My parents got me hooked on Christmas desserts ever since I was a toddler, so that was and still is one of my favorite parts of Christmas celebrations. 

The cookies! And the brownies! The Cozonac (traditional Eastern Europe dessert, kind of like a sweet bread with chocolate and raisins inside)! 

We usually have our first bite of sweets on Christmas Eve night, after dinner, of course. Since my mom usually makes at least 3 or 4 different Christmas desserts options, they last us for at least 3 days. Lucky us!

And I bet most of you reading have a similar experience. You can’t really have Christmas celebrations with something sweet, am I right? 

That’s why I’m here today to help you create your own Christmas traditions.

I’ve compiled below at least 20 Christmas desserts recipes that are easy to make and, better yet, they cook fast! 

Check out my 20 easy Christmas desserts list and let me know which is your favorite!

Classic No Bake Corn Flake Wreath Cookies 

I fell in love with this recipe at first sight because 

1. The recipe calls for only 4 (!) ingredients;
2. It’s done in 20 minutes;
3. The no bake wreaths look very festive and cute.

I think you should definitely try it for yourself this Christmas, the kids will love it.. So check it out here: the No Bake Corn Flake Wreath Cookies recipe from Cooking with Carlee. 

Crockpot Candy

This was one of the biggest surprises on my Christmas desserts list: candy make in the slow cooker *insert shocked face emoji*

I actually love it! This recipe is also a winner because it requires only 3 ingredients  (4, if you count sprinkles): peanuts, white almond bark and chocolate chips. You just drop the ingredients in the pot, leave them on for 1 hour and 30 minutes, then make clusters of them and line them up on a baking sheet to set. And you’re done! Easiest Christmas dessert, am I right? 

Here’s the recipe for Crockpot Candy from Crayons & Cravings!

Candy Cane Chocolate Bark 

Continuing the series of very fast and very easy to make Christmas desserts, this recipe is perfect for people who don’t usually cook, or like too. 

Alex from “It’s not complicated recipes”, says it perfectly: “My festive Candy Cane Chocolate Bark is a great addition to your Christmas menu. The Bark is so simple to make and contains just two ingredients. […..]. You will have delicious homemade confectionery with so little effort.”

Check out the recipe for Candy Cane Chocolate Bark from It”s not complicated recipes here!

Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats 

Although I try to not have favorites or single out a recipe, it’s so hard not to rave about this rice krispie treats recipe. I think this is a fantastic twist on the classic rice krispies, and I bet the whole family, especially the kids, will devour this. 

Discover all the details on the Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats recipe from Sugar and Soul here!

Snowman Vegan Christmas Cookies 

These vegan snowmen are so cute! I would love to do this Christmas dessert with my nephews (and future children)! 

The base recipe for the cookies is easy to whip up and they’re baked in 10 minutes. The fun part is decorating them!

Check out all the details for the Snowman Vegan Cookies recipe from Global Mouse Travels!

Simple Rum Balls

Finally, a Christmas dessert for adults to enjoy: RUM BALLS!

Easy to make and with only 5 ingredients, this sweet treat will make everyone happy at the Christmas dinner this year!

See for yourself how easy and fast to make is the recipe for Rum Balls from Simplify Create Inspire. 

Lemon Posset

The posset is one of the most interesting desserts on the list. It has 3 main ingredients, it’s easy to make and….it used to be used for medicinal purposes? 

Either way, the lemon posset from What a Girl Eats is a great choice for refreshing desserts that are not too sweet. Check it out!

Almond Cranberry Cake

I purposefully added this recipe because it’s a dump cake recipe. Well, also because it looks delicious and I’m really craving my mom’s pie right now. 

Either way, if you prefer cakes and pies to cookies and chocolate, this almond cranberry cake recipe from My Sweet Precision should be on the top of your Christmas Desserts list!

Fudgy Chocolate Cake (Gluten Free, Nut Free, Vegan) 

I wanted to include this Christmas dessert recipe for chocolate cake because it’s GLUTEN FREE and I know more and more people are transitioning to this type of dietary restriction. 

Being gluten free doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy cakes, and this recipe from Go Healthy with Bea is the perfect example for it. 

I love the fact it has normal, clean ingredients. Although I admit, the butternut squash was a surprise for me. I bet it will be delicious!

So check out the recipe here: Fudgy Chocolate Cake from Go Healthy with Bea!

Apple and Cherry Crumble 

Similarly to some of the previous recipes, this apple and cherry crumble would make a great choice if you want pies, but don’t want to go through all the effort. This seems to be a tad easier and faster to make, so if you’re an apple fan, and just want a crumble in your life, try this recipe. 

Check out the apple and cherry crumble recipe from The Littlest Crumb here!

Vegan Chocolate & Biscuits Salami

This brings back so many memories! My mother would always make this for us when we were little. It wasn’t a Christmas type of dessert, it was more of a snack type of food. She would make it on Sunday and we would eat it during the week, whenever we would want something sweet. 

That’s why I recommend you do this in larger quantities and store it for a longer period of time. 

Global Mouse Travels’ recipe of vegan chocolate & biscuits salami is easy to make, you can get all the details here!

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Dessert

Do your kids LOVE peanut butter? Then this is the perfect Christmas dessert for them! 

Although it is a no-bake dessert, you do need to prepare two or three different mixes and layer them, but I can guarantee it will be worth it in the end. 

See exactly how to make the peanut butter dessert recipe from Cook Clean Repeat here!

Oreo Balls Without Cream Cheese

These Oreo balls look delicious! I would love 1 (or 4 or 5) right now!

I love this recipe because it has very few ingredients and it uses condensed milk instead of cream cheese. Might try it for myself this year, seems pretty easy to do!

Check out the recipe for Oreo balls from Everyday Family Cooking here!

Christmas Popcorn Recipe

If you want to go extra this Christmas, but not really go extra, try the Christmas Popcorn recipe from Zhush!

She added butter, marshmallows, M&M’s and a few extra ingredients and made this festive looking easy treat. Give it a try, I think you will like it!

Custardy Eggnog Dump Cake

Oh, what a festive dessert! Eggnog dump cake! Perfect for people who want Christmas desserts and / or are Eggnog lovers! 

Easy to make, with few ingredients and tools, this Eggnog dump cake recipe from Cupcakes and Cutlery is a must try!

Chocolate Orange Cake  

Chocolate cake is a staple in many houses, but how about chocolate orange cake? I think that’s a great spin on the original recipe. 

I also love the fact that the chocolate orange cake recipe from Life Begins with Dessert also includes vegan substitutions, so if you want vegan Christmas Desserts options, look no further!

Easy Condensed Milk Fudge

I decided to add this to the Best Christmas Desserts list because it’s easy to make, fast (15 minutes), AND it’s vegetarian and gluten free, so it works for multiple dietary restrictions. 

Check out the rich & creamy recipe for Condensed Milk Fudge from Nourish Plate here! 

Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies 

This is another great recipe for peanut butter fans. Soft & chewy, these cookies are done in 15 minutes! One of the best easy Christmas desserts out there!

Try the peanut butter cookies recipe from Pastry & Beyond here!

No Bake Gingersnap Balls

If you’re looking for new, innovative recipes, I recommend this no bake gingersnap balls one. The end product is chewy and delicious, and better yet, you can spike them with Rum or Brandy, if you want. Double win!

Check out the recipe for gingersnap balls from Tasha’s Artisan Foods here!

Coconut Refrigerator Cake 

Ending this Christmas Desserts list with a bang: a coconut cake!

I wanted to add this because it’s wonderful flavor and refreshing taste. Definitely try out the coconut cake recipe from Fit as a fiddle life here!

Conclusion

This was so fun to make. I hope you found something cool and tasty in my list of 20 easy Christmas desserts! 

