5 Easy Holiday Desserts Your Teen Will Want to Make and Eat

During the holiday season, use these easy holiday desserts to encourage your middle schooler to spend some time in the kitchen. Cooking is one of the life skills teens need to be working on regularly.

Chances are, during the next few weeks, you’ll need to make a dessert to take to a family gathering or get-together with friends, so why not delegate the task to your teen?

It’s the perfect reason to get your older kids into the kitchen and let them put their creativity to work!

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How to get your teen baking this holiday season?

The holidays are a time for baking, so encourage your tween to join you in the kitchen. It’s a great way to spend quality time together.

Here are some tips on how to get your older kids excited about building their baking skills.

• Set up a baking station in the kitchen by creating a designated area for your teen to use. This can include all the supplies and ingredients for them to use when making their dessert.
• Have your teen look up recipes online or in cookbooks to find ones they’re interested in trying out. Ask them what type of treats they would like to make this season and help guide them in the direction they want to go. They can learn to make recipes that have been handed down through generations or find some new ones to add to their list of favorites.
• Try to make baking a fun activity with your teen by adding upbeat music and keeping the conversation lighthearted. Help them with any measuring or timing issues they might have.
• Remember to celebrate with them when they have finished baking and let them know you appreciate their efforts.

By following these tips, you and your teen can have a fun baking experience this holiday season!

*You can find a printable PDF of these recipes at the bottom of the page.

Easy Holiday Treats

To get you started, here are 5 holiday desserts that are simple to create and your whole family will enjoy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

These chocolate peanut butter bars are delicious and so easy to make for any last-minute parties.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 – 14 oz. can condensed milk
• 1 – 12 oz. package chocolate chips
• 1 cup peanut butter chips
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tsp. shortening

Supplies:

• 13″ x 9″ pan
• Mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Liquid measuring cup
• Dry measuring cup

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Melt the butter and pour into the 13″ x 9″ dish.
3. Sprinkle graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter.
4. Pour the condensed milk over the crumbs.
5. Over the milk, sprinkle the whole 12oz package of chocolate chips and 1 cup of peanut butter chips. Press them down into the milk.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the graham crackers begin to brown.
7. After cooling, melt the 3/4 cup of chocolate chips and shortening in a separate bowl, then drizzle over the top.
8. Cut into bars and serve.

Peppermint Bark

We LOVE any type of peppermint candy in our house and this one is super simple and makes an awesome gift.

Ingredients:

• 1 – 11 or 12 oz. package white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup candy canes, crushed

Supplies:

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Glass bowls
• Spatula
• Dry measuring cup
• Mallet (to crush candy canes)

Instructions:

1. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place white chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl and stir the chips with a spatula. Place the bowl back in the microwave and continue to microwave in 30-second intervals/then stir until chips are melted.
3. Pour the melted chocolate on the parchment paper and smooth with the spatula.
4. Sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies on top of the chocolate.
5. Let the bark harden for at least an hour at room temperature.
6. Break into pieces and serve.

Gingersnap Dip

This is a great dessert to take to parties because it’s easy to make and fun to eat.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
• Gingersnaps or Nilla wafers

Supplies:

• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer
• Spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Dry measuring cup

Instructions:

1. In small mixing bowl, use a mixer on low, to beat the cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together until blended.
2. Fold in the whipped topping until it’s all blended.
3. Refrigerate.
4. Serve with gingersnaps or Nilla wafers.

Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Cup

Your kids will have a blast making these cookies!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
• 3 drops vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1 egg yolk
• ¼ cup flour
• 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips

Supplies:

• Coffee cup or small bowl
• Spoon
• Spatula
• Measuring spoons
• Liquid measuring cup
• Dry measuring cup

Instructions:

1. Put the butter into a coffee cup or small bowl. Microwave it for 5-10 seconds – just enough to melt the butter. Carefully take it out of the microwave.
2. Add the white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla to the melted butter. Stir until everything is mixed well.
3. Separate the egg. Add the yolk to the mixture in the cup/bowl. Stir to mix it all.
4. Stir in the flour and salt. Mix until well combined.
5. Add the chocolate chips into the cup/bowl and stir everything together. It should be the consistency of cookie dough.
6. Put the bowl/cup into the microwave. Cook for 40 seconds, using full power. Carefully take it out to check to see if it’s done. If it’s still doughy, put it back in and microwave for 10-15 more seconds.
7. Once it’s cooled enough, your tweens can start eating!

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

Kids can really use their creativity with this dessert! Use different flavors of chocolate and a variety of candy toppings for one-of-a-kind creations.

Ingredients:

• Pretzel rods
• Chocolate chips (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate)
• Candy and decorations
  • mini M&Ms
  • red and green jimmies
  • crushed candy canes
  • sparkling sugar
  • Christmas sprinkles
  • mini marshmallows

Supplies:

• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Dry measuring cup
• Mallet (to crush candy canes)

Instructions:

1. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Place the chocolate chips in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl and stir the chips with a spatula. Place the bowl back in the microwave and continue to microwave in 30-second intervals/then stir until chips are melted.
3. Dip pretzel rod into melted chocolate.
4. Place dipped pretzel on parchment paper and decorate with candy decorations.
5. Let sit at room temperature until hardened.

These 5 easy holiday desserts are perfect for getting your middle schooler in the kitchen and cooking up some memories. Not only will they learn a valuable life skill, but they’ll also get to enjoy some delicious treats.

So what are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and start baking!

Cooking with Kids

If your kids enjoyed making these holiday desserts, keep up the learning with some of these cooking projects.

• Make some holiday foods from around the world together.
• Add cooking to your American history lessons with these Native American-themed corn recipes.
• Get teens making their own breakfast with these simple recipes.

More Holiday Fun With Teens

Here are