90+ Christmas Dessert Tray Ideas

Creating a stunning holiday dessert board doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. I’ve pulled together all my favorite recipes that work perfectly for Christmas dessert trays, cookie exchanges, and holiday parties. These easy Christmas cookies, Christmas bark, Christmas fudge, Christmas dips, and other sweet treats can be mixed and matched to create a beautiful spread that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen.

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Christmas Dessert Tray Ideas

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Easy Christmas Cookies

Santa’s Trash Cookies

Santa’s Trash Cookies are loaded with all the good stuff – chocolate chips, pretzels, candy, and whatever else you have in your pantry. Kids love helping throw ingredients into the bowl, and no two batches ever look exactly the same. Pack them in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for easy neighbor gifts.

Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies

Chocolate Chip Snowball Cookies are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies rolled in powdered sugar. The chocolate chips add a nice surprise to the traditional snowball cookie. They freeze beautifully, so you can make them weeks ahead and have cookies ready whenever you need them.

Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies

These Peppermint Cake Mix Cookies start with a boxed cake mix and need just a few ingredients. The crushed candy canes on top make them look festive without any decorating skills required. They’re perfect for when you need two dozen cookies in under 30 minutes.

Sugar Cookie Wreath

This Sugar Cookie Wreath looks impressive but uses refrigerated cookie dough shaped into a festive wreath. It’s one of those recipes that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen when it actually took about 15 minutes of prep time. Serve it on a platter with a small bowl of frosting in the center for dipping.

Reindeer Gingersnap Cookies

These adorable Reindeer Gingersnap Cookies start with store-bought gingersnaps that you decorate with pretzels, candy eyes, and red M&Ms. They’re a fun project for an afternoon with the kids and always get smiles at cookie exchanges. The best part is there’s no actual baking required.

Christmas M&M Cookies

Christmas M&M Cookies are simply your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe with red and green M&Ms mixed in. The festive colors make them perfect for holiday parties, and you can make the dough ahead and freeze it for easy baking later. Kids can help sort the M&Ms by color before mixing them in.

Christmas Oreos

These Christmas Oreos are dipped in melted chocolate and decorated with sprinkles or crushed candy canes. They look fancy but require no baking whatsoever, making them perfect for when you need a last-minute treat. Set up a decorating station and let kids customize their own.

Pecan Snowball Cookies

These classic Pecan Snowball Cookies are tender, nutty, and covered in a snowy coating of powdered sugar. They’re one of those cookies that everyone expects to see at Christmas gatherings. Make a double batch because they disappear fast.

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies

Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies are a heartier option that’s perfect for breakfast or after-school snacks during the holidays. The oats make them feel a little healthier, and the cranberries add festive color. They ship well if you’re mailing holiday care packages.

Easiest Cranberry Cookies

The Easiest Cranberry Cookies use dried cranberries and come together in one bowl with no chilling required. The tart cranberries and sweet white chocolate chips make them perfect for anyone who doesn’t love super-sweet cookies. They stay soft for days when stored in an airtight container.

Lingonberry Thumbprint Cookies

These Lingonberry Thumbprint Cookies are buttery cookies with a jewel-toned jam center. You can use any jam you like, but lingonberry gives them a traditional Scandinavian touch. Kids love making the thumbprint indentations before filling them with jam.

Hungarian Cookies (aka Kiffles Cookies)

Hungarian Cookies are tender cream cheese pastries filled with jam, nuts, or poppy seed filling. They look fancy but the dough is surprisingly easy to work with. These are the cookies that disappear first at every cookie exchange I’ve ever attended.

Sprinkle Cookies

These fun Sprinkle Cookies are soft, colorful, and covered in sprinkles. Use red and green sprinkles for Christmas or any color combination you like. They’re basically impossible to mess up, which makes them perfect for baking with young kids.

Butterscotch Haystack Cookies

Butterscotch Haystack Cookies are no-bake cookies made with butterscotch chips and chow mein noodles. They come together in minutes and have that perfect sweet-and-salty thing going on. Kids think they’re hilarious because cookies aren’t supposed to have noodles in them.

Twix Cookies

These Twix Cookies taste just like the candy bar with a shortbread base, caramel middle, and chocolate top. They take a little more time than some of the other cookies on this list, but they’re worth it for special occasions. Cut them into small squares so everyone can try one without feeling too guilty.

Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies use Bisquick mix as a shortcut to soft, chewy cookies. They’re perfect for when you’re out of flour but still need to make cookies. The texture is slightly different from traditional chocolate chip cookies, but my kids actually prefer them.

