Baking isn’t everyone’s forte—we get it! But just because you’re oven-averse doesn’t mean you can’t make great desserts at home, especially during the holiday season when every hour is sweets-o’clock. Here’s proof: This list has our best no-bake Christmas cookies and treats that are still indulgent and super festive.
There’s a range of Christmas desserts in this list, so there’s a little something for everyone. Of course, Christmas no-bake cookie recipes dominate the list, with cute reindeer, thumbprints, Christmas wreath cookies and even a no-bake version of the iconic peanut butter blossoms. But there are lots of other treats in store, too, like peppermint pies, fudge and frozen desserts, all sorts of chocolate-covered bites and balls, no-bake bars and even a glorious Christmas trifle that feeds a crowd.
While these are easy no-bake holiday cookies, some require a stovetop or microwave and a few require baking tools like a food processor or mixer. Others are truly no-heat with zero baking tools involved, so read through the recipes that catch your eye before claiming them for Christmas dinner.
One of the best parts of Christmas is the food: decadent Christmas mains and sides, festive appetizers and cocktails, and, of course, Christmas cookies. But if you have a gluten allergy, at times it can feel as if your options are limited or nonexistent.
Our gluten-free Christmas cookies are here to save the day because no one should miss out on the fun of making and decorating cookies because of an allergy! In this collection, you’ll find gluten-free holiday cookies like snowballs, pumpkin cookies and crinkle cookies to bake and enjoy worry-free. You’ll even find allergy-friendly recipes for classic Christmas cookies, including gingerbread men, spritz and shortbread.
These gluten-free festive cookies will be welcome additions to your gluten-free dessert spread and will have even your non-allergic family members coming back for more.
Christmas is a time of wonder and whimsy, from trees laden with ornaments to lovingly made cookies and intricate gingerbread houses. And while you may already be planning overnight holiday breakfast recipes and Christmas dinner ideas, we wouldn’t blame you if lunch is the last thing on your mind between opening gifts and getting ready for supper. But that doesn’t have to be the case! These Christmas lunch ideas prove that even quick and easy recipes can be tasty (and pretty!) enough for this special day.
Each of these easy Christmas lunch ideas is family-friendly and features seasonal produce, including pomegranate seeds, juicy blood oranges, pears and cranberries. There is a range of options from crisp salads and veggie sides to warming winter soups and sandwiches, so you’re sure to find something that fits your family’s tastes and appetites. Plus, these holiday lunch dishes come together quickly or can be made ahead of time, so mealtime is as easy as reheating.
But, we have to admit that the imperfection of these festive smashed cookies places them at the top of our list. The addition of two eggs gives the centers a tender and soft texture, while the crinkled edges get ever so slightly golden and crisp. Top with a simple confectioners’ sugar glaze for a holiday treat perfect for a cookie tin — and that’s oh-so-fun to make!
If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics.
If you ask us, holiday baking season is the most wonderful time of the year. That’s when we get to break out the royal icing, sprinkles and colorful candy pieces—and give all our favorite holiday cookies an extra special touch. And, while we always make sure to include something new in our roundup, there’s nothing better than a freshly baked batch of the classics. We’re talking buttery shortbreads, all different types of sugar cookies and, of course, plenty of gingerbread. If looking for a handful of recipes that rely on classic flavors and tried-and-true techniques, these are the ones to add to your repertoire. You’ll find snowballs, thumbprints, biscotti and more. No matter which cookies you decide to bake, spritz are a holiday must. The green and white tie-dye effect gives these classic cookies a modern-retro look, and the red sprinkles add a bit more holiday cheer.
With ambitious holiday party planning comes the potential to spend the entire time cooking in the kitchen—while your guests wonder where you are. Let’s skip all that. Instead, take the quick-and-easy route: put together something festive and enjoy your limited time together, with treats that only require a handful of ingredients. Each clocks in at just five or fewer—and will fill everyone you love, including you, with holiday cheer. One of our favorites? This reimagined take on the Yule log. Using store-bought Swiss roll cakes ensures this version is a breeze—but still impressive enough to dazzle your family and friends.
When traveling in the southern United States, you’ll find pecan pralines as easily as you will find a chocolate bar. Legend has it that this treat originated from nuts accidentally spilling into a vat of caramel. Regardless of how they came to be, they are irresistible and delicious. Pecan pralines offer buttery, sweet and rich flavors that melt in your mouth. It is nearly impossible to eat just one.
Pecan Praline Ingredients
Butter: The butter aids in creating a melt-in-your-mouth caramel that envelops the pecans in this recipe.
