7 Christmas desserts you can make with the kids 

Get into the festive spirit with these easy Christmas desserts you can make with the kids—perfect for creating sweet family memories.

The holidays are the perfect excuse to let the kids loose in the kitchen! You might be planning a show-stopping dessert for Christmas Day or just some fun festive treats to share. Either way, there are plenty of easy recipes the kids will love helping with, with lots that can be made gluten-free, dairy-free or egg-free too.

From simple no-bake bites for the little ones to fancier desserts for your older helpers, you’ll end up with a table full of goodies (and probably a few giggles along the way). Here are some of the best Christmas desserts to make with your kids, plus fun decorating ideas and simple swaps for different diets.

1. Festive chocolate bark

A Christmas dessert that everyone loves is Christmas bark (or Christmas crack, as it’s sometimes known), a sweet-and-salty treat that’s super easy to make. The key ingredients are chocolate, toffee and crackers. Spread dairy-free cream or coconut oil over the crackers, sprinkle with festive spices and melt white chocolate on top.

Let the kids drizzle and sprinkle with nuts, dried fruit or crushed candy canes. The younger kids can help with sprinkling, while older kids can try making layers of chocolate and toffee. This recipe is a fast one, taking around 30 minutes, and it’s egg-free and gluten-free if you use appropriate crackers.

Also try our chocolate bark or frozen yoghurt bark recipes.

2. Mini pavlova wreaths

A pavlova wreath is a show-stopping Christmas dessert that’s naturally gluten-free. Use pre-made meringue puffs to make a circular shape (or make your own meringues), then let the kids decorate with dried fruit, berries and a drizzle of creamy white chocolate.

If you’re making it from scratch, older kids can pipe the meringue while younger kids can help with decorating. Serve with whipped cream or dairy-free cream to make it extra festive. The result is a lovely texture, light and perfect for a Christmas party or Christmas Day dessert. Even better if you’re going for a white Christmas theme.

3. Gluten-free Christmas cake

A Christmas cake doesn’t have to be intimidating. Make a gluten-free version using a cake mix and add in some dried fruit and festive spices. Kids can help stir the batter, measure ingredients and line the cake pan. Decorate with white chocolate grated for snowflakes and little holly leaves. This can be an easy swap for the traditional Christmas pudding.

4. Strawberry Santa hats

These cute little strawberry Santa hats are almost too adorable to eat and the kids will love helping make them. All you need are fresh strawberries, a batch of mini brownies or biscuits for the base, and a dollop of whipped cream (or whipped coconut cream for a dairy-free option). Simply pop a strawberry on top of each base and finish with a tiny swirl of cream to create Santa’s “hat”. They’re super fun and ready in minutes. Perfect for Christmas parties, lunchbox treats or a sweet addition to your dessert table.

5. Christmas biscuits

Nothing says Christmas fun like a biscuit decorating session with the kids. Bake a batch of simple sugar cookies, stars, trees or gingerbread men (which are always a hit), then set up a decorating station with bowls of sugar-free sprinkles. It’s a great way to let the kids get creative (and a little messy), plus the biscuits make perfect edible gifts or party treats. You can easily make them gluten-free or dairy-free, and the memories you’ll create are just as sweet as the cookies themselves.

Try our vegan gingerbread biscuits recipe.

6. Bûche de Noël (yule log)

A bûche de Noël, or yule log, is a classic Christmas dessert that can be made gluten-free and dairy-free. Roll a gluten-free sponge cake with chocolate mousse or make your own dairy-free chocolate mousse and decorate with powdered white chocolate, berries and festive spices. This festive dessert has layers of flavour and makes a fantastic centrepiece for your Christmas table.

7. Fruit mince pies

Mince pies are a staple of Christmas time and they’re easy to adapt for dietary needs. Use a gluten-free pastry and buy an egg-free fruit filling, or you can make your own sweet, fruity filling.

Kids will love pressing the pastry into tins and adding decorative tops, stars, hearts or even little Christmas trees. For a fun decoration, drizzle white chocolate over the top or dust with icing sugar. These Christmas desserts are perfect sweet treats for afternoon tea, Christmas Eve or a Christmas party.

Want to skip the baking? Try our no-bake Christmas fruit cake!

Decorating tools for kids

Make sure your little helpers have the right tools for the job. Having kid-friendly decorating tools not only makes things easier (and less messy!) but also helps them feel part of the fun. Here are some simple, safe and easy-to-use tools that will keep tiny hands busy and creative while making your Christmas desserts sparkle.

• Sugar-free sprinkles and edible glitter: Easy for younger kids to sprinkle over Christmas desserts for instant festive charm.
• Dried fruit and nuts: Adds colour, texture and a touch of festive spices.
• White chocolate drizzle: Older kids can practise melting and drizzling creamy white chocolate for a professional look.
• Cookie cutters: Makes fun shapes for Christmas cake toppers, cookies and pastry.

Extra tips for mums

Christmas baking with kids can be a joyful mix of chaos and creativity, but with a few smart strategies, it can also be stress-free and memorable. Whether you’re juggling dietary needs, different age groups or just trying to keep things fun, these extra tips will help you make the most of your festive dessert-making moments.

• Prep ahead: Make your Christmas desserts in stages. Younger kids can help with decoration, while older kids help with preparation.
• Diet-friendly options: Many Christmas dessert recipes can be made gluten-free, dairy-free or egg-free, so everyone can enjoy the festive season.
• Keep it fun: Let the kids make fun ideas their own; they may surprise you with creative designs.
• Balance complexity: Mix quick desserts like Christmas bark with more advanced desserts like bûche de Noël to keep everyone engaged.

Christmas desserts FAQ

Q: How can I make Christmas desserts allergy-friendly?
A: Most Christmas recipes can be made gluten-free, dairy-free or egg-free. Swap regular flour for gluten-free flour, use whipping coconut cream instead of whipped cream, and check chocolate labels for allergens.

Q: What desserts can I prepare ahead of time?
A: Christmas cake, mince pies and bûche de Noël can be made a few days in advance. You can also prep biscuit dough or meringues ahead of time and decorate closer to Christmas.

Q: How do I keep kids engaged while baking?
A: Give them age-appropriate tasks. Little ones can stir, pour or decorate, while older kids can measure ingredients or handle mixing.

Q: How can I reduce the sugar in Christmas desserts?
A: You can use natural sweeteners like allulose, stevia, monk fruit, maple syrup, honey or mashed banana. Choose dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate and add flavour with spices like cinnamon or nutmeg, and real fruit without the syrup.

Q: Can I freeze Christmas desserts ahead of time?
A: Yes! Many desserts like biscuits, mini cakes and pavlova bases freeze well. Just store them in airtight containers and defrost before decorating or serving.

Q: How do I make Christmas baking less messy with kids?
A: Set up a “baking zone” with pre-measured ingredients and wipeable surfaces. Aprons and baking mats are lifesavers! Let kids decorate on trays to keep the sprinkles contained.

Lasting memories

Christmas baking is about so much more than dessert. It’s about laughter in the kitchen, sticky fingers and memories that’ll last long after the last crumb is gone.

Mix a bit of the old with the new and let everyone’s creativity shine. When the kids take charge of decorating and adding their own little touches, your dessert table will overflow with colour, joy and love.

Have fun with the kids. Roll up your sleeves, pop on some carols and make baking part of the celebration. Whether you’ve got 10 minutes or an afternoon, there’s always time for a little Christmas sweetness and all the giggles that come with it.

Read next: Christmas craft ideas for the whole family to enjoy