Well, I don't know about you, but if I could take three things to a desert island, my cast iron skillet would be one of them. Cast iron skillets are one of my favorite cooking tools. I've been known to use them for everything, from breakfast hash to cornbread and chicken thighs. If I'm going to bake my favorite bread recipes, I'll even do them in the cast iron! So when I'm planning out my holiday meals, you better believe I'm planning to have some cast iron Christmas desserts.
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These dessert recipes are not only easy to make, but they are baked right in the cast iron pan, which doubles as the serving vessel. That makes clean up super easy, and I'll never hate on easy cleaning for the holidays. So, if you're not already baking cast iron skillet desserts, these recipes will definitely make you want to!
1. Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie
This recipe had me at deep dish chocolate. I can just imagine the look on my guest's face as I bring out this chocolate chip skillet cookie pie and serve them up a piece.
Take this recipe up a notch by topping it with some flaky sea salt. I'm sure I'm not the only one that loves salted chocolate. Find the recipe here.
2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Skillet Monkey Bread
I'm a pretty big fan of savory monkey breads, drowning in all that delicious cheese (and probably bacon). But sweet, desert-style monkey breads are even better! This recipe for a skillet peanut butter and jelly dessert is definitely going to be a winner.
Bust out the cast iron for this fun dessert monkey bread. It'll satisfy even the pickiest eater in the family, and it's quick and easy to make by using Pillsbury refrigerated biscuits. Get the recipe here.
3. Caramel Pecan Skillet Brownie
This one might be on my cast iron Christmas desserts list for the rest of eternity! What could be better than skillet brownies? One filled with pecans and topped off with caramel!
Serve this recipe up warm, straight from the oven, with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream. Your family will be in love as soon as that ice cream melts on that hot brownie! Find the recipe here.
4. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Apple Skillet Cake
This dessert is gorgeous. It looks like a professional made it, and it will definitely be Pinterest or Instagram worthy when you put it on the table. Just look at the way that the apple slices cascade around the pan, sinking into that deliciously sugary cake. I think I might be in love!
I always make an apple pie recipe for the holidays, but I think this skillet apple pie recipe will become one of my new favorite apple desserts. Here's the recipe.
5. Skillet Bourbon, Peach, and Blueberry Crumble
Start a dessert's name out with the word bourbon, and I'll probably be hooked. Then throw in some peaches and blueberries, and I'm especially intrigued. Who needs skillet peach cobbler when you have this recipe? I have a feeling this one will definitely be on the holiday table this year.
I love the idea of all of that fruit mingling with spicy bourbon and being topped off with crunchy, sweet crumble topping. I think I'll have to make a double recipe of some of these cast iron Christmas desserts just so I can guarantee enough for breakfast the next morning! Find the recipe here.
6. Raspberry Amaretto Cheesecake Skillet Blondie
First of all, I love cheesecake. Secondly, the blondie is my favorite type of brownie. So the idea of combining those two desserts and filling it in with boozy amaretto and raspberry jam - Ummm, I'm sold.
This recipe may very well be the easiest cheesecake you've ever made. No more worrying about fumbling around with that water bath or springform pan- just bake it in a cast iron and serve it on up! Get the recipe here.
7. Chocolate Peanut Butter Skillet Cookie
I'm drooling. Seriously you guys, I just had to walk away from the computer screen and take a moment. This recipe looks so damn good, just look at all of those peanut butter cups.
I can't wait to see the looks on guest's faces as I bring this out to the holiday table. There won't be a single person claiming they're too full for dessert when they see this one! Get the recipe here.
8. Carrot Cake Skillet Cake
Normally, I'm only into carrot cake because of the cream cheese frosting, but I think I'll make an exception for this recipe. Just take a look at how delicious this spoon cake looks?
Topped with a homemade vanilla glaze, this skillet dessert will not only be impressive, but it'll taste delicious, too! Find the recipe here.
9. Skillet Salted Caramel Apple Crisp
This is not only an apple crisp dessert- it is literally slices of apples that have been baked down in homemade caramel sauce. I have no doubt that this recipe will completely knock the socks off your guests.
The oatmeal crumble on the top of this is going to get so crispy and textured baking in your cast iron skillet. You may never make apple crumble another way. Get the recipe here.
10. S'mores Skillet Chocolate Dip
Remain calm and step away from the s'mores skillet dip! I'm not sure if I'll even be able to make this recipe- there's a good chance I would eat it all before I brought it out to the table.
Really, though, what a brilliant idea to bake up some fudgy chocolate and caramelize marshmallows on top. Serve with a side of graham crackers and you'll feel like you're camping. Find the recipe here.
11. Triple Berry Blender Cake
If you're looking for a gluten-free cast iron Christmas desserts, look no further than this delicious berry cake. This recipe is actually pretty healthy for you, with all those nuts, oats, and fruits.
After eating a heavy holiday dinner, your guests will probably appreciate the light dessert fare. It doesn't hurt that this skillet dessert is super delicious, too. Get the recipe here.
12. Lemon Pull Apart Rolls
Lemon cake is my very favorite dessert. It's light, it's tangy, and it's not overly sweet. This recipe captures all of those things but is significantly easier to make than lemon bars.
The lemon glaze is super easy to make, and since this recipe uses dinner rolls you won't be spending all day in the kitchen to put it together. Your guests will never know the difference. Get the recipe here.
13. Pumpkin Pecan Skillet Cake with Salted Butterscotch Glaze
I would be completely remiss if I didn't include some kind of pumpkin spiced dessert. After all, pumpkin spice is the flavor of the season! This recipe really takes that to the next level by combining pumpkin with my favorite holiday flavor, pecans!
The salted butterscotch glaze really just makes this cake. Who doesn't love a little bit of salty in with their sweet? Find the recipe here.
14. Utterly Deadly Southern Pecan Pie
I am definitely serving pecan pie this holiday season. It's a tradition at my house, and some years, every guest brings one so we can have a competition. I think I'll be putting this recipe up on the table to see how the skillet pecan pie shakes up.
After you make a pecan pie in the cast iron skillet, you may never go back to the pie plate again. After all, nothing screams Southern cooking like serving something in cast iron. Get the recipe here.
15. Chocolate Cherry Pudding Cake
Would you believe me if I told you this recipe was totally gluten-free? Who needs the flour when you're going for a gooey pudding-like chocolate cake?
I love the addition of cherries on this one. They're so rich and sweet on their own, but combined with chocolate pudding they will really shine. Get the recipe here.
