20 Easy Christmas Snacks for Kids To Make
The Christmas season is the perfect time to get kids excited about cooking. Little ones love helping in the kitchen, especially when it involves colorful, fun, and tasty snacks. By giving them simple, hands-on recipes, you can turn holiday prep into a family activity that creates sweet memories. These 20 easy Christmas snacks include both sweet and savory options, from cookies and macarons to cheeseballs and roasted veggies. Each idea is kid-friendly, festive, and designed to spread holiday cheer.
1. Santa Hat Strawberries
Fresh strawberries topped with whipped cream and a mini marshmallow are the ultimate quick holiday snack. They look just like Santa’s hat, and kids will love putting them together. This recipe is also a healthy break from all the sugary treats, giving little hands a chance to make something festive that’s still wholesome.
2. Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Take your classic Rice Krispie treats and transform them into reindeer with the help of pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red M&M noses. This simple no-bake snack gives kids a fun decorating activity. The best part? They’re as crunchy and delicious as they are cute.
3. Snowman Cheese Sticks
Turn ordinary string cheese into snowmen by wrapping them with paper scarves and drawing on little faces. It’s a snack and craft rolled into one, making it an easy addition to holiday parties or school lunchboxes.
4. Christmas Tree Brownies
Brownies never fail during the holidays, but when you cut them into tree shapes and decorate with green frosting and sprinkles, they instantly become magical. If your kids enjoy brownies, they’ll also love trying Pumpkin Pie Bars, another easy-to-make holiday treat that combines creamy filling with a buttery crust.
5. Grinch Fruit Kabobs
These are as fun as they are nutritious! By stacking grapes, bananas, strawberries, and marshmallows on skewers, you can make little Grinch hats. It’s a snack kids can assemble almost entirely on their own, which makes them proud of their edible creations.
6. Candy Cane Pretzels
With just pretzel sticks, melted white chocolate, and crushed candy canes, you can whip up this crunchy snack in minutes. Kids love dipping and rolling the pretzels, and you’ll love how festive they look arranged on a platter.
7. Snowman Donuts
Mini powdered donuts stacked together become adorable snowmen when decorated with chocolate chips and candy scarves. These are great for holiday breakfast spreads and are as easy as stacking and sticking.
8. Rudolph Pancakes
Breakfast gets a holiday makeover with Rudolph pancakes. Add bacon antlers, chocolate chip eyes, and a strawberry nose, and you have a plate that will make any kid smile. If you’re already planning fun breakfasts, try pairing these with Snowman Cheeseball for a savory touch to balance the sweetness.
9. Christmas Popcorn Mix
Popcorn, red and green candies, pretzels, and a drizzle of melted chocolate come together in this addictive snack mix. It’s easy for kids to stir and shake everything in a big bowl, and it makes the perfect treat for holiday movie nights.
10. Elf Hat Cupcakes
Turn ordinary cupcakes into elf hats with green frosting, sprinkles, and candy canes. Baking together gives kids a sense of accomplishment, and the decorating step is where they can really get creative.
11. Santa Claus Macarons
For a more advanced but fun project, try Santa Claus Macarons. These delicate cookies can be decorated to look like Santa himself. Kids can help with the decorating, while adults handle the baking. They’re not just treats — they’re showstoppers.
12. Pumpkin Pie Bars
If your family loves pie, but you don’t want the fuss of slicing and serving, Pumpkin Pie Bars are a perfect solution. They’re baked in a sheet, cut into squares, and are easy for kids to both make and eat. Plus, the flavors bring that cozy fall-to-winter transition we all crave.
13. Gingerbread Cookie Bark
This recipe takes the traditional gingerbread cookie and gives it a twist. By layering chocolate, crushed gingerbread, and peppermint, you create a bark that kids can help smash and assemble. It’s fun, messy, and festive.
14. Snowman Cheeseball
For a savory option, the Snowman Cheeseball is a crowd-pleaser. Rolled in herbs or cream cheese and decorated with carrot noses and olive eyes, it’s a snack that looks as fun as it tastes. Kids love shaping the cheeseball into snowman form.
15. Christmas Spritz Cookies
These buttery cookies are pressed into fun holiday shapes using a cookie press, then sprinkled with colored sugar. Spritz cookies are a Christmas classic, and letting kids take turns with the press keeps them entertained.
16. Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips
Not all snacks have to be sweet. Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips are a savory side that kids can help season and arrange on a baking tray. They’re golden, garlicky, and surprisingly kid-friendly when served warm.
17. Christmas Thumbprint Cookies
These cookies are soft and buttery with a festive filling of red or green jam. Kids enjoy pressing their thumbs into the dough before baking, making them one of the most interactive treats on this list.
18. Mini Cranberry Cheeseballs
Cheeseballs don’t have to be large. These bite-sized versions are rolled in dried cranberries and nuts, making them both festive and snackable. They’re a savory balance to the sweeter recipes like Christmas Spritz Cookies or Almond Snowball Cookies.
19. Puff Pastry Stars
Puff pastry is magic during the holidays. By cutting it into star shapes and baking until golden, you create a light and flaky snack that can be dusted with powdered sugar or filled with chocolate. Kids will love cutting the dough into fun shapes.
20. Almond Snowball Cookies
No Christmas list is complete without Almond Snowball Cookies. These melt-in-your-mouth treats are rolled in powdered sugar to look like little snowballs. Simple, sweet, and festive — the perfect snack for kids to roll and coat.
Why Kids Will Love These Snacks
Every recipe on this list is designed to be hands-on. Whether it’s pressing dough, dipping pretzels, decorating cookies, or stacking fruit, kids get to play a big role. Plus, many of these recipes, like Pumpkin Pie Bars and Snowman Cheeseball, double as family favorites for gatherings, making them practical as well as fun.
Tips for Parents
Cooking with kids during the holidays is just as much about the experience as it is about the food. While these recipes are simple and kid-friendly, a little preparation can make the process smoother and more enjoyable. By setting up a fun, stress-free environment, you’ll help your children feel confident in the kitchen while keeping the holiday spirit alive. Here are a few practical tips to make your Christmas snack-making adventure even more magical.
- Prep ingredients in advance to avoid frustration.
- Set up a decorating station with sprinkles, candies, and edible decorations.
- Don’t stress over perfection, the joy is in the process.
Conclusion
These 20 easy Christmas snacks for kids to make combine fun, flavor, and festive cheer. From Santa Claus Macarons and Gingerbread Cookie Bark to savory favorites like Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips, each recipe offers a new way to celebrate the season together. Cooking with kids isn’t just about the food, it’s about the memories made along the way.