Easy Christmas Desserts: 90+ Cute Holiday Treats

Looking for easy Christmas desserts that actually get made (and eaten) during the busiest month of the year? This is our collection of the cute, crowd-pleasing holiday treats we make every December: cookies for the cookie plate, no-bake candy for gifting, foolproof fudge, and festive cupcakes for parties. Most of them use pantry staples, many are kid-friendly, and plenty can be made ahead so you’re not baking on Christmas Eve.

Our Favorite Easy Christmas Desserts

If you only make a few things this season, start here:

Reindeer Chow – the no-bake snack mix everyone asks for (great for gift bags).
Oreo Truffles – three ingredients, plus our truffle-dipping tutorial.
White Chocolate Candy Cane Fudge – creamy, minty, and so pretty on a dessert tray.
Gingerbread Fudge – all the warm spice of gingerbread with zero rolling and cutting.
Amish Sugar Cookies – soft drop sugar cookies; just add sprinkles.
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting – the classic Christmas party cupcake.

Christmas Cookies

A Christmas cookie plate is the easiest way to feed a crowd. These are our go-to holiday cookies, from chewy drop cookies to festive cut-outs. Want even more? Browse all 70+ Swanky Christmas Cookie Recipes.

Cookies & Cream Cookies

Swig Cookies

Cowboy Cookies

No Bake Cookies

Sausalito Cookies

Red Velvet Cookies & Cream Kiss Cookies

Brownie Mix Cookies Recipe

M&M Brownie Cookies

Amish Sugar Cookies AKA The Best Drop Sugar Cookies EVER

M&M Choc-Oat-Cookies & Christmas Quotes

How to Frost Cookies like a Pro using Canned Frosting - RECIPE

Homemade Oreo Cookies

Pressed Sugar Cookies

M&M Shortbread Cookies

Turtle Brownie Cookies

Red Velvet M&M Cookies

Shortcut Sugar Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Reese's Monster Cookies

Cranberry Bliss Cookies

Lofthouse Sugar Cookies Copycat Recipe

Rolo Pretzel M&M Cookies

Favorite Cake Mix Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Grandma's Monster Cookies

Chocolate Truffle Cookies

Candy Cane Brownie Cookies

Whipped Shortbread Cookies

Chocolate Florentine Cookies

Toffee Chunk Brownie Cookies

3-Ingredient Nutella Cookies

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies

Biscoff Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies

Peppermint Bark Pudding Cookies & Cookie Exchange Printables

Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies

3-Ingredient Shortbread Cookies

Cut-Out Chocolate Sugar Cookies Recipe

Red Velvet Macadamia Nut Cookies

Red Velvet Cut Out Sugar Cookies {Recipe Video}

Black Bottom Butterscotch Cookies

M&M Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Ritz Cracker Cookies

Soft Batch Gingerbread M&M Cookies

Pan Banging Chocolate Chip Cookies

Valentine's Day Red Velvet Cookies

World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Quick & Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Cherry Thumbprint Cookies

Chocolate Dipped Toffee Chip Cookies

Mom's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Cookies

Red Velvet Hugs & Kisses Blossom Cookies

White Chocolate Candy Cane Sugar Cookies

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pudding Cookies

Chocolate Crinkle Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

Butterscotch Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies

White Chocolate Snickerdoodle Pudding Cookies

Soft Batch M&M Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies

Homemade Graham Cracker Gingerbread Men Cookies

Nutella Stuffed Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

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No-Bake Christmas Treats

No oven required. These truffles, bars, and snack mixes come together in minutes and set up in the fridge, which makes them perfect for last-minute gifts and kids in the kitchen.

Sugar Cookie Truffles

Peanut Butter Truffles

Oreo Truffles {plus a Truffle Dipping Tutorial}

No Bake Reese's Peanut Butter Bars

Reindeer Chow

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Christmas Fudge

Fudge is the ultimate make-ahead Christmas dessert: it keeps for a week or more, stacks neatly in a tin, and travels well. Pick a classic like Rocky Road or try a holiday flavor like Gingerbread or Candy Cane.

Samoas Fudge

Reese's Fudge

Rocky Road Fudge

Gingerbread Fudge

Tiger Butter Fudge

Vanilla Bean Fudge

Chocolate Bit Fudge Family Recipe

Cookie Monster Fudge

Pralines & Cream Fudge

German Chocolate Fudge

Caramel Potato Chip Fudge

Easy Salted Caramel Fudge

Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Fudge

White Chocolate Candy Cane Fudge

Easy Peanut Butter Reese's Cup Fudge

Dark Chocolate Mint Truffle Oreo Fudge

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Christmas Cupcakes

Cupcakes are easy to transport and easy to decorate. Santa hats, Christmas trees, gingerbread, and red velvet are all right here.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Easy Christmas Cupcakes: Santa Hats and Christmas Trees

Pumpkin Gingerbread Cupcakes

Chocolate Gingerbread Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Tips for Easy Holiday Baking

Make ahead: Fudge, truffles, and most drop-cookie doughs can be made days in advance. Store fudge and truffles airtight in the fridge.
Freeze cookie dough: Scoop dough balls, freeze them on a sheet pan, then bag them. Bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two.
Plan your plate: Mix textures and colors: one chocolate, one fruity or minty, one no-bake, and one cookie with sprinkles.
Gift it: Fudge, bark, and snack mixes hold up best in tins and cellophane bags.

Easy Christmas Dessert FAQs

What are the easiest Christmas desserts to make?

No-bake treats like Reindeer Chow, Oreo truffles, and microwave fudge are the easiest. They need just a few ingredients and no baking.

What Christmas desserts can I make ahead?

Fudge, truffles, and cookie dough are great make-ahead options. Fudge keeps for about a week in an airtight container in the fridge, and cookie dough can be frozen for up to three months.

What are good Christmas desserts for kids to help make?

Snack mixes, decorated cupcakes, and drop sugar cookies with sprinkles are all easy (and fun) for kids to help with.