The Christmas season is a time for joy, laughter, and, of course, delicious treats! Baking with kids adds an extra sprinkle of magic to the holiday season. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, these 50 easy and fun Christmas treats and cookies are perfect for creating sweet memories with your little helpers. From festive cookies to colorful candy creations, these recipes are simple enough for kids to enjoy while being a festive delight for the entire family.
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Start off the holiday fun with classic Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies! Kids will love cutting out the shapes and decorating with vibrant sprinkles, colorful frosting, and little candy stars on top.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- Sprinkles, candy stars, and icing for decorating
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the egg and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until a dough forms.
- Knead in a few drops of green food coloring.
- Roll out the dough and use Christmas tree cookie cutters to create shapes.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Cool before decorating with icing and sprinkles.
Reindeer Pretzel Rods
Reindeer Pretzel Rods are the perfect combination of sweet and salty, and they look adorable! With chocolate, pretzels, and candy eyes, kids can create these festive reindeer in no time.
Ingredients:
- Pretzel rods
- Milk chocolate chips
- Mini pretzels (for antlers)
- Candy eyes
- Red M&M’s (for Rudolph’s nose)
Instructions:
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds until smooth.
- Dip the top half of each pretzel rod in the melted chocolate.
- Attach two mini pretzels to the top of the dipped pretzel to create antlers.
- Place candy eyes and a red M&M to make the reindeer’s face.
- Let the pretzel rods cool on wax paper until the chocolate sets.
Santa Hat Cupcakes
These Santa Hat Cupcakes are as festive as they are delicious! With a swirl of red frosting and a marshmallow pom-pom on top, kids can easily assemble these jolly treats.
Ingredients:
- Cupcakes (store-bought or homemade)
- Red food coloring
- Vanilla frosting
- Mini marshmallows
Instructions:
- Tint the frosting red with a few drops of food coloring.
- Pipe the red frosting onto each cupcake in a cone shape to resemble Santa’s hat.
- Place a mini marshmallow at the top of the frosting to serve as a pom-pom.
- Add a ring of mini marshmallows around the base of the frosting for the hat trim.
Peppermint Bark
Peppermint Bark is a holiday staple that’s fun and easy to make with kids. It combines white and dark chocolate with a sprinkle of crushed candy canes for a minty crunch.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crushed candy canes
Instructions:
- Melt the semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave, then spread the melted chocolate onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Let it set in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
- Melt the white chocolate chips and spread over the hardened semi-sweet chocolate.
- Quickly sprinkle crushed candy canes over the white chocolate.
- Let the bark cool completely in the fridge before breaking into pieces.
Gingerbread Men Cookies
No Christmas is complete without classic Gingerbread Men! Kids love decorating these spiced cookies with icing and candy to create their own unique characters.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). In a bowl, combine flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. Add the molasses and egg, then mix in the dry ingredients.
- Roll out the dough and cut gingerbread men using cookie cutters.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, then cool before decorating with icing, candy buttons, and eyes.
Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops
For a quick and fun holiday treat, try Candy Cane Marshmallow Pops! These chocolate-dipped marshmallows are a great alternative to cookies and perfect for small hands.
Ingredients:
- Large marshmallows
- Candy canes
- Milk chocolate chips
- Sprinkles
Instructions:
- Unwrap candy canes and insert them into the marshmallows like a lollipop stick.
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave and dip each marshmallow into the chocolate.
- Roll the chocolate-covered marshmallows in sprinkles for extra color.
- Let the marshmallows cool on wax paper until the chocolate hardens.
Christmas Tree Brownies
Christmas Tree Brownies are a fun and festive twist on regular brownies. Kids can decorate these triangular brownies with colorful icing, sprinkles, and candy stars.
Ingredients:
- Brownie mix (or homemade brownie batter)
- Green icing
- Sprinkles and candy stars
- Pretzel sticks (for tree trunks)
Instructions:
- Prepare and bake brownies according to the package instructions.
- Once the brownies are cooled, cut them into triangles.
- Use green icing to pipe zig-zag lines across the brownies.
- Decorate with sprinkles and place a candy star at the top.
- Insert a pretzel stick into the bottom of each brownie to create the tree trunk.
Snowman Oreo Pops
Snowman Oreo Pops are both adorable and easy to make! Kids will enjoy dipping Oreos in white chocolate and decorating them with candy to create little snowmen.
Ingredients:
- Oreo cookies
- White chocolate chips
- Mini chocolate chips (for eyes and buttons)
- Orange candy-coated chocolate (for noses)
- Lollipop sticks
Instructions:
- Melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring until smooth.
- Insert lollipop sticks into the center of the Oreos.
- Dip the Oreos into the melted white chocolate, covering them completely.
- Decorate with mini chocolate chips for eyes and buttons, and an orange candy for the nose.
- Let the pops cool and harden before enjoying.
Hot Cocoa Cookies
Hot Cocoa Cookies combine the flavors of a warm cup of cocoa with gooey marshmallow centers. Kids will love helping to press marshmallows into the cookies for that ooey-gooey texture.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- Mini marshmallows
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and sugars, then add the egg.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients.
- Roll the dough into balls and bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and press mini marshmallows into the center of each cookie.
- Return to the oven for 2-3 more minutes until the marshmallows puff up.