Jingle all the way to easy, festive treats with this can't-miss list of Christmas desserts requiring zero time in the oven. These mouthwatering no-bake holiday desserts are sure to be a hit without heating up your kitchen!
Don't get me wrong - I love to bake, especially during the holidays! But I also love no-bake desserts since they are quick and easy to make. Anything that saves time during the busy holiday season is a no-brainer for me!
These no-bake desserts are perfect for parties or pot-luck dinners since they are merry and delightful. They travel well and are also kid-friendly. Letting kids help make no-bake treats is a fun way of getting them involved in the kitchen and spending quality time together.
You'll be surprised at the variety of desserts you can make without the oven. Check out these easy recipes to find a new family favorite for your dessert table or a fun idea for a last-minute sweet treat for holiday parties, for cookie swaps, or just to leave out for Santa Claus!
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Cookies
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Arrange cookies on a decorative platter, cake stand, or
tiered server.
🎄 Garnish your display with festive decor like evergreen branches, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, or poinsettias to complement the cookies.
1. Oreo Penguins
These whimsical Oreo Penguin Cookies require minimal ingredients and are inexpensive, so the only thing you have to worry about is having a good time and enjoying them! Combine tasty Oreo cookies with melted chocolate, peppermint candies, and Twizzlers to make adorable edible earmuffs for a treat that is (almost) too precious to eat!
2. Chocolate Peppermint No-Bake Cookies
These Chocolate Peppermint No-Bake Cookies are chocolaty with the perfect texture thanks to the Quaker Quick Oats, and they have just a hint of mint. The crushed candy canes give these cookies a little extra peppermint kick and make them holiday pretty.
3. Nutter Butter Snowmen
If you love Nutter Butters, you'll love these adorable snowmen. After dipping them in white chocolate, the fun begins. A few simple additions and you will have a festive holiday treat that will look irresistible on your cookie platter.
4. Reindeer Oreo Cookie Balls
Oreo Balls only require three ingredients and are very simple no-bake treats that anyone can make! Use candies and pretzels to make them into reindeer for a cute and festive addition to your cookie tray. They're perfect to make for a Christmas party or to package up and take to your neighbors as a holiday gift.
5. Rosette Cookies
Made with just a handful of ingredients, Rosette Cookies are an old world recipe with a Scandinavian origin. They're traditionally made during the Christmas season and look like snowflakes. Dust them with powdered sugar for the perfect finish.
6. Christmas Wreath Cookies
These darling Christmas Wreath Cookies will be a big hit at your holiday gatherings. The sweetness of marshmallow with the crunchy corn flakes combine to create a perfectly sweet bite that can be adorably decorated with seasonal red accoutrements.
7. Grinch Golden Oreo Christmas Balls
Get in the holiday spirit with these adorable Grinch-themed treats, featuring a vibrant green hue and tiny red hearts. They are easy to make and delicious! You'll find they are a perfect addition to your holiday party or dessert table.
8. Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies
These cookies are on the healthier side since they are sweetened by dates! They are coated in crushed candy canes and the center has a deliciously sweet marshmallow surprise. It is a wonderful cookie to try if you or your guests want to enjoy seasonal treats and stay focused on healthy eating.
9. Chocolate Covered Oreo Gingerbread Man
This unique recipe uses the irresistible taste of Oreo cookies covered in chocolate to create the classic look of a Gingerbread Man. Creating these cute cookies is a fun project to do during the holiday season. They also make great gifts and are sure to bring a smile to everyone's face.
10. Santa Wafer Cookies
In this recipe, vanilla wafers are dipped in white candy melts to create the cookie. Then red crystals and a mini marshmallow are used to create Santa's hat. The eyes and nose are made with mini chocolate chips and M&Ms, resulting in a jovial Santa that is almost too cute to eat!
Pies
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Slice pies and arrange on a decorative platter for a buffet or dessert table.
🎄 Serve pies with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream and shaved chocolate or cinnamon on top.
🎄 Offer a pie flight - give guests a sampler plate with a miniature wedge of 2-3 different pie flavors.
11. Apple Pie
You don't need to turn on the oven to make this delicious pie recipe. Take 10 minutes to throw the ingredients in the slow cooker and enjoy a decadent and nostalgic dessert.
12. Eggnog Pie
This dessert looks like it takes hours to make, but you can really do it in about five minutes. It's as easy as mixing up a box of instant pudding for a pie that is creamy, smooth, and full of flavor. It is a delicious dessert for any holiday gathering.
