Need Christmas treat ideas that will guarantee you destroy holiday baking this year? Maybe it’s a family bake-off, or maybe you just really want to beat that one person who always “forgets” to mention their treats are store-bought.
Either way, these recipes will crown you the star of the cookie exchange.
Start With These 21 Christmas Treat Ideas
These Christmas treat ideas come straight from our home cook and baker partners, so you know we mean it.
Expect a mix of almost-too-pretty-to-eat and what’s-gone-they’re-already-gone treats. Sweet, salty, and just plain good, there’s a little something for every holiday craving here.
1. Christmas Cornflake Brittle
Crunchy cornflakes and caramel get married in a holiday-compatible explosion.The mixture goes into the oven, emerging as an addictive treat that’s also stunningly beautiful.
With colorful drizzles of chocolate and sprinkles, this goody will not only satisfy cravings, but it will steal the show at your next holiday gathering.
RECIPE: Christmas Cornflake Brittle
2. Peppermint Brownies
What do you get when fudgy brownies and minty freshness have a holiday fling? This.
It’s ridiculously easy (whisk, bake, DONE) and festively cute (sprinkles!). Those rich peppermint-y bites are gonna be the main gossip topic every time you take these to a cookie exchange, you’ve been warned.
RECIPE: Peppermint Brownies
3. Christmas Crunch Popcorn
A madly delicious mix of popcorn, pretzels, and holiday candy melts, this is a crunchy, chocolatey, festive treat that is simply irresistible.
Melting those candy wafers feels like a magic trick. Add sprinkles, let it harden, and you have a colorful snack worthy of any holiday bake-off.
RECIPE: Christmas Crunch Popcorn
4. Christmas Cake Pops
Bite-sized holiday happiness is here! Cake crumbs plus dreamy cream cheese frosting equals balls of joy, drenched in colorful candy melts.
Great for sharing, or keeping entirely to yourself, these are bright and fun and look impressive without breaking a sweat.
RECIPE: Christmas Cake Pops
5. Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
Gingerbread and cheesecake walk into a bar, make holiday magic. Spiced dough blankets a creamy cheesecake middle, bringing a tasty surprise to every bite.
It’s a soft, festive, crowd-pleaser! And if you bake them in advance, you’re ready to win the holiday season, because who has all that time?
RECIPE: Gingerbread Cheesecake Cookies
6. Christmas Tree Appetizers
Towers of star-shaped bread, cheese, and sausage make a festive appetizer that’s cute enough to eat.
These adorbs trees whip up in minutes, using simple ingredients. They’re great for impressing guests and will absolutely be the shining stars of any gathering (pun intended).
RECIPE: Christmas Tree Appetizers
7. Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix
That sweet-salty miracle you can whip up in less than 15 minutes is on its way to save Christmas. All it takes is Chex cereal, melted chocolate, a few festive sprinkles, and a dream.
Oh yeah, and it’s totally delicious and people will be obsessed with it.
RECIPE: Christmas Reindeer Chex Mix
8. Whipped Shortbread Cookies
Buttery bliss cookies just scored an invite to the holiday party. Powered by butter and powdered sugar, the melt-in-your-mouth moment is boosted by festive nonpareils on top.
Each cookie clocks in at 127 calories, so there’s room for JUST one more. Bonus: swap flavors like vanilla for almond in the mix (and you got yourself a life hack).
RECIPE: Whipped Shortbread Cookies
9. White Chocolate Cranberry Rice Krispie Treats
These cute mini-tree-shaped treats? Stars of the show.
They’re Rice Krispies and marshmallows drizzled with white chocolate and festooned with dried cranberries, and they are stupid easy to make, making them a super fun family project and a welcome (easy!) addition to any cookie exchange.
RECIPE: White Chocolate Cranberry Rice Krispie Treats
10. White Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Crack
Melting white chocolate and tossing in candy canes and M&Ms? Holiday. Magic. This is so easy, even a noob like me can do it.
