No-Bake Christmas Treats Kids Can Make All by Themselves

Not every festive treat needs an oven. Sometimes all you need is a big bowl, a wooden spoon and a lot of melted chocolate.

These easy no-bake Christmas treats are perfect for the youngest members of the family. There's lots of stirring, squishing and sprinkling, and almost nothing a grown-up needs to take over. They set in the fridge while you tidy up (or, more realistically, while everyone licks the bowl).

Perfect for a rainy December afternoon, a Christmas party or a last-minute treat.

Ingredients

200g milk chocolate, broken into pieces
50g unsalted butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
100g puffed rice cereal
100g white chocolate
Green and red sweets or sprinkles, for the holly
12 paper cupcake cases

Method

Melt. Put the milk chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a large microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 30-second bursts, stirring in between (a grown-up job, as the bowl gets hot).
Stir. Once it's cooled slightly, the children can tip in the cereal and stir until every piece is coated.
Shape. Spoon the mixture into the cupcake cases and press it gently into a dome with the back of a spoon, so it looks like a pudding.
Chill. Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes until firm.
Add the custard. Melt the white chocolate and spoon a little over the top of each pudding, letting it drip down the sides.
Decorate. Before the white chocolate sets, add two green sweets for holly leaves and a red one for the berry. Chill again for 10 minutes.

Little-hands job: the stirring, shaping and holly. This is a recipe children can almost entirely make by themselves.

Our tip: they keep in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 3 days.

More Easy No-Bake Christmas Treats

These easy Christmas treats are quick to make, fun to decorate and need nothing more than a fridge.

Festive rocky road

Melt milk chocolate with butter and golden syrup, then stir in broken digestive biscuits, mini marshmallows and dried cranberries. Press into a lined tin, chill for two hours and cut into chunky squares. Finish with a dusting of icing sugar for snow.

White chocolate Christmas bark

Spread melted white chocolate over a sheet of baking paper, then let the children scatter on sprinkles, crushed candy canes and dried cranberries. Chill until set and snap into shards. It's brilliant for gift bags too.

Chocolate-dipped pretzel wands

Dip pretzel sticks halfway into melted chocolate, then roll in festive sprinkles. Stand them in a glass to set. They're crunchy, salty-sweet and very easy for small hands.

Love making edible creations? We also have our Candy Craft kits, where children build fun characters from sweets and cereal, with no oven needed.

Tips for No-Bake Treats With Little Ones

Let the chocolate cool a little. Melted chocolate should feel warm, not hot, before small hands start stirring.
Use a big bowl. More room means fewer cereal escapes (and less sweeping afterwards).
Lay out the decorations first. Small bowls of sprinkles and sweets turn decorating into a calm, happy job.
Check the labels. Sweets, sprinkles and biscuits can contain nuts or other allergens, so check before sharing.
Be patient with the fridge. A timer helps when everyone keeps asking "Is it ready yet?"

Ready for the next step? When they're keen to try the oven, our easy Christmas biscuits kids can make are the perfect first bake.

Festive Fun, No Oven Required

No-bake treats are the perfect way to get the littlest ones into the kitchen this Christmas. There's lots of mess, lots of pride and plenty of chocolate.

When they're ready for more, our Christmas bake and craft kits come with everything measured out and ready to go. Browse all of our bake and craft kits for year-round fun, or try Crumbs Club for a new adventure every month.

For more festive ideas, try our easy Christmas recipes for kids, or head back to our Christmas baking with kids guide.

Happy making!

Kate & Louise xx

FAQ

What is the easiest thing for kids to bake at Christmas?

Chocolate chip cookies are the easiest, because there's no rolling or cutting. Gingerbread biscuits are a close second.

Can toddlers help with Christmas baking?

Yes, from around age 3, with an adult. Let them pour, stir, cut shapes and decorate, and keep the oven an adult job.

What’s included in a Craft & Crumb Christmas baking kit for kids?

Our Christmas baking kits come with pre-measured dry ingredients and simple step-by-step instructions, so children can mix, bake and decorate with less mess and less prep for you. Check the product page for the exact contents of each kit.

Can I send a Christmas baking kit as a gift?

Yes. Christmas baking kits are easy to send as a gift for children, families and grandparents. Just add the kit to your basket and enter the recipient’s delivery address at checkout. For a gift that keeps going after Christmas, see our Crumbs Club subscription.