Skip to Content

18 Last-Minute Holiday Treats To Make Any Family Gathering A Fun One

Spoiler: They all take less than an hour to make!

By
cookie bars topped with pink ice and peppermint candy pieces
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Word to the wise: Don't forget the dessert. Especially when it comes to the holidays, nothing makes a party come to a screeching halt faster than guests realizing that there isn't a dessert on the menu. Nothing! So, in the interest of safety, I suggest you keep a few of these quick and easy holiday treat recipes in your back pocket. Not only are they delicious (and adorable), but all 18 of these recipes (for bars, cookies, barks, and even treats that double as gifts) come together in well under an hour — some only even need 10 minutes! Rest assured, these treats will keep everyone in the family feeling merry.

The real beauty of these holiday treats? That they're all perfect for anything from a last minute Christmas present exchange or Hanukkah gathering, yet look like you spent all day crafting them. Put out a tray of peppermint sheet-pan bars, or dig into some tiramisu dip, either way you'll have saved a ton of time during an otherwise super hectic time of the year. Plus, our edible pinecones, Hanukkah gelt, and Christmas tree cookie stacks all double as a fun craft project for the whole family, too — get the kids involved and you'll spend even less time in the kitchen!

Looking for more last-minute holiday recipes? Trust me, I've been there — check out our favorite last-minute appetizers, easy cocktail recipes, and all the best last-minute gifts (that are also travel-ready).

1

Reese's Rudolph Bites

reeses candy stuck together with pretzels to make mini reindeers
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re looking for the perfect holiday craft-meets-snack activity to do with the whole family, look no further. True to form, these Reese’s Rudolph bites are bringing home the holiday cheer this year. The only special ingredient you'll need is candy eyes to build these jolly reindeer, which can be purchased online, but the rest comes together in a snap and makes for an adorably edible gift.

Get the Reese's Rudolph Bites recipe.

2

Hot Cocoa Dip

hot cocoa dip served with cookies
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

The experience of dipping and dunking sweet treats in a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter day is almost as good as the drink itself. But what to do when the hot cocoa craving hits when it’s not so cold out (it happens!)? What if you want hot chocolate but in a more shareable form? Enter this sweet, creamy hot cocoa party dip. It’s topped with swoops of whipped cream, a shower of mini marshmallows, and sprinkles, if you're feeling fancy.

Get the Hot Cocoa Dip recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Peppermint Sheet-Pan Bars

cookie bars topped with pink ice and peppermint candy pieces
PHOTO: RYAN LIEBE; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

While peppermint and chocolate (à la classic peppermint bark) is a wonderful pairing, these bars really let the peppermint shine on its own. They're somewhere between a sugar cookie and a blondie, and have gorgeous swoops of minty cream cheese frosting with swirls of red and pink to mimic candy canes. This recipe also makes a ton, perfect for sharing!

Get the Peppermint Sheet-Pan Bars recipe.

4

Puppy Chow

chex mix tossed in peanut butter and powdered sugar
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Puppy chow (aka muddy buddies) is one of the easiest and most delicious sweet snacks EVER, and it's super-kid-friendly to make and gift too.

Get the Puppy Chow recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Holiday Cookie Pops

sugar cookies with sprinkles on sticks
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Everyone decorates Christmas sugar cookies with icing, and we think not enough people roll them in sugar and turn them into pops. Pro tip: Dunk ’em in your hot cocoa.

Get the Holiday Cookie Pops recipe.

6

Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks

sugar cookies stacked with green icing and sprinkles to make christmas tree stacks
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

All you need is store-bought sugar cookie dough, an easy homemade buttercream (colored green to nail the Christmas vibes), and your desired decorations to create these tiny edible trees. In 30 minutes, you’ll have the cutest cookie stacks that everyone will be fighting over.

Get the Christmas Tree Cookie Stacks recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Santa Hat Cheesecake Bites

mini cheesecake bites topped with strawberries and whipped cream to look like a santa hat
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Need a last-minute dessert that requires very little planning, but will be a showstopper on your holiday table? Stop here. We're obsessed with this holiday treat for two reasons: 1) It’s ridiculously cute and 2) ridiculously simple. All you need are 3 ingredients—store-bought cheesecake, whipped cream, and strawberries—and 10 minutes to create this adorable holiday dessert.

Get the Santa Hat Cheesecake Bites recipe.

