Instant Pots are perhaps one of the most beloved kitchen gadgets of the moment, and it's not exactly a surprise why. For mothers and fathers who are not only slammed with their regular to-do lists and chores, but also contend with all the tasks that come with raising children, the pressure cooker is a huge time-saver. The magic of the Instant Pot lies in the fact that recipes simply require dumping ingredients into the main bowl of the gadget, and within a matter of minutes — anywhere from 10 to 30, in many cases — it'll produce a finished, delicious dish that's ready to be served without much fuss. Plus, cleaning up after the Instant Pot is far less daunting than cleaning up after cooking the regular, old-fashioned way.
For all of these reasons, it makes perfect sense that busy parents might want to lean on the Instant Pot for prepping anything from quick weeknight dinners to weekend breakfasts and everything in between. This includes holiday dishes, or more specifically, Christmas desserts.
Though making sweets, treats, and other delightful sugary snacks in a pressure cooker might seem a bit bizarre, the Instant Pot actually gets rave reviews as the go-to gadget for certain types of desserts. For example, recipes abound for cheesecakes, as well as Bundt cakes, certain pies (think pumpkin), creme brulee, and even cinnamon rolls or brownies. Traditional, beloved holiday drinks like eggnog and spiced apple cider are also winning options that can be easily crafted for a crowd using the Instant Pot.
Bonus: By using the Instant Pot, most of these crowd-pleasing desserts take far less time than they would if baked or prepped the traditional way. And that means far more time spent bonding with loved ones and way less contending with kitchen duty and clean-up. Here are 20 Instant Pot Christmas desserts to try this year.
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake
Fans of cheesecake, peppermint, and chocolate mint anything will adore this creamy peppermint bark cheesecake from The Foodie Eats.
Pumpkin Pie
This pumpkin pie from Melanie Cooks is a creamy, spicy treat.
Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
These cream cheese cinnamon rolls from Lamberts Lately would be the perfect treat for Christmas morning.
Creme Brulee
Creme brulee may not be a traditional Christmas dessert, but it is a special, beloved one that can be made in an Instant Pot, thanks to this recipe from The Big Apple Mama.
Eggnog Bundt Cake
This easy eggnog Bundt cake from Margin Making Mom even has an eggnog cream cheese icing.
Spiced Apple Cider
This apple cider from Recipes to Nourish is sure to be a sweet crowd-pleaser and only takes 10 minutes.
Firecracker Candied Pecans
Fans of sweet-spicy combos and comforting, festive, candied nuts will be wowed by this firecracker candied pecan recipe from Amy + Jacky on PressureCookerRecipes.com.
Red Velvet Cheesecake
This festive-looking red velvet cheesecake from Upstate Ramblings boasts a chocolate cookie crust with red velvet filling, cream cheese frosting, and chocolate candies.
Showstopping Lava Cake
Guests will go wild for this lava cake from Amy + Jacky at PressureCookerRecipes.com that has molten chocolate oozing out of every bite.
Peppermint Milkshake Cheesecake
This Old Gal's gasp-worthy recipe for peppermint milkshake cheesecake has a layer of white chocolate mousse.
Eggnog
Make traditional eggnog in the Instant Pot following this recipe from The Foodie Eats.
Cranberry Cornbread Bites
This Old Gal breaks down how to make these cute cranberry cornbread bites, shaped like jingle bells.
Gingerbread Cheesecake
The Foodie Eats gingerbread cheesecake with a gingersnap crust sounds absolutely divine.
Peanut Butter Blondies
These peanut butter blondies from Instant Loss are secretly healthy, thanks to the addition of protein-packed chickpeas.
Brownies
Brownies are an undeniable go-to dessert for any occasion, and with this recipe from Home Pressure Cooking, you can get 'em done in 25 minutes.
Apple Crisp
Made in 10 minutes, this apple crisp from Recipes 4 Share is sure to be loved by everyone at a Christmas dinner.
Creme Caramel (Flan)
This creme caramel from Amy + Jacky on PressureCookRecipes.com will make for a dreamy holiday dessert.
Chocolate Pudding Cake
This Pilgrim Life breaks down how to make a guilt-free chocolate pudding cake in your Instant Pot without sugar, gluten, or dairy.
Samoa Cheesecake
This Instant Pot Samoa cheesecake from Lady Behind the Curtain gets its incredible inspo from Girl Scout cookies. Drool-worthy.
Chocolate Peppermint Rice Pudding
Chocolate peppermint rice pudding from Chicago Jogger is ready in 30 minutes.
