Easy Christmas Baking Ideas

Christmas is the perfect time to fill your home with warm, comforting, festive aromas.

Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or making sweet treats for gifting, these easy Christmas baking ideas are simple, quick, and always delicious.

Each recipe includes a short description, basic ingredients, and step-by-step instructions to make holiday baking stress-free.

1. Christmas Sugar Cookies

Soft, buttery sugar cookies that hold their shape and are perfect for decorating with festive icing.

Ingredients

• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp vanilla

• ½ tsp almond extract (optional)

• 1 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp salt

Instructions

1. Beat butter and sugar until creamy.

2. Add egg, vanilla, and almond extract.

3. Mix in flour, baking powder, and salt.

4. Chill dough for 1 hour.

5. Roll out and cut into shapes.

6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8–10 minutes.

2. Chocolate Peppermint Bark

A three-ingredient treat with creamy chocolate and crunchy candy cane pieces.

Ingredients

• 2 cups white chocolate melts

• 1 cup dark chocolate melts

• ½ cup crushed candy canes

Instructions

1. Melt dark chocolate and spread a thin layer on a lined tray.

2. Chill for 10 minutes.

3. Melt white chocolate and spread over the dark layer.

4. Sprinkle with crushed candy canes.

5. Chill, break into pieces, and serve.

3. Gingerbread Loaf Cake

A moist and warmly spiced loaf that tastes like Christmas in every bite.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups flour

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup molasses

• ½ cup butter

• 1 egg

• 1 cup hot water

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tsp ginger

• ½ tsp nutmeg

• 1 tsp baking soda

Instructions

1. Mix melted butter, sugar, molasses, and egg.

2. Add dry ingredients and mix gently.

3. Stir in hot water.

4. Pour into a greased loaf pan.

5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45–50 minutes.

Read More: 14 Baking recipes cupcakes

4. Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree

A fun, festive cinnamon roll bake shaped like a Christmas tree—perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 can refrigerated cinnamon rolls

• Green icing

• Sprinkles

Instructions

1. Arrange rolls in a Christmas tree shape on a baking sheet.

2. Bake according to package instructions.

3. Decorate with green icing and sprinkles.

5. Cranberry White Chocolate Blondies

Sweet, chewy blondies with festive pops of tart cranberries and creamy white chocolate.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, melted

• 1 cup brown sugar

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 2 cups flour

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 cup white chocolate chips

• 1 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

1. Mix melted butter and sugars.

2. Add eggs and vanilla.

3. Mix in flour.

4. Fold in chocolate chips and cranberries.

5. Bake in a lined 9×13 pan at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes.

6. Easy Christmas Shortbread

Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies with minimal ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter

• ½ cup sugar

• 2 cups flour

• Red and green sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

1. Beat butter and sugar.

2. Add flour until crumbly.

3. Press into a baking dish.

4. Sprinkle with festive colors.

5. Bake at 325°F (160°C) for 30–35 minutes.

7. Hot Cocoa Brownies

Fudgy brownies with a hot chocolate twist and gooey marshmallows on top.

Ingredients

• 1 box brownie mix

• ½ cup mini marshmallows

• ½ cup chocolate chips

• 1 packet hot cocoa mix

Instructions

1. Prepare brownie mix according to box instructions.

2. Stir in chocolate chips and cocoa mix.

3. Bake as directed.

4. Add marshmallows in the last 5 minutes.

8. Christmas Red Velvet Cupcakes

Soft, vibrant cupcakes topped with creamy frosting for a festive dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 box red velvet cake mix

• Ingredients listed on box

• Cream cheese frosting

• Holiday sprinkles

Instructions

1. Prepare cake mix according to box instructions.

2. Bake cupcakes at 350°F (175°C) for 15–18 minutes.

3. Cool and frost.

4. Add sprinkles.

9. Snowball Cookies

Classic buttery cookies rolled in powdered sugar like snowballs.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• 2 ¼ cups flour

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour.

2. Add nuts if using.

3. Roll into small balls.

4. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 12–15 minutes.

5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar.

Also Check: 14 Delicious Baking Recipes for Cookies

10. Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Classic chocolate chip cookies upgraded with red and green M&Ms.

Ingredients

• 2 ¼ cups flour

• 1 cup butter

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• ¾ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 2 cups M&Ms

Instructions

1. Cream butter and sugars.

2. Add eggs.

3. Mix in dry ingredients.

4. Stir in M&Ms.

5. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes.

11. Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes

Rich chocolate cupcakes topped with peppermint frosting and crushed candy canes.

Ingredients

• 1 box chocolate cake mix

• Crushed candy canes

• Peppermint frosting

Instructions

1. Bake cupcakes according to package directions.

2. Cool and frost.

3. Sprinkle candy canes.

12. Apple Cinnamon Mini Pies

Cute, easy mini pies filled with warm cinnamon apple filling.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet pie crust

• 2 cups diced apples

• ¼ cup sugar

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

1. Mix apples with sugar and cinnamon.

2. Cut pie crust into circles.

3. Fill and top with another crust piece.

4. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18–20 minutes.

13. Christmas Sprinkle Cake Bars

Soft, colorful cake bars made with cake mix and festive sprinkles.

Ingredients

• 1 box vanilla cake mix

• 2 eggs

• ½ cup melted butter

• ½ cup Christmas sprinkles

Instructions

1. Mix cake mix, eggs, and melted butter.

2. Fold in sprinkles.

3. Bake in a 9×13 pan at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes.

Read More: 13 Delicious Applesauce Baking Recipes

14. Easy Nutella Puff Pastry Stars

Crispy, flaky stars filled with warm Nutella—ready in minutes.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry

• Nutella

• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Instructions

1. Cut puff pastry into star shapes.

2. Add a small spoon of Nutella to each.

3. Top with another pastry star.

4. Brush with egg wash.

5. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes.