In this roundup, you’ll find the very best Christmas cookies and treats, from classic sugar cookies and peppermint shortbread to peanut butter balls, homemade caramels, and more. Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, gifting homemade treats, or just making memories in the kitchen, this list has something everyone will love.
Growing up, baking Christmas cookies was how we kicked off the holiday season — rolling dough, stealing tastes, decorating cookies, and sharing trays with neighbors and friends. Today I still love carrying on that tradition with recipes that are simple, delicious, and always a hit.
Classic Christmas Cookies
These are the cookies that feel like home — soft sugar cookies, classic gingerbread, and nostalgic favorites that every holiday baking list needs. Perfect for cookie plates, decorating traditions, and sharing with neighbors and friends.
Soft, buttery sugar cookies that hold their shape beautifully and decorate like a dream. Perfect for kids, cookie trays, and holiday traditions.
Warm spices, rich molasses, and a perfectly chewy texture make these gingerbread men the nostalgic favorite everyone wants at Christmas.
Melt-in-your-mouth soft with a sweet vanilla flavor, these are the classic bakery-style sugar cookies everyone loves. Top with Christmas sprinkles!
Peppermint & Chocolate Favorites
Rich chocolate meets cool peppermint for the ultimate Christmas flavor combo. These cookies look festive, taste decadent, and always feel like the holidays in every bite.
These Viral Candied Cranberries are a holiday hit! Sugared cranberries or Candied Cranberries are easily one of the most beautiful treats, made with only 3 ingredients! They are a sweet-tart snack that you’ll be popping into your mouth all throughout the party!
Last winter we went on a night hike to a Christmas star that’s lit up on a mountainside in Davis County, Utah. It was so much fun and the perfect way to bring a little magic to a mundane week. Afterwards we enjoyed a little birthday cake with a friend that was delicately decorated by their teenage daughter with candied cranberries!
Instantly I realized that I’d never shared our own recipe for the Viral Candied Cranberries!
Ingredients for Candied Cranberries
- Fresh Cranberries: These are the star of the recipe. Their natural tartness balances the sweet coating, and their firm skin helps them hold their shape during the candying process.
- Sprite: The soda acts as a sweet, citrusy soaking liquid that lightly infuses the cranberries with flavor and helps the sugar adhere. Its sugars also contribute to the sticky coating that allows the powdered sugar to cling.
- NOTE: Any lemon lime soda works great — 7 Up, Starry, Fresca, even Mtn Dew would work. Just don’t use diet soda!
- Powdered Sugar: This provides the delicate, frosty coating. Its fine texture clings easily to the cranberries, creating that pretty snowy finish while adding a sweet counterpoint to the tart berries.
How to Make Sugared Cranberries
- Prep: Preheat oven to 200℉ and the cranberries and remove any shriveled ones.
- Soak in Sprite: Place in a bowl and cover with sprite. Allow to sit for 20 minutes and drain in a colander then pour back in a large bowl.
- Coat in Sugar: Add the powdered sugar. Shake vigorously to evenly coat all berries evenly without clumps.
- NOTE: If they look slimy, add more powdered sugar. They should look dry.
- Bake: Using a slotted spoon, scoop the cranberries onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 200℉ for 3-5 minutes.
What to Do With Candied Cranberries (Besides Just Snacking!)
I love to put a bowl of these out during the holidays for the family or friends to snack on but they can be used for many things. They make a great topping for oatmeal or yogurt, and they add a delicious tart bite to a salad.
I’ve seen them used as a decorative garnish for holiday cakes or cupcakes as well just the one we had for my friend’s birthday. The
Indulge in these delicious, easy-to-make chocolate peanut butter balls that are perfect for any occasion. With just 4 ingredients, you can satisfy your sweet tooth in no time!
Creamy peanut butter filling coated with rich chocolate creates a simple but immensely flavorful treat. You probably already have everything that you need for these truffles in your pantry. I like to think that these little bites of chocolate and peanut butter are a more elegant and refined version of the classic chocolate peanut butter cup. They are loaded with peanut butter flavor and are a beautiful and impressive little treat!
I know that we have a lot of chocolate and peanut butter fans around here so I’m giving you one more thing to love. Truffles are a delectable treat to enjoy no matter what the season, but I especially love to make them around the holidays. They are the perfect treat to bring to a dinner party or even package up and give as a Christmas gift for neighbors. These little truffles are so irresistible that you won’t be able to stop eating them.
Make a batch for yourself or a few for your friends and family. Everyone will love these creamy chocolate covered peanut butter truffles!
Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles
Remember how I said you probably have all the ingredients for best peanut butter balls recipe in your pantry already? Well, you only need 4 ingredients and here they are:
- Powdered Sugar
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Butter
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, or any chocolate chip or melting chocolate
The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.
How to Make Chocolate Dipped Truffles
A recipe that only uses 4 ingredients has to be super simple, and this one is! The steps are easy, but just takes some time to let different steps set up. Extra bonus…no candy thermometer needed! Here is what you will do:
- Combine: Add the sugar, peanut butter, and butter (or cream cheese) to the bowl of a stand mixer and mix together with the paddle attachment until combine.
- NOTE: The consistency should be that the dough holds together when you squeeze it in your hand. If it’s too wet, add a little more powdered sugar. If it’s too dry and crumbly, add a little more peanut butter. Keeping the dough chilled and cold and trying not to handle it too much will help a lot!
- Scoop: Using a small cookie scoop and your hands, shape the peanut butter mixture into 1/2-3/4 inch balls and place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper.
- Chill: Cover loosely and place in the freezer to chill for 30 minutes.
- Melt: Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a pot of simmering water (or use a double-boiler) and heat until completely melted and smooth.
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