One of the biggest gifts you get by being an avid crafter and DIY enthusiast or kitchen enthusiast is the gift of being able to do things a little differently. Customization is perhaps the best part of learning how to do and make things yourself! The holiday season is no exception to that. We especially like to use our DIY skills in the kitchen around this time of year, even when it comes to helping our kids leave a snack for Santa. Why put out the same store bought cookies and standard glass of milk when you can make something extra fun and delicious? We’ve been on the lookout lately for awesome recipes that we’ve never tried before that would make awesome snacks for Santa on Christmas Eve.
Are you feeling just as enthusiastic as we are, if not more, about the idea of making new kinds of homemade treats for Santa this holiday season rather than just buying biscuits? Check out these 15 ideas, recipes, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search!
1. Chocolate chip cookie milk shots
If you’re going to put in all the time and effort it takes to make something a little different for your kids to leave out for Santa, would you rather make it very unique indeed? Well, just in case you’re also still a little caught on the traditional idea of leaving cookies, here’s an idea that lets you do both of those things! Check out how The Stay at Home Chef outlines the process for making chocolate chip cookie milk shots.
2. Peppermint meltaway cookies
Are you actually totally still hung up on the idea of leaving cookies for Santa but you’d also really like to use the occasion as an opportunity to try out a new kind of recipe that you’ve never made before? Well, if you’re a total peppermint lover then we think maybe this recipe from Cooking Classy is the one for you!
3. Christmas tree brownies
If you’re going to make something delicious with your kids, would you rather make it something very bright and novelty, or something they can get all kinds of creative decorating? Well, especially if you’re feeling determined to find a good alternative to the classic cookie idea, then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how One Little Project made these super fun triangular cut brownies and had their kids help embellish them with green icing, sprinkle ornaments, candy stars, and candy cane tree trunks!
4. Cute candy cane cookies
Maybe you’re totally interested in this whole idea of making fun looking decorative cookies with your kids to leave for Santa but you’re not so keen on involving quite so much icing, as your whole household tends to find it a little too sweet? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Home Cooking Memories made these twisted colour batter candy canes with crushed candy cane topping! They’re sweet and minty without being too overpowering or rich.
5. Cinnamon bun cookies
Like us, are you a huge fan of the kind of combination recipe where one treat tastes like all the best parts of another treat you love? In that case, we’d be willing to bet that you’ll adore these cinnamon bun cookies featured on Wanna Come With just as much as we do! They’re still a cookie like the tradition but they’ve got a zing of flavour that’s a little different than usual.
6. Dear Santa butter cookies
What if you’re actually feeling quite convinced that a simple butter cookie, like most people traditionally set out, is actually the best thing for you to set out, but you’re also pretty determined to decorate it for the occasion? In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how The Nerd’s Wife made theirs shaped like rectangles and then put their iced lettering skills to the test writing “Dear Santa” across the top, just like the letters your kids undoubtedly wrote earlier in the season. The idea is traditional, but still levelled up a little!
7. Rudolph and Santa Christmas cookies
Are you actually a little bit pressed for time and you’re looking for a cookie idea that’s on theme and a little more special than your average, plain homemade batch, but you certainly won’t be able to put effort into careful iced lettering? In that case, we’d absolutely encourage you to take a look at these reindeer and Santa inspired cookies that are embellished with cherries, pretzels, glaze, and crushed candy cane for a bit of extra festive flavour, but that are still nice and quick to do. Get the full details for making them happen on The Cozy Apron.
8. Festive ginger snaps
In your opinion, is the smell and taste of ginger the total epitome of holiday baking and kitchen scents? In that case, we’d totally suggest using your Santa’s snack as an opportunity to fill the house and your bellies with ginger! One of our actual favourite holiday recipes is this one from Skip to My Lou that teaches you how to make festive ginger snaps that have been icing dipped on one side.
9. Double chocolate Toblerone cookies
In our house, there are several types and kinds of nice chocolates that are traditional holiday staples and that we let ourselves totally indulge in each year. We love cherry cordials, Guilian praline shells, Turtles, and Toblerone bars, just to name a few. If you’re the kind of person who adores Toblerone during the holidays just as much as we do, then we’d definitely suggest giving these delectable double chocolate Toblerone cookies outlined on Olive Magazine some consideration as this year’s Santa snack.
10. Gooey eggnog butter cookies
Did we almost catch your attention when we started talking about the idea of making butter cookies to leave for Santa but you can’ help wishing that you could take their flavour to the next level rather than just how they’re frosted? Then maybe you’d be better off making butter crinkle cookies instead! We’d recommend checking out these ones from Wicked Good Kitchen specifically because they also have the added bonus of a very Christmassy tasting eggnog flavour.
11. Milk and cookie cupcakes
Has your favourite suggestion on our list so far actually been the first one because you liked that it combined the classic milk and cookies idea in one place, but you’re just not sure how you feel about the idea of incorporating an actual drink of milk as part of the food? Then perhaps you’d get along better with this novelty but slightly less quirky milk and cookies cupcake recipe from Life is Better With Cake instead.
12. Gingerbread crinkle cookies
Have we actually got you feeling a little bit torn between the idea of making deliciously buttery crinkle cookies and the idea of making something that tastes like ginger, but you’re having trouble deciding between the two? Well, who ever said that you have to choose? Instead, check out how Posh in Progress made these fragrant and flavourful gingerbread crinkle cookies!
13. Eggnog cheesecake cookie cups
Did we almost nail it when we said that you might be torn between two of the options you’ve seen on our list, but those weren’t specifically the things you’re having trouble choosing between? Well, if you’re feeling more inclined to choose between the cookie cups and the eggnog cookies, then here’s another combination idea that might help you make the Santa snack you’re really dreaming of instead! Take a better look at the recipe and tutorial on Liv for Cake to see how these eggnog cheesecake cookie cups were made in more detail.
14. Christmas magic bars
Rather than thinking that some of the treats we’ve shown you so far might be a little too sweet for what you had in mind, are you actually hoping for an even more candy filled recipe, just because it’s Christmas? In that case, we’re not sure you’ll find a sweeter or more satisfying option than this one from Hungry Happenings! Check out their recipe to learn more about these Christmas magic bars and all of the different wonderful things you can top them with.
15. Red velvet crinkle cookies
Are you actually still finding yourself thinking about buttery crinkle cookies and whether there might be even more holiday versions out there than what you’ve seen so far? In that case, here’s one more recipe for your consideration before we go! Check out the details outlined nice and clearly on Buttercream Blondie to see how these delicious red velvet crinkle cookies were made.
Have you made other kinds of delicious homemade treats for Santa before that your kids had a blast helping you with and setting out but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about it or link us to the recipe so we can try it out too!
