Christmas Baking Ideas Holiday Treats and Dessert Recipes collage

40 Christmas Baking Ideas (Best Holiday Treats and Dessert Recipes)

ByAnnie Brown

These Christmas baking ideas are perfect for filling your holiday season with festive cookies, cakes, breakfast treats, and desserts everyone will be excited to eat.

From cute snowman cupcakes and Grinch treats to gingerbread favorites, peppermint desserts, and classic pies, there’s something here for every kind of Christmas celebration.

Make a few for a Christmas cookie exchange, bring one to a holiday party, or bake a special treat to share with family and friends.

(By the way, at the end of this post we included some helpful Christmas baking tips.)

Christmas Baking Ideas

Below, you’ll find a few Christmas baking ideas for each category to help you choose the perfect holiday treat.

Christmas Baking Ideas for Parties and Potlucks

  • Grinch Cake
  • Hot Chocolate Poke Cake
  • Eggnog Cheesecake
  • Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Holiday Baking Recipes for Christmas Bake Sales

  • Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies
  • Christmas Cracker Cookies
  • Christmas Tree Brownies
  • Gingerbread Man Cookies

Christmas Baking Gifts

  • Gingerbread Biscotti
  • Cranberry Banana Nut Bread
  • Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies
  • Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Christmas Baked Goods for Kids

  • Snowman Cupcakes
  • Reindeer Brownies
  • Snowman Cinnamon Rolls
  • Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Christmas Baking Recipes

1. Snowman Cupcakes

Four cupcakes decorated as snowman faces with white frosting, chocolate chip eyes and smiles, and orange candy noses, arranged on gray surface with red pom-pom garland.
Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Snowman Cupcakes

2. Millionaire Shortbread Christmas Trees

Tray of four chocolate-covered Christmas tree treats with red, green, and white sprinkles, some topped with yellow stars, on parchment-lined surface with checkered cloth, milk glass, spoons, bead garland, and pine foliage nearby.
Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Millionaire Shortbread Christmas Trees

3. Reindeer Brownies

Three chocolate brownies decorated as reindeer with candy eyes, red noses, and pretzel antlers, arranged on white surface with festive ornaments and checkered cloth.
Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Reindeer Brownies

4. Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate cupcakes topped with toasted marshmallows drizzled in chocolate and sprinkled with crushed peppermint, arranged on dark surface with scattered candy pieces.
Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Peppermint Hot Chocolate Cookies

5. Snowman Cinnamon Rolls

Snowman-shaped cinnamon roll dessert with icing, chocolate chip eyes and smile, orange candy nose, blue candy buttons, and pretzel arms, on plate with decorated rolls and ornaments in background.
Photo Credit: Savvy Honey

Get the Recipe: Snowman Cinnamon Rolls

6. Grinch Cake

Green loaf cake with red heart center in each slice, topped with white frosting, green drizzle, and red heart decorations, on wooden board with plaid cloth, forks, and holiday greenery.
Photo Credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Get the Recipe: Grinch Cake

7. Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Copycat)

Triangular cranberry dessert bars with white frosting and dried cranberry topping, arranged on white surface beside bowl of cranberries, greenery, and stacked plates.
Photo Credit: Baker’s Table

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Bliss Bars (Starbucks Copycat)

8. Gingerbread Cake

Photo Credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cake

9. Candy Cane Danish

Pastry shaped like candy cane with cherry filling and white icing, surrounded by bowl of filling, milk bottles with striped straws, forks, pine branches, pinecones, ornaments, and heart-shaped candy canes.
Photo Credit: Amanda’s Cookin’

Get the Recipe: Candy Cane Danish

10. Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

Round sugar cookies frosted in red, green, and white, topped with multicolored sprinkles, arranged on parchment with glittery ornaments and bowl of sprinkles nearby.
Photo Credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen

Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies

11. Eggnog Cheesecake

Cheesecake slice with sugared cranberries and rosemary garnish lifted from whole cake with graham crust, decorated similarly, on cozy holiday table.
Photo Credit: XOXO Bella

