33 Easy Christmas Treats

Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. There is so much to prepare, such as presents and decorations, and it’s also a time for eating many delicious treats. With so much to do, however, finding quick and easy treats to make is important. 

In this article, we’ve prepared a list of 33 easy Christmas treats. Whether you like cookies, nougat, or cheesecake, there is sure to be a recipe for you. 

1. Candied Popcorn Stars

As well as being cute star-shaped treats, these can also double as tree decorations! They’re made from popcorn (see also ‘28 Best Flavored Popcorn Recipes‘) that is coated with a mixture made from butter, sugar, and light corn syrup.

This will make the popcorn stick together and while it is still warm, you should quickly press the mixture into star-shaped cookie cutters to make the star shapes. If the mixture cools, you will need to warm it up again.

2. Candy Cane Cookie Sandwiches

Although they look like macarons, these sandwich-style treats are made from cookies. The cookies are chocolate flavored and should remain soft and chewy.

The center of the cookies is a peppermint frosting flavored with peppermint extract and crushed candy canes. By adding some red icing color, you can make a festive-looking candy cane cookie sandwich.

3. Candy Cane Cups

Your guests are sure to be impressed by these cute candy cane cups. They look impressive but are nice and easy to make in only 15 minutes. You will need a silicone shot glass mold so you can make the cups.

The cups themselves are made from candy canes that are tightly packed together and then melted in the oven so there are no gaps. Wait for the candy to cool and then you can fill them with a center of your choice.

This can be chocolate, coffee, or even something alcoholic such as a holiday cocktail (see also ‘23 Simple Christmas Cocktails‘) or liqueur. You can also top them with cream or other toppings if you wish.

We would recommend not filling the cups until just before they are due to be served, however, as the candy cups will get soft and sticky.

4. Candy Cane Reindeer Pops

These candy cane reindeer pops are adorable and will make great treats and gifts for adults as well as kids. The reindeer heads are made from the tops of two candy canes arranged into a heart shape that is then filled with melted chocolate.

When the chocolate sets, it will lock the candy canes in place and give you a solid base for decorating with candy eyes and M&M’s. Add a lollipop stick to make them easier to eat and you can even wrap them in bags and ribbons to give as gifts.

5. Chewy M&M Cookie Bars

Chewy cookie bars are always a delicious treat and these treats include M&Ms to make them even more delicious.

The dough includes M&Ms and you can press extras into the top of the cookie bars to make them more colorful and tasty. The recipe is easy to make and only takes 25 to 30 minutes to bake in the oven.

6. Chocolate Cranberry Christmas Mini-Cakes

As well as being delicious and indulgent, these mini-cakes are also vegan, gluten-free (see also ‘The 33 Greatest Gluten-Free Desserts‘), and nut-free so they can be enjoyed by a wide range of guests.

The mini-cakes are made from two layers of chocolate cake that have a layer of cranberry chia jam in the middle. They’re then topped with a coating of melted dark chocolate and can be topped with cranberries as well.

7. Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake

No flavor says Christmas like peppermint and this chocolate peppermint bundt cake (see also ‘33 Bundt Cake Recipes You Have To Try!‘) tastes like Christmas while also being rich enough to satisfy any chocolate lover. You will need a bundt cake pan to make it in the bundt shape.

The cake itself is made from chocolate and it is then topped with a chocolate peppermint ganache and crushed peppermint candy.

8. Christmas Gumdrop Nougat

You can make your own nougat from butter, white chocolate chips, and marshmallows that are melted together. Once the mixture is completely melted together and smooth, add some red and green dot candy that is cut in half.

You can also sprinkle some dot candy on top once your mixture has been spread into a baking dish. Allow the nougat to cool overnight and then you can cut it into pieces.

9. Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites

Rice Krispie treats are an easy snack to make regardless of the time of the year and are a big favorite with everyone who tries them. Once the mixture is made, just add some Christmas-colored food coloring.

The treats are best made in three colors—red, white, and green—so you will need to make three separate Rice Krispie mixtures. Once colored and mixed, roll the mixture into balls and you can add sprinkles if you wish.

10. Christmas Tree Brownies

Brownies are one of those staple treats that can be made the entire year round. This recipe will show you how to make brownies that are perfect for the festive season.

The brownies are then cut into triangles and have a candy cane pushed into the bottom to make the tree trunk. To make them look like trees, cover them with green frosting and decorate them with sprinkles, silver balls, or whatever treats you want.

11. Cinnamon Hard Candies

These candies can be served as treats during a Christmas party and once made, they can last for up to two months so they can even be given as gifts if you’re looking for something handmade and unique for anyone that has a sweet tooth.

The candies are made by melting together sugar, corn syrup, salt, and water. Add some red liquid food coloring and cinnamon oil to get the right color and flavor.

