Get dazzling holiday treats without the mess and time of regular baking! Skip right to dessert with these delicious no-bake Christmas cookies.
37 No-Bake Christmas Cookies & Treats
Updated on Sep. 27, 2024
Frosty Polar Bears
I love spending time in the kitchen with my nieces. This is the perfect recipe to make with the little ones. Dang cute, easy and portable! —Emily Tyra, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
(We think you’ll love this sugarplums recipe, too!)
1/37
2/37
Chocolate Caramel Wafers
Total Time
30 min
Servings
7 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
To keep my holiday cooking quick, I've come to rely on fast recipes like this one. The crunchy-chewy tidbits are our youngster's favorite.
3/37
Rum Balls
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Rum flavor comes through nicely in these traditional, no-bake rum balls. I like to make a few dozen at a time and give them to my neighbors for Christmas—Audrey Larson, Bloomington, Minnesota
4/37
Mint Sandwich Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Canned frosting, peppermint extract and chocolate candy coating quickly turn crackers into these wonderful little no-bake cookies. My children and I like to assemble them for parties and holidays. I hope you and your family enjoy them as much as we do.
-Melissa Thompson, Anderson, Ohio
5/37
No-Bake Chocolate Hazelnut Thumbprints
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Years ago, a friend gave me a recipe for chocolate peanut treats that didn't require baking. I thought it was a quick and clever way to whip up a batch of sweet snacks without heating up the kitchen, and I started making different variations. This one includes luscious Nutella and crunchy hazelnuts. Yum! —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
6/37
Gooey Caramel-Topped Gingersnaps
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Making these cookies is therapeutic for me. And they are always quite popular at fundraisers. If you’d like, you can make variations by using different nuts.
—Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri
7/37
Nutty Rice Krispie Cookies
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My mom and I used to prepare these Rice Krispie cookies for Christmas every year. Making them with just the microwave means they're super easy and fun to mix with the kids. —Savanna Chapdelaine, Orlando, Florida
8/37
Chocolate Peanut Butter Grahams
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Because so many people seem to love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter, I came up with this no-bake cookie recipe.—Geraldine Sliwa, Elgin, Illinois. Looking for more recipes? Try these peanut butter no-bake cookies.
9/37
Church Window Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These church window cookies are a hit with kids—the little ones just love the colored marshmallows! —Emmilie Gaston, Wabash, Indiana
10/37
Butterscotch-Rum Raisin Treats
Total Time
20 min
Servings
about 4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love making rum raisin rice pudding around the holidays. Those flavors inspired this recipe. Crispy rice cereal adds crunch, but nuts, toasted coconut or candied pineapple could do the job, too. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
11/37
Mint Chocolate-Covered Cookies
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
At our house, everyone lends a hand to make these easy chocolate-covered cookies. They remind me of Thin Mints. Decorate them with sprinkles to match the occasion. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia
12/37
Holiday Cornflake Cookies
Total Time
15 min
Servings
16 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
I can't seem to make enough of these cornflake wreaths around the holidays. The cookies firm up quickly, so you'll need to place the Red Hots right away. —Kathleen Hedger, Fairview Heights, Illinois
13/37
Salted Butterscotch & Pecan No-Bakes
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When I was deciding what type of cookie to make for a Christmas swap, I opted for something with coconut, pudding mix and salted caramel. Boxed, these could make a great gift as well. I like to drizzle caramel over the tops of the cookies before serving for a special touch. —Stacey Ritz, Sudbury, Ontario
14/37
Lemon Tea Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
about 4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These sandwich cookies taste rich and buttery and have a lovely lemon filling. The recipe has been in our family since the 1950s, when my mother got it from a French friend in her club. —Phyllis Dietz, Westland, Michigan
15/37
Fruity No-Bake Cookies
Total Time
15 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Keep your kitchen cool with these freezer cookies made with fruity cereal. They're extra sweet and even more fun for kids to help make.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
16/37
Chocolate Lebkuchen Cherry Balls
Total Time
45 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s my twist on the traditional German holiday lebkuchen—with a surprise inside. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
17/37
No-Bake Cookie Butter Blossoms
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Chewy and sweet, these easy treats mix Rice Krispies, cookie spread and chocolate kisses in an unforgettable spin on an old favorite. —Jessie Sarrazin, Livingston, Montana
18/37
Peanut Butter Penguins
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
32 cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Could these be any more adorable? To treat your guests to this chocolaty, peanut buttery goodness, just cover Nutter Butter cookies with chocolate and decorate! They’re a lot of fun to make and even more fun to eat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