Get the Recipe: Eggnog Cheesecake

12. Cinnamon Muffins

Cinnamon muffins on baking sheet.
Photo Credit: Sugar and Soul

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Muffins

13. Christmas Cracker Cookies

Stack of large cookies topped with chocolate frosting, nuts, and red, green, white sprinkles on white plate with red rim, festive mug and Christmas tree in background.
Photo Credit: Sugar and Soul

Get the Recipe: Christmas Cracker Cookies

14. Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Cupcakes with green frosting shaped like Christmas trees, topped with colorful sprinkles and silver stars, lightly dusted with powdered sugar, arranged on cooling rack.
Photo Credit: I Heart Eating

Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Cupcakes

15. Gingerbread Man Cookies

Plate of gingerbread people cookies with icing and candy buttons, surrounded by candy canes, pinecones, rolling pin, cutters, sugar bowl, milk bottles with striped straws, ornaments, and evergreen branches.
Photo Credit: Tessie’s Table

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Man Cookies

16. Snickerdoodle Rolls

close up of snickerdoodle rolls with frosting
Photo Credit: Broken Oven Baking

Get the Recipe: Snickerdoodle Rolls

17. Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

Stack of sugar cookies with red swirl tops and edges coated in red, green, and white sprinkles, one with bite taken, with more cookies on tray in background.
Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime

Get the Recipe: Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

18. Hot Chocolate Poke Cake

Slice of chocolate cake topped with whipped frosting, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and syrup drizzle on white plate, with pine cone and festive napkin in background.
Photo Credit: Tessie’s Table

Get the Recipe: Hot Chocolate Poke Cake

19. Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

Plate of red-and-white twisted candy cane cookies dusted with sugar, surrounded by ornaments, real candy cane, string lights, and pine branches.
Photo Credit: On My Kids Plate

Get the Recipe: Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

20. Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

Loaf of cranberry nut bread with golden crust, sliced to show cranberries and nuts inside, on cooling rack with scattered cranberries, bowl of berries, and red cloth nearby.
Photo Credit: Blue’s Best Life

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Banana Nut Bread

21. Christmas Tree Strawberry Hand Pies

Golden-brown Christmas tree pastries filled with red fruit, decorated with icing and red, white, green sprinkles, arranged on white surface.
Photo Credit: The Baking ChocolaTess

Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Strawberry Hand Pies

22. Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies

Chocolate cookies topped with red-and-white peppermint candies, arranged on plate with bowls of extra cookies and candies, festive cloth, ornaments, and holiday accents nearby.
Photo Credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Peppermint Kiss Cookies

23. Gingerbread Biscotti

Gingerbread biscotti decorated with icing and sprinkles, some dipped with candy cane and tree toppings, arranged with smiling gingerbread cookies on white surface.
Photo Credit: Barley & Sage

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Biscotti

24. Caramelized Monkey Bread

Glazed monkey bread of cinnamon-sugar dough pieces on white plate, surrounded by brown sugar jar, cinnamon sticks, stacked cups, gold forks, and striped napkin on marble surface.
Photo Credit: Vintage Kitchen Notes

Get the Recipe: Caramelized Monkey Bread

25. Christmas Tree Cakes

Christmas tree-shaped treats coated in white icing with red drizzle and green sprinkles, one cut to reveal yellow cake interior, on festive snowflake cloth with whisk, milk glass, and bead garland.
Photo Credit: On My Kids Plate

Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Cakes

26. Grinch Crinkle Cookies

Bright green cracked cookies dusted with powdered sugar, each topped with small red heart decoration, arranged on white plate.
Photo Credit: Semi Homemade Kitchen

Get the Recipe: Grinch Crinkle Cookies

27. Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

Baking dish of cinnamon rolls, top glazed with icing and festive sprinkles, bottom showing golden spirals, surrounded by coffee cups, icing bowl, cloth, pinecones, greenery, and ornaments.
Photo Credit: I Heart Eating

