These easy Christmas treats are the kind you can make in an afternoon: cookies for the exchange, fudge and bark for gift tins, and no-bake snacks for holiday movie nights.
A few of ours make lovely gifts too, like our Easy Turkish Baklava, Maple Popcorn and Candied Lemon Slices. If you're baking for a party, browse our Christmas cake recipes as well.
I'm sharing 30 easy Christmas treats below. They include Peppermint Bark, Gingerbread Cookies, Christmas Crack and more. Most use pantry staples and make big batches, so pick a few for your cookie tray or gift boxes!
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Christmas Cookies
Christmas cookies are the heart of holiday baking, and this collection covers everything from citrus sugar cookies to nutty Austrian linzers. Each one is festive enough for a cookie exchange and simple enough for a weekend afternoon.
Christmas Sugar Cookies
Light, airy sugar cookies with a hint of citrus, topped with royal icing for a festive finish. They are perfect for holiday cookie trays and make a cheerful homemade gift.
29 reviews / 4.8 averageMake this recipe:
Christmas Sugar CookiesPhoto and recipe: Wyse Guide
Gingerbread Cookies
Soft, warmly spiced gingerbread cookies packed with rich molasses flavor. They can be decorated with icing for a festive look or enjoyed plain.
385 reviews / 4.9 averageMake this recipe:
Gingerbread CookiesPhoto and recipe: Love and Lemons
Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Rich, fudgy chocolate cookies made with pantry staples, rolled in powdered sugar before baking for their signature crinkled look. A reliable holiday crowd-pleaser.
1,111 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Chocolate Crinkle CookiesPhoto and recipe: Preppy Kitchen
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Soft peanut butter cookies topped with a dark chocolate Hershey's Kiss, though milk chocolate works just as well. A classic holiday cookie that belongs on every cookie exchange tray.
10 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Peanut Butter BlossomsPhoto and recipe: Love and Lemons
Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Simple, buttery cookies with a sweet jam center. Classic and approachable, they fit right in on any holiday cookie plate.
12 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Jam Thumbprint CookiesPhoto and recipe: The Comfort of Cooking
Christmas Candy Cane Cookies
Peppermint butter dough is split, tinted red and twisted into little candy canes, then sprinkled with crushed peppermint candy and sugar. They're a cute addition to any cookie exchange.
20 reviews / 4.4 averageMake this recipe:
Christmas Candy Cane CookiesPhoto and recipe: Home Cooking Memories
Classic Austrian Linzer Cookies
Nutty, tender, and not too sweet, these Austrian sandwich cookies are filled with jam for a classic holiday look. Their delicate texture makes them stand out on any cookie tray.
121 reviews / 4.6 averageMake this recipe:
Classic Austrian Linzer CookiesPhoto and recipe: Gemma's Bigger Bolder Baking
Russian Tea Cakes
I love the simplicity here: buttery, tender cookies with a light nutty flavor, rolled in powdered sugar to look like little snowballs. Also called Snowballs, they are a beloved holiday classic.
8 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Russian Tea CakesPhoto and recipe: Life Love and Sugar
Peppermint Meringues
Light, airy meringues with peppermint flavor that are budget-friendly and easy to make. A pretty addition to a cookie tray or a sweet homemade gift.
137 reviews / 4.5 averageMake this recipe:
Peppermint MeringuesPhoto and recipe: Love Bakes Good Cakes
Fudge, Bark and Candy
Fudge, bark, and candy round out a holiday treat table without requiring a single sheet pan or muffin tin. These recipes range from quick microwave fudge to beautifully layered peppermint bark perfect for gift boxes.
Easy Peppermint Bark
I love a no-bake option, and this peppermint bark layers chocolate and peppermint for a festive treat that doubles as a great homemade gift.
19 reviews / 4.8 averageMake this recipe:
Easy Peppermint BarkPhoto and recipe: Savory Nothings
Christmas Crack
Saltines get covered in a bubbling brown sugar and butter toffee, then melted chocolate and holiday sprinkles. It takes about 20 minutes, and one pan makes plenty for gift tins.
108 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Christmas CrackPhoto and recipe: Dinner at the Zoo
Easy Peppermint Fudge
Made in the microwave, this peppermint fudge comes together fast for a quick holiday treat. Great for cookie trays, parties, or neighbor gifts.
Make this recipe:
Easy Peppermint FudgePhoto and recipe: TidyMom
Tiger Butter Fudge
White chocolate and peanut butter get swirled with semi-sweet chocolate into a striped, tiger-print fudge. This version uses sugar-free chips, so it's keto-friendly too.
6 reviews / 4.7 averageMake this recipe:
Tiger Butter FudgePhoto and recipe: Around My Family Table
English Toffee
Buttery, crispy toffee finished with chocolate and chopped pecans. Rich and satisfying, it makes a beautiful homemade holiday gift.