13. Cranberry Pie
Cranberry Pie is made with a rich and buttery shortbread crust and fresh, tart cranberries folded into a sweet and creamy filling. You can use fresh or frozen cranberries. It is beautiful garnished with some sugared cranberries and mint leaves.
14. Grinch Pie
Your guests will be delighted by this delicious Grinch-themed pie with layers of white chocolate pudding, Cool Whip, and sprinkles on top of an Oreo pie crust. It's fun, quick, and easy to make and it is absolutely delicious.
15. Gingerbread Pie
This no-bake pie tastes exactly like gingerbread but in pie form. It is much easier than cutting out and decorating gingerbread cookies. The combination of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove evoke a cozy nostalgia for a perfect finish to your holiday meal.
Cakes/Brownies
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Slice cake and brownies into neat pieces and arrange on a dessert tray, alternating with cookies for variety.
🎄 Serve with ice cream or whipped topping.
16. Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin isn't just for Thanksgiving! This Pumpkin Cake is a moist, fluffy, flavorful dessert that will have your guests licking their fingers. Using the crockpot means there is no fuss and hardly any cleanup, plus it leaves your oven free for other baking needs.
17. Christmas Tree Cake Dip
OK, technically this isn't cake, but it is made with cake so we're going with it. Everybody loves Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes, and with this recipe, you can have your cake and eat it too... with cookies! This fun dip takes just minutes to make and is a wonderful last-minute dessert to feed a crowd. It's a great addition if you have a dessert bar or buffet.
18. Santa Hat Brownie Bites
With their signature red and white colors resembling Santa's hat, these Brownies Bites are sure to be the star of any holiday gathering. The rich and fudgy brownie base provides a chocolatey indulgence, while the fluffy whipped cream adds a light and creamy twist, with a strawberry on top as the finishing touch.
19. Snowman Donuts on a Stick
Although technically not a cake or brownie, these Snowman Donuts are cake-like and are super cute treats. Skewer powered sugar donuts and decorate them with candies to make them look like delicious little snowmen. These are perfect for Christmas snacks, parties, and charcuterie boards.
🎁 Kristin's Handpicked Gift Ideas!
Looking for the perfect gift ideas for family or friends? I've got you covered with carefully curated gift guides! From kitchen essentials to unique picks for kids or grandkids, these will help you find just the thing to make them feel special!
Fudge
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Keep fudge at room temperature. If it's been refrigerated, take it out for 30 minutes before serving so the texture is soft and creamy.
🎄 Provide small plates and forks or toothpicks so guests can easily pick up the fudge pieces.
🎄 For parties, have the fudge as part of a dessert table with other small sweets like cookies, brownies, or fruit.
🎄 Portion fudge into pretty wrappers or boxes as party favors for guests to take home. Add a "Merry Christmas" sticker or tag.
20. Easy Chocolate Raspberry Fudge
All you need are chocolate chips, condensed milk, and raspberry extract to make this delicious fudge. You can also add festive drizzles on top with white chocolate and red candy melts for a beautiful pop of color on your holiday cookie platter.
21. Peanut Butter Fudge
This recipe makes fudge that isn't too peanut buttery or too sugary. It is easy to make and cuts nicely into tiny squares, which makes it perfect for gift giving or to add to your dessert table.
22. Five Minute Fudge
Cocoa powder and confectioners sugar are combined with butter and milk to create this delicious fudge. It is so delicious that it will become a family favorite that you make every year!
23. Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge
With just a handful of ingredients, you can make this delicious Mint Chocolate Chip Fudge. It's so easy to make, and it is perfect for Christmas desserts and gift giving.
24. Grinch Fudge
All you need are white chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, food coloring, and heart sprinkles to make this cute holiday recipe. This fudge is simple enough for kids to help with and they will love to add the heart sprinkles!
Bark
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Arrange bark pieces artfully on a serving tray, alternating flavors and colors for visual appeal.
🎄 Offer the bark pieces in small paper candy cups or clear treat bags so guests can take only what they want.
🎄 For parties, display the bark on a tiered dessert stand alongside other sweets like cookies or brownies.
🎄 Pair the bark with fruits like strawberries or pineapple slices to help cut the sweetness.
25. Salted Caramel Bark
This bark recipe calls for two different types of chocolates as well as caramel and sea salt - just four ingredients to make a delectable treat that is a great dessert.
26. Salted Chocolate Cookie Butter Bark
This unique bark variation uses cookie butter, which is a heavenly gingersnap flavored dessert butter (think peanut butter but with cookies instead of peanuts). The combination of cookie butter and chocolate creates an exquisite dessert that will impress.
