Festive treats with maximum joy, minimum stress.
This bundle includes 8 easy, cosy, realistic recipes you can make with toddlers (or half-finish with toddlers, let’s be honest). Everything uses shop-bought bases or minimal ingredients — because Christmas is busy enough already.
“Christmas baking doesn’t need to be perfect — just cosy, fun, and full of little hands helping… or at least trying!”
1. Decorate-Your-Own Gingerbread Trees
(see my blog on this lovely little baking activity)
Buy a kit → add your own icing → toddler joy unlocked.
Why it’s great:
No baking, no faff, just decorating.
2. Cheats Mini Mince Pie Tarts
You need:
- Ready-made shortcrust pastry cases
- Jar of mince pie filling
- Icing sugar
- Star sprinkles
How to:
Spoon filling → bake 10 mins → dust icing sugar → done.
Toddlers can do the spooning… sort of.
Festive level: 10/10
Stress level: Minimal.
3. Ready-Roll Puff Pastry Snowflakes
You need:
- Ready-roll puff pastry
- Cinnamon sugar / chocolate spread
- Cookie cutter (snowflake/star)
How to:
Cut shapes → brush sugar or add thin spread → bake.
They puff into magical little snowflakes.
Toddler job: Cut shapes and sprinkle sugar.
(Expect heavy-handed sprinkling.)
4. Rice Krispie Christmas Trees
You need:
- Rice Krispies
- Melted white chocolate or marshmallows
- Green food colouring
- Sprinkles
- Pretzel sticks for trunks
How to:
Mix → mould into triangles → decorate.
Looks cute, tastes great, toddlers love it.
5. Christmas Rocky Road (The Mum Shortcut Classic)
You need:
- Digestives
- Marshmallows
- Melted chocolate
- Mini Smarties / sprinkles
- Cranberries (optional)
How to:
Throw everything in a bowl → mix → fridge → slice.
The end.
Can be made at 9pm when you realise you promised treats tomorrow.
6. Festive Fruit Kebabs (For When You Need To Pretend It’s Healthy)
You need:
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Marshmallows
- Star-shaped melon pieces
How to:
Thread onto skewers → dust with icing sugar snow.
Toddler will eat two and immediately ask for chocolate.
Still cute.
7. Cheats Snowball Cupcakes
You need:
- Shop-bought fairy cakes or cupcakes
- Ready-made vanilla icing
- Desiccated coconut
- Marshmallows
How to:
Ice → roll in coconut → add marshmallow “snowball.”
Instant winter wonderland.
Toddler-friendly: Extremely. Mess level: medium.
8. Melted Snowman Biscuits
You need:
- Rich Tea or Digestive biscuits
- Icing sugar
- Marshmallows / Reeces Cupckaes
- Chocolate pen / raisins
How to:
Spread icing “puddle” → add marshmallow head → draw silly face.
Hilarious and cute.
9. Festive Cheaty Brownies
You need:
- Boxed brownie mix
- Christmas M&Ms / chocolate coins
- Icing sugar
How to:
Bake the mix → decorate with festive bits.
Everyone thinks you’ve baked from scratch.
Win-win.
