Our 20 Best No-Bake Holiday Cookies and Bars
Between the cookie swaps, church potlucks, and holiday parties we have on the calendar this season, it's hard to keep up with all those cookies popping in and out of our hardworking oven. When we get a little burnt out on baking our favorite Christmas cookies—or when our cookies get a little burnt once too often—it's time to break out the Christmas miracle that is the no-bake holiday treat. These delicious bites mean no hounding over the oven to make sure the cookies don't bake a minute too long, no facing the crumbling disaster of moving them from the sheet pan to the cookie tins a tad too soon, and absolutely no more cookie-baking anxiety. These Christmas cookie and bar recipes will make you the hit of any party without even touching that oven. From decadent bars to chewy cookies, these no-bake Christmas desserts will keep you feeling sane and your guests asking for more.
No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
Recipe: No-Bake Dark Chocolate-Peppermint Sandwich Cookies
Thanks to store-bought chocolate wafers, these cookies look fancy enough to fool any party guest.
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No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate-Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Christmas cookies just got a whole lot easier with these rich, soft, and chewy balls speckled with peanuts.
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No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints
Recipe: No-Bake Almond Butter Thumbprints
Creamy almond butter, crushed pretzels, powdered sugar, and—of course—butter make up these perfectly sweet-and-salty thumbprint treats that we love to top with a dollop of strawberry jam. These cookies look festive and bright on any holiday dessert table.
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No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars
Recipe: No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars
These gooey bars will be your new favorite holiday dessert, thanks to their perfect combination of chocolate, caramel, graham crackers, and toffee. You won't have to worry about overcooking or burning cookies, and they will be the hit of any party.
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Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies
These Cream Cheese Christmas Cookies are perfect for the holiday season.
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Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls
Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls
These decadent little delights are a cross between bourbon balls and chocolate truffles; and, with only four ingredients, they make the easiest throw-together treat for any holiday occasion. Dark chocolate and pecans jazz up the classic bourbon ball taste.
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Wreath Cookies
Recipe: Wreath Cookies
Make these whimsical wreath cookies by transforming shredded wheat cereal, such as Frosted Mini Wheats, with a little help from microwaved vanilla candy coating and green food coloring. Get your little ones to top with fun holiday candies for a homemade treat!
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Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark
Recipe: Milk Chocolate-Peppermint Bark
We're all for any holiday treat that requires only two minutes of microwave time to get the recipe going. You simply stir in the delicious mint-chocolate cookies and top with crushed peppermints, letting the festive bark cool and harden before breaking.
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Chewy Peanut Bars
Recipe: Chewy Peanut Bars
A quick dig into our old microwave column recipes left us pleasantly surprised with these chocolate-peanut blondies. Chopped salted peanuts give the perfect finishing touch to the sweet, chocolate-and-brown-sugar packed bars.
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Fruitcake Bark
Recipe: Fruitcake Bark
Layered with candied fruit, nuts, and white chocolate, this over-the-top Christmas candy will blow those everday chocolate bark recipes out of the water.
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Peppermint Divinity
Recipe: Peppermint Divinity
This classic Southern candy is made with granulated sugar, corn syrup, and stiffly beaten eggs whites; but this yummy version adds a peppermint punch to give something special. The texture of this divinity is without rival: fluffy, crunchy, and completely divine.
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Classic Bourbon Balls
Recipe: Bourbon Balls
These no-bake bourbon balls make a batch big enough for all of your gifting and party needs. They pack a nice little punch, too! We love them rolled in powdered sugar for a sweet finishing touch.
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Spicy Peanut Brittle
Recipe: Spicy Peanut Brittle
Cayenne and cinnamon team up to coat dry roasted peanuts before incorporating them into a classic peanut brittle recipe that'll be your favorite holiday snack to set out for guests this year. The subtle spicy kick makes this brittle stand out from the rest.
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Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars
Recipe: Whole Grain Marshmallow Crispy Bars
Dried cranberries bring some holiday cheer to your classic, crowd-pleasing Rice Krispie treats. This recipe is the perfect crunchy, chewy, and portable treat to bring to any Christmas event this season.
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No-Bake Peanut Butter-Fudge Ice-Cream Pie
Just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you can't celebrate the season with ice-cream pie, and this no-bake peanut butter pie is next-level good.
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No-Bake Salted Dark Chocolate Cookie Bars
Recipe: No-Bake Salted Dark Chocolate Cookie Bars
Only a few ingredients—and even less steps—will give you these chocolate-packed bars that are made even more sophisticated with flaky sea salt sprinkled on top. Chocolate wafers, chocolate spread, and bittersweet chocolate chips make these the most decadent chocolate bars on the list.
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No-Bake Cookies and Cream Bars
Recipe: No-Bake Cookies and Cream Bars
These bars are kid-friendly and portable, making them great for class parties and church dinners alike. We always recommend lining the baking pan and spraying it with cooking spray to make sure the bars don't stick and to eliminate fussy cleanup!
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No-Bake Chocolate-Peppermint Cookies
Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
These decadent no-bake cookies are lined in crushed peppermints for a chocolate-peppermint duo that can't be beat. Chocolate wafer cookies are made creamy and soft with rich mascarpone and cream cheeses, then wrapped and chilled in a 10-inch log before slicing!
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No-Bake Chocolate Mint Snowballs
Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Mint Snowballs
These sweet chocolate truffles get a holiday touch from the surprise mint chocolate candy center. Simple, quick, and easy to pack into your holiday cookie tins—this recipe is a seasonal staple.
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No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Recipe: No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
These deliciously quick cookies are a no-brainer when you get a last minute bake sale or potluck alert. This recipe comes together quickly with oats, flaked coconut, and peanut butter.