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls

28. Pecan Pie

Golden pecan pie with circular nut topping on checkered cloth, surrounded by baking ingredients—brown sugar, flour, syrup, white sugar, chopped pecans—and gold forks.
Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook

Get the Recipe: Pecan Pie

29. Cranberry Tartlets

Small tarts with glossy red filling, topped with sugared cranberries and rosemary sprigs, set on light surface with patterned cloth and gold ornaments.
Photo Credit: XOXO Bella

Get the Recipe: Cranberry Tartlets

30. Christmas Cookie Box

Wooden tray with assorted holiday cookies—gingerbread men, peppermint-topped sugar cookies, biscotti, crinkle cookies, shortbread, iced rounds—plus truffles, meringues, and candy canes, surrounded by pinecones, twine, ornaments, and scissors.
Photo Credit: Barley & Sage

This post has multiple Christmas treat recipes, so pick your favorites.

Get the Recipe: Christmas Cookie Box

31. Gingerbread Cheesecake

Slice of light brown cheesecake with whipped cream and gingerbread cookie on white plate with gold fork, whole decorated cheesecake on stand in background.
Photo Credit: Boston Girl Bakes

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake

32. Peppermint Bark Cookies

Chocolate cookies dipped in white chocolate, sprinkled with crushed peppermint, arranged with candy canes, red ribbon, and bowl of peppermint pieces.

Photo Credit: Boston Girl Bakes

Get the Recipe: Peppermint Bark Cookies

33. Brown Butter Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls

Close-up of cinnamon roll with white icing on plate, baking dish of rolls in background, set on green surface with beige napkin.
Photo Credit: Barley & Sage

Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls

34. Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

Stacked frosted sugar cookie bars with red, green, and white sprinkles on plate, surrounded by candy canes, pinecones, scattered sprinkles, and holiday accents.
Photo Credit: Love From The Oven

Get the Recipe: Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars

35. Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

Christmas tree-shaped pastry with chocolate filling, dusted with powdered sugar, decorated with star-shaped dough, on wooden board with spoons, chocolate spread, and powdered sugar bowl.
Photo Credit: XOXO Bella

Get the Recipe: Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

36. Orange Cranberry Scones

Golden cranberry-orange scone with icing drizzle, surrounded by cranberries and orange slices on white surface.
Photo Credit: Boston Girl Bakes

Get the Recipe: Orange Cranberry Scones

37. Gingerbread Bars

Stacked frosted dessert bars with colorful sprinkles on red surface, beside glass of milk, small Christmas tree, and gingerbread house ornament.
Photo Credit: Sugar and Soul

Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Bars

38. Christmas Tree Brownies

Brownies cut into Christmas tree shapes, decorated with green frosting garlands, colorful candy ornaments, and candy cane trunks, arranged on white surface.
Photo Credit: Princess Pinky Girl

Get the Recipe: Christmas Tree Brownies

39. White Christmas Cake with Cranberry Orange Filling

Three-layer vanilla cake with berry filling and white frosting, topped with pinecone, sugared cranberries, rosemary, and orange twist, on cake stand with holiday decorations.
Photo Credit: Baker’s Table

Get the Recipe: White Christmas Cake with Cranberry Orange Filling

40. Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

Thumbprint cookies with caramel centers, chocolate drizzle, and pecan edges, arranged on plates with bowls of chocolate, pecans, and rustic festive decorations.
Photo Credit: Tessie’s Table

Get the Recipe: Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

More Christmas Treats to Make

Baking Tips for the Holidays

Bake ahead when you can.

Make cookie dough or freezer-friendly treats ahead of time to make holiday baking less stressful.

Plan recipes with overlapping ingredients.

Choose a few treats that use things like butter, cream cheese, chocolate chips, or peppermint to simplify shopping and save money.

Let everything cool completely.

This prevents frosting from melting and helps baked goods stay fresh when stored or packaged.

Choose recipes based on your time and skill level.

This list includes easy Christmas baking ideas along with a few more detailed projects, so pick treats that fit your schedule and comfort level.

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