Christmas in the kitchen with kids is a bit like magic: flour in the air, sticky fingers, giggles and proud smiles when you all step back and admire your creations. This post is your go-to guide for the best Christmas recipes for kids — from easy cookies to fun reindeer treats, cosy hot chocolate, and edible take-home gifts. Use it as your baking plan for December, or as a “holiday baking with kids” checklist.
As always, at Mum in the Mad House I like to share recipes and ideas that are fun, forgiving (for little hands), and full of festive sparkle.
🍪 Cookies & Biscuits You’ll Love Making Together
There’s just something about little hands cutting dough that makes Christmas feel real. These recipes are perfect for involving kids in the baking from start to finish.
Gingerbread Men
A true classic. Kids can help with mixing, kneading, and cutting shapes — and then decorating with icing, smarties, or sprinkles.
Get the recipe here → Gingerbread Men Recipe
Mini Gingerbread Houses
Turn cookie baking into a creative project. Build tiny houses that double as decorations or edible gifts. (You can adapt your gingerbread men dough recipe for this.)
Pretzel Wreath Biscuits
No oven? No problem. Arrange mini pretzels in a wreath shape, drizzle with melted chocolate, and decorate with red and green sweets. These pretzel wreaths are fun, fast, and super kid-friendly.
Peanut Butter Reindeer Biscuits
Use mini pretzels for antlers, chocolate chips for eyes, and a little red candy for Rudolph’s nose. These biscuits bring giggles and festive spirit to any cookie plate.
🍫 Quick & Festive Christmas Treats
When you want something sweet, festive, and with minimal fuss, these treats are your allies.
Snowman Chocolate Bark
Melt white chocolate, swirl in dark or milk chocolate, then dot with mini marshmallows, candy buttons, or pretzel arms. Once set, break the snowman chocolate bark into shards and serve.
Rolo Reindeer Treats
This is a classic: place a Rolo on a pretzel, microwave briefly so it softens, then press another pretzel on top for ears, add candy eyes and a red nose. So simple, so loved.
Cranberry & White Chocolate Bark
A no-bake favourite. Melt white chocolate, stir through dried cranberries and bits of cookie or biscuit, spread thin, chill, and break into pieces.
Santa Hat Cupcakes
Bake simple vanilla cupcakes, top with a strawberry and a marshmallow “pom” dusted in icing sugar. Adorable and perfect for a school party or teatime treat.
☕ Hot Chocolate, Drinks & Winter Warmers
Cold afternoons call for warm mugs. Here are playful, child-friendly Christmas drink ideas:
Hot Chocolate Spoons
Melt chocolate in spoon molds, drop in mini marshmallows and crushed candy canes, chill. Pop in a cup of hot milk and stir — instant festive cocoa.
Snowman Soup
Layer cocoa powder, marshmallows and chocolate bits in a cone – add one of our snowman soup labels and a candy cane, and you are all set.
DIY Reindeer Hot Chocolate Cones
Layer cocoa powder, marshmallows and chocolate bits in a cone, then decorate the outside with reindeer faces. Unwrap, pour in warm milk, stir — magic!
White Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa
Grate white chocolate and add a drop of peppermint extract for a minty twist, then top with crushed candy canes and mini marshmallows, alternatively, follow this recipe.
🍰 Cakes, Bakes & Festive Desserts
Want something a little more involved? Here are dessert ideas where kids can help with the fun parts (frosting, decorating, sprinkling).
Christmas Tree Cupcakes
Pipe green frosting into a tree shape, add a star sprinkle on top, some red “baubles” — instant festive cupcakes that are gorgeous and easy.
Chocolate Log Cake (Yule Log / Bûche de Noël)
A rolled sponge filled with whipped cream, brushed with chocolate icing. Kids can help dust with icing sugar “snow,” press on chocolate “bark,” or add little marzipan trees.
Mini Wreath Cakes
Use small bundt or ring moulds, coat in green icing, and add red sugar or candy “berries.” Cute and perfect for smaller servings. Great short cuts are to use ring doughnuts or just decorate the edges of cupcakes.
Santa Hat Cheesecake Bites
Tiny cheesecakes topped with strawberries and whipped cream to look like Santa hats. A creamy, festive treat.
🏡 Gingerbread Houses, Wreaths & Edible Crafts
For extra fun, stretch baking into a crafty session. Make gingerbread houses, wreaths, or edible decorations with the kids.
Gingerbread House Decorating Party
Bake house panels ahead, then let the kids ice, add sweets, and build. It’s messy, joyful, and makes for brilliant family photos.
Gingerbread Cookie Wreath
Bake a large circle of gingerbread and get everyone to decorate cookies and add them, a great collaborative experience.
Mini Gingerbread House Village
Bake multiple small houses, decorate, and set them up as a mini Christmas village. Kids love it.
Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
Skip the cookie cutters — just roll the dough into a long log, flatten, and slice angled pieces to form tree shapes. Decorate with icing and sprinkles for a fun, fuss-free festive bake perfect for little hands.
Reindeer Cookies (using Gingerbread Men Cutters)
Use a gingerbread man cutter, bake as usual, then flip the cookie upside down to turn it into a reindeer! Add pretzel antlers and candy features for a fun twist kids will love.
🎁 Edible Gifts & Homemade Treats to Share
There’s something extra sweet about giving food you’ve made. These are easy for kids to help package and gift.
Reindeer Food
A magical mix of oats and sparkly sprinkles, meant to be sprinkled outside on Christmas Eve.
Get the recipe → Make Your Own Reindeer Food
Candy Cane Fudge
A creamy fudge swirled with crushed candy canes (only 3 ingredients). Wrap in festive paper or jars — perfect teacher gifts.
Chocolate-Dipped Pretzels
Dip pretzels in melted chocolate and roll in crushed candy, sprinkles or crushed candy canes. Makes an easy, shareable gift.
Three-Layer Peppermint Bark
Layer melted chocolate with refreshing peppermint and top with crushed candy canes. Break into pieces for a festive, giftable treat that’s perfect for sharing.
🎅 Tips for Baking with Kids at Christmas
- Prep ahead: Measure out ingredients (flour, sugar, chocolate, sprinkles) so little ones can help pour and mix.
- Use easy decorating tools: Squeeze bottles, piping bags, and sprinkles make decorating lots more fun (and less mess).
- Set up stations: One table for rolling dough, another for decorating, another for cooling.
- Make a printable baking schedule: Let kids help choose which recipe to try each day.
- Play festive music and let them wear aprons — make it fun, not perfect.