More than fifteen of our tried-and-true favorite Christmas cookies and candy that always get requested. Most are whole grain and some are low sugar, too.
I'm so excited to share with you this list of our family's favorite Christmas cookies, candies, and other goodies (I'm not sure what to call the caramel corn Moose Munch - is it a candy?).
These recipes have all passed the taste test and many are holiday staples that I make every year. I don't make them ALL every year (that would be a lot, right?), but I rotate through them so we have them on a semi-regular basis.
Curious about what you'd see in our goodie bags every year? Moose Munch for sure because everybody loves it so much and it's requested by family. The butter mints or the chocolate cream cheese mints, and then the quadruple chocolate brownies. After that I look through the list and decide what looks good or what I didn't make the previous year.
On this list I've also included year around treats like chocolate chip cookies because they are great to have as a "regular cookie" (as Brian likes to say...) on a cookie plate. I know, it's crazy, isn't it that some people don't like ooey, gooey, nutty and rich treats? Ha - more for those of us who do, I like to say!
Can't you just smell the heavenly aromas already? Let the baking begin!
15+ Christmas Cookies and Candies:
1. Soft and Chewy Whole Grain Peanut Butter Cookies - Do you like peanut butter cookies, but wish they were softer? Here's the perfect combination of peanut butter and softness - with our without added chocolate.
2. Easy Butter Mints - Thought you could only buy butter mints? Nope - and they're really easy and make a great, inexpensive gift.
3. Whole Grain Cut-Out Cookies - Looking to up the nutrient value of traditional cut-out cookies? Adding oats and whole wheat add a nutty grain flavor that compliments the decorating frosting.
4. Mini Almond Joy Brownies - A brownie base, coconut middle and ganache topping...what's not to love? Add the almond or not - it's up to you. But then you should call them Mounds Brownie Bites, right?
5. Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars - Easy, easy, easy. I like to use these yummy bars to fill in any gaps in the goodie bags.
6. Peanut Butter Swirl Bars - A cookie bar with a long history in our house - quick, easy and delicious.
7. The Best Chewy Whole Grain Chocolate Chip Cookie - The standard chocolate chip cookie I make all year long - it really is the best. Why add them to a holiday plate? Because not everyone loves the fancy cookies (as Brian would tell you...).
8. Decadent Quadruple Chocolate Brownies - The ultimate once-a-year treat brownie! Decadent really doesn't come close to describing them.
9. Honey Caramel Corn with "Moose Munch" and White Chocolate-Peppermint Variations - Hands down the favorite treat of any that we give to our family and friends - it's addictive!
10. Mocha Chip Cookies - A chewy chocolate chip cookie with a hint of coffee that brings the best of two worlds together.
11. Caramel Coconut Shortbread Cookies - Made with a homemade caramel and all real food, these take a bit of extra time, but they are worth it.
12. Multigrain Snickerdoodle Cookies - The different grains bring a healthy change to the normal snickerdoodle while still tasting great.
13. Chocolate Topped Oatmeal Bars - Reminiscent of a favorite candy bar, but with real food ingredients. This comes together in minutes.
14. Whole Grain Peanut Butter Blondies - A dense, chewy peanut butter version of blondies - with added chocolate, of course (which you can leave it out...).
15. Chocolate Drizzled Nut Squares - Caramel, nuts, and chocolate...ok, this really is a homemade candy bar.
-PLUS Even More Christmas Cookies-
16. Whole Grain Apple Butter Bars - If you want to add a healthier treat to your cookie plate, look to these apple butter bars to use up the apple butter you made in the fall.
17. Espresso Truffle Bars - Everything you love about truffles without all the mess of shaping them!
18. Whole Wheat Blackberry Crumb Bars - Here's another non-chocolate selection that provides a healthier choice - and really, not many can resist blackberries.
19. Classic Cream Cheese Mints with Dark Chocolate - While you might find cream cheese mints on other's holiday platters, you probably won't find them dipped in chocolate! The chocolate makes these amazing.
20. 3 Ingredient Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters - I recreated an expensive candy shop chocolate for a fraction of the price in just minutes! This delicious candy is a great gift all on it's own in a pretty container.
21. Healthier Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls - One of our favorite holiday goodies updated with crispy rice and a honey-sweetened center.
What are your favorite goodies to make at the holidays? And which of these will you be adding to your baking?
If you'd like more ideas, be sure to follow me on Pinterest where I have boards for yummy desserts and an inspiring Christmas Food board!
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June says
So nice to hear from you Jami! Hope you all are doing well. Enjoy the time away from the blog for a bit -- you deserve it.
Wishing all of you a very happy holiday season.
Jami says
Thank you - you, too, June!
Thistle says
What a find! Thank you so much for sharing all this Christmas inspiration!
Have a very Merry Christmas!
blessings,
karianne
[email protected] says
All of these look delicious! Oh yum! I think I just gained 15 lbs. visually!
Tricia says
Oh my! These recipes look delicious! Now, I just need to decide which I want to try first!
Sakura says
You should really think about putting together a recipe book or ebook.
Jami says
Ah, sweet Sakura! Thanks for the encouragement...hopefully that will happen in the near future. 🙂
Rhonda says
wonderful looking recipes- thank you~