10 Super Easy Festive Bakes for Holiday Celebrations

1. Peppermint Bark Brownies

These rich and fudgy brownies are topped with a layer of creamy peppermint bark, making them a delightful holiday treat. They are perfect for gatherings and can be made ahead of time.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup crushed peppermint candies
  • 2 cups white chocolate chips
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
  3. Mix in flour, cocoa, and salt until well combined, then pour the batter into the prepared pan.
  4. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
  5. Melt the white chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler, then pour over the cooled brownies.
  6. Sprinkle crushed peppermint candies on top before the chocolate sets. Cut into squares and serve.

2. Gingerbread Cookies

No holiday celebration is complete without gingerbread cookies. These classic treats are not only fun to make but also perfect for decorating with the whole family.

• Ingredients:
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup molasses
• Instructions:
  1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
  2. In a separate bowl, beat butter and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add the egg and molasses, mixing until well combined.
  3. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
  4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  5. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into shapes.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool before decorating with icing or candy.

3. Mini Christmas Pies

These adorable mini Christmas pies are filled with spiced apple filling and wrapped in flaky pastry. They make for a delightful dessert that’s easy to eat while mingling at parties.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 pre-made pie crusts
  • 4 cups peeled and diced apples
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 egg (for egg wash)
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a muffin tin.
  2. In a bowl, combine apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice.
  3. Roll out the pie crusts and cut into circles that fit into the muffin tin cups.
  4. Place the crust circles in the muffin tin and fill each with the apple mixture.
  5. Top with another circle of pie crust and seal the edges. Brush the tops with beaten egg.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool before serving.

4. Chocolate Chip Snowman Cookies

These fun cookies are not only delicious but also bring a smile to everyone’s face. They are simple to make and great for kids to help decorate!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • Decorating icing and candy for snowman features
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
  3. Add eggs and vanilla, mixing until fully incorporated.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture until combined.
  5. Fold in chocolate chips. Roll dough into balls and place on the prepared baking sheets.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool before decorating as snowmen.

5. Cranberry Orange Muffins

These vibrant muffins are a festive and delicious addition to any holiday breakfast or brunch. The tartness of cranberries paired with the sweetness of orange is simply delightful.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup fresh cranberries (or frozen, thawed)
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • Juice of 1 orange
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a muffin tin with paper liners.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together melted butter, egg, milk, orange zest, and orange juice.
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Fold in cranberries.
  5. Fill the muffin cups 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  6. Let cool slightly before serving for breakfast or as a snack.

6. Eggnog Cheesecake Bars

These creamy eggnog cheesecake bars are a festive twist on traditional cheesecake. They are easy to cut into squares and perfect for holiday parties.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup eggnog
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and grease a 9×9 inch baking pan.
  2. In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press into the bottom of the pan.
  3. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
  4. Mix in eggnog, nutmeg, and vanilla until combined. Pour over the crust in the pan.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until set. Let cool before slicing into bars and serving.

7. Holiday Sugar Cookies

These soft and chewy sugar cookies are an absolute must for the holiday season. Decorate them with colorful icing and sprinkles for a festive touch!

• Ingredients:
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. In a bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla, and almond extract.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until well combined.
  5. Roll the dough into balls and place them on the baking sheets. Flatten slightly and decorate as desired.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow to cool before enjoying.

8. Pecan Pie Bars

These pecan pie bars combine the rich flavors of traditional pecan pie with the convenience of a bar format. They are easy to make and perfect for sharing!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup corn syrup
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add flour and salt, mixing until crumbly.
  3. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared dish to form a crust.
  4. In another bowl, whisk together corn syrup, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, and pecans until well combined.
  5. Pour the filling over the crust and bake for 30-35 minutes. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

9. Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

These decadent hot chocolate cupcakes have a rich chocolate flavor and are topped with fluffy marshmallow frosting. They are a delightful treat for any holiday gathering!

• Ingredients:
  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Mini marshmallows for topping
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake tin with liners.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
  3. In another bowl, combine buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
  4. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  5. Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full and bake for 18-20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
  6. Top with marshmallow frosting and mini marshmallows before serving.

10. Festive Fruitcake Bars

These fruitcake bars are a modern twist on the classic holiday dessert. They are packed with dried fruits and nuts, making them a healthy yet indulgent treat.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, apricots)
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds)
• Instructions:
  1. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add to the wet mixture.
  4. Fold in dried fruits and nuts. Pour the batter into the prepared dish.
  5. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

Conclusion

With these 10 super easy festive bakes, your holiday celebrations are sure to be filled with joy and delicious treats. Whether you’re hosting a party or simply enjoying time with family, these recipes will make your festivities even more special. Get creative, have fun, and enjoy the sweet flavors of the season!