34 Fun Christmas Recipes To Make With Kids

Chocolate Reindeer Cookies

Add a touch of whimsy to your holiday spread with these chocolaty treats. They're perfect for getting little ones involved. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Santa Claus Cookies

Store-bought peanut butter sandwich cookies become jolly Santas with white chocolate, colored sugar, mini chips and red-hot candies. —Mary Kaufenberg, Shakopee, Minnesota

Chocolate, Peanut & Pretzel Toffee Crisps

My "crispers" are the ultimate combination of salty and sweet. They never last long because—trust me—they're addictive! Make the recipe the way it's written or sprinkle on any treats you like. —Jennifer Butka, Livonia, Michigan

Fluffy Hot Chocolate

This is our daughter's favorite hot chocolate recipe. It may look like ordinary cocoa, but a touch of vanilla sets it apart from the rest. And the melted marshmallows give it a frothy body you won't get from a cocoa packet. —Jo Ann Schimcek, Weimar, Texas

Chocolate-Dipped Candy Canes

I couldn't resist combining my two loves—peppermint and chocolate—in this recipe. These are so easy, but if one breaks in the process, just pop it in your mouth. —Sandra Baumgarten, Vancouver, Washington

White Chocolate Party Mix

You won't be able to stop eating this irresistible white chocolate party mix. The light, sweet coating is great over cereal, peanuts, pretzels and M&M's. —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana

Peppermint Twists

Serve your family and friends this delicate twist that showcases one of the most popular flavors of the season…peppermint! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Banana Pancake Snowmen

Both kids and adults will love these yummy pancakes. Invite your little ones to help decorate their snowmen and they'll jump out of bed in a hurry! —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas

Peanut Butter Christmas Mice

With their black licorice tails, candy noses and peanut ears, these chewy "mice" were always a hit at classroom parties. My children are in their teens now, but they still ask me to make these cookies for the holidays. —Nancy Rowse, Bella Vista, Arkansas

Stacked Christmas Tree Cookies

Using prepared cookie dough gives you a nice head start to your own little forest of Christmas trees. Get the kids involved in this holiday craft to keep them busy making memories.—Sue Draheim, Waterford, Wisconsin

Ornament Popcorn Balls

These gooey-sweet treats are great for dressing up the tree with a little more than the classic popcorn string. And they're yummier and fun for the family, too. — Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri

Easy Truffles

Our smooth, creamy bonbons are so divine you may be tempted to save this recipe for a special occasion. But with just a few ingredients, they're easy to make anytime. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Coconut Yule Trees

People say they love my coconut macaroon-like Christmas trees because they look so festive. Once decorated, these trees light up a room—just like the real thing. —Michelle Retterer, Marysville, Ohio

Pink Ice

You'll love the creamy goodness of this refreshingly minty candy. It's festive pink color makes it lovely on the treat tray. --Phyllis Scheuer, Wenona, Illinois

Chocolate-Topped Marshmallow Sticks

I like to use all sorts of different marshmallow shapes and flavors to mix things up. These chocolate-dunked pops are always a hit at local bake sales. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Polka-Dot Macaroons

Macaroons studded with M&M's are easy to mix up in a hurry. That's good, because believe me, they never last long. —Janice Lass, Dorr, Michigan

Winter Wonderland Cereal Treats

This is a fun recipe to make with kids. They can help by decorating with gumdrops, pretzels and candies. Airheads Sour Belts make sweet scarves; snipped marshmallows work for hats. —Brenda Austin, Manlius, New York

Reindeer Brownies

My son, Jeremy, is 36 but acts as if he's 5 when he sees these brownies—I've been making them for more than 30 years! My daughter, Jayme, and my four grandchildren love them, too. If you're short on time, a boxed mix works just fine. —Jeannine Schneider, Fremont, California

Frosty Peppermint Popcorn

Whether you need a quick gift idea or yummy munchies for movie night, we've got you covered with this peppermint twist on regular popped popcorn. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Gingerbread Buddies

These cookies were ideal for a winter get-together I hosted. I like to share these crunchy treats on the way home from cutting our fresh Christmas tree.—Shelly Rynearson, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

Yummy Cracker Snacks

These treats are my family's favorite, and it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon. —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania

Cranberry Shortbread Stars

My family loves shortbread and I love cranberries, so I decided to put the two together. The star shape is a festive addition to my holiday cookie tray. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California

Peppermint Cereal Squares

Our 15 grandchildren expect me to make several batches of these minty treats each Christmas. The quick-and-easy preparation is appreciated during a hectic time of year. —Carole Coe, South Sutton, New Hampshire

Eggnog Cookies

This cookie's flavor fits right into the holiday spirit—pick your favorite cookie cutter shapes to make them even more festive! —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas

Crispy Chocolate Squares

Folks will think you slaved away on these fast and fudgy treats. People often request the recipe and are surprised to find out how easy they are to make. Even kids can make 'em! —Karen Speidel, Wheeling, Illinois

Touch-of-Gold Christmas Trees

You can decorate these pretty Christmas trees with other types of sprinkles if you don't have the gold dust. The filling alone makes the cookies special and so delicious! —Linda Sweet, Cornwall, New York

Potato Chip Clusters

Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super-easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma

Peppermint Meltaways

This recipe for peppermint meltaways is very pretty and festive-looking on a cookie platter. I often cover a plate of these peppermint cookies with red or green plastic wrap and a bright holiday bow in one corner. And yes, they really do melt in your mouth! —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan

Lemon Stars

These light little cookies have a light, crunchy texture and a citrusy zing. Try stars for the Christmas season and chicks for Easter. —Jacqueline Hill, Norwalk, Ohio

Gingerbread Sandwich Trees

Fun and festive, these cookie sandwich trees will be a huge hit with kids of all ages. They're a super-cute holiday treat! —Steve Foy, Kirkwood, Missouri

Fudgy Mint Cookies

Chocolate lovers will get a double dose when they bite into this cake-like cookie. The cookies are especially popular served alongside a big scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream! —Renee Schwebach, Dumont, Minnesota

Chocolate-Strawberry Pretzel Cookies

Every year I come up with a new recipe, and this is one that's been requested over and over. Who would ever guess how good pretzels are in cookies? —Isabel Minunni, Poughkeepsie, New York

Easy Elephant Ears

You’ll love the classic cinnamon-sugar flavor of these crispy bite-size treats. Even more, you’ll love that they call for just three ingredients and are so simple to assemble. —Bob Rose, Waukesha, Wisconsin

Reindeer Snack Mix

Rudolph and his pals will be dashing, dancing and prancing to gobble up this savory snack mix. Humans also will enjoy the buttery, perfectly seasoned and wonderfully crunchy combination. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen