You’ll love these holiday-ready no-bake cookie recipes, including peanut butter sandwich cookies, chocolate haystacks, and candy-topped crispy treats. Each of these easy Christmas cookie recipes requires just a little time and zero oven space. Many can be made ahead, freeing up your time for holiday cheer!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles
Karla Conrad
These easy no-bake cookie truffles are so decadent, no one will guess there’s only 30 minutes of prep! Bring these chocolate-coated treats to your next holiday gathering for a dessert that wows.
Dulce de Leche Pretzel Bites
Karla Conrad
Silky dulce de leche and sweet brown sugar band together to create the creamiest cookie filling ever. Shape the golden dough between chocolate-covered pretzels, then dunk each heavenly bite in vanilla coating for easy no-bake cookies that will fly off the dessert table quicker than the toy of the year flies off store shelves.
Copycat Musketeer Bars
Andy Lyons
These no-oven-required marshmallow-chocolate bars can be frozen for a month before the holidays. Our homemade version of your favorite candy bar is the no-bake Christmas cookie recipe that will become a new family tradition.
No-Bake Truffle Treats
Blaine Moats
These no-bake Christmas desserts are perfect for families of picky eaters. Our recipe includes four flavor variations so you can each snack to your heart’s content: almond-cherry, pecan shortbread, peanut, and chocolate.
Neopolitan Marshmallow Treats
Jason Donnelly
This easy no-bake dessert would make even the Grinch enjoy Christmas. Make and freeze this no-bake dessert up to three months before Santa’s ETA, and don’t forget to add an extra-big heart to these monster-size treats.
Chocolate-Raspberry Bites
Kritsada Panichgul
This thin no-bake cookie recipe starts with purchased chocolate wafer cookies, jam, and frosting made with melted chocolate chips. The ruby-red hue of the jam is perfectly fitting for the holiday. Top with green or gold sprinkles for even more festivity.
Pistachio Bars
Blaine Moats
Want a cookie guests will go nuts about? These sea green bars feature three times the pistachio goodness: first in the graham cracker base, second in the pudding, and third as the topper.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Oat Bites
Andy Lyons
Every bite is bliss when it comes to these chilled no-bake peanut butter cookies. Sticky-sweet honey helps hold this dessert together, while flaky coconut provides a snowy sprinkle. Since these energy balls feature nut butter, oats, and dried fruit, we consider them nutritious enough to eat at snack time, too.
Chocolate-Cherry Dips
Jason Donnelly
These chocolate no-bake cookies hold a sweet surprise: maraschino cherries! Blend the rosy-red fruit with lush cream cheese, then smear between two vanilla wafers. Ask the little ones to help decorate before the chocolate coating hardens.
Cracker Candy
Jacob Fox
This no-bake Christmas dessert is so simple, even the kiddos can help! Line a cookie sheet with chocolate graham crackers, then pour on warm layers of caramel and chocolate. Toasted nuts make a crunchy topper.
No-Bake Butterscotch Bars
Kritsada Panichgul
Dessert bars don’t get any better than this. Indulge in lush layers of chocolate frosting and smooth butterscotch pudding on a scotcheroo-like base. Try this no-bake Christmas dessert recipe for a potluck or large party—one batch makes 64 servings!
Cinnamon-Walnut Cracker Bars
Carson Downing
A simple saucepan filling of butter, sugar, and walnuts gets sandwiched between purchased graham crackers for a scrumptious no-bake Christmas dessert. Don’t forget a drizzle of powdered sugar icing for a snowfall-inspired finish.
Chocolate-Peanut Butter Crispy Treats
Blaine Moats
Your favorite crispy treats get a makeover in this kid-friendly no-bake option. Mini marshmallows, peanuts, and melted chocolate make them sophisticated enough for adults to crave as well.
Yummy No-Bake Bars
Topped with a creamy layer of chocolate, these fuss-free peanut butter bars are the ideal take-along for a last-minute cookie exchange. Grab a bottle of bubbly to share and everyone will be convinced you’ve been planning for the event all week!
No-Bake Butterscotch-Pretzel Bars
Peter Krumhardt
Salty peanuts plus complementary butterscotch make these bars a tasty no-bake cookie recipe option. Sprinkle crushed pretzels and peanuts on top to hint at the flavors hiding below.
Peanut Butter Balls
Andy Lyons
While not technically a cookie, these no-bake goodies make a tasty addition to your Christmas cookie platter. It’s one of our top-rated Christmas candy recipes, and many readers add crispy rice cereal for crunch—yum!
No-Bake Cake Batter Puppy Chow Bars
Jason Donnelly
Each bite of these chewy cereal bars is loaded with sprinkles and vanilla flavor. Make the bars up to three days before you plan to enjoy them. Just before serving, cut them into squares and sprinkle on plenty of powdered sugar.
No-Bake Marshmallow-Pretzel Bars
Carson Downing
These no-bake bars are the perfect balance of sweet and salty. A mixture of festive candy, marshmallows, and nuts is covered in a gooey peanut butter and marshmallow cream sauce. Switch out the colored candies to make this festive dessert all year-round.
Cookie Butter Sandwich Cookies
Carson Downing
Level up your holiday sandwich cookies this year by switching out the peanut butter filling for cookie butter. Dip the cookies in melted chocolate and garnish with any toppings you like (we recommend nuts, sprinkles, or chocolate chips).
Lemon Drops
Blaine Moats
Bring a batch of these light and citrusy lemon drop cookies to your next holiday gathering. Roll the dough into balls and coat them in crushed lemon drop pieces. Allow 2 hours to chill and serve to your loved ones (or eat them yourself)!
Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
Peter Krumhardt
This dessert is the perfect holiday treat for your favorite chocolate lovers. Rich, chocolate cheesecake pairs perfectly with a crushed sandwich cookie base. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips or holiday sprinkles across the top of the bars for a festive touch. If any bars are left over after your holiday meal (we doubt there will be any leftovers!), store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.
No-Bake Irish Cream Pudding Bars
These decadent pudding bars can be made in advance of your holiday get together and frozen for up to 3 months. With a cookie crumb base, pudding and liqueur filling, and chocolate top, these Irish cream bars are sure to be a hit. Make sure to grab one for yourself before they’re all gone!
Classic No-Bake Cookies
Victor Protasio Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer. Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis
While you do have to boil a mixture of sugar, butter, milk and cocoa, there is no baking in the oven involved in this cookie recipe. All you need to do is combine the boiling mixture with oats, peanut butter, peanuts, and vanilla extract. Drop by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and let stand at room temperature to set.
No-Bake Peanut-Apple Balls
Blaine Moats
These peanut-apple balls can be served as an appetizer or dessert. Plus, they are made with only five ingredients: peanut butter, honey, wheat cereal flakes, dried apple slices, and apple pie spice. Mix the ingredients and let them chill for an hour before you serve them.
Chocolate-Marshmallow-Peanut Clusters
Karla Conrad
Not only are these chocolate-marshmallow-peanut clusters easy to make, they are versatile, too. Customize the recipe to use your favorite kinds of chocolate and nuts. Make a large batch of the clusters, and let your loved ones add in sprinkles, chocolate chips, or dried fruit to theirs.