30 Christmas Baking Recipes for the Holiday Season
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year for baking. I love having an excuse to make all sorts of cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats, and there’s always someone happy to eat them! It’s also a nice way to spend a few hours when it’s freezing cold outside and you don’t really fancy going anywhere.
I’ve put together 30 of my Christmas baking recipes, including cookies, brownies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, and some lovely homemade breads. There’s a bit of everything really, from easy recipes you can throw together without too much fuss to some that take a little longer but are well worth the effort.
I always think it’s nice to have a few homemade treats around at Christmas, especially when you’ve got family and friends popping in. Some of these would be lovely for giving as gifts too, or taking along if you’re visiting someone over the holidays. Hopefully, you’ll find a few things here that you fancy making this Christmas!
Why You’ll Love These Recipes
- There’s plenty of choice. I’ve included all sorts of Christmas bakes here, from cookies and brownies to cakes, breads, and cinnamon rolls. Plenty to keep you busy in the kitchen!
- Lots of them are really easy. You don’t need to be an amazing baker to give these a go. Some are really quick and simple, while others take a little more time.
- They’re fun to make with the kids. I always think Christmas is a lovely time to get the kids in the kitchen, even if it does mean a bit more mess to clear up afterward.
- They’re lovely for homemade gifts. A few cookies or brownies popped into a little gift bag make such a nice Christmas present, especially when you’re trying to keep costs down.
- It’s a nice way to spend a cold afternoon. I love being in the kitchen baking when it’s cold and miserable outside, especially at Christmas when there’s always an excuse to make something sweet!
1. Cake Batter Christmas Cookies
I love how colorful these cookies are! They’re lovely and soft, with plenty of Christmas sprinkles mixed in. They’re really easy to make too, so they’re a good one to get the kids involved with over the holidays.
GET THE RECIPE2. Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls
How cute are these little Christmas trees? They’re a fun twist on regular cinnamon rolls and would be lovely for Christmas morning breakfast. Plus, you really can’t beat the smell of cinnamon baking in the oven!
GET THE RECIPE3. Christmas Brownies
You can’t go wrong with a good brownie, especially at Christmas! These are lovely and chocolatey and you can decorate them in lots of different ways. They’re great for sharing when you’ve got family and friends popping round. They’d be lovely for a Christmas bake sale too.
GET THE RECIPE4. Cranberry Cream Cheese Bread
The combination of cranberries and cream cheese works so well in this lovely soft bread. It’s got just the right amount of sweetness, with a little tartness from the cranberries. I love having a slice with a cup of coffee, especially when it’s still slightly warm from the oven.
GET THE RECIPE5. Crumbl Copycat Gingerbread Cookies
Gingerbread is one of those flavors that just reminds me of Christmas. These are lovely and soft, with plenty of warm spices and that delicious gingerbread flavor. They’re a great one to bake when you fancy something a bit different from your usual Christmas cookies.
GET THE RECIPE6. Christmas Tree Mini Cupcakes
These little cupcakes look so cute on a Christmas dessert table! I love the Christmas tree decorations on top, and they’re just the right size for a little sweet treat. They’re a fun one to make if you enjoy decorating your Christmas bakes too.
GET THE RECIPE7. Pecan Pie Bars
If you love pecan pie but don’t fancy making a whole pie, these are a lovely alternative. They’ve got that sweet, nutty filling and a buttery base, but you can just slice them up into squares. Really handy for sharing at Christmas, especially when you’ve got lots of people to feed.
GET THE RECIPE8. Gingerbread Streusel Loaf
This is a lovely one to bake at Christmas when you fancy something a bit different. It’s got all those delicious gingerbread spices and a crumbly streusel topping that makes it even nicer. It’s perfect for cutting yourself a slice and sitting down with a cup of coffee!
GET THE RECIPE9. Grinch Brownies
These are such a fun one to make for Christmas, especially if the kids love the Grinch! They’re lovely and chocolatey with a fun festive look, and they’d be great for a Christmas movie night with a few snacks and treats.
GET THE RECIPE10. Orange Cranberry Christmas Tree Pies
I love the little Christmas tree shapes of these pies! The orange and cranberry filling is a lovely combination, and they look so festive without being too complicated to make. They’d be great for putting out when you’ve got family and friends over at Christmas.
GET THE RECIPE11. Mint Blossom Cookies
Mint and chocolate are such a good combination at Christmas! These cookies are lovely and soft with a chocolate center, and they’re a nice change from all the gingerbread and cinnamon treats. They’re great for adding to a Christmas cookie platter too.
GET THE RECIPE12. Christmas Poke Cake
I love how colorful this cake looks when you cut into it! The red and green sponge makes it really festive, and it’s topped with a lovely thick layer of fluffy frosting and Christmas sprinkles. It’s a great one to make when you’ve got family coming over, as there’s plenty to go around.
GET THE RECIPE13. Cranberry Orange Muffins
These are a lovely little treat to bake over Christmas, especially if you fancy something that isn’t chocolate for a change! The cranberries and orange go really well together, and they’re lovely and soft. Perfect for breakfast or just grabbing one with a cup of coffee.
GET THE RECIPE14. Chocolate Cherry Brownies
I don’t think you can go wrong with chocolate and cherries together! These brownies are lovely and rich, with plenty of chocolate flavor and little bursts of cherry throughout. They’re a bit more indulgent than your usual brownies, but that’s what Christmas baking is all about!
