This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Easy Christmas desserts are where I start every December, and I plan every tray, tin and party plate from this list. Creamy peppermint, sweet white chocolate, salty peanut butter and rich fudge, all covered in red and green sprinkles. Pick three, set them out, and see which plate goes first.
I put this list together as the catch-all for my holiday baking, because December asks for every kind of dessert at once. There’s a cookie swap, a classroom party, a neighbor gift and a family dinner, sometimes all in the same week, and every one of them is covered here.
I grouped all my recipes by type. The cute themed treats are at the top, and anything with alcohol has its own section at the end so it never lands on the kids’ plate.
Family Favorite
Why My Family Calls My Kitchen Willy Wonka’s Factory
Every December I line my kitchen counter with the themed treats: Christmas coal fudge, Grinch cookies, Grinch hot chocolate, reindeer pretzels and pretzel hugs. My family loves walking in and finding them all lined up, and they say it’s like living in Willy Wonka’s factory. That’s exactly the reaction I’m going for every December.
Cute Christmas Treats
Grinch, reindeer, Santa and snowman treats all live here, plus a pan of coal fudge for anyone on the naughty list.
1
Reindeer Pretzels
Four ingredients and about 15 minutes get you 20 little reindeer, each one a Rolo melted onto a pretzel with a red candy nose, candy eyes and pretzel antlers. They’re tiny and easy to tuck onto any cookie tray.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
2
Christmas Coal Fudge
White chocolate fudge tinted jet black so it looks like a lump of coal from Santa, and it’s one of my family’s favorites. Don’t skimp on the black food coloring, or the fudge comes out gray.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
3
Slow Cooker Grinch Hot Chocolate
My slow cooker Grinch hot chocolate is creamy white hot chocolate with a little peppermint, tinted green and piled with whipped cream, marshmallows and a candy heart. It makes 8 cups, so it’s made for a crowd.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
4
Grinch Pretzel Rods
Pretzel rods wrapped in a soft caramel, dipped in green white chocolate and finished with green sugar and a red heart. They keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, so they’re easy to make ahead for gift bags.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
5
Strawberry Santas
Fresh strawberries filled with sweetened cream cheese and dotted with icing so each one turns into a little Santa. Make these a day ahead at most, since fresh strawberries only hold up for a few days.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
6
Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Classic Rice Krispie treats shaped into reindeer faces with chocolate covered pretzel antlers, candy eyes and one red M&M nose for Rudolph. The recipe makes 8 big reindeer, and they freeze for up to 3 months.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
7
Meringue Christmas Trees
Crisp vanilla meringue tinted green, piped into little trees and finished with round and star sprinkles. They keep at room temperature for up to 5 days, but don’t freeze them, because freezing adds moisture and ruins the crisp texture.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
8
Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees
Sugar cones frosted green and covered in sprinkles and candy, set on a sugar cookie base. Every tree has a stash of candy hidden inside when you lift it off the cookie.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
9
Melted Snowman Oreo Balls
Creamy Oreo balls dipped in white chocolate and topped with a Rolo and a mini Oreo, so each one looks like a snowman melting into a puddle. They keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
10
Melted Snowman Chocolate Bark
White chocolate bark covered in melted snowmen made from mini Reese’s cups, candy eyes, orange sprinkle noses and pretzel arms. It takes about 10 minutes, and it’s a fun one to make together.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
11
Christmas Marshmallow Pops
Big marshmallows stacked on a candy cane, dipped in chocolate and rolled in crushed candy canes and sprinkles. They keep at room temperature for up to a week, which makes them easy to have ready for a party.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
12
Hot Chocolate on a Stick
Rich chocolate squares set on a stick with mini marshmallows, ready to stir into a mug of hot milk. They keep in the fridge for up to a month, so a batch covers the whole season.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
13
Reindeer Pretzel Rods
Pretzel rods dipped in chocolate with mini pretzel antlers, candy eyes and a red candy nose. One package of rods makes about 22, and they keep in an airtight container at room temperature.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
Christmas Candy and Fudge
Almost all of this candy and fudge keeps for a week or more, which is why I fill my holiday tins with it. If you want even more, my no bake fudge recipes have every fudge I make.