Sugar: We use granulated and brown sugar to prepare the caramel for these pecan pralines.
Half-and-half: The half-and-half is essential for creating this recipe’s creamy and rich caramel.
Condensed milk: We depend on condensed milk to provide these pecan pralines with a nostalgically sweet and comforting flavor.
Corn syrup: The corn syrup helps solidify these pecan pralines so they do not fall apart as soon as you pick them up.
Pecans: We mix pecans into the batter of these pralines because they give the confection a necessary crunch.
Vanilla extract: The vanilla helps deliver the warm flavor profiles in this pecan praline recipe.
As a dietitian surviving thriving in cold Michigan winters, soup season is a serious time of year. A steamy bowl of soup warms you from the inside out, and it’s one of the best ways to boost nutrition when fresh summer produce dwindles. These healthy winter soups pack nutrient-rich vegetables, whole grains and lean protein into every comforting bite. From soups made creamy with veggie purees to fiber-rich lentil and chicken noodle soups, you’ll find a flavorful soup here that fits your nutrition goals.
What sets these recipes apart is their focus on whole foods and from-scratch cooking. Using wholesome ingredients like homemade bone broth, herbs, spices and seasonal vegetables, like butternut squash, kale and carrots, these soups deliver valuable nutrition without being difficult to prepare. And because life doesn’t slow down when you’re hungry, you’ll find plenty of one-pot meals and slow-cooker soups that come together quickly, proving that healthy winter cooking can be both nourishing and doable.
Having diabetes can make the holiday season feel more frantic than festive, especially when searching for diabetic Christmas desserts that people actually want to eat. As a dietitian, let me let you in on a little secret: you can enjoy delicious, easy Christmas desserts and treats, even if you’re working hard to manage your blood sugars. While traditional desserts can lead to blood glucose spikes, these diabetic-friendly Christmas treats have all the flavor and fun you need, with a lot less sugar.
From apple desserts to peppermint cookies and eggnog mousse, these blood sugar-friendly sweets are the perfect sweet addition to your diabetic-friendly Christmas recipes. So you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for health, I’ve rounded up the best diabetic Christmas desserts that balance sweetness with nutrition, so you can feel good about your macros while joining in on the holiday fun.
Lavishly dusted in powdered sugar, buttery pecan-packed Mexican wedding cookies are synonymous with celebration. These melt-in-your-mouth cookies are equally beloved in regions around Mexico and the U.S., a staple at weddings, holiday parties and virtually any festive gathering. Texture-wise, the cookies are a lot like shortbread—crumbly rather than chewy, thanks to the fact these tasty treats are baked without eggs.
With their resemblance to snowballs, Mexican wedding cookies are just begging to be included in your Christmas cookie swap, but are delicious any time of year, boxed up as edible gifts or dunked into a cup of milky tea.
We’re counting down the top Christmas cookies—here’s one of them! To join the countdown and for more festive fun, sign up for our Holiday newsletter.
Why are they called Mexican wedding cookies?
Also called Mexican wedding cakes, these nutty, buttery delights are sometimes called Russian tea cakes and polvorones. Look across the world, and you’ll encounter similar cookie recipes: Pecan sandies, Italian wedding cookies, Greek kourabiedes and qurabiya, to name a few. Ingredients vary (more than anything, it’s the nuts used), and sometimes they’re round, while other versions, like this Mexican wedding cake cookie recipe, are crescent-shaped.
The precise origins of this sweet treat are lost to the mists of time. Many food historians believe these cookies have medieval Middle Eastern roots, with recipes spreading to new regions via trade routes across the centuries. They also think the recipe traveled to Mexico with the Spanish in the 16th century. There’s speculation that the name Mexican wedding cakes replaced Russian tea cakes around the 1950s, at the height of the Cold War. Whatever you call them, they’re delicious!
Mexican Wedding Cookie Ingredients
TASTE OF HOME
Butter: I like using salted butter to balance out the sweetness in these cookies. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the recipe if you opt for unsalted.
Confectioners’ sugar: Creaming the confectioners’ sugar with butter helps give Mexican wedding cookies their wonderfully delicate texture. You also roll the still-warm cookies in confectioners’ sugar when they come out of the oven.
Vanilla extract: Along with pecans, vanilla is the main flavor that floods your taste buds when biting into a Mexican wedding cookie. Since it’s so prominent, use the best vanilla extract you can. Almond extract is a lovely substitution, or combine half of each.
Pecans: Both regular and toasted pecans are phenomenal in this recipe. Lightly toasting the pecans for a few minutes in the oven will give them a deeper, richer flavor.
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