GET THE RECIPE15. Santa Cinnamon Rolls
How cute are these little Santas? They’re such a fun way to make ordinary cinnamon rolls a bit more festive, and I can imagine the kids loving them! You still get all that lovely soft dough and cinnamon filling, just with a Christmas twist that makes them even more fun to bake.
GET THE RECIPE16. Christmas Sugar Cookie Cheesecake
This cheesecake is such a fun one for Christmas! It’s got a Christmas sugar cookie crust, a lovely creamy filling, and even more cookie dough tucked inside. I love the little Christmas tree cookies and colorful sprinkles on top too. It looks so festive when you cut into it!
GET THE RECIPE17. Ginger Maple Glazed Cookies
The smell of ginger baking in the oven always reminds me of Christmas! These cookies have that lovely warm, spiced flavor, with a sweet maple glaze drizzled over the top. I really like the combination of ginger and maple, especially at this time of year when I’m doing lots of Christmas baking.
GET THE RECIPE18. Glazed Ginger Pound Cake
If you enjoy gingerbread at Christmas, I think you’ll really like this cake too. It’s full of those lovely warm spices, with a sweet glaze over the top that goes so well with the ginger. I love a good slice of cake with my afternoon coffee, and this one feels just right for Christmas.
GET THE RECIPE19. M&M Cookie Bars
These are so easy to make, and I love all the colorful M&Ms scattered throughout! They’re lovely and chewy, with plenty of chocolate in every bite, and you can just bake one big batch and cut it into squares. I can never resist sneaking a piece while they’re still a little warm!
GET THE RECIPE20. Peppermint Chocolate Brownie Baked Alaska
Now this is a Christmas dessert that’s going to get everyone talking! You’ve got a chocolate peppermint brownie base, vanilla ice cream, and a thick layer of fluffy meringue that’s toasted until golden. I love how impressive it looks when you cut into it and see all those different layers!
GET THE RECIPE21. Pecan Pie Brownies
I love a good brownie, and adding a pecan pie topping makes them even better! They’re lovely and chocolatey underneath, with a sweet, gooey pecan layer on top. There’s quite a lot going on in each bite, but it all works so well together, especially if you love pecan pie as much as I do.
GET THE RECIPE22. Orange Cranberry Walnut Sourdough
I really like the idea of adding orange, cranberries, and walnuts to homemade sourdough. You get a little sweetness from the fruit, some crunch from the walnuts, and that lovely sourdough flavor. I’d happily cut myself a thick slice, toast it, and spread it with plenty of butter!
GET THE RECIPE23. Christmas Tree Meringues
These little Christmas trees are almost too cute to eat! They’re light and crispy, with that lovely melt-in-your-mouth middle, and the green color and sprinkles make them look so festive. I think they’d look really pretty on a plate of Christmas treats, especially alongside all the cookies and brownies.
GET THE RECIPE24. Banana Cinnamon Bun Cake
This is a lovely way to use up any ripe bananas you’ve got sitting around! It’s got all that delicious cinnamon bun flavor mixed into a soft banana cake, and the cinnamon goes so well with the banana. I wouldn’t say no to a big slice of this with my morning coffee!
GET THE RECIPE25. Mini Santa Cheesecakes
The little Santa hats on these are so cute! They’re made with fresh strawberries and mini marshmallows, which look lovely on top of the creamy cheesecakes. I think the kids would have fun helping to decorate these, although I’m not sure how many marshmallows would actually make it onto the cheesecakes!
GET THE RECIPE26. Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
You might not think to put sweet potato in cinnamon rolls, but it works really well! It helps make the dough lovely and soft, and you still get all that delicious cinnamon filling. I love the idea of baking a batch of these on a cold December morning and having them while they’re still warm from the oven.
GET THE RECIPE27. Butterfinger Cookie Bars
If you’re a fan of Butterfinger candy bars, you’ll love these! They’re packed with that delicious chocolate and peanut butter flavor, with plenty of crunchy Butterfinger pieces mixed in. I like that you can cut them into squares rather than making individual cookies, especially when there’s already so much Christmas baking to get through!
GET THE RECIPE28. Cranberry Sauce Poke Cake
Cranberry sauce isn’t just for Christmas dinner! It works really well in this cake too, adding a lovely fruity flavor and a little tartness to balance out the sweetness. The cranberry sauce soaks into the cake, making it nice and moist, and I think it’s a fun way to use those Christmas flavors in something a bit different.
GET THE RECIPE29. Apricot Nut Bread
I do love a good homemade loaf, especially at Christmas when there’s always something baking in the kitchen! The apricots add a lovely sweetness, and the nuts give it a bit of crunch. It’s really nice sliced with a little butter, and I wouldn’t say no to a piece with my afternoon coffee either.
GET THE RECIPE30. Pecan Pie
You can’t have a Christmas baking list without a good old-fashioned pie! This one has a lovely buttery crust and a sweet, gooey filling packed with crunchy pecans. It’s one of those desserts that’s even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, especially when the pie is still a little warm.
GET THE RECIPEI hope you’ve found a few Christmas baking recipes you fancy trying this year! There’s a bit of everything here, from cookies and brownies to cakes, pies, and some really fun festive treats. I always think baking is one of the nicest parts of getting ready for Christmas, especially when you’ve got the kids helping out in the kitchen. Let me know which ones you’re going to try!
