The Christmas fun is all about happy messy fingerprints all over the frosting and loads of giggles. These 15 festive treats will bring you and your kids lots of joy in the kitchen. Get ready for Christmas music and lots of reindeer frosting memories.
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1) Rudolph's Red-Nosed Reindeer Cookies
I have to admit, I look forward to making these each December as much as my kids do – these delightful reindeer faces are definitely the first on my list!
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Rudolph's Red-Nosed Reindeer Cookies
Peanut butter cookies made festive with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a big red candy nose!
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Stir together the peanut butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla until a smooth dough forms.
- Roll the dough into 24 balls, place on the sheets, and flatten slightly into a triangle shape with the point at the bottom.
- Press two pretzel twists into the top corners for antlers.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes until set, then let cool 5 minutes on the pan.
- While still warm, press on candy eyes and a red gumdrop nose so they stick.
Notes
A dab of frosting works great as glue if any candies pop off once cooled.
2) Frosty the Snowman Cupcakes
Friendly snowmen have arrived! These silly snowmen feature fluffy white frosting and a goofy candy face.
Frosty the Snowman Cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes with marshmallow fluff frosting and a sprinkle of coconut topped with a candy snowman face.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350F and line a muffin tin with 12 liners.
- Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time.
- Mix in the flour, baking powder, and milk just until combined, then divide into the liners.
- Bake 16 to 18 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean, then cool completely.
- Frost each cupcake with a tall swirl of vanilla frosting and roll the tops in coconut.
- Add two chocolate chip eyes and an orange candy nose to give each snowman his face.
Notes
Cool the cupcakes fully or the frosting will slide right off.
3) Santa's Belly Brownies
Just a hint of black icing and a mini gold buckle transform fudgy brownies into Santa's jolly belly.
Santa's Belly Brownies
Brownies with a fudge recipe and red icing with a yellow buckle candy piece.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350F and grease an 8-inch square pan.
- Whisk the melted butter and sugar together, then beat in the eggs.
- Stir in the cocoa, flour, and salt until just combined and spread into the pan.
- Bake 22 to 25 minutes until the center is set, then cool completely and cut into 16 squares.
- Pipe a wide black icing belt across each brownie.
- Add a dot of red around the belt and press a yellow candy in the center for the buckle.
Notes
Let the brownies cool fully before icing so the belts stay crisp.
4) Elf Hat Marshmallow Pops
These little hats made for elves come together in mere minutes and disapear even faster!
Elf Hat Marshmallow Pops
Marshmallows are coated in green candy melts, and turned into cute little sprinkled elf hats on a stick!
Ingredients
Method
- Push a lollipop stick into the flat end of each marshmallow.
- Melt the green candy melts in 30-second bursts until smooth.
- Dip a mini cone into the green coating and set it pointed-side up on a tray to make the hat.
- Dip each marshmallow in the coating and press it to the wide end of a cone to form the brim.
- Roll the brim in white sprinkles and add a candy pearl to the tip.
- Chill 5 minutes until the coating sets firm.
Notes
If the candy melts thicken, stir in a teaspoon of coconut oil to loosen them.
5) Gingerbread House Craft
Avoid the hassle of making the house from scratch; let the kids have fun decorating a solid graham cracker house!
Gingerbread House Craft
A cottage made of graham crackers and decorated with candy and royal icing for kids to decorate!
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the egg whites, powdered sugar, and cream of tartar until thick and glossy to make royal icing.
- Pipe icing along the edges of four graham crackers and press them together into walls on a plate.
- Add two angled crackers for the roof, holding until the icing grips.
- Let the house set 15 minutes so it holds its shape.
- Pipe more icing onto the roof and walls and press on candies however the kids like.
- Finish with a snowy dusting of powdered sugar over the whole thing.
Notes
Build the bare house yourself first, then hand it over for the fun decorating part.
6) Peppermint Bark Snowflakes
With two types of chocolate and some crushed candy canes, these snowflakes could be considered too beautiful to eat.
Peppermint Bark Snowflakes
Dark and white chocolate bark with bits of peppermint and shaped into little snowflakes.
Ingredients
Method
- Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Melt the dark chocolate in 30-second bursts until smooth and spread it into a thin even layer.
- Chill 10 minutes until firm.
- Melt the white chocolate, stir in the peppermint extract, and pour it over the dark layer.
- Sprinkle the crushed candy canes over the top right away.
- Chill until fully set, then press snowflake cookie cutters into the bark or break it into shards.
Notes
Snowflake cutters work best while the white layer is just barely set.
7) Reindeer Chow Snack Mix
People can’t get enough of this salty and sweet muddy buddy mix!
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Reindeer Chow Snack Mix
Cereal that has been coated in chocolate and powdered sugar, mixed with pretzels and holiday candy.
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together until smooth.
- Pour the mixture over the cereal in a large bowl and gently toss to coat.
- Add the powdered sugar to a large zip-top bag, pour in the cereal, and shake until coated.
- Spread on a baking sheet to cool and set for 10 minutes.
- Toss the coated cereal with the pretzels, candies, and marshmallows.
- Scoop into bowls or bag it up for snacking.
Notes
Store in an airtight container so it stays crunchy all week.
8) Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Classic Christmas tree cookies, begging for sprinkles!
Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
Buttery sugar cookies shaped like Christmas trees and iced in green, with little candy ornament decorations.