27. Dark Chocolate Bark with Coffee, Pistachios, and Sea Salt
Pistachios and coarse ground coffee are added to dark chocolate to make this bark with a wonderfully unique flavor. It's quick and easy to make and you'll love adding this to your dessert table or wrapping it up to give as delicious gifts.
28. Peppermint Bark
It's not the holidays without some Peppermint Bark! This recipe combines dark chocolate, white chocolate, and peppermint for a refreshing and satisfying treat that tastes like Christmas.
29. Holiday Yogurt Bark
Bark is typically made of chocolate, but this lighter version uses coconut yogurt. It is incredibly easy to make with basic ingredients you probably already have on hand. This recipe also includes variation ideas such as granola, dark chocolate, and berries.
30. Melted Snowman Bark
These cute little melted snowman are made with almond bark cubes and the candy of your choice to create clothing and snowman body parts. This is a cute food craft to do with children and adults of any age.
31. Reindeer Christmas Bark
This recipe calls for candy eyeballs, red M&Ms, and mini pretzels to create adorable reindeer faces on melted chocolate. This fun Reindeer Christmas Bark is great for parties and gift-giving.
32. Boozy Peppermint Bark
This bark recipe is only four ingredients: dark chocolate, white chocolate, peppermint schnapps, and crushed candy canes. It's smooth, sweet, and the merriest mix of Christmas flavors for adult tastes.
Truffles
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Keep truffles at room temperature to maintain a smooth, creamy texture. If refrigerated, take them out 30 minutes before serving.
🎄 Arrange truffles neatly in rows on a tray, alternating flavors/coatings for visual appeal.
🎄 Place on a pedestal stand or tiered serving plate for a
decorative touch.
🎄 Pair truffles with fruit like strawberries or raspberries to help cut the richness. Group appropriate complements together.
33. Peppermint Schnapps Christmas Truffles
These truffles are creamy balls of dark chocolate with a hint of peppermint schnapps that are sprinkled with crushed candy canes. Made with four simple ingredients and zero baking, Peppermint Schnapps Christmas Truffles are perfect for holiday parties, cookie trays, and gift giving.
34. Cocoa Dusted Truffles
These truffles are fudgy balls of chocolate with a coating of cocoa powder on the outside. The fudgy chocolate is sweetened with honey and mixed with shredded coconut. It is an elegant dessert that will take your cookie platter up a notch!
Cheesecake
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Cheesecake is best served thoroughly chilled, directly from
the refrigerator.
🎄 Top each slice with a dollop of freshly whipped cream. For extra flair, pipe the whipped cream decoratively on the slices.
🎄 Cheesecake is rich, so cutting smaller, narrow slices allows guests to enjoy the flavor without overdoing it.
🎄 Coffee, tea, or a glass of wine or champagne pair nicely with cheesecake.
35. Christmas Rice Krispies Cheesecake
This is an amazing dessert for any kind of holiday event. It is fun to make and is absolutely gorgeous when it's done. Depending on your preference, either use plain, chocolate, or fruity rice krispies.
36. Eggnog Cheesecake
Eggnog Cheesecake is made with the classic holiday beverage plus toasty nutmeg and cinnamon. Rum is an optional ingredient but is highly recommended for events without children. This cheesecake is a simple recipe that can be made ahead of time.
37. Peppermint Cheesecake Bars
No-Bake Peppermint Cheesecake Bars are festive, delicious, and so easy to make. Everything is perfect about these no-bake Peppermint Cheesecake Bars starting from the creamy texture and ending with the beautiful, baby pink color. The bars are made with real peppermint candies, not just peppermint extract, and topped with soft-like-a-cloud whipped cream and crunchy, crushed peppermint candies. They have the perfect texture and taste!
38. Christmas Lasagna
No bake Christmas Lasagna is an eye-catching layered dessert easily made with a no-bake red cookie crust, a fluffy cream cheese layer, and a minty green pudding layer, all covered with Cool Whip over the top. It is quick and easy to make, uses simple ingredients, and is perfect for holiday parties and potlucks.
39. Millionaire's Cheesecake
This cheesecake is inspired by the traditional Millionaire's Shortbread bars, which are made with a shortbread base and caramel filling, then topped with chocolate. This recipe can also be used to make Millionaire's Cheesecake Bars by using a square baking tin.
Candy/Chocolate
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Offer mints and chocolates along with hot beverages.