Let me know in the comments what you really want to try making this Christmas!

P.S. If you feel overwhelmed by Christmas, start early. Here is how to prepare for Christmas!

The post Easy To Make Christmas Desserts – 20 Best Christmas Desserts Recipes appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

Especially if you have to prepare it for your whole family. 

When you reach that point, you need to make sure everyone has presents, that there is food on the table and that the house looks nice enough for Christmas (and sometimes, for guests, too). Among other things. 

I’m here today to help you with that. 

I’ve always been the planning type. I always made sure to buy Christmas presents in November, for example. And when I met my boyfriend, those tasks doubled. And then tripled, because I had to make sure the house looks nice, has a Christmas tree, and is able to receive guests. 

So in the last few years I’ve had to up my game and become a Christmas planner expert. And I’m happy I got these skills now, because they will be very useful when we decide to have kids. 

That being said, I really want to share with you my process and tips & tricks on how to prepare for Christmas, so you don’t get overwhelmed during the last month of the year. 

Here are the main areas you need to consider when preparing for Christmas:

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: PRESENTS

This is one of, if not THE most important part of Christmas: the presents. 

I suggest the following plan; it’s been working for me for the last 6-7 years, at least. 

• Start a Christmas Presents list in October. 
• Write down all the people you need to buy presents for.
• Start brainstorming gift ideas. For example, this year I’m thinking about getting my mom a cozy bathrobe, and my dad some cool new winter boots. 
• And from then on, you start looking out for those gift ideas in stores and buy them when you find sales, or the right time to get them. 
• I suggest starting buying presents early November, so you don’t need to spend all your money in a couple days, all from the same paycheck. Heck, if you’re really sure about what to get for people, you can start buying in September or October. 

A few tips & tricks for buying cool presents that your loved one will appreciate:

• For kids & teenagers, ask them or their parents what they want / what is on their Christmas present list; 
• If you’re stuck on what to get parents & grandparents, I usually go for clothes & accessories. And if they are homebodies (like my parents, for example), try cozy slippers or cozy loungewear sets from Amazon. If they’re more adventurous, you can get them new activewear. 
• For partners (girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife), I recommend getting them what they need and/or want. Or something you know for sure they will love. 

My boyfriend, for example, is a huge board game fan, so I will definitely get him a board game for Christmas, plus one other item. If your partner is the same, check out this Gift Guide for Board Game Lovers right here. 

I also have this great blog post with many Gift Ideas for Men, if you’re having trouble choosing what to get them. 

• Another great tip is to save all the gift bags you’ve received so far (Christmas specific and simple ones), and reuse them for this year’s presents. This way, you won’t have to go out and buy new ones. Money saved!

• I also try to get as many presents as I can on Black Friday sales, that helps me save a lot of money. It also takes off the pressure of buying everything in December. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: HOME DECOR

I have to admit, I’ve developed my Christmas home decoration skills pretty recently. And that’s because I was single for a long time, and I didn’t feel the need to decorate only for myself. 

But now that I am in a relationship, and about to get married and have kids, I’ve started putting more effort into this. 

So I’ve learned that the main things you need to have for home decorating are the following:

• Christmas tree
• Tree decorations
• House decorations (other lights, candles, etc)
• Front door decorations (mainly wreath, but whatever else you want, too)

1. Christmas tree

When it comes to trees, to each his own. Get a fake one. Go buy a fresh, new one from the market. 

Do it on the 1st of November or the Eve of Christmas. 

Either way, you need a Christmas tree. 

I, personally, have a fake Christmas tree that I get out every beginning of December. 

(Yes, I’m the weird one who decorates in December, around the 6th or 7th.)

2. Tree decorations

You also need Christmas tree decorations. 

Some people use the same things every year. Others buy new tree decorations for every Christmas. 

I’m somewhere in the middle. I always try to mix it up every year and change up the colors or the actual decorations in it, so I don’t end up with the same tree every time. That means that I sometimes need to buy new items, like globes of a certain color. But not everything is new.