Ingredients
Method
- Beat the butter and sugar until fluffy, then mix in the egg and vanilla.
- Stir in the flour to form a dough, then chill 20 minutes.
- Roll out to 1/4 inch and cut into Christmas tree shapes.
- Bake at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are barely golden, then cool completely.
- Spread green icing over each tree and scatter on nonpareil ornaments.
- Top each tree with a star sprinkle before the icing sets.
Notes
Chilling the dough keeps the trees from spreading and losing their shape.
9) Hot Chocolate Reindeer Cones
These edible cones make any kid feel fancy! They are part treat, part gift, and fully edible!
Hot Chocolate Reindeer Cones
Waffle cones dressed as ice cream cones, filled with cocoa mix and marshmallows, have been made with pretzel antlers and a candy nose.
Ingredients
Method
- Fill each waffle cone with a scoop of cocoa mix, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.
- Wrap each filled cone in a clear treat bag and tie the top with ribbon.
- Dab a little melted chocolate near the point of the cone.
- Press two mini pretzels into the chocolate for antlers.
- Add two candy eyes and a red candy nose to finish the reindeer face.
- Let the chocolate set 5 minutes before handing them out.
Notes
To use, empty a cone into a mug and pour over hot milk.
10) Candy Cane Lollipops
Cheerful red and white swirly homemade lollipops are a type of pure old-fashioned magic.
Candy Cane Lollipops
Classic candy cane colors and glossy peppermint hard candy swirled together to create a great lollipop.
Ingredients
Method
- Lay lollipop sticks on a parchment-lined sheet and grease lightly.
- Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a saucepan over medium heat.
- Cook without stirring until a candy thermometer reads 300F.
- Remove from heat and stir in the peppermint extract.
- Spoon clear and red-tinted candy in swirls over the tops of the sticks.
- Let cool completely until hard, about 15 minutes.
Notes
Hot sugar is very hot, so this is the one step grown-ups handle solo.
11) Holiday Veggie Platter Wreath
Here is proof that festive and fun creations can be healthy and easy for kids to put together.
Holiday Veggie Platter Wreath
A bright wreath of fresh vegetables surrounding a creamy herb dip with cherry tomato 'berries'.
Ingredients
Method
- Place a small bowl of ranch dip in the center of a round platter.
- Arrange the broccoli florets in a ring around the bowl to form the base of the wreath.
- Tuck in snap peas and cucumber slices to fill out the green.
- Scatter cherry tomatoes around like little berries.
- Cut a bow shape from the red bell pepper and place it at the bottom of the wreath.
- Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
Let the kids arrange the tomato berries however they like, no rules required.
12) Melting Snowman Oreo Balls
These little melting snowmen with droopy faces are super funny, super sweet, and cuter than cute!
Melting Snowman Oreo Balls
Creamy cookie truffles are covered in white chocolate, featuring a melted-snowman drip along with candy decorations.
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the crushed cookies and cream cheese until a dough forms.
- Roll the dough into 18 balls and chill 15 minutes until firm.
- Dip each ball in melted white chocolate and set on parchment, letting it pool into a melted puddle.
- Dip a marshmallow in white chocolate and perch it on top for the snowman's head.
- Add mini chocolate chip eyes and an orange sprinkle nose.
- Chill until fully set, about 10 minutes.
Notes
Let plenty of chocolate puddle around each base for that melting look.
13) Snowball Marshmallow Soup
A fun mug of white hot chocolate with marshmallows as snowballs bouncing on top.
Snowball Marshmallow Soup
Creamy white hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and marshmallow snowball fluff.
Ingredients
Method
- Warm the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
- Whisk in the white chocolate chips until fully melted and smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla and divide the hot chocolate among four mugs.
- Top each with a swirl of whipped cream.
- Pile mini marshmallow snowballs over the cream.
- Finish with a shower of white sprinkles.
Notes
Keep the heat gentle so the white chocolate doesn't scorch.
14) Nutcracker Rice Krispies Treats
Crispy rice treats are cut into tall soldiers and decorated to stand guard over the dessert table.
Nutcracker Rice Krispies Treats
Nutcracker soldiers decoratively iced into uniforms on chewy and crunchy rice bars.
Ingredients
Method
- Melt the butter and marshmallows in a large pot until smooth.
- Stir in the rice cereal until coated, then press into a greased pan.
- Let cool 10 minutes, then cut into 10 tall rectangles.
- Pipe a red icing jacket on the bottom half of each treat.
- Add a white icing face and black icing hat and boots.
- Press on candy buttons down the front and let set.
Notes
Lightly butter your hands when pressing the cereal so it doesn't stick.
15) Grinch Pretzel Bites
These sweet-and-salty green Grinch bites are a little bit naughty and are sure to vanish before your eyes!
Grinch Pretzel Bites
Pretzel snaps decorated with green candy-coated kisses and a mini red heart sprinkle.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 250F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Arrange the pretzel snaps in a single layer and place a green chocolate kiss on each.
- Warm in the oven for 3 to 4 minutes until the kisses are soft but still hold their shape.
- Remove from the oven and gently press a red heart sprinkle into each softened kiss.
- Let cool until the chocolate sets firm, about 15 minutes.
- Drizzle with a little melted green candy if you want extra flair.
Notes
Watch closely in the oven so the kisses soften without fully melting.