Make the season extra sweet and easy with our favorite Christmas desserts for kids. From festive cookies and cakes to simple no-bake treats, each recipe is fun to make and so yummy.
Whether you’re baking with the kids or bringing dessert to a holiday party to share, these ideas are easy and delicious. There are my best easy Christmas cookies for kids, easy recipes for gingerbread, no-bake treats, and low-fuss recipes to start new traditions.
Each of these Christmas desserts for kids can be made ahead of time and requires zero electric cooking tools or fussy equipment to ensure you can actually make them in your life as a busy parent.
Make one (or more!) of these desserts for kids to enjoy leading up to Christmas or to share on the holiday itself.
(You may also like my make-ahead Christmas breakfast ideas, Christmas Muffins, toddler stocking stuffers, and Salt Dough Ornaments.)
Easy Gingerbread Cookies
Little gingerbread men are fun to make, decorate, and eat. This is always one of the first holiday cookies we make each year.
Flavorful, whole-wheat gingerbread cookies with just a hint of natural sweetness are a perfect holiday treat to make with the kids. Double the batch to make more.
Jam Cookies
With any flavor of jam between two just-sweet-enough sugar cookies, these are sure to be yummy all year long.
With an easy-to-work-with sugar cookie base and a layer of jam in the middle, these Jam Cookies are a classic cookie to share with the kids. This version has a foolproof dough and is just sweet enough. These cookies are perfect for the holidays—or any day!
Easy Sugar Cookies
This dough is so easy to work with and doesn’t need any electric mixers—just clean hands.
This makes a small batch of lightly sweet cookies. Double it to make more. If at any point the dough seems too sticky, pop it into the fridge for 5-10 minutes to firm up a bit. Or dust your parchment paper and cookie cutters with flour.
Christmas Cookie Cut-Outs
This easy to work with dough is one of our favorite holiday activities (right up there with Salt Dough!).
You can use any cookie cutters you like to make these Christmas Cookies for kids—the timing Is for 2-3 inch ones so scale up or down if yours are bigger or smaller. And feel free to make half of the dough at a time (and stash the other Into the fridge for a future day).
Sprinkle Cookies
Bright, easy, and allergy-friendly, these are a favorite cookie for kids.
These vanilla cookies have crisp edges, an easy method, and less than half the sugar as similar cookies. They are so delicious. You can use your hands or a food processor, and note that you’ll form the cookies, then chill them in the fridge while the oven preheats.
Monster Cookies
With the best of all cookie flavors, these easy Monster Cookies are a hit with the kids!
These classic Monster Cookies are the flavor and texture you expect, with a little less sweetness—so all of the other flavors shine right through!
Chocolate Peppermint Cake
Plus, it stirs up so easily, is easy to adjust for most allergens so more families can enjoy it, and you can make it ahead of time to fit your busy schedule.
This most delicious Chocolate Peppermint Cake is filled with flavors of chocolate and mint and has a fluffy, tender texture. Plus, it’s lower in added sugar and has the easiest one-bowl method with zero electric tools needed!
Easy Gingerbread Cake
It’s lightly sweetened, subtly spiced, and an easy way to celebrate the season with festive flavors. It’s one of our very favorite desserts for kids.
With mellow, warm spices and a super simple method, this easy Gingerbread Cake is perfectly seasonal and festive. Decorate with sprinkles or top with whipped cream or cream cheese frosting.
Healthy Chocolate Cake
This one-bowl cake recipe is so easy to make, the kids can almost make it on their own!
This Healthy Chocolate Cake is egg-free, dairy-free, and SO darn delicious. It’s lower in sugar, but delivers that classic chocolate cake flavor you expect. (I use two 6-inch cake pans to make this cake, which is a perfect size for a small gathering or even to use as a smash cake. See the Notes for how to make this recipe as a 9-inch cake or as cupcakes.)
Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
I am a huge fan of easy, one-bowl baked goods, and this one has been a favorite in our house for years. The recipe comes together in a few minutes with basic pantry staples, and I have a few options in case you don’t have one ingredient or another, or need adjustments for food allergies.
This Easy Chocolate Cupcake recipe is a lower-sugar take on a classic dessert—but it’s filled with chocolate flavor and creamy frosting that the kids will totally love. (This recipe makes a dozen modest-size cupcakes or 9 more standard cupcakes.)
Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes
No eggs, no butter, no dairy, but all of the yumminess you want in a chocolate cupcake!
Made with pantry staples and without eggs or dairy, these are literally the easiest cupcakes—and the best Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes I’ve ever had. Top with a frosting of your choosing.
Easy No-Bake Apricot Balls
We love making and sharing holiday cookies with the kids, and I’m always looking for easy options. You can make a batch of these healthy cookie bites in just about 10 minutes to share with your family or friends.
These healthy holiday cookies require only 10 minutes and 5 simple ingredients. And they store well so they’re a great option to make ahead!
Easiest Strawberry Santas
You only need 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make these little Santa hats—and the kids can do much of the assembly on their own!
These are best made and eaten at the same time. If they sit too long, the banana may become brown. Adjust the amount as needed!
Greek Yogurt Cheesecake (No-Bake)
It’s lower in added sugars and higher protein than traditional recipes due to the inclusion of Greek yogurt in the cheesecake mixture. And it has a little bit of vanilla extract and fresh lemon juice to perk up the flavors, too.
With minimal ingredients, low added sugar, and the easiest method, this no-bake Greek Yogurt Cheesecake is an easy dessert to share with the kids. Plus, you can make it ahead of time and stash it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
No-Bake Cheesecake Bites
I love to make this recipe to share with the kids because it requires no special equipment or ingredients and tastes creamy and delicious. You can make the whole thing ahead of time and have it ready and waiting for when you want to serve them, too.
With minimal ingredients, low added sugar, and the easiest method, these No-Bake Cheesecake Bites are an easy dessert to share with the kids. Plus, you can make them ahead of time and stash them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
No-Bake Cheesecake Cups
They come together so quickly without even needing to turn on the oven or use an electric mixer. They are such a delicious dessert option—though we often just eat the cheesecake batter with a spoon right out of the mixing bowl!
With minimal ingredients, low added sugar, and the easiest method, these No-Bake Cheesecake Cups are an easy dessert to share with the kids. Plus, you can make them ahead of time and stash them in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Vegan Chocolate Mousse
This might be my favorite fast dessert ever, especially because I can make it whenever the urge strikes and enjoy it minutes later. The combination of the super creamy coconut milk and cocoa powder is just so delicious.
With just a few pantry staples, you can make the creamiest, most luxe vegan Chocolate Mousse to share with the kids …o r to just enjoy yourself. This takes minutes to make and is downright dreamy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cookies and no-bake treats are great picks—they’re fun to decorate and don’t require perfect measuring or timing.
Definitely! Bake cookies or cake up to a few days ahead, or freeze dough to bake fresh when you’re ready.
Set out a decorating tray with cookies, fruit, sprinkles, and yogurt or frosting so kids can make their own festive creations.
Best Tips for Success
- Check the Notes at the end of each individual recipe for tips on making these recipes ahead of time.
- Find my best tips for baking with the kids, along with my favorite kids cooking sets to make it all easier.
- Enjoy Graham Cracker Houses, Salt Dough, and more holiday activities together at this time of the year!
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