Bisquick Peanut Butter Cookies

These Bisquick Peanut Butter Cookies need just a few ingredients and come together in about 20 minutes. Press them with a fork for the classic crisscross pattern, or leave them plain. They’re soft, peanut buttery, and perfect with a glass of cold milk.

Pumpkin Pie Sugar Cookies

Pumpkin Pie Sugar Cookies bring those warm pumpkin spice flavors into a soft, chewy cookie. They’re perfect for early December when you’re transitioning from Thanksgiving flavors to full Christmas mode. The cream cheese frosting makes them extra special.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

These Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies are soft, spiced, and loaded with chocolate chips. They’re one of those cookies that tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to blend. Pack them in your kids’ lunchboxes for a special holiday treat.

3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies

You really can make delicious cookies with just three ingredients, and these 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies prove it. They’re perfect for when you need cookies right now and don’t want to run to the store. Kids can cut them into holiday shapes and decorate with colored sugar.

Sugar Cookie Bars

Sugar Cookie Bars give you all the flavor of cut-out sugar cookies without the rolling and cutting. Just press the dough into a pan, bake, frost, and slice into squares. They’re my go-to when I need cookies for a school party and don’t have time for individual cookies.

Lemon Cake Mix Cookies

Lemon Cake Mix Cookies are a nice bright, citrusy option when you need a break from all the chocolate and peppermint. They’re soft, chewy, and have that fresh lemon flavor. Roll them in powdered sugar before baking for a snowy appearance.

Orange Sugar Cookies with Orange Glaze

These Orange Sugar Cookies with Orange Glaze have a subtle citrus flavor that’s really refreshing during cookie season. The glaze adds sweetness and makes them look polished. They’re especially good with a cup of hot tea or coffee.

Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies

Chocolate Cool Whip Cookies are incredibly easy and turn out soft and fudgy every time. The Cool Whip gives them an amazing texture. Roll them in powdered sugar for a crackled appearance that looks like you spent way more time on them.

Air Fryer Cookies

Air Fryer Cookies are a game changer when you need just a few cookies without heating up the whole house. They bake faster than in a regular oven and come out perfectly every time. This method works with most cookie dough recipes.

Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, and ready in less than 15 minutes. The air fryer gives them perfectly crispy edges while keeping the centers tender. They’re perfect for when you want fresh-baked cookies but don’t want to heat up the whole kitchen.

Sugar Cookie Brownies

Sugar Cookie Brownies combine two favorite desserts into one amazing treat. They’re part sugar cookie, part brownie, and totally delicious. Cut them into small squares because they’re rich.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

These Peanut Butter Cup Cookies are soft peanut butter cookies with a mini peanut butter cup pressed into the center. They’re one of those cookies that look impressive but are actually super simple to make. Bake them right before guests arrive so your house smells amazing.

Christmas Bark

Chocolate Peppermint Bark

This classic Chocolate Peppermint Bark layers dark and white chocolate with crushed candy canes on top. It’s the Christmas peppermint bark that everyone expects to see during the holidays. Break it into irregular pieces and package it in clear cellophane bags tied with red ribbon for easy neighbor gifts.

Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark

Salted Caramel Pretzel Bark combines sweet and salty flavors in the best possible way. This Christmas pretzel bark uses mini pretzels as the base with caramel and chocolate layers on top. The sea salt sprinkled at the end really makes it special.

Cookie Dough Bark

Cookie Dough Bark tastes exactly like edible cookie dough covered in chocolate. It’s one of those Christmas bark candy recipes that disappears the fastest at parties. Kids go crazy for this one, and adults love it just as much.

Cranberry Pistachio Bark

This Cranberry Pistachio Bark is beautiful with its red and green colors. The tart cranberries and crunchy pistachios make this chocolate Christmas bark feel a little more sophisticated. It’s perfect for adult cookie exchanges or holiday office parties.

Turtle Candy Bark

Turtle Candy Bark has all the flavors of those classic turtle candies – chocolate, caramel, and pecans. It’s rich and decadent, so cut it into smaller pieces. This one always gets compliments because people can’t believe how easy it is to make.

Reindeer Chocolate Bark

Reindeer Chocolate Bark is decorated with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red M&M noses. Kids love helping decorate this chocolate Christmas bark, and it’s adorable on holiday dessert tables. Make it a fun afternoon activity when you need to keep little hands busy.

Oreo Bark

This Oreo Bark is loaded with crushed Oreos mixed into melted chocolate. It’s one of those recipes where you can use regular Oreos or the special holiday varieties. The cookies add great texture and make this Christmas bark candy extra addictive.

Chocolate Hazelnut Bark

Chocolate Hazelnut Bark tastes like your favorite chocolate hazelnut spread in candy form. The toasted hazelnuts add crunch and nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with the chocolate. This one feels fancy enough for holiday gift baskets.

