them better choices than individually portioned desserts (like the tart or mousse) when feeding a larger group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What holiday desserts can be made ahead of time?
Several recipes in this roundup are designed to be made in advance. The Peppermint Chocolate Tart needs at least six hours (ideally overnight) to set, the Seven-Layer Bars can chill overnight for the layers to fully set, and Peppermint Bark keeps well in the refrigerator for several days in an airtight container.
Are these holiday desserts gluten-free?
Yes — all seven recipes in this roundup are naturally gluten-free, using bases like almond flour, granola, and coconut cream rather than traditional wheat flour.
What's a quick holiday dessert if I'm short on time?
The Easy 10-Minute Chocolate Mousse is the fastest option here, with just 10 minutes of prep and no baking required. Double Chocolate Brownies are also fast, using a one-bowl, microwave-melt method instead of a stand mixer.
How do I store holiday bark and bars?
Peppermint Bark should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, since the chocolate layers can soften at room temperature. Seven-Layer Bars and brownies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for a few days, or refrigerated for longer freshness.
Can I substitute a different granola flavor in these recipes?
In most cases, yes. Many of these recipes call for a specific Purely Elizabeth granola flavor that pairs naturally with the dessert (like Chocolate Sea Salt in the Peppermint Chocolate Tart), but a similar flavor profile — for example, swapping in another chocolate-forward granola — will generally work without changing the recipe's structure.
What's a good dessert for a holiday dessert table that isn't overly sweet?
The Peppermint Chocolate Tart and Cookie Granola Mini Tarts are both richer and less sugary than something like bark or bars, since their sweetness comes primarily from dark chocolate and a small amount of maple syrup rather than added sugar.
Topics: Holiday Desserts · Christmas Baking · Peppermint Recipes · Gluten-Free Holiday Treats · Make-Ahead Desserts · Granola Recipes
Last Updated: June 22, 2026