12. Confetti Squares

These confetti squares are quick to make and require no baking but they do need at least three hours in the fridge to set so keep that in mind when you prepare them.

Once mixed and set, they make a gooey and sugary treat that is sure to stand out amongst the more traditional Christmas treats.

The squares are made from peanut butter, chocolate chips, and rainbow marshmallows to make a chocolatey and colorful treat.

13. Cranberry Tart

Cranberry is one of the most popular and common Christmas flavors and this tart uses not only cranberry but has candied orange zest as a topping to maximize the Christmas flavor.

After the filling is made, it will need to cool for at least a couple of hours before it is ready to be served. 

14. Divinity with Cherries and Pecans

Divinity is a traditional candy recipe famous in the south and this recipe will allow you to make it for Christmas. They’re relatively simple to make and include maraschino cherries, egg whites, corn syrup, and toasted pecans.

No baking is required although you will need to heat some of the ingredients together in a saucepan.

Once made, this recipe will last in an airtight container for up to two weeks so you can prepare them far in advance of your Christmas festivities.

15. Easy Peppermint Fluff Dip

This peppermint fluff dip is one of the quickest and easiest treats in this article to make, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less tasty.

You will need to mix marshmallow fluff, cream cheese, and peppermint extract together before adding some crushed peppermints to the mix.

Some red food coloring will make the fluff pink and you can serve the peppermint fluff with chocolate graham crackers or anything you want to dip into it.

16. Gingerbread Cookies

You can’t have a list of Christmas treats without gingerbread cookies and this recipe is easy to make. As well as being delicious, gingerbread cookies are fun to make and decorate.

You can also get the kids involved in their decoration. For the best results, remember to chill the dough after mixing it.

17. Hot Chocolate Brownie Cups

Hot chocolate is a winter favorite and this recipe combines hot chocolate with brownies (see also ‘33 Best Chocolate Brownie Recipes‘) to make a delicious Christmas treat. As the brownies are shaped into cups, they look adorable and will certainly make an impression on your family and friends.

The inside of the brownie cups is filled with a marshmallow and you can top the marshmallows with sprinkles.

18. Melted Snowman Oreo Balls

These snowmen balls are so cute and will be a perfect addition to any Christmas party. The core of the balls is Oreo truffles which are made from cream cheese and crushed Oreos.

After freezing them, dip them in melted white chocolate and then you can add the facial features with frosting or sprinkles.

19. Milk and Cookies Shots

If you’re having a Christmas party with adult family members and friends, then these milk and cookie shots are a great idea for Christmas treats.

They’re infused with Baileys Irish Cream (see also ‘Does Baileys Irish Cream Go Bad?‘) to make them taste extra smooth while also adding a little alcoholic kick. They’re easy to pick up and hold as the exterior is made from cookie dough. 

20. Mint Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

No baking is required for these delicious no-bake cookies. The cookies themselves are simple to make and due to the inclusion of unsweetened cocoa powder will have a nice chocolate flavor.

The mint flavor comes in the frosting which is flavored with mint extract and uses green food coloring to look as minty as it tastes. A chocolate ganache tops off the cookies and makes this ideal for any lover of mint chocolate.

21. Mouse King Fudge

This recipe takes inspiration from the Nutcracker to make fudge in the shape of the Mouse King. The fudge is very easy to make as it only requires four ingredients.

All you need is to beat sugar and cream cheese together and add in some vanilla extract. Melt some white chocolate and add this to your mixture.

Once it’s all mixed, it will need to refrigerate for at least two hours. After the fudge is set you can decorate it with wafers, M&M eyes, snowcaps, and gold sprinkles to make your Mouse Kings.

22. No-Bake Christmas Tree Cookies

In 20 minutes you can make these no-bake Christmas tree cookies although they will require a few hours to set. You can also enjoy making and decorating them with your kids and they’re bound to go down a treat at any kid’s parties.

The trees themselves are made from coconut, icing sugar, butter, milk, and green food coloring (see also ‘50 Easy Best Coconut Desserts Recipes‘). They can then be decorated with melted white chocolate and even mini-M&M’s.

23. No Bake Salted Caramel Coconut Macaroons

Coconut, caramel, and chocolate are a perfect combination and they come together to make these delicious macaroons. They only take 15 minutes to make but do require some time to chill.

To make the macaroons, you need to melt milk, butter, and caramel together before mixing in the coconut. When fully mixed, scoop into small balls and allow them to cool.

Once cooled, dip the bottoms into melted chocolate, drizzle the top with more chocolate, and sprinkle with sea salt.

24. No Bake White Chocolate Biscoff Oatmeal Cookies

This is another cookie recipe that requires no baking, just prep time and some additional time for the mixture to set.