Pecan Pie Bark

This Pecan Pie Bark captures all those warm pecan pie flavors in an easy Christmas toffee bark. The buttery toffee layer topped with pecans and chocolate makes it taste like the holidays. It’s perfect for people who love traditional Southern desserts.

Christmas Cracker Toffee

Christmas Cracker Toffee uses saltine crackers as the base for a buttery toffee layer and chocolate topping. This saltine Christmas bark is ridiculously easy and tastes way better than it sounds. I make multiple batches every year because it disappears so fast.

Ritz Cracker Candy

Ritz Cracker Candy sandwiches peanut butter between Ritz crackers and then dips them in chocolate. It’s technically more of a dipped candy than bark, but it belongs on any Christmas bark candy platter. The sweet and salty combination is perfect.

Christmas Crack Recipe

This Christmas Crack Recipe gets its name because it’s seriously addictive. This saltine Christmas bark has a buttery toffee layer, chocolate, and festive sprinkles on top. Make it in a sheet pan and break it into pieces – it’s the easiest Christmas toffee bark you’ll ever make.

Christmas Fudge

Fantasy Fudge

This classic Fantasy Fudge is the recipe that’s been passed down through families for generations. It’s the best Christmas fudge for people who love rich, creamy chocolate with a perfect smooth texture. The marshmallow creme is the secret ingredient that makes it foolproof every single time.

Sugar Cookie Fudge

This Sugar Cookie Fudge tastes just like your favorite Christmas cookie fudge. The vanilla flavor with colorful sprinkles makes it look festive and taste amazing. It’s a fun Christmas swirl fudge option when you make it with layers of different colors.

Peppermint Fudge

Peppermint Fudge brings together chocolate and peppermint in the most delicious way. This Christmas chocolate fudge is topped with crushed candy canes for that festive look. It tastes like the holidays and makes beautiful neighbor gifts when cut into squares and wrapped in cellophane.

Chocolate Caramel Fudge

Chocolate Caramel Fudge layers rich chocolate fudge with gooey caramel. This is one of those Christmas fudge recipes that looks fancy but comes together surprisingly fast. The sweet and salty combination makes it impossible to eat just one piece.

Easy Chocolate Fudge

This Easy Chocolate Fudge is my go-to when I need something quick and reliable. It’s the simplest Christmas chocolate fudge recipe you’ll find, using just a few ingredients you probably already have. Perfect for when you need last-minute holiday treats.

Christmas Fudge

Christmas Fudge is decorated with festive red and green colors that make it perfect for holiday cookie trays. This easy Christmas fudge looks impressive but takes almost no effort to make. Kids love the colorful appearance and the sweet chocolate flavor.

White Chocolate Fudge

White Chocolate Fudge is creamy, sweet, and a nice change from traditional chocolate fudge. You can add cranberries, pistachios, or peppermint extract to make it feel more festive. It’s one of the best Christmas fudge options for people who don’t love dark chocolate.

Maple Fudge

This Maple Fudge has warm, cozy flavors that remind me of winter mornings. The maple flavor makes these holiday treats feel a little more special and sophisticated. Top it with chopped pecans or walnuts for extra crunch and flavor.

Christmas Peanut Butter Fudge

Christmas Peanut Butter Fudge is smooth, creamy, and packed with peanut butter flavor. This easy Christmas fudge is perfect for the peanut butter lovers in your life. I like to swirl in some chocolate or add a chocolate layer on top for a fun twist.

Chocolate Frosting Fudge

Chocolate Frosting Fudge uses canned frosting as a shortcut ingredient. It’s one of the easiest Christmas fudge recipes you’ll ever make with just two main ingredients. The texture is surprisingly perfect and it tastes like the best chocolate frosting you’ve ever had.

Christmas Candy Recipes

Cool Whip Candy

Cool Whip Candy is one of the easiest additions to your dessert tray.

Crockpot Candy

Crockpot Candy is made entirely in your slow cooker and adds variety to your Christmas candy recipes.

Homemade Butter Mints

Homemade Butter Mints are smooth, creamy, and melt in your mouth. They’re perfect for filling in gaps on your holiday dessert board and look elegant in small candy cups.

Candied Pecans

Candied Pecans are sweet, crunchy, and add a nice contrast to all the chocolate on your dessert tray. They’re also great for gifting in small bags or jars.

Christmas Tree Pretzels

Christmas Tree Pretzels are adorable pretzel sticks decorated to look like tiny Christmas trees. They’re fun to make with kids and add a whimsical touch to your holiday dessert board.