40 Best Christmas Snacks to Keep Spirits Bright All Season Long
From sweet and sugary to salty and savory, these tasty treats will definitely spread holiday cheer!
’Tis the season for enjoying all the festive holiday foods! Whether you’re nibbling on iced gingerbread cookies while decorating the tree, shoveling handfuls of spiced snack mix into your mouth while watching your favorite holiday movie, or sinking your teeth into peppermint bark at a Christmas party, the month of December is filled with the most delicious and celebratory bites. Since the holidays are jam-packed with seasonal get-togethers and fun Christmas traditions, you’ll probably need a handful of easy snack recipes on hand to power you and your loved ones through the festivities.
To make your lives easier, we’ve rounded up a collection of the best Christmas snacks that will spread so much holiday cheer. Ahead, you’ll find crowd-pleasing appetizers for Christmas gatherings, simple bites to graze on during any Christmas activity, after-school snacks to get your kids in the holiday spirit, and nourishing fare to tide you over until Christmas dinner. Whether you’re on the hunt for sweet treats, salty luxuries, or a little bit of both, this list has it all—and more! Indulge in all the sugary goodness of the season with gingerbread muffins, peppermint brownies, salted-caramel cookies, and cranberry scones. If savory snacks are more up your alley, try flaky cheese puffs, smoky chickpeas, cute charcuterie wreaths, or tree-shaped deviled eggs.
Whatever type of cuisine you prefer and no matter what occasion you're planning, these delectable Christmas snacks will surely keep spirits bright throughout the holiday season.
Celebrate all season long with more Christmassy bites:
Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip
This sweet-and-spicy dip checks all the boxes for a holiday-worthy snack: It tastes like the season and looks the part, too! The vibrant layer of cranberries gives it a festive pop of color, while the tart, citrusy, nutty blend captures the flavors of Christmas.
Get Ree's Cranberry Jalapeño Cream Cheese Dip recipe.
Smoky Mixed Nuts with Crispy Chickpeas
This smoky, sweet, and salty Christmas snack mix is perfect for munching on throughout the holidays. The mixed nuts and crispy chickpeas are packed with fiber that'll satisfy every stomach. And with a coating of chipotle chile powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar, it's also bursting with flavor.
Peppermint Brownies
This list of Christmas snacks wouldn't be complete without a peppermint-flavored treat—and these minty brownies definitely fit the bill. The base is gooey yet dense, and the crushed candy canes give it a seasonal spin that perfectly balances out the richness of the brownies.
Get Ree's Peppermint Brownies recipe.
Cranberry Bread
Give in-season cranberries an indulgent upgrade with this recipe. A slice of this crumbly, buttery bread will taste incredible for Christmas breakfast with a cup of coffee, for an afternoon snack with a steaming mug of tea, or for dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Get Ree's Cranberry Bread recipe.
Pimento Cheese Puffs
If you’re looking for a Christmas party appetizer that all your guests will love, you can’t go wrong with these pimento cheese puffs. The irresistibly flaky, golden crust wrapped around rich cheeses with a spicy kick? They'll vanish in the blink of an eye.
Get Ree's Pimento Cheese Puffs recipe.
Easy Flourless Chocolate Cookies
For a quick (and incredibly delicious) Christmas snack you can whip up in 30 minutes or less, you’ll definitely want to bake these flourless chocolate cookies! The brownie-like texture will make these a hit with kids and adults alike.
Get Ree's Easy Flourless Chocolate Cookies recipe.
Monkey Bread Muffins
Turn sticky-sweet monkey bread into single-serve muffins for a Christmas snack that’s easy to serve a group. This recipe has everything we love about the original—golden bread topped with a creamy glaze and finished with a sugary drizzle—yet it’s simpler to make!
Get Ree's Monkey Bread Muffins recipe.
Spicy Chex Mix
This spicy Chex mix was basically made for snacking. Aside from its flavorful seasonings and blend of textures, you can make it ahead to maximize your time and customize it to your liking by adding any of your favorite mix-ins.
Get the Spicy Chex Mix recipe.
Salted-Caramel Cookies
Cozy yet luxurious, salted caramel is a must during the holiday season. In this recipe, you'll elevate classic cookies into a delicacy, thanks to ribbons of caramel sauce and a dash of flaky sea salt. Put them on a platter, and watch them disappear!
Get Ree's Salted-Caramel Cookies recipe.
Nutella Thumbprints
These Nutella thumbprints, brimming with a chocolate-hazelnut blend and garnished with decorative sprinkles, are another celebratory Christmas snack you'll want to add to your list. You can definitely serve them after a weeknight dinner or during a holiday party, but they also make excellent homemade food gifts!
Get Ree's Nutella Thumbprints recipe.
Holiday Haystacks
Given its decadent taste and gorgeous appearance, you'd never know that these crunchy bites are made with a store-bought ingredient: chow mein noodles! Mix in some chopped almonds and pistachios before smothering the whole stack in melted chocolate and holiday sprinkles.
Get Ree's Holiday Haystacks recipe.
Cornflake Wreaths
Looking for a kid-friendly Christmas snack that'll double as a holiday activity? These cornflake wreaths might just be the answer! The little ones will love helping you prepare (and eventually digging into) the sticky marshmallow-cereal mixture, tinted with green food coloring and shaped like festive wreaths.
Get Ree's Cornflake Wreaths recipe.
Christmas Bark
Salty crackers covered in melted butter, brown sugar, vanilla, and white chocolate sounds delicious on its own, but add peppermint candies and holiday sprinkles to make it even more festive.
Get Ree's Christmas Bark recipe.
Gingerbread Truffles
You only need four ingredients and some holiday sprinkles to make these festive bites! This Christmas snack is a great way to use up a box of store-bought ginger snaps and a package of cream cheese.
Get Ree's Gingerbread Truffles recipe.
Pretzel Turtles
These treats are chewy, chocolatey, and crunchy—basically the essential components of a perfect snack. Plus, they're perfect for when you can't decide between sweet and salty!
Get Ree's Pretzel Turtles recipe.
Cranberry Scones
These tender scones are buttery and flaky, but it’s the jewel-like cranberries and sweet-tart cranberry glaze that really makes them shine! You’ll impress any out-of-town guests with a basket of these holiday scones.
Get the Cranberry Scones recipe.
Salted Caramel Pretzel Blondies
The combination of sweet and salty treats is so divine, especially when it's in the form of homemade blondies. Here, you'll pack the bars with tasty mix-ins, like crushed pretzels, toasted pecans, and gooey dulce de leche.
Get Ree's Salted Caramel Pretzel Blondies recipe.
Spinach Artichoke Cups
Turn this popular party dip into a hand-held snack by using crispy wonton wrapper cups. It's a new take on an old-school favorite!
Get Ree’s Spinach Artichoke Cups recipe.
Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket
This wreath-shaped party food is easy to make using store-bought crescent roll dough. Just don't forget to add the bowl of honey-mustard in the center for dipping!
Get Ree’s Pull-Apart Pigs in a Blanket recipe.
Sugar Cookie Fudge
There’s no need to turn on the oven to make this fun twist on Christmas cookies. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of that sugar cookie flavor. Plus, festive sprinkles for good measure!
Get the Sugar Cookie Fudge recipe.
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