14
Christmas Crock Pot Candy Recipe
My crockpot candy is peanuts, white and dark chocolate, peanut butter and toffee bits melted together in the slow cooker and scooped into clusters. It’s one of my family’s favorites and the big batch I make for gifting.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
15
Homemade Peppermint Patties
Homemade peppermint patties with a cool, creamy mint center and a chocolate shell, made with 5 ingredients. They keep for two weeks at room temperature, so they’re easy to get done early.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
16
Butter Mints
The soft butter mints you find in a party candy dish, made with butter, cream, powdered sugar and peppermint. Tint them any color you want for your table.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
17
Christmas Mints
Red and green cream cheese mints, and one batch makes about 100. They freeze for up to 3 months, so they’re one of the first things you can check off the list.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
18
Chocolate Christmas Candy
Semi-sweet and white chocolate melts turned into bite-size candies and covered in nonpareils and crushed candy canes. It takes about 20 minutes and keeps for two weeks on the counter.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
19
Cream Cheese Mints
Soft cream cheese mints in bright pink, green and blue, made with 5 ingredients. They’re the classic party mint, and they keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
20
Christmas Fudge
White chocolate fudge swirled with red and green, and it’s the fudge I give away the most every December. Use gel food coloring, never liquid, so the fudge sets.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
21
Rocky Road Fudge
Rich chocolate fudge packed with mini marshmallows and salted peanuts. It’s made to sit, so it’s a good candy to make a day or two before you need it.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
22
Grinch Fudge
Bright green white chocolate fudge with a big red heart on every square. It keeps on the counter or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
23
Christmas Sugar Cookie Fudge
Four ingredients: white chocolate chips, a can of vanilla frosting, sugar cookie mix and Christmas sprinkles. It tastes like a frosted sugar cookie in fudge form.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
Snack Mix, Bark and Pretzel Treats
When I need to feed a crowd or fill a stack of gift bags fast, I make a big batch of one of these.
24
Pretzel Hugs
Three ingredients, a square pretzel, a Hershey’s Hug and a red or green M&M pressed on top, and it’s one of my family’s favorites. One batch makes 84, and you can make them several days before a party.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
25
Christmas Puppy Chow
Chex coated in chocolate, peanut butter and powdered sugar, then tossed with red and green M&M’s, pretzels, marshmallows and mini Reese’s. Make it close to the party, since it keeps about 4 days and doesn’t freeze.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
26
Butter Toffee Pretzels
Mini pretzels baked in a brown sugar butter toffee coating with Heath toffee bits. They’re sweet, salty and crunchy, and they keep for a week in a zip-top bag.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
27
Peppermint Bark Puppy Chow
Only three ingredients: Rice Chex, melted white chocolate and chopped candy canes. You can make it up to three days ahead, and it freezes for up to three months.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
28
Christmas Chex Mix
Rice and Wheat Chex, Bugles and pretzels coated in white chocolate with M&M’s and crushed peppermints. It’s sweet and salty, and it’s ready in about 15 minutes.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
29
Christmas Muddy Buddies
Chex, salted peanuts and yogurt covered pretzels coated in white chocolate and powdered sugar, then tossed with red and green M&M’s. It’s a 12-minute snack mix for a party bowl.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
30
Christmas Crunch
Popcorn, pretzels and M&M’s coated in a marshmallow and white chocolate mixture and finished with red and green sprinkles. It’s ready in about 10 minutes and looks cute in a cellophane bag.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
31
Oreo Peppermint Bark
White chocolate bark with crushed Oreos and candy canes, and only 3 ingredients. I use white chocolate baking bars, not chips, so the bark melts smooth and doesn’t separate.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
Christmas Truffles and Cake Balls
I roll truffles and cake balls when I want something bite-size that still looks like I spent real time on it.
32
Little Debbie Cake Balls
Little Debbie Christmas tree cakes mashed with cream cheese, dipped in white chocolate and drizzled in red. They’re one of my family’s favorites, and one batch makes 35.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
33
Chocolate Covered Cherry Brownie Bombs
A maraschino cherry wrapped in fudgy brownie and frosting, then dipped in chocolate. They freeze for up to 3 months, so you can get a batch done early.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
34
Grinch Christmas Truffles
Oreo truffles dipped in green candy coating with a red heart on top. Only 5 ingredients, and they keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
35
Christmas Jello Balls
Four ingredients, lime and strawberry Jello, coconut and Greek yogurt, rolled into red and green balls. They’re no-bake and keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
36
Christmas Truffles
Peanut butter truffles dipped in white chocolate and topped with Christmas sprinkles. Add the sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet so they stick.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
37
Gingerbread Truffles
Gingersnap cookies and cream cheese rolled into truffles and dipped in white almond bark. You can freeze them before coating for up to 2 months.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
38
Snickerdoodle Truffles
Golden Oreos, cream cheese and cinnamon rolled into truffles and dipped in white chocolate, so they taste like a snickerdoodle cookie.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
39
Eggnog Cake Bites
Butter pecan cake mix baked with eggnog, mixed with cream cheese and dipped in white candy melts. A little nutmeg on top finishes them.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
Christmas Cookies
I kept the cookies short here, since my full list of Christmas cookie recipes has every cookie I make for the season. These six get the most love on my site.
40
Grinch Cake Mix Cookies
Green crinkle cookies made from a box of vanilla cake mix, with a red heart pressed into the middle. They’re one of my family’s favorites, and they take about 45 minutes start to finish.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
41
Gingerbread Kiss Cookies
Soft gingerbread cookies with molasses and warm spices and a Hershey’s Hug pressed into the center. Chill the dough so they bake up thick instead of spreading.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
42
Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
White cake mix, two eggs and a splash of clear soda, loaded with red and green M&M’s and white chocolate chips. They’re ready in about 25 minutes.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
43
Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
Peppermint sugar cookies rolled in crushed candy canes with a Candy Cane Kiss in the middle. They keep for 5 to 7 days, and I think they taste best cold.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
44
Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
Sugar cookie cups filled with pudding and topped with marshmallow bits and a mini candy cane handle, so they look like little mugs of hot chocolate. Fill them right before serving.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
45
M&M Christmas Cookies
Big, soft chocolate chip cookies loaded with red and green M&M’s. Freeze the dough balls and bake a few at a time whenever you want warm cookies.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
Christmas Pies, Cakes and Layered Desserts
When I’m bringing dessert to Christmas dinner, I want something I can slice or scoop for a crowd, and these are what I pick from.
