45 Cheap Christmas Treats for Parties, Gifts, and Bake Sales

These cheap Christmas treats are perfect for holiday parties, homemade gifts, Christmas bake sales, and sharing with friends and neighbors.

From easy no-bake goodies and festive cookies to homemade candy, fudge, and chocolate-covered treats, there are plenty of budget-friendly Christmas treat ideas to choose from.

Many are made with inexpensive ingredients, so you can make something special for the holidays without spending a ton of money!

Cheap Christmas Treats

Not sure which Christmas goodies to make? Here are some of my favorites for different holiday occasions.

Best Cheap Christmas Treat Ideas for Holiday Parties

If you’re bringing something to a Christmas party, these treats are easy to make in batches and great for sharing.

Christmas Puppy Chow (#9): A festive snack mix that’s easy to serve in a big bowl.
Christmas Cracker Candy (#14): Sweet, salty, and easy to break into pieces for a crowd.
Christmas Pretzel Popcorn (#25): A fun party snack that makes plenty to share.
Sugar Cookie Chex Mix (#38): Perfect for setting out in a large bowl for everyone to grab.
Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies (#8): Cute, festive treats that look great on a dessert table.

Budget Friendly Holiday Treats for Homemade Gifts

You don’t have to spend a lot to give someone a thoughtful homemade Christmas gift! Package these goodies in inexpensive treat bags, tins, or jars.

3 Ingredient Peppermint Bark (#1): Break into pieces and package in a festive bag.
Homemade Peanut Brittle (#4): A classic homemade candy that’s great for gifting.
Butter Mints (#6): Pretty little candies that look adorable in small jars.
Microwave Caramels (#41): Wrap individual pieces for an old-fashioned Christmas treat.
Chocolate Pecan Fudge (#45): Cut into small squares and package in a holiday tin.

Inexpensive Christmas Bake Sale Treats

For Christmas bake sales, look for inexpensive treats that are easy to portion, package, and sell individually.

Rolo Pretzel Turtles (#2): Just three ingredients and easy to package in small bags.
Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies (#16): Festive cookies made with a convenient cake mix.
Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies (#24): A classic cookie that looks great in holiday packaging.
2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge (#29): Cut into small squares for inexpensive individual portions.
No Chill Sugar Cookies (#20): Fun Christmas cookies that don’t require chilling the dough.

Kid-Friendly Low Budget Christmas Treats

These fun Christmas treats are especially great for kids.

Reindeer Rolo Pretzels (#5): Cute little reindeer made with pretzels and candy.
Reindeer Brownies (#10): Festive brownies with adorable reindeer faces.
Grinch Pretzels (#27): Bright green pretzels decorated with little red hearts.
Christmas Marshmallow Pops (#30): Fun treats kids can help dip and decorate.
Marshmallow Snowman Pops (#34): Adorable snowmen made with marshmallows.

Christmas Treat Recipes on a Budget

1. 3 Ingredient Peppermint Bark

Person holding peppermint bark. — Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: 3 Ingredient Peppermint Bark

2. Rolo Pretzel Turtles

Rolo pretzels turtles on a cutting board — Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Just 3 Ingredients!

Get the Recipe: Rolo Pretzel Turtles

3. Christmas Haystacks

Christmas haystacks on a white plate. — Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Christmas Haystacks

4. Homemade Peanut Brittle

A close up shot of peanut brittle. — Photo Credit: Easy Budget Recipes

Get the Recipe: Homemade Peanut Brittle

5. Reindeer Rolo Pretzels

Reindeer rolo pretzels on white dish. — Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Reindeer Rolo Pretzels

6. Butter Mints

A close up shot of butter mints. — Photo Credit: Food Folks and Fun

Get the Recipe: Butter Mints

7. Chocolate Covered Grahams

Chocolate covered grahams with sprinkles. — Photo Credit: Sugar and Soul

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Grahams

8. Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies

A close up shot of Christmas wreath cookies. — Photo Credit: On My Kids Plate

Get the Recipe: Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies

9. Christmas Puppy Chow

Christmas puppy chow in a bowl with red and green M&Ms. — Photo Credit: The Cookin’ Chicks

Get the Recipe: Christmas Puppy Chow

10. Reindeer Brownies

Reindeer brownies on white background — Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Reindeer Brownies

11. Christmas Popcorn Balls

Popcorn balls in red and white container. — Photo Credit: Crayons and Cravings

Get the Recipe: Christmas Popcorn Balls

12. Candy Cane Hearts

A close up shot of candy cane hearts. — Photo Credit: Dinner at the Zoo

Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Hearts

13. Grinch Christmas Truffles

A close up shot of grinch truffles. — Photo Credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Get the Recipe: Grinch Christmas Truffles

14. Christmas Cracker Candy

A close up shot of cracker candy. — Photo Credit: Blackberry Babe

Get the Recipe: Christmas Cracker Candy

15. Chocolate Covered Cherries

A close up shot of chocolate covered cherries. — Photo Credit: xoxoBella

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Cherries

16. Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

A close up shot of red velvet cookies. — Photo Credit: Crayons and Cravings

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

17. Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Topper

A close up shot of marshmallow hot chocolate. — Photo Credit: Love From the Oven

Get the Recipe: Marshmallow Hot Chocolate Topper

18. Sugar Cookie Truffles

A plate of sugar cookie truffles with sprinkles over top. — Photo Credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen

Get the Recipe: Sugar Cookie Truffles

19. Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

Close up shot of salted caramel pretzel bark. — Photo Credit: Lifestyle of a Foodie

