12 Easy Holiday Treats to Make with Kids 

Sweet treats during the holidays? Yes, please! And, making them with the kids? Why, that’s just the icing on the cake! And talk about great holiday memories!

Baking with the Kids. . .a Family Affair! 

Have you ever wondered why kids are so easily razzle-dazzled by easy baking projects?

They love to get to work in the kitchen with mom, dad, grandma, Auntie, or a good family friend. And easy Christmas treats are just the ticket for a great time together. 

There’s something rather magical to the child about the process of baking. You put strange ingredients into a bowl, mix them up, then pop them in the oven. . .only to have them turn into something else altogether. (See? Magical!) 

This is especially true during the holidays, the most family-oriented time of year. It’s a wonderful thing, to invite the little ones into the kitchen for some good old-fashioned fun—fingers deep in cookie dough and frosting. 

The Magic of Christmas

Think back to your favorite Christmas treat as a child. Does the memory bring back a rush of emotions? No doubt you can remember who baked it, what it smelled like, and the overwhelming feelings you experienced once you took that first bite. 

As a youngster, you experienced Christmas with all of your senses: the twinkling of the lights on the trees, the hum of your grandmother’s voice as she sang “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem” and the delectable scents coming from the kitchen as your favorite sweet treats were baked. 

No doubt you wanted to get in there with the grownups and help! Would they finally let you crack the eggs? Could you convince them that you were ready to decorate the cookies? Would they let you roll out the pie dough this time?

If only you could visit those days once again. 

Oh, But You Can! 

Allow your imagination to go backward in time, to a particular Christmas where you watched an adult loved one at work in the kitchen, whipping up her favorite pie, or maybe some yummy cookies. You were glued to her every move, happy to have the chance to watch her mix up those festive treats!

And, of course, you hoped for a bit of cookie dough or pie crust. Then, if you were lucky, you might get to lick the beaters after she mixed up that homemade chocolate pie filling! (Anyone getting hungry yet?) 

Those same memories you experienced as a child can be passed to the next generation. It’s time to invite the kiddos into the kitchen during the holidays to mix up that cookie dough, scoop out that cake batter, and roll out that pie dough. 

What are you waiting for? Let’s get in the holiday spirit! I’m about to share lots of recipes and tutorials, perfect for Christmas and just right for the little bakers in your world. There are several no bake treats and a few easy-to-bake ones, too!

It’s the holiday season you’ve been waiting for! Grab those candy canes, your favorite cookie sheet, and some empty treat boxes and let’s get going! 

12 Easy Recipes to Enjoy with Kids at Christmas Time!

If you’re looking for kid-friendly Christmas treats, look no further. We’ve got them for you. A dozen easy projects, your little ones are sure to enjoy. If you’re really in the mood, make one a day in the 12 days leading up to Christmas. (Fun idea, right?) 

To get to the recipes, just click the titles or the pictures. Enjoy! (Note: some of these recipes contain peanut butter. You’ll want to substitute if you’ve got peanut allergies in your midst.) 

1. Easy Grinch Cupcakes

If you’re looking for a fun and colorful Christmas cupcake project for the kids, this is it! These simple Grinch cupcakes come together easily and quickly. And best of all, they start with a boxed cake mix! Can’t you just imagine the look of joy on your little one’s face as you put them together? (Hint: Enjoy these with a cup of hot cocoa!) 

2. Snowman Cookies

It’s beginning to look a lot like. . .snowmen! If you’re a fan of Nutter Butter cookies and you’re in the Christmas spirit, we’ve got a great tutorial for you. In this post you’re going to learn how to make Nutter Butter Snowman Cookies using melted chocolate! Talk about easy Christmas cookies! Best of all, it’s a no bake treat! (Hint: If you’ve got peanut allergies in your group you can use wafer cookies. Just check the labels to make sure they’re safe for your little one.) 

3. Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)

This is a simple no-bake sweet treat, perfect for the holidays! A little cereal, a little chocolate, a lot of powdered sugar. . .and you’ve got a tasty treat for your guests! 

