17 Easy No-Bake Christmas Treats (No Oven Needed!)

The oven is the hardest-working appliance in the house in December. Between the cookies, the casseroles and the Christmas ham, there is never a free rack when you need one. That is exactly why I love no-bake Christmas treats!

These 17 easy recipes skip the oven completely. You will find festive fudge, gingerbread truffles, Rice Krispies treats, creamy chilled desserts and hot cocoa bombs. Most of them come together with a handful of ingredients, and many are simple enough for the kids to help.

As a nurse and a mom of two, I know how fast the holiday season fills up. These are the treats I turn to for last-minute parties, cookie exchanges, teacher gifts and movie nights. Pick a few favorites, clear a shelf in the fridge, and let's get started!

No-Bake Christmas Candy and Truffles

Red and Green Grinch Fudge Bright red and green fudge that looks like it came straight from Whoville. Cut it into squares for cookie trays or a Grinch movie night.
Gingerbread Truffles Bite-sized gingerbread balls with all the warm spice of the classic cookie. They are a pretty addition to any holiday candy box.
Christmas Jello Balls An old-fashioned Christmas candy that deserves a comeback. These colorful little treats are fun to roll with the kids.
Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers With Peppermint Salty, buttery crackers dipped in chocolate and finished with peppermint candy. Sweet, salty and crunchy in every bite!

No-Bake Rice Krispies Treats and Cookies

Rice Krispie Christmas Treats Classic cereal treats shaped into Christmas trees. They are almost too cute to eat!
Grinch Rice Krispies Treats Grinch-green cereal treats that are a hit at school parties and movie nights.
Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats A red velvet twist on the classic that brings a pop of Christmas color to the dessert table.
Chocolate Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats Chocolate and peppermint are the flavor of the season, and these chewy bars deliver both.
Grinch Haystack Cookies Crunchy no-bake haystacks dressed up in Grinch colors. Drop, set and serve.

Chilled No-Bake Christmas Desserts

No Bake Peppermint Dessert Creamy peppermint pudding cups served in individual portions, so they are easy to pass around at a party.
Christmas Lush Dessert with Gingerbread A graham cracker crust, gingerbread-spiced pudding and fluffy whipped topping, finished with crushed gingersnaps. It takes 20 minutes to prep, serves 12, and tastes even better made a day ahead.
Gingerbread Cream Pie A fluffy gingerbread filling made with pudding, molasses, warm spices and fresh whipped cream. Use a store-bought graham cracker crust to keep it completely no-bake.
Peppermint Bark Cheesecake Dip All the flavor of peppermint bark in a creamy dip. Set it out with cookies or pretzels and watch it disappear.
Vintage Cranberry Fluff Salad A retro dessert salad with cranberries that belongs on every holiday buffet.
Red Velvet Cake Dip All the flavor of red velvet cake in a quick, shareable dip with no baking required. Serve it with cookies, graham crackers or fresh fruit.

No-Bake Hot Cocoa Bombs

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Balls Chocolate shells filled with hot cocoa and a peppermint twist. Drop one in a mug of hot milk and stir.
Hot Chocolate Bombs With Marshmallows The classic cocoa bomb. The marshmallows float to the top as the chocolate melts.

Bonus: Festive Ice Cubes and Christmas Drinks

Every treat table needs something to sip! These festive ice cubes and holiday drinks come together without ever turning on the oven.

Festive ice cubes

Easy to Make Christmas Ice Cubes: Christmas tree ice cubes that dress up any holiday drink.
How to Make Holiday Fruit Ice Cubes: Fruit-filled cubes that add color to punch, seltzer or cocktails.
Snowflake Blue Raspberry Flavored Ice Cubes: Snowflake-shaped cubes with a fun blue raspberry flavor that kids love.

Christmas drinks

Holiday Sangria (Mocktail or Cocktail!): One recipe that works for everyone at the party.
Holiday Orange Juice Mocktails: A bright, alcohol-free option for Christmas morning.
Christmas Cranberry Mimosa: A festive brunch drink for the adults.
Festive Grinch Cocktail: The perfect match for the Grinch fudge and Grinch Rice Krispies treats.
Slow Cooker Pink Hot Chocolate: Topped with whipped cream and crushed candy canes, and easy to keep warm for a crowd.

Copycat Starbucks holiday lattes

Starbucks Gingerbread Latte: The coffee shop favorite made at home, topped with whipped cream.
Copycat Starbucks Eggnog Latte: A creamy eggnog latte you can enjoy all season long.
Copycat Starbucks Peppermint Mocha: Chocolate and peppermint in a mug, without the coffee shop line.

Angela's Tips for No-Bake Christmas Treats

Give them time to set. No-bake does not mean no-wait. Fudge, truffles and layered desserts need their full chill time to slice and hold their shape.
Line the pan with parchment. Leave some overhang on two sides so you can lift fudge and cereal treats out in one piece for clean cuts.
Use gel food coloring. It gives Grinch green and Christmas red a bold color without thinning out the mixture.
Butter your hands for Rice Krispies treats. It keeps the marshmallow from sticking while you press and shape.
Watch the clock on creamy desserts. Anything made with pudding, cream cheese or whipped topping should go back in the fridge within two hours.
Add crunchy toppings last. Crushed gingersnaps and candy canes soften in the fridge, so sprinkle them on right before serving.

Make-Ahead and Gifting

Best made ahead: The Christmas Lush can be made a day in advance, and the Gingerbread Cream Pie keeps in the fridge for up to three days.
Best for gifting: Fudge, truffles, chocolate covered crackers and hot cocoa bombs all travel well in tins and treat bags.
Best with kids: Rice Krispies treats, haystacks and Jello balls are easy for little hands.

No-Bake Christmas Treats FAQ

What are the easiest no-bake Christmas treats? Rice Krispies treats and haystack cookies are the easiest places to start. They use only a few ingredients and set quickly.

How far ahead can I make no-bake Christmas treats? It depends on the recipe. Layered desserts like the Christmas Lush are best made the day before, and the Gingerbread Cream Pie keeps for up to three days in the fridge. Check each recipe for its own storage instructions.

Which no-bake treats are best for gifting? Choose treats that hold up at room temperature, like fudge, truffles and hot cocoa bombs. Save the pudding and whipped topping desserts for serving at home.

Can kids help make these recipes? Yes! Shaping cereal treats, rolling candy balls and adding sprinkles are all great jobs for kids. An adult should handle melting chocolate and marshmallows.

Do no-bake desserts need to be refrigerated? Any dessert made with pudding, cream cheese, whipped cream or whipped topping needs to stay chilled. Candy and cereal treats can usually be stored in an airtight container.