65 Christmas Treats for the Holidays

By Mary Shannon Wells
Alison Miksch

The holidays are filled with sweet memories, gatherings, gifts, and of course, sweet Christmas treats. There are countless occasions when you’ll need to prepare something sweet for the holidays, and we’ve got you covered for all of them. Make these easy treats for kids to decorate on a cold Sunday afternoon. Prepare a batch of sweets as gifts for neighbors, teachers, and holiday guests. Need hostess gifts or homemade party favors? Look no further than our favorite recipes. With delicious ideas for chocolate lovers, lemon fanatics, salty-sweet cravers, and everyone in between, our Christmas confection ideas are the best. If you’re looking for a simple dessert that the kids can help out with, we’ve got plenty of crafty ideas that your little elves will love. From cookies to bars and trifles to truffles, these are the best Christmas treat recipes to make your holiday the sweetest yet. 

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Cornbread Pudding with Whiskey Caramel

You do the baking but let them spoon on that delicious Whiskey Caramel—how much or how little will be entirely at their discretion.

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Snowy Tree Cookies

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Snowy Tree Cookies

Use a set of star-shape cookie cutters (like this affordable one from Amazon) to make these stacked up cookies.

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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

This recipe makes about two dozen bourbon balls, so you’ll have plenty to set out at your party and send home with guests as a favor.

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Red Velvet Fudge

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Red Velvet Fudge

Add a little holiday cheer to your usual fudge recipe.

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Basic Butter Cookie Dough

Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Basic Butter Cookie Dough
Recipe: Easy Santa Cookies
Video: Easy Santa Cookies
Recipe: Pinwheel Cookies
Recipe: Cherry Chocolates
Recipe: Almond Brickle Treats

Ellender Mills of Raleigh, North Carolina, sent in this recipe, which ran in December, 1995. It’s a wonderful classic cookie dough recipe and the basis for the above recipes (pictured).

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Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Recipe: Mexican Hot Chocolate Mug Cake

This adorable mug cake would make a perfect stocking stuffer or holiday hostess gift.

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Red Velvet Santa Hat Meringues

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Red Velvet Santa Hat Meringues

Red food coloring gel, not liquid food coloring, will give you the brightest red to match Santa’s suit.

 

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Almond Stars

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Almond Stars

These cookies made with almond flour and almond paste are unique among the same ole sugar cookies.

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Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Dreamsicle Trifle

This trifle might look impressive on the dessert table, but it’s extremely easy to put together.

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Potato Candy

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Potato Candy

Get nostalgic this Christmas with one of our favorite vintage recipes.

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Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

Christmas treats aren’t just for dessert. Start the day on a sweet note with homemade cinnamon rolls.

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Reindeer Marshmallow Pops

Southern Living

Recipe: Reindeer Marshmallow Pops

These adorable treats are the perfect afternoon activity for your little ones.

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Hummingbird Oatmeal Cookies

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Hummingbird Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are a more portable way to enjoy our most popular recipe of all tlime—the Hummingbird Cake.

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Red Velvet Thumbprints

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Red Velvet Thumbprints

Santa will love these little cookies that match his suit perfectly.

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Christmas Bulb Sugar Cookies

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Christmas Bulb Sugar Cookies

String several of these cookies together for the cutest party favor.

 

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Pecan Bourbon Balls

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pecan Bourbon Balls

Spiced toasted pecans add a hint of saltiness to these sweet bites.

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Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Caramel-Stuffed Ginger Cookies

Serve these cookies straight from the oven so the ooey-gooey caramel centers shine.

 

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Chewy Ambrosia Biscotti

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chewy Ambrosia Biscotti

Enjoy a little holiday flavor with your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

 

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Chocolate Cutout Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chocolate Cutout Cookies

These dark chocolate cookies will stand out amongst their vanilla counterparts.

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White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: White Chocolate-Peppermint Blondies

The creamy mint icing on these Christmas-y blondies is to die for.

 

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Spiced Molasses Drops

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spiced Molasses Drops

Our Test Kitchen Professionals said these are the best molasses cookies they’ve ever had, and you should take their word for it.