🎄 Group complementary flavors together like chocolate with mint, peanut butter cups with pretzels, and so on.
🎄 Provide small tongs, spoons, or toothpicks so guests can easily pick up and eat the chocolate or candy.
🎄 Have signage to identify the items, which is especially helpful for those with allergens like nuts.
40. Christmas Pretzels
White chocolate-covered pretzels with red and green sprinkles make a festive addition to your cookie tray. They are inexpensive, quick and easy, and require no baking. They also make a thoughtful, delicious homemade gift.
41. Peanut Butter Chocolate Balls
Just five ingredients are needed to make this classic holiday cookie: peanut butter, butter, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, and melting chocolate. They last in the refrigerator for about a month so you can make them ahead of time and they also freeze well.
42. Gingerbread Chocolate Honeycomb
This delicious recipe includes gingerbread spices and crushed gingerbread for a delightful seasonal twist to traditional British Cinder Toffee. This crunchy yet melt-in-your-mouth candy takes just minutes to make.
43. Butterfinger Candy Rudolph Reindeers
This fun recipe is a creative and festive way to get into the holiday spirit. Butterfinger candy bars are coated with chocolate frosting, and then decorated with eyeball candies, M&Ms, and pretzels to look like reindeer.
44. Chocolate Pecans
The two-ingredient recipe is simple but delicious. Dark chocolate is melted on the stovetop, then used to coat the pecans. Other types of chocolate can be substituted if preferred. These also make a great gift.
45. Christmas Chocolate Covered Pretzel Rods
Pretzels are hand-dipped in melted creamy chocolate, then dazzled with festive Christmas sprinkles. With white or milk chocolate and Christmas-themed sprinkles, these will make a colorful addition to your cookie platter or a thoughtful gift.
46. Spiked Butterscotch Hot Chocolate
This hot cocoa is so chocolatey, sweet, steamy, and creamy that it is like a dessert and will go perfectly with all your holiday cookies. This recipe offers ideas for substitutions to mix with your beverage if you don't have schnapps or coffee liqueur.
Sweet Snacks
Serving Ideas:
🎄 Fill red velvet sacks or cones with assorted treats and tie them
with a decorative holiday bow.
🎄 Label treat bags with your guests' names on cute tags or cards.
🎄 Set up a snack buffet with a variety of festive snacks for a holiday movie night.
47. Gingerbread Popcorn
Butter, brown sugar, molasses, and warm spices give this popcorn the perfect amount of gingerbread flavor, and toasted slivered almonds add a deliciously nutty flavor and crunch. This homemade popcorn is quick and easy to make and is the perfect snack for a holiday-themed movie night or any holiday gathering.
48. Christmas Popcorn
This snack comes together by mixing basic ingredients like salty popcorn, pretzels, M&Ms, melted chocolate or candy, and holiday sprinkles. The recipe provides lots of ideas for customizing the snack to your own personal tastes or ingredients you have on hand. Although not ideal for making ahead of time, this snack is also great for holiday-themed movie nights.
49. Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats
Turn the classic beloved rice krispie treat into an adorable Christmas Tree using green food coloring, nonpareils sprinkles, and yellow fondant. These treats are fun to create and will make your cookie platter look merry and bright.
50. Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats
This rice krispie treat variation has all the gooey marshmallow goodness of traditional rice krispie treats with added peppermint flavor. Think of it as a cousin of Peppermint Bark. This recipe provides ideas for substitutions and additions to make it easy to customize to your preference and the ingredients you have on hand.
51. Pop Tart Gingerbread House
All you need to make the actual gingerbread house are Pop Tarts (or any store brand toaster pastries) and frosting. Then comes the fun part! Use any candy toppings you want as the decorations, such as mini M&Ms, marshmallows, gumdrops, and so on. This house will look adorable at the center of your dessert table - if it doesn't get eaten by then! 🙂
Wishing all of you and your families many blessings during this very special season!
Clarise says
Thank you for making such an incredible list of Christmas treats I've already picked a couple that I want to take to a Christmas party and can't wait to try some of the rest Merry Christmas and thanks
Renee's Kitchen Adventures says
What a fantastic collection!!
Rachael says
This is a fantastic collection. It looks great. I love Christmas treats!
Vohn's Vittles says
Oh wow - I don't know where to start! Fantastic round up, thanks. 😀
Jen says
These all look amazing! I can't decide what I want to try first!
Yvonne [Tried and Tasty] says
What a fantastic list!!! I see so m any great recipes I want to try, but don't know where to start!!