Each bite is sweet and crunchy and guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday party. AND, she’s festive enough to be the star of the show.
RECIPE: White Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Crack
11. Candy Christmas Trees
These teeny chocolate tree treats are your new holiday necessity.
Rolos are the base, mini Reese’s build the branches, and the resulting sugar bomb is so fabulous it’s screaming holiday cheer at us. It’s a speedy construction project perfect for kiddos and adults alike. What’s not to love?
RECIPE: Candy Christmas Trees
12. Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispies Treats got their holiday glam on. They’re chubby, chewy, packed with M&Ms, and will totally steal the cookie exchange spotlight.
Fast to make, easy to adjust for allergies, these festive treats are joy plus nostalgia in every bite. Perfect for sharing or shoving in your face secretly.
RECIPE: Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
13. Christmas Granola
Cranberries and white chocolate mingle in this holiday granola, bringing a big sweet and tart crunch to your Christmas snackage.
It’s snack-worthy, breakfast-able, and dessert-toppable. It’s also gluten-free and easily tucked into mason jars for gifty vibes. This recipe will make you popular with your friends.
RECIPE: Christmas Granola
14. Slow Cooker Sea Salt Chocolate Almond Clusters
What do you get when you dunk almonds in chocolate and add sea salt? The most delicious clusters of chocolatey goodness ever.
With 224 calories per cluster and zero pretension, these sweet and salty snacks will be the first to disappear off your holiday cookie tray.
RECIPE: Slow Cooker Sea Salt Chocolate Almond Clusters
15. Christmas White Chocolate Chex Mix
Snack nirvana has been achieved, people. Chex, pretzels, and marshmallows meet their match in creamy white chocolate. Ingredient swaps welcome.
Kid-friendly, adult-approved, made in minutes. This is the go-to treat for festive gatherings, the ultimate snack attack, or just anytime you need a little sweet in your salty.
RECIPE: Christmas White Chocolate Chex Mix
16. Saltine Cracker Toffee Christmas Crack
Saltines, butter, sugar = the holy trinity of snack magic. Bake those bad boys up, blast them with chocolate and festive candy, and you’ve got this masterpiece that’s perfect for any party.
As a bonus, this treat is freezer-friendly, and everyone will be begging for the recipe.
RECIPE: Saltine Cracker Toffee Christmas Crack
17. Cinnamon Almonds
Mandatory Christmas snack alert! CINNAMON ALMONDS!!
Easy, sweet, crunchy, thanks to maple syrup and a touch of spice. Plus, healthy fats and protein, so you can feel good about yourself. Who’s not gonna want to shovel these into their mouths?
RECIPE: Cinnamon Almonds
18. Chocolate Orange Slices
These chocolate-dipped candied orange slices are an absolute showstopper.
The sweet orange is a perfect match for the rich chocolate, and the result is a deliciously stunning treat.
You only need a few ingredients to make these babies, and they will light up any dessert spread effortlessly.
RECIPE: Chocolate Orange Slices
19. Grinch Popcorn Mix
Popcorn just got dressed up for the holidays, y’all, thanks to festive marshmallows and candy.
Brace yourself for a party of crunch, salt, and sweet in your mouth. Kids can help make this super-easy treat, ensuring grins all around during holiday movie marathons. Make memories in every munch!
RECIPE: Grinch Popcorn Mix
20. White Chocolate Christmas Bark
White chocolate and peppermint came to the party and brought bark.
Creamy base, crunchy top, gluten-free for the whole gang to enjoy. Lickety-split recipe with microwave melting because who has time? Open up a gift shop or hoard it like the candy fiend you are.
RECIPE: White Chocolate Christmas Bark
Winning Christmas Treat Ideas & More
These Christmas treats are guaranteed to dazzle, delight, and elicit all the compliments. No one’s walking out of that cookie exchange without asking for your recipe. Yours will be the talk of the table, guaranteed.
Ready for more wins? Check out our other dessert ideas to keep the victory coming.
