It has been a great year for ASX gold stocks with the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold index more than doubling the market return.

The good news for investors is that analysts at Bell Potter "see the current gold price as having an extraordinarily strong platform from which to continue to appreciate."

In light of this, the broker believes that having some exposure to the precious metal could be a good thing for investors in 2025.

With that in mind, here are three ASX gold stocks that Bell Potter has named as best buys for the year ahead:

Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD)

The first ASX gold stock that the broker is bullish on is Genesis Minerals. Bell Potter likes the company due to its positive growth outlook and lowering costs. It said:

GMD guides to near term growth with FY25 production guidance of 190koz to 210koz, a ~50% increase on FY24, and recently restarted the Laverton Gold Processing plant. Management is highly experienced, well known and respected. The combination of growing production, declining costs and a supportive gold price, will progressively enhance GMD as a growth platform.

The broker has a buy rating and $2.80 price target on its shares.

Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR)

Another ASX gold stock that the broker is positive on is Gold Road Resources.

It believes that now could be a great time to invest given that its production issues appear to be behind it. Especially given how Gold Road's shares have underperformed peers this year and could be due to play catchup. It said:

After experiencing production disruptions in late CY23 and early CY24, GOR's recovery from production issues is largely complete. Management commentary continues to highlight Gruyere's potential for significantly higher gold production and earnings (a sustainable 175kozpa on an attributable basis), which we expect from CY25. GOR has underperformed other gold producers which have rallied in the strong gold price environment. As GOR demonstrates that gold production is back on track in 4QCY24, we expect the share price to improve rapidly.

Bell Potter has a buy rating and $2.55 price target on the gold miner's shares.

Santana Minerals Ltd (ASX: SMI)

Finally, Santana Minerals could be an ASX gold stock to buy if you have a higher than average tolerance for risk.

It sees a lot of potential in the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project given its low costs and attractive initial mine life. It said:

Santana Minerals is a gold explorer and developer, focused on the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project (BOGP) in New Zealand. The project has a high grade Ore Reserve of 1.2Moz @ 2.4g/t Au and is emerging as one of the most attractive gold development projects of this scale on the ASX.

Bottom quartile costs, conventional mining and processing methods and an initial 10-year mine life on Reserves alone make it attractive for both debt and equity financing. It is well placed to advance through final studies, financing and permitting, with one of the most favourable and rapid development pathways to production (and production re-rating) among its peer group.

The broker has a speculative buy rating and $1.07 price target on its shares.