4. Easy Christmas Cupcakes (to decorate with kids)

These amazing Christmas cupcakes are bright, colorful, and loaded with Christmas cheer. And, like so many of our other offerings, they start with the boxed mix of your choice. The kids are going to have a blast decorating these, no doubt about it! Talk about a perfect recipe! Grab that piping bag and let’s get going! 

5. Snowball Cookies

These cookies go by different names. Some call them Mexican Wedding Cookies, some call them Snowballs. Some call them Pecan Sandies, others call them Pecan Balls. Some folks call these soft bites of wonderment Italian Wedding Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cakes, or Russian Tea Cookies, others call them southern pecan butterballs. No matter what you call them, they’re delicious and super easy to make. The kids will love rolling them in powdered sugar, too! (Messy, but fun!) Fill your cookie platter with these to delight friends young and old!

6. Christmas Party Ideas: Edible Christmas Trees

This is such a simple idea! Purchase Styrofoam “trees” from your local craft store, cover them in plastic wrap, and let the kids “pin” treats on them, using toothpicks. Whether you choose donut holes, truffles, grapes, cheeses, or other goodies, the possibilities are endless. And talk about a unique way to serve your guests this Christmas season! 

7. Easy Oreo Christmas Ornaments

This is a really simple Oreo tutorial to help you decorate cookies to look like real Christmas ornaments. Mine were a little messy, but that was kind of the point. Let the kids design their own ornaments. What fun they’ll have! (You too!)  

8. Easy Candied Pecans

If you’re a pecan fan but you love a sweet coating on the outside, this simple recipe is going to blow you away. It’s truly one of the simplest and yummiest things I’ve made in ages. . .and that’s saying a lot! Best of all, it’s an easy stovetop recipe. No baking required! The kids can help but you need to be nearby for the “cooking” part. 

9. Best Holiday Sugar Cookies for 2022

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a great sugar cookie recipe!  Holiday sugar cookies are fun to make and a great way to start the most joyful season of the year. Start a tradition and make it a family activity that the kids will always remember! Grab some hot chocolate, settle in by the fire, and enjoy these tasty treats! These hand painted cookies are perfect for cookie exchanges or any special occasion! Talk about a festive recipe—these treats are loaded with color and flavor. They’re my favorite Christmas cut-out cookies. 

10. Chocolate Covered Oreos Using a Mold

For ages I’ve loved chocolate covered treats at Christmas-time. (I’m a real chocolate lover. Maybe you are, too.) This year I decided to go all-out and make one of my favorites, Chocolate Covered Oreos. Trust me when I say the kids flipped. . .in a good way. Talk about a delicious treat! They’ll feel like real pros as they let the molds do the work for them. (You will too!) This is a great project for the whole family!

11. 16 Easy Cookie Exchange Recipes

If you’re looking for a host of different cookie recipes to fill that holiday cookie exchange tray, you’ve come to the right place. These sixteen recipes are simple to make and perfect for a swap! Many of these are kid-friendly recipes, so let them mix up the dough and scoop the balls onto the parchment-lined baking sheet! (Is anything more fun than baking cookies together at Christmas?) 

12. Easy Peppermint Bark

This is such a yummy recipe, perfect for kids and adults. Most people equate peppermint bark with the holidays but it’s yummy year-around! In fact, homemade peppermint bark is such a favorite with my grandkids that I actually found a recipe on the web for peppermint bark fudge, which I made on Christmas Eve. There’s something about peppermint and kids that just goes together! And talk about perfect for a holiday party! You can’t lose with this tutorial. 

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That’s it for this post. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed these easy recipes for fun Christmas treats. To quote Julie Andrews, “These are a few of my favorite things!”

I hope I’ve inspired you to spend time in the kitchen with your little ones this holiday season! 

For more Christmas recipes, see my recent post titled 22 Christmas Dessert Recipes for 2022. Christmas cake, anyone?  

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About the Author

Janice Thompson is an author, baker, and all-around mischief maker! She has overcome a host of baking catastrophes, including a toppled wedding cake, to learn more about the baking process. Janice has published over 150 books for the Christian market but particularly enjoys writing recipes and baking devotions. To learn more about Janice or to drop her a note, visit her About the Author page.