Last year we went for a gold and purple theme. This year, we’re thinking of gold and red. 

3. House decorations

This is the area where I’ve seen certain people go all out. I mean, their house is literally a Christmas store. A great example of this is Angie Bellemare’s house (from YouTube). 

You don’t have to do all of that. But you can add small touches around the house to remind you and your family & guests of Christmas, like:

• Throw Pillows with Christmas designs;
• Winter smelling candles;
• Extra fairly lights hanging on the stairway or cabinet;
• Cute Christmas-y table runner of the dining room table;
• …and the list goes on. 

I usually have 2 cute red throw pillows for my living room couch and an extra set of fairy lights for the library.

In the “House decorations” category we can also include front door Christmas wreaths, too. Check out what you can find on Amazon here. 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS: MEAL PLANNING

This section of “how to prepare for Christmas” is tricky. Because it’s not always up to you. 

What I mean by that, is that you don’t usually have to cook only for your home. You will also have to prepare or buy something to take to your parents and in-laws house, if you celebrate Christmas at their place, too.

That’s what we do every year. On the evening of the 24th we go to my parents’ place, and the 25th of December is reserved for my in-laws. 

Now, luckily for me, I don’t have to cook all the food. But I do have to prepare a cake or a side dish for both places. Especially since we usually come back home with leftovers from both families. (Lucky us!)

And I bet you have to do the same. If not for two Christmas gatherings, at least for one. So you need to get ready for it. Here is how:

• Ask beforehand the host what you have to bring to the Christmas party. Even if they say nothing, it is nice to contribute with something, so at least bring a dessert or a bottle of wine.
• Make your own Christmas meal plan list. Think about what you want and need to cook before, during and after Christmas. Write down the meals and their main ingredients. 
• Then make sure the groceries are done before the 24th of December. This way, you don’t have to run out to get ingredients in the middle of the night. 
• Try to prepare everything on the 23th and the 24th of December, so you have everything ready on the day, but don’t do it earlier than that, because the food won’t be as fresh anymore. 

CONCLUSION

I know there are many more things to say on how to prepare for Christmas, but I wanted to cover the 3 main areas you need to focus on. Presents, decor and meal planning usually take up the most amount of time. I hope it was useful for you and I hope you get prepared for Christmas on time this year, so you don’t get stressed. Enjoy the holidays!

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links, at no extra cost to you.

The post How to prepare for Christmas: Decor! Presents! Meal Planning! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.

After a stressful, eventful 2020, we have reached the end of year. I will always remember 2020, not only as the pandemic year, but also as the year as I started this blog, and that’s a memory I will always treasure! 

Since 2020 is close to ending, that also means CHRISTMAS IS HERE!

For me, Christmas is one of the best moments of the year, as I get to reunite with my whole family, eat my mom’s wonderful food and open presents! I’ve always been excited for the holidays, and this year is no different, even though we will have to be more careful. 

Besides the obvious great food and presents, Christmas also is, in my opinion, a moment of giving and gratitude. I want to take a moment to wish you, my fellow reader, some Christmas wishes:

I wish you health, first and foremost! If there is one thing we learned in 2020, is that health is so important! 

I wish you happy holidays and here’s to making great new memories! I hope your table is filled with yummy food and that you can spend time with the people you love and create wonderful memories together!

I wish you success in completing all your personal, professional and finance goals in 2021! I hope you get that new job, or lose those 10 pounds, or save up for your dream car! It takes a lot of ambition, perseverance and grit to do it, and I hope you have plenty of it in 2021!

I wish you happiness! I hope the number of moments of happiness surpasses the number of moments of sadness in your life in the new year! Do whatever makes you happy!

Have a great Christmas and a wonderful new year, everybody! 

Love,

Diana

P.S. If you want to know more about me and my blog, check out my About page.

The post Merry Christmas 2020! appeared first on Cozy Home Hacks.