19/37
Easy Cinnamon Thins
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
When a co-worker’s husband came home from Iraq, we had a potluck for him. These cookies with coarse red sugar matched our patriotic theme. —Janet Whittington, Heath, Ohio
20/37
Pine Cone Cookies
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 pine cone cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
Pull out each Goldfish graham and dip it into the soft center to snack on these pine cones. There's nothing more fun or creative on the cookie table this year! —Betty MacArthur, Portland, Oregon
21/37
Coconut Christmas Mice
Total Time
45 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Off-the-charts cuteness makes it nearly impossible for guests to resist these fluffy, coconutty treats. Luckily, they’re really easy to make—no oven needed. Merry Christ-mouse to you! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
22/37
Key Lime Pie Balls
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
The classic creamy filling, graham cracker crust and burst of lime are all mixed together in every bite of these rolled cookies. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
23/37
Homemade Butterfinger Bites
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Bent on using up a stash of leftover candy corn, I decided to experiment. Turns out, if you melt it, mix it with peanut butter and coat the balls with chocolate, you get a softer, denser version of a Butterfinger bite. Who knew? They’re delicious! —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
24/37
Coconut Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
This simple yet satisfying coconut cookie recipe has been around for generations. Pressing a fork into the top gives the look of an old-fashioned washboard. —Tommie Sue Shaw, McAlester, Oklahoma
25/37
No-Bake Minty Oreo Blossoms
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My blossoms take the Oreo truffle just a little further—and fancier. They're dressed up with a candy coating and a kiss of mint. —Connie Krupp, Racine, Wisconsin
26/37
Raspberry Coconut Balls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family loves Hostess Zingers, especially the raspberry flavor coated with coconut, inspiring this treat to make for school bake sales. We can make about four dozen in 30 minutes, and they sell out fast! —Pam Clark, Wheaton, Illinois
27/37
Yummy Cracker Snacks
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These treats are my family’s favorite. In fact, it seems no matter how many I make, they always disappear too soon! —D. Weaver, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
28/37
Cherry-Coconut Slices
Total Time
20 min
Servings
32 bars
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother got this recipe from a woman named Emmie Oddie, a well-known home economist in Canada who had a column in a farming newspaper. Oddie would test reader recipes in her own kitchen and write about it. These tasty sweets are so rich that you need only a small piece. —Judy Olson, Whitecourt, Alberta
29/37
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My secret to these rich no-bake bites? Pretzels in the crust. They add a salty crunch to the classic peanut butter and chocolate pairing. —Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia
30/37
Chocolate Rum Balls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Roll these truffle-like rum balls in crushed Oreos to get just the right amount of crunch. They can be made three days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. I also tuck some in the freezer!
31/37
Rum Balls
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I make these rum balls for special occasions with my wonderful family and friends. The treats are so easy to make and pack a festive punch. — Diane Duschanek, Council Bluffs, Iowa
32/37
Easy Mint Thins
Total Time
40 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My friends often try to guess the ingredients, but I never tell them how simple they are to make. They taste just like the Girl Scout cookie, and they're perfect for Christmas and bake sales. —Jennifer Setser, Morgantown, Indiana
33/37
Chocolate Almond Drops
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
So much rich, chocolaty flavor, so little time! My trufflelike cookies are deceptively easy to make and look so elegant on a party tray. —Betsy King, Duluth, Minnesota
34/37
Easy Candied Fruit Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Family and friends always want me to have these for Christmas, so I make lots of them. They're easy to handle and store and also make nice gifts. —Nan Bush, Morganton, North Carolina
35/37
Chocolate Butterscotch Haystacks
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandmother used to make this haystacks recipe to give to my cousin Vonnie and me when our parents didn't want us to have any more sweets. —Christine Schwester, Divide, Colorado
36/37
No-Bake Ginger Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
about 5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
One of my favorite desserts in England was a cake featuring chocolate and ginger. When I came home, I tried creating different recipes using these flavors. This is easy to make and tastes fantastic! —Jennifer Warner, Rochester, Minnesota
37/37
Cherry No-Bake Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 5-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I always loved my no-bake cookie recipe, but I was never able to place at the fair with it. So I mixed in some maraschino cherries, added almond extract and voila! I won a blue ribbon at the county fair in 2010. —Denise Wheeler, Newaygo, Michigan
Up Next: Also check out these places to buy Christmas cookies online.