46
Candy Cane Pie (aka Peppermint Pie)
My no-bake candy cane pie is a pink peppermint cream cheese filling in an Oreo crust, topped with Cool Whip and crushed candy. It takes 15 minutes to put together, and it’s a family favorite.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
47
Cherries in the Snow
Angel food cake folded into a fluffy cream cheese filling and topped with cherry pie filling. You can make it up to 24 hours ahead, and it serves 12.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
48
Gingerbread Layer Cake
Layers of soft, spiced gingerbread cake with frosting. You can bake the layers a day or two ahead and frost them the day you serve.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
49
Christmas Red Velvet Poke Cake
Red velvet cake poked full of holes and filled with cheesecake pudding, then topped with green whipped topping, mini marshmallows and red and green M&M’s. Use a wooden spoon handle so the holes are big enough for the pudding.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
50
Grinch Cake
A red velvet and green pistachio pudding cake finished with white icing. It stays fresh at room temperature for up to 4 days.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
51
Christmas Jello Pie
Red and green Jello folded into whipped cream and layered over a graham cracker crust. Keep it in the fridge, since the gelatin doesn’t freeze well.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
52
Broken Glass Jello
Cubes of red and green Jello set in a creamy sweetened condensed milk gelatin, so every slice looks like stained glass. Let the milk mixture cool completely, or the colors run and turn brown.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
53
Christmas Lasagna
A layered dessert with a red vanilla wafer crust, a cream cheese layer, peppermint cheesecake pudding and whipped topping. It freezes for up to 3 months, so you can make it well before Christmas.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
54
Mint Chocolate Lasagna
A mint Oreo crust under layers of mint cream cheese filling and whipped topping, chilled into neat squares. It serves 9 and freezes for up to 2 months.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
Christmas Desserts for the Grown-Ups
Every one of these has alcohol in it, so these are for the adults’ party, not the classroom party.
55
Christmas Cherry Bombs
Maraschino cherries soaked in peppermint schnapps, dipped in white chocolate and rolled in crushed peppermint. Pat every cherry completely dry before dipping so the chocolate sticks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
56
Rum Ball Recipe (Easy)
No-bake rum balls made with vanilla wafers, walnuts, cocoa and dark rum. Make them a couple of days ahead, since they keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
57
Kahlua Balls
Shortbread cookies, cream cheese and Kahlua rolled into cheesecake balls and dipped in milk chocolate. They keep in the fridge for up to a week.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
58
Skrewball Whiskey Balls
Peanut butter whiskey cheesecake balls made with shortbread cookies and cream cheese, dipped in milk chocolate and finished with melted Reese’s peanut butter chips.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
59
Fireball Whiskey Balls
Vanilla cake mixed with cream cheese, cinnamon and Fireball, then dipped in white candy coating with a pinch of cinnamon on top. Freeze them before coating if you want to work ahead.
SEE FULL RECIPE HERE!
How to Store Christmas Desserts
Every recipe card has its own storage notes, and these are the general rules I go by.
- Fudge and candy: Keep it in an airtight container. Most of the fudge keeps 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge, the mints keep about 2 weeks, and the peppermint patties keep 2 weeks at room temperature. Most of them freeze for at least 2 months.
- Truffles and cake balls: Keep them covered in the fridge for 5 days to 2 weeks, depending on the recipe. Most freeze for at least 2 months, and the gingerbread truffles and Fireball whiskey balls freeze best before they’re coated.
- Snack mix, bark and pretzels: Store them at room temperature in an airtight container for about a week. The puppy chow and reindeer chow keep about 3 to 4 days, and Christmas Puppy Chow doesn’t freeze.
- Pies, cakes and layered desserts: Keep them covered in the fridge for 2 to 5 days. The Grinch Cake is the exception, because the fridge dries it out, so it stays wrapped at room temperature for up to 4 days. The Christmas Jello Pie doesn’t freeze, because the gelatin changes texture once it thaws.
- Cookies: Keep them in an airtight container on the counter for 3 to 5 days. Most freeze for 2 to 3 months.
- Grown-up treats: Keep them in the fridge. The whiskey and Kahlua balls keep about a week, and the rum balls keep up to 2 weeks.
More Christmas Recipes for the Holiday Table
For the rest of the table, pour my Christmas punch and set out my Christmas salad. The grown-ups get a Grinch cocktail, and my easy homemade holiday gifts have more ideas for teachers and neighbors. For a no-bake dessert you scoop instead of slice, my Cherries In The Snow puts bright red cherries over a fluffy cream cheese and angel food cake filling.
I got to sum of it this year