Sweet & Simple Christmas Treats Your Kids Will Love

The holiday season is basically a permission slip to eat chocolate for breakfast, say yes to all the sprinkles, and turn your kitchen into a festive disaster zone (totally worth it). And let’s be honest—there’s nothing better than watching your toddler’s face light up when they get to “help” (aka sneak chocolate chips) while making something special.

Today, we’re making Elf Bites—an easy, kid-friendly treat that’s the perfect mix of “looks adorable” and “zero stress.” Plus, I’m throwing in a few more Christmas treat ideas because I know once the sugar rush kicks in, your kids will still be asking, “What can we make next?”

Elf Bites: The No-Stress, All-Fun Holiday Treat

Why is this the perfect Christmas recipe to make with toddlers?

• Tiny Hands Approved – No complicated steps, just simple toddler-friendly tasks like unwrapping chocolate (and resisting the urge to eat it all).
• Creativity Overload – Let them pick M&M colors and “design” their own Elf Bites. They’ll feel like little chefs, and you’ll get a few extra minutes to sip your coffee.
• Instant Holiday Cheer – Easy to make, even easier to eat, and perfect for sharing (or hoarding for yourself).

What You Need

• Pretzel squares or twists
• Hershey Kisses (your favorite kind)
• M&M’s (holiday colors, or let your toddler go rogue with their choices)
• Baking sheet and parchment paper

How to Make Them

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Lay out the pretzels in a single layer.
3. Unwrap (and maybe taste-test) the Hershey Kisses, then place one on each pretzel.
4. Pop the tray in the oven for about five minutes—just enough to soften the chocolate, not melt it into oblivion.
5. Remove from the oven and immediately press an M&M into each softened Kiss to create the “elf hat.”
6. Let them cool completely before digging in (or at least try to).

Bonus: More Toddler-Approved Christmas Treats

Once your little one gets a taste of kitchen fun, they’ll be asking for more. Here are a few super simple Christmas treats to keep the festive vibes going:

• Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats – Shape Rice Krispies into reindeer faces with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and a red M&M nose.
• Santa Strawberries – Fresh strawberries and whipped cream turn into mini Santas that technically count as healthy.
• Christmas Tree Brownies – Cut brownies into triangles, swirl on some green frosting, and add M&M ornaments. Bonus points if you add a pretzel stick for the trunk.
• Snowman Marshmallow Pops – Stack marshmallows on a stick, dip in white chocolate, and let your kiddo add the candy details. Sugar high incoming.

Keeping It Safe (and Semi-Sane)

Cooking with toddlers is a blast—but also a test of patience. A few tips to keep things running smoothly:

• Supervise, always. Because toddlers and ovens aren’t the best mix.
• Assign simple tasks. Mixing, sprinkling, and taste-testing? Yes. Knife skills? Hard no.
• Check for allergies. Always double-check ingredients to keep things safe for everyone.
• Handwashing is a must. Because someone will definitely try to lick the batter.

Make the Holidays Extra Sweet

At the end of the day, it’s not about the perfect treats—it’s about the giggles, the chocolate-covered faces, and the memories made in the kitchen. So throw on some Christmas music, embrace the mess, and enjoy every second.

Happy baking and happy holidays!