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Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry Shortbread Bars

Try this new way to eat cranberries this holiday season.

 

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Red Velvet Souffles with Whipped Sour Cream

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Red Velvet Soufflés with Whipped Sour Cream

These elegant souflés are ideal for a dressy Christmas dinner party.

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Peppermint Pinwheels

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Peppermint Pinwheels

These cookies are just minty enough, but not too minty, if you’ve had peppermint overload this season.

 

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Eggnog Whoopie Pies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Eggnog Whoopie Pies

Make the filling for these fluffy pies up to three days in advance to save time.

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Mrs. Floyd’s Divinity

Southern Living

Recipe: Mrs. Floyd’s Divinity
Video: Mrs. Floyd’s Divinity

This classic holiday dessert lives up to its divine name.

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Varied Thumbprint and Triple Mint Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Raspberry Jam Thumbprints
Recip: Chocolate Ganache Thumbprints with Crushed Peppermints
Recipe: Coconut Thumbprints with Dulce de Leche
Recipe: Triple Mint Cookies

These thumbprint recipes offer crisp cookies, creamy fillings, and fun toppings. Our brownie-like Triple Mint Cookies fall in line perfectly with the thumbprints. All recipes listed above are pictured.

 

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No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: No-Bake Fudge Toffee Bars

If you’re in a pinch this holiday season, no-bake is the way to go.

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Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Peanut Butter-and-Jelly Linzer Cookies

These whimsical cookies are packed with PB&J nostalgia.

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Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chocolate-Dipped Praline Pretzels

These treats have the ideal amount of salty and sweet.

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Walnut Crescents

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Walnut Crescents

Leave a bowl of these snowy cookies out whenever guests drop in.

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Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Crunchy Pecan Pie Bites

With just seven ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time, you can serve these delightful bits of pecan pie.

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Dark Chocolate Sablés

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Dark Chocolate Sablés

These French butter cookies are elegant for dinner parties.

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Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People

Traditional gingerbread cookies get kicked up with warm spices and orange and lemon zests.

 

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Orange Palmiers

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Orange Palmiers

Enjoy these four-ingredient cookies from brunch to dessert.

 

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Pecan Tea Cakes

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Pecan Tea Cakes

If you’re a fan of pecan Sandies, you’ll love these pretty tea cakes.

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Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies
Video: Red Velvet Crackle Sandwich Cookies

Why eat cookies alone when you could sandwich cream cheese frosting between two of them?

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Chocolate-Bourbon-Fudge Balls

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chocolate-Bourbon-Fudge Balls

You’ll love this rich twist on a classic bourbon ball.

 

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Soft Sugar Cookie Trees

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Soft Sugar Cookie Trees

The dough for these cookies can be made up to two days in advance, so plan a decorating party ahead.

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Cracker Toffee

Abbi Wilt

Recipe: Cracker Toffee

This five-ingredient toffee recipe starts with a sleeve of Saltines.

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Molasses Crinkles

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Molasses Crinkles

These cookies were sent in by Ms. Alice Rhodes from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and published in our November 1992 issue. They’re bursting with every flavor you love about the holidays.

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Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Cranberry Pull-Apart Bread with Orange-Cream Cheese Icing

Give this gorgeous bread as a homemade gift to neighbors, but make one to enjoy at your own Christmas brunch, too.

 

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Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling Torie Cox

Recipe: Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

No artificial coloring here! These sweet treats get their red hue from beets.

 

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Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Brown Butter-Maple-Pecan Blondies

Only high-quality, 100 percent pure maple syrup will do for this amazing blondie recipe that you might trade for brownies from now on.

 

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Cake Ball Ornaments

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cake Ball Ornaments

Although we used these ornaments to top the Snowy Vanilla Cake from our December 2017 cover, they can be enjoyed on their own and make a beautiful addition to any dessert spread.

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Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Sparkling Snowflake Sugar Cookies

Serve these bright cookies, made with a touch of brandy, at an adults-only cocktail party.

 

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Snow Flurries