The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s also the busiest. Among other responsibilities, making dessert for the family gathering or work party may sound way too stressful at this point. Here are five easy Christmas dessert recipes that will save you some time and energy while also satisfying even the pickiest sweet tooth.   

 

Assorted Christmas sugar cookies.Sugar Cookies

Let’s face it: sugar cookies are a Christmas tradition. It’d just feel wrong to celebrate without them. Thankfully, they’re an easy-to-make crowd pleaser. This particular recipe is our fave. Not only will it yield quick results, but the cookies will crush the competition at the dessert table.

 

 

Reindeer Rice KrispiesGreen Christmas tree shaped Rice Krispie treats.

Get ready to give your regular Rice Krispie Treats a reindeer makeover that’ll impress guests of all ages. These snacks are as fun to make as they are to eat — and this is a recipe that the kids can help out with, too. For a fun twist, try adding green food coloring and star-shaped candies as ornaments.

 

 

 

Brownie triangles with green frosting.Christmas Tree Brownies

Need an easy way to satisfy hungry houseguests? Give a holiday twist to traditional sweets! These Christmas Tree Brownies will be sure to light up the room — maybe almost as much as the actual tree!

 

 

 

Snowman CupcakesCupcakes with marshmallow snowmen.

These Snowman Cupcakes make such great decorations that it’ll be hard to eat them … but not that hard. You can use almost any flavor cake mix and icing you want, as long as it’s a light enough color to look like snow. They’re a quick and easy dessert that even the Grinch of the family will enjoy. You can also use marshmallows, frosting and pretzel sticks to create stand-up snowmen on top of any kind of cupcake you’d like.

 

 

Ice cream cone whipped cream chocolate dessert.

Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups

This recipe may take a little longer to make, but the result will be more than worth it. Impress your guests with these cute Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups that can serve as a great compliment to an actual cup of hot chocolate to help you warm up on a cold winter afternoon. Don’t have time to bake? Set up a faux cocoa bar with flat-bottomed ice cream cones, pudding or yogurt, marshmallows, Nutella, whipped cream, and whatever trimmings you’ve got laying around.

 

 

Text by Nick Adrian