58 reviews / 4.9 averageMake this recipe:
English ToffeePhoto and recipe: Wyse Guide
Easy Homemade Chocolate Truffles
Silky dark chocolate truffles that require no baking. They make a stunning holiday gift or an elegant addition to a dessert table.
9 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Easy Homemade Chocolate TrufflesPhoto and recipe: Scientifically Sweet
Homemade Peppermint Patties
Made with just 5 ingredients and no baking, these homemade peppermint patties are a simple, cool, and minty candy for the holiday season.
10 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Homemade Peppermint PattiesPhoto and recipe: The Stay At Home Chef
Bars and Brownies
Bars and brownies are the low-effort, high-reward option when holiday baking gets busy. They bake in one pan and slice into tidy portions that work beautifully on dessert tables and cookie trays.
Peppermint Brownies
Fudgy brownies topped with peppermint frosting and crushed candy cane pieces. The chocolate-peppermint combination is a natural fit for the holiday season.
Make this recipe:
Peppermint BrowniesPhoto and recipe: Shugary Sweets
Cranberry Bliss Bar
A Starbucks-inspired blondie bar with cream cheese frosting, white chocolate, and dried cranberries. The homemade version delivers all the flavor of the original in an easy, shareable batch.
Make this recipe:
Cranberry Bliss BarPhoto and recipe: Culinary Hill
Magic Cookie Bars
Layered bars made with condensed milk, chocolate, and coconut. Simple to assemble and always a crowd favorite at holiday gatherings.
7 reviews / 4.6 averageMake this recipe:
Magic Cookie BarsPhoto and recipe: The Kitchen Magpie
No-Bake Treats
No-bake treats are a lifesaver during the holiday season when oven space is at a premium. These recipes come together quickly and are perfect for snacking, gifting, or festive movie nights.
Coconut Snowballs
No-bake winter treats coated in coconut to look like little snowballs. A sweet, festive addition to any holiday cookie tray.
14 reviews / 4.4 averageMake this recipe:
Coconut SnowballsPhoto and recipe: Love Bakes Good Cakes
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Pretzels dipped in chocolate for a sweet and salty holiday snack. Easy to package as gifts and great for party spreads.
10 reviews / 4.9 averageMake this recipe:
Chocolate Covered PretzelsPhoto and recipe: Dinner, then Dessert
Reindeer Chow
A sweet and salty Christmas Chex Mix with a festive, colorful look. It makes an easy, eye-catching edible gift for the holiday season.
27 reviews / 4.6 averageMake this recipe:
Reindeer ChowPhoto and recipe: Simply Stacie
Christmas Popcorn
A quick, festive popcorn treat that comes together in minutes. Perfect for Christmas movie nights or holiday snack bowls.
Make this recipe:
Christmas PopcornPhoto and recipe: Simply Stacie
Chocolate Dipped Oreos
Chocolate sandwich cookies dipped in chocolate and decorated with sprinkles for a fun, festive treat. Easy to customize for any holiday theme.
Make this recipe:
Chocolate Dipped OreosPhoto and recipe: Good Cheap Eats
Butterscotch Haystacks
An easy, sweet no-bake treat made with butterscotch. Simple to put together and a nice addition to a holiday candy spread.
28 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Butterscotch HaystacksPhoto and recipe: Spend With Pennies
Christmas Breads and Muffins
Holiday quick breads and muffins bring warmth and seasonal flavors to Christmas morning without requiring advanced baking skills. Many of these recipes are easy to double for gifting to neighbors and friends.
Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls
Soft homemade cinnamon rolls are arranged into a pull-apart Christmas tree and spread with cream cheese frosting. Set it out on Christmas morning and let everyone tear off a piece.
Make this recipe:
Christmas Tree Cinnamon RollsPhoto and recipe: I Heart Eating
Cranberry Orange Bread
A moist quick bread packed with tart cranberries and bright orange flavor. The recipe is easy enough to double for gifting to neighbors and friends during the holidays.
10 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Cranberry Orange BreadPhoto and recipe: Glorious Treats
Eggnog Quick Bread
A moist, sweet quick bread made with eggnog, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. It brings the warm, classic flavors of the holiday season into an easy Christmas morning option.
Make this recipe:
Eggnog Quick BreadPhoto and recipe: Dinner, then Dessert
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peppermint Bread
A rich, moist chocolate loaf made with cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and peppermint extract, finished with peppermint icing and crushed candy cane pieces. It is vegan, allergy-free, and makes a great holiday gift.
Make this recipe:
Gluten-Free Chocolate Peppermint BreadPhoto and recipe: Strength and Sunshine
Easy Gingerbread Muffins
Spiced, moist gingerbread muffins with a light sweetness. A lovely holiday-morning treat or an easy bake to bring to a seasonal gathering.
9 reviews / 5.0 averageMake this recipe:
Easy Gingerbread MuffinsPhoto and recipe: Seasons and Suppers
Whatever your holiday tradition looks like, there is something in this list to bring a little sweetness to the season.




































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