Houston’s holiday dessert game is coming in hot — and buttery, and glazed, and sugar-dusted. From peppermint tres leches, buche de Noel and Hanukkah classics like sufganiyot to praline-packed kolache, local bakeries and restaurants are rolling out their sweetest specials of the season, ready for pickup, pre-order and gifting. Here’s where to get your festive fix this year:
Badolina Bakery, 5555 Morningside
Celebrating Hanukkah, Badolina Bakery will have freshly-baked Sufganiyot (among other traditional Mediterranean pastries, breads and cakes), for sale individually, by the half dozen, or dozen.
Bar Bludorn, 9061 Gaylord
Preorder Buche De Noel ($65) for pickup before Christmas, featuring hazelnut dacquoise, chocolate mousse, cassis gel and tarragon.
Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith
The Creole icon brings back its New Orleans-style soft pralines this holiday season. To Call 713-522-9711 or place orders online for pickup at the restaurant.
Caracol, 2200 Post Oak
Order Flan De Horchata, Arroz con Leche, Tres Leches and more. Christmas orders must be placed by Monday, December 22 at noon for pickup on Wednesday, December 24. All other orders require a two-day lead time.
Dessert Gallery, 3600 Kirby
Go for Christmas and Hanukkah Butter Cookies, Lemon Squares, Monkey Bars, Pecan Pie Bars, and the World’s Best Brownie Bars this holiday season.
El Bolillo Bakery, multiple locations
Sweeten your holiday season with El Bolillo’s Peppermint Tres Leches, Christmas Conchas, Champurrado and more. Order through December 24.
Epicure Café, 2005 West Gray
Order pumpkin, apple, or pecan pies ($30 each) online November 14–December 31 or stop in for a slice ($5). Christmas Eve hours run 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the cafe is closed on Christmas Day.
The famous Brazos Bottom Pecan Pie is available in a variety of new packaging options with nationwide shipping, from the standard gift wrapping to elegant pine wood boxes with cheerful holiday greetings.
Houston Catering Concepts, New York Deli and Bagel Shop Bakery
Houston Catering Concepts, New York Deli, and Bagel Shop Bakery are sweetening the season with Hanukkah desserts including mini blue-and-white cookies ($18/dz), sufganiyot ($27/dz), cheesecake with fruit topping ($45, serves 12), and specialty dessert platters in small or large sizes ($47–$75). Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance at orders@houstoncatering.com.
Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer
Pecan pie, tres leches, arroz de leche and flan de queso are all up from grabs this holiday season. For Christmas orders, place your order by Monday, December 22 at noon for pickup on Wednesday, December 24. All other orders require a two-day lead time.
Jane and the Lion Bakehouse, 4721 North Main
Our 2025 Best Bakery winner serves up outstanding seasonal pies, pastries, cookies, sourdough breads, and sweet-savory baked goods — perfect for holiday dessert runs.
Kenny & Ziggy’s, 1743 Post Oak
Kenny & Ziggy’s is rolling out a massive Chanukah sweets lineup, including more than a dozen cakes, pies, cookies, and classic treats, plus latkes sold by the dozen and plenty of holiday staples to round things out. The deli is also offering several holiday packages and à la carte options for pre-order, with pickup available the morning of December 15. Orders are due 72 hours in advance.
Kolache Shoppe, multiple locations
This December, Kolache Shoppe is baking up the Pralines & Cream Kolache, a seasonal homage to the iconic Brennan’s of Houston featuring buttery pecan pralines with a hint of praline liqueur and cream cheese. Folks can also order Holiday Sweet Roll Loaves, a party-sized take on the bakery’s buttery, plush cinnamon rolls.
Phoenicia Specialty Foods, 1001 Austin, 12141 Westheimer
Baklava Gift Boxes, Peppermint Bark, and Gingerbread House Decorating Kits are just some of the goodies you can find at Phoenicia this holiday season.
URBE, 1101 Uptown Park
The Mexican street food kitchen’s Holiday To-Go is open and accepting orders until December 22, with offerings from Santa conchas and tres leches to Maker’s Mark bourbon pecan pie.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.