Get the Recipe: The Best Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

20. No Chill Sugar Cookies

Christmas tree and snowman sugar cookies with green and white icing and sprinkles. — Photo Credit: I Heart Eating

Get the Recipe: No Chill Sugar Cookies

21. Peppermint Patty Candy

A close up shot of peppermint patty candy. — Photo Credit: Food Folks and Fun

Get the Recipe: Peppermint Patty Candy

22. Christmas Pretzels

Close up shot of Christmas pretzels. — Photo Credit: Love From the Oven

Get the Recipe: Easy Christmas Pretzels

23. Cool Whip Candy

A close up shot of cool whip candies. — Photo Credit: Simply Stacie

Get the Recipe: Cool Whip Candy

24. Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

A close up shot of peanut butter cookies. — Photo Credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen

These peanut butter blossom cookies use cake mix and a few other simple ingredients, making them an easy, budget-friendly holiday treat.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies

25. Christmas Pretzel Popcorn

A bowl of Christmas crunch. — Photo Credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Get the Recipe: Christmas Pretzel Popcorn

26. Cake Truffles

A close up shot of cake truffles. — Photo Credit: Dinner at the Zoo

Get the Recipe: Cake Truffles

27. Grinch Pretzels

Heart-shaped pretzels dipped in green chocolate with red heart sprinkles. — Photo Credit: She’s Not Cookin’

Get the Recipe: Grinch Pretzels

28. Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Overhead shot of chocolate cookies with peppermint candies and sprinkles, decorated with Christmas garland and trees. — Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

29. 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

A close up shot of peanut butter fudge. — Photo Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

Get the Recipe: 2 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fudge

30. Christmas Marshmallow Pops

A close up shot of Christmas marshmallow pops. — Photo Credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Get the Recipe: Christmas Marshmallow Pops

31. Grinch Popcorn

Grinch popcorn in a bowl. — Photo Credit: Trop Rockin

Get the Recipe: Grinch Popcorn

32. Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza

Overhead shot of a sugar cookie pizza decorated with white frosting, peppermint candies, and red and green M&Ms. — Photo Credit: xoxoBella

Get the Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza

33. Gingerbread Truffles

A close up shot of gingerbread truffles. — Photo Credit: Love Bakes Good Cakes

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Truffles

34. Marshmallow Snowman Pops

Snowman pops on a white plate. — Photo Credit: Crayons and Cravings

Get the Recipe: Marshmallow Snowman Pops

35. Crockpot Candy

A close up shot of crockpot candy. — Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Candy

36. Reindeer Sugar Cookies

A close up shot of reindeer cookies. — Photo Credit: Persnickety Plates

This recipe uses lots of inexpensive pantry staples, and the simple reindeer design keeps decorating costs low. If you want to cut down on ingredients even more, you can use store-bought cookie dough.

Otherwise, the homemade version is still budget-friendly and makes a big batch for relatively little money.

Get the Recipe: Reindeer Sugar Cookies

37. White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

A close up shot of peppermint fudge. — Photo Credit: Food Folks and Fun

Get the Recipe: White Chocolate Peppermint Fudge

38. Sugar Cookie Chex Mix

A close up shot of sugar cookie chex mix. — Photo Credit: Love From the Oven

Get the Recipe: Sugar Cookie Chex Mix

39. Coconut Macaroons

A close up shot of coconut macaroons. — Photo Credit: Amanda’s Cookin

Get the Recipe: Coconut Macaroons

40. Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy

A close up shot of chocolate candies. — Photo Credit: Crayons and Cravings

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Covered Honeycomb Candy

41. Microwave Caramels

A close up shot of caramels. — Photo Credit: Amanda’s Cookin’

Get the Recipe: Microwave Caramels

42. Church Window Cookies

Sliced chocolate fudge with colorful marshmallows and coconut flakes. — Photo Credit: xoxoBella

Get the Recipe: Church Window Cookies

43. Cinnamon Candy

Red cinnamon candy in a gift jar and another picture with cinnamon candy. — Photo Credit: Easy Budget Recipes

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Candy

44. Christmas Cornflake Brittle

Christmas cornflake brittle with chocolate and sprinkles on a plate. — Photo Credit: The Cookin’ Chicks

Get the Recipe: Christmas Cornflake Brittle

45. Chocolate Pecan Fudge

A close up shot of chocolate pecan fudge. — Photo Credit: Trop Rockin

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Pecan Fudge

More Festive Holiday Treat Ideas & Desserts

Tips for Making Cheap Homemade Christmas Goodies

Making homemade Christmas goodies doesn’t have to get expensive! Here are a few easy ways to save money while still making plenty of delicious holiday treats.

1. Choose recipes with fewer ingredients.

Three-ingredient peppermint bark, Rolo pretzel turtles, and two-ingredient peanut butter fudge are great examples. Fewer ingredients usually mean fewer things to buy!

2. Use ingredients you already have.

Before heading to the grocery store, check your pantry for flour, sugar, peanut butter, chocolate chips, cake mix, and other baking staples. You might already have most of what you need!

3. Make several treats using the same ingredients.

Plan a few recipes that share ingredients like pretzels, chocolate, marshmallows, or sprinkles. This helps you use up what you buy instead of spending money on ingredients you’ll only use once.

4. Skip expensive decorations.

You don’t need fancy sprinkles, edible glitter, or specialty candy molds to make cute Christmas treats. A little melted chocolate, crushed candy canes, or red and green sprinkles can go a long way.

5. Make big batches and package them simply.

Popcorn mixes, fudge, bark, and homemade candies are great for making larger batches. Divide them into inexpensive treat bags or small containers for budget-friendly Christmas gifts, party favors, or bake sales.