10 Festive Holiday Baking Recipes for Kids

The one thing kids love more than eating delicious sugary treats, is eating delicious sugary treats they got to bake and decorate themselves! With the holidays fast approaching, we felt like sharing some of our favorite, foolproof recipes for festive holiday treats that invite the whole family to get in on the fun. Whether you're in the mood for traditional sugar cookies, decadent Christmas tree brownies, homemade peppermint bark, or decorative Rice Krispy treats, this list has all the inspiration you need for your next holiday bake-off. The recipes on this list give your kids a chance to build confidence in the kitchen as they have tons of fun decorating their tasty holiday creations!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Peppermint Bark by The Spruce Eats

    Peppemint Bark is a classic Christmas treat, but instead of buying a $20 tin from Williams Sonoma, why not make your own at home? This simple recipe from The Spruce Eats only needs 3 ingredients and makes enough to share!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Chocolate Reindeer Cookies by Taste of Home

    Yum, dasher! Yum, prancer! Yum, donner! Yum, vixen! Add some whimsical reindeer cheer to your holiday spread this year, with these rich, chocolate reindeer cookies! Decorating the cookies is a perfect way to get the kids involved in your holiday baking.

  • Visual aid of how to complete Christmas Tree Brownies by The Spruce Eats

    Here's a fun, festive spin on brownies from the good folks at The Spruce Eats. Bake your favorite brownie recipe, cut the brownies into triangles, and then let your kids have a great time transforming the brownies into delectable Christmas trees with green frosting and sprinkles. Don't forget the pretzel stick trunk!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Santa Clause Cookies by Taste of Home

    Transform store bought peanut butter sandwich cookies into holly, jolly Santas with white chocolate, mini chocolate chips, colored sugar, and red hot candies or red M&Ms!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Orange CranApple Holiday Punch by The Spruce Eats

    All these delicious holiday treats making you thirsty? Why not wash those sugar cookies down with some refreshing, vitamin-C packed, non-alcoholic holiday punch!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Stacked Christmas Tree Cookies by Taste of Home

    Prepare your favorite sugar cookie dough ahead of time, then have fun decorating and stacking the cookies into deliciously festive Christmas trees with your kids!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Christmas Rice Krispie Treats by The Spruce Eats

    Rice Krispie treats are super easy to prepare. Your kids will have a great time molding the mix into Christmas shapes, then decorating the treats with frosting and their favorite candy!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Chocolate Topped Marshmallow Sticks by Taste of Home

    What's more fun than dipping a marshmallow in melted chocolate? Eating a marshmallow dipped in melted chocolate!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Classic Sugar Cookies by The Spruce Eats

    Some things are traditions for a reason. If history is any indicator, your kids are sure to have a great time baking and decorating these classic holiday sugar cookies!

  • Visual aid of how to complete Gingerbread Buddies by Taste of Home

    Would any list of kid friendly holiday treats be complete without a recipe for gingerbread buddies? Absolutely not! The only thing more fun than decorating a freshly baked gingerbread cookie, is biting the head off whichever cookie your younger sibling just finished decorating. Happy holidays, indeed!


Get inspired!