The Perfect Christmas Treats and Cookies To Make With Loved Ones

Christmas baking with loved ones is fun —especially when you have the perfect recipe. We’ve gathered some Christmas classic recipes along with some new ones to try. Keep reading for ideas and inspiration on planning the perfect Christmas treat recipes for every occasion. 

Christmas Treat Recipes to Make With Little Ones

If you’re baking with grandchildren who aren’t in school yet, you’ll want to keep things simple so that they can join in the Christmas baking fun. That means just a few ingredients and certainly no elaborate decorating. Toddlers have their charms, but arming them with a tube of frosting is asking for trouble.

Christmas pretzel Hugs or Kisses are far less dangerous. All you need is an equal ratio of square pretzels, Hershey’s Kisses or Hugs, and M&Ms. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Next, ask your little elves to place pretzels on the sheet and top them with either a Kiss or Hug. Put the tray in the oven for four to five minutes, just long enough to soften the chocolate. Remove the tray, immediately press an M&M into each Kiss or Hug, and allow to cool. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes, ensuring that the chocolate will melt down before your grandchild does. 

Another quick-and-easy, three-ingredient recipe is peppermint bark from the Pioneer Woman. Kids will love helping crush the peppermint and pouring the chocolate — and the finished bark can be put into small clear bags like these. Tie them with a cheery ribbon, add a tag, and you’ll have a lovely little gift for friends, teachers, or family. 

Christmas Treat Recipes to Make With a Group

There’s no Christmas baking quite as festive and fun as classic frosted sugar cookies — and it’s the perfect project for a group of family or friends. If you don’t have a favorite recipe already, check out this classic Betty Crocker version.

It’s a good idea to have the dough ready to go so that your guests don’t have to wait while it chills. Also, make sure you have all of the extras on hand that you’ll need to decorate, including cookie cutters, sprinkles, colored sugar, and food coloring. Divide your icing into small bowls and add a few drops of food coloring into each bowl. 

Take your cookie decorating to the next level by finding extra inspiration online to show to your helper elves and don’t forget to play Christmas music or stream a favorite holiday movie. Even better, play episodes of the Great British Baking Show Holidays!

Christmas Baking that Dazzles

There are some Christmas treats best baked by those who know what they’re doing. This Redbird Cake is made with warming spices, crushed pineapple, maraschino cherries, and banana, then topped with a cream cheese frosting and a sparkling frosted redbird cookie. The cake is as lovely as it is delicious, but it also has a special meaning as the red bird symbolizes loved ones who are gone, but not forgotten. (“A Redbird Christmas” by Fannie Flagg tells the story beautifully.)

Have you honed your frosting skills? Tackle this Christmas Tree Cake, which boasts 17 layers. It’s made with three boxes of cake mix, so that’s not the hard part. But it is quite a challenge to assemble the layers, frost them, and add all of the edible decorations.

Classic Cinnamon Roll Christmas Treat Recipes

What do you do after all the presents are open? Dig into a plate of ooey, gooey cinnamon rolls. Whether you’re going to eat them at home or take them to share with family or friends, cinnamon rolls are always appreciated. Check out this recipe by Ina Garten, which incorporates dried cranberries, or this version offered by Southern Living. Even those who don’t indulge will appreciate the festive notes of cinnamon and brown sugar. 

Enjoying the Holidays at Stonebridge at Montgomery

From working in the greenhouse to swimming in the heated, indoor pool, there’s always something interesting to do at Stonebridge at Montgomery. But the holidays offer even more outings, events, and get-togethers, including cocktail parties, Hanukkah celebrations, tree decorating, and visits from carolers. Check out our activities calendar to see the full range of options available at our campus in Skillman, New Jersey, which includes an art studio, fitness center, multiple dining options, walking trails, and more. Click through our online photo gallery to get a glimpse of the beauty of our campus. Or, contact our team today to schedule a personal tour and see for yourself. We’d love to show you around!