The combination of white chocolate and cranberries for garnish makes these look like the perfect Christmas treat and they’re bound to be a hit at any party. The addition of rolled oats gives the cookies a unique texture.

25. Oreo Cookie Christmas Ornaments

These Christmas ornaments are a great activity to do with kids as they can be decorated in any way you want. They’re also very easy to make as the ornaments are just Oreos dipped into a melted white candy coating.

Once the cookies have been dipped into the coating, they can be decorated with candy, sprinkles, or anything you want.

26. Pecan Snowflake Cookies

Sugar cookies are a common treat made for Christmas but this recipe makes them look and taste a little different from the standard sugar cookies. The cookie mixture includes pecans and the dough should be chilled before being baked.

Some snowflake-shaped cookie cutters will make shaping the cookies easy and once baked, dust them with confectioner’s sugar to make them look like they’re dusted with snow.

27. Peppermint Bark

Chocolate bark is one of the easiest treats you can make for Christmas and there is an almost unlimited variety of flavors and recipes you can make.

This one uses only four ingredients and takes only a few minutes to prepare, but will take around an hour to set. It uses semi-sweet dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peppermint extract for the bark itself, and crushed candy canes as a topping. 

28. Peppermint Meringues

Meringues make for delicious small treats that can be easily eaten as snacks. They’re crisp on the outside but should remain a little chewy on the inside. The meringue is made from egg whites, granulated sugar, cream of tartar (see also ‘8 Best Substitutes For Cream Of Tartar‘), and peppermint extract.

To make them look like peppermint, use red and silver food coloring and pipe out the mixture using a pastry bag. The mixture will take 60 to 75 minutes to bake and should be allowed to cool before serving.

29. Pretzel Reindeer

Christmas treats don’t just have to be sweet, they can also be savory and these pretzel reindeer will help to sate any salty cravings while still looking festive. To make the reindeer, you will need some pretzels, royal icing, and red candy for the nose.

Cute the pretzel rods into the appropriate sizes and they are then attached with the royal icing. You can use these pretzel reindeer as not only snacks but also cute decorations as part of a larger platter of treats.

30. Santa Crunch Popcorn

This popcorn snack can be used as a treat for a Christmas party or as something to munch on as you watch a Christmas movie. You can use popcorn that has been popped on the stove or microwaved as the base for your Santa Crunch popcorn.

Make sure to remove the unpopped kernels so that you don’t need to worry about hurting your teeth on one of the unpopped kernels. With the popcorn prepared, salt it and add a mix of marshmallows to the popcorn.

Lay out the popcorn on a cookie sheet and add your candy. The marshmallow mix should still be warm as this will ensure the candy will stick properly.

31. Santa Hat Cheesecake Bites

Nobody will be able to resist these cheesecake bites as they’re not only delicious but seriously adorable. They can also save you time as you can prepare the cheesecake bites a couple of days in advance as long as you keep them refrigerated.

You can make your own cheesecake or use a store-bought one, depending on your skill level and how much time you have. They’re made into Santa hats with the addition of a strawberry and whipped cream.

32. Snowy Chocolate Pinecones

These may look like pinecones that have been collected on a nature walk, but they’re fully edible and taste delicious! You can make them with your kids as well and you’re bound to have fun assembling the pinecones.

The pinecones are made from chocolate cereal that is set into a mix of peanut butter, Nutella, butter, and powdered sugar that is spread around a pretzel stick.

Once you have made your pinecone you can dust it with powdered sugar to make it look like it is covered in snow.

33. White Chocolate Peppermint Patties

This is another Christmas treat that uses peppermint and this recipe for white chocolate peppermint patties uses peppermint extract in the mixture as well as crushed peppermints as a garnish.

The peppermint garnish and white chocolate coating make these look festive and taste festive. They’re only a quarter of an inch wide, making them the perfect small treat for Christmas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about Christmas Treats.

Can the Treats Be Prepared in Advance?

If you’re short on time and have a party or event to prepare for, then preparing some treats in advance can be a lifesaver.

Several of the recipes on this list have stages that can be done a day or two in advance so if you’re considering making several treats, you should take advantage of this instead of spending hours in the kitchen in a single day.

Can Treats Be Frozen?

If you’ve made too many treats and some are leftover, throwing them away is a waste. Luckily, many treats can be frozen and kept for several weeks, or even months.

If this is possible, the recipes should state this. Look out for recipes that can be frozen if you’re worried about how big your batches of treats are.

Final Thoughts

Christmas is one of the best times of the year for making delicious treats.

Whether you’re making snacks for your family, prepping for a Christmas party, or making homemade treats as a gift for friends, there are a wide variety of recipes to choose from.

In this article, we listed 33 different easy Christmas treats that your family and friends are bound to love. Whatever type of treats you like, there is sure to be something on this list for everyone.