8

Tiramisu Dip

tiramisu dip
RACHEL VANNI PHOTOGRAPHY LLC F/S/O RACHEL VANNI

What do you do when you’re craving tiramisu, but you don’t have the time or patience to chill it for hours? Enter tiramisu dip. It’s got all the right flavors—creamy mascarpone, rich espresso, and a generous dusting of cocoa powder—and it comes together in just 10 minutes.

Get the Tiramisu Dip recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9

Edible Pine Cones

cornflakes stacked and decorated to look like pine cones
PHOTO: BRYAN GARDNER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Need a centerpiece? Edible pine cones. Kid-friendly activity? Edible pine cones. Last-minute gift for that one person you always forget? Edible pine cones. They’re the Swiss Army knife of holiday treats.

Get the Edible Pine Cones recipe.

10

Buddy The Elf Rice Krispies Treats

rice krispies treats with marshmallows, candy, and pop tart pieces
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Watching Elf for the hundredth time? Us too! This twist on Buddy the Elf’s breakfast spaghetti is just the thing to add to your Christmas treat bucket list; plus, it's the perfect snack while you curl up on the couch and press play. If dessert for breakfast isn’t your thing, you’ll find the same sticky goodness in Rice Krispies format with crunchy chow mein noodles, chocolate galore, and even Pop-Tarts—no spaghetti required.

Get the Buddy The Elf Rice Krispies Treats recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Hanukkah Gelt

chocolate coins with various toppings of nuts and dried fruit
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE

♫ "Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel..." ♫ If you truly want to take your game over the top, play for homemade gelt! They're super-easy to make at home (we used a mini muffin tin), and you can decorate them however you like.

Get the Hanukkah Gelt recipe.

12

Melted Snowman Cookie Dough Bites

melted snowman cookie dough bites
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Using our delicious edible cookie dough recipe, white chocolate ganache, and a couple of candy decorations, these melted snowman bites are the perfect sweet treat to bring to any holiday party. Plus, they’re ready in just 30 minutes, making them perfect for last-minute gifts and get-togethers.

Get the Melted Snowman Cookie Dough Bites recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Gingerbread Cookie Bark

white chocolate bark with gingerbread cookies and sprinkles
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you’re a gingerbread head like us, congratulations, you’ve stumbled upon the perfect recipe for your holiday season. This bark blends white chocolate with all your favorite holiday spices and is topped with gingerbread cookies to create a simple yet delightfully cute holiday treat.

Get the Gingerbread Cookie Bark recipe.

14

Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip

gingerbread flavored cheesecake dip in a bowl topped with sprinkles and gingerbread cookeis
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This delightfully festive dip has all the warm, spiced flavors of your favorite holiday cookies transformed into a fluffy and light spread for gingerbread cookies, graham crackers, or pretzels. A mashup of gingerbread and creamy cheesecake, this is a great alternative holiday dessert to serve for your next party! Guests will constantly ask you for the recipe, and don’t judge if you catch some double-dipping action going on.

Get the Gingerbread Cheesecake Dip recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15

Brownie Brittle

brownie brittle
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

If you love candy brittle and are as obsessed with brownies as we are, then this will be your new favorite snack. Crisp and crunchy with deep cocoa flavor, this sweet snack bark is both easy to make and incredibly tasty. Beware—you won’t be able to stop at just one piece!

Get the Brownie Brittle recipe.

16

Cookie Butter Snowflake Crisp

cookie butter snowflake crisp
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

For fans of Rice Krispies treats, meet snowflake crisp, a popular Taiwanese confection. Think of this as a lighter version of nougat, but much easier to make at home with just a few ingredients.For our take, we use crunchy Biscoff cookies, which lend subtle sweet notes of caramel and malt.

Get the Cookie Butter Snowflake Crisp recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17

Elf On The Shelf-Inspired Mischief Munch

chex mix with red and green candy and icing
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Even if you're not well-studied in the arts of elf antics—or are particularly crafty—you can make this mischief munch. Your kids can even make it with you, so they can leave it out to lure their little pal. It just takes a little cereal, some M&M's and holiday sprinkles, but you could modify it to suit your tastes.

Get the Elf On The Shelf Mischief Munch recipe.

18

Cool Whip Cookies

cool whip chocolate crinkle cookies
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER

Looking for the easiest-ever Christmas cookie? Enter: Cool whip cookies. All you need is cake mix, whipped topping (aka Cool Whip), an egg, and powdered sugar to create these holiday treats. This genius boxed-cake-mix hack makes super-fudgy crinkle cookies—with a third of the typical ingredients. Whether you’re searching for a last-minute holiday dessert or a sweet homemade food gift, these cookies are the answer.

Get the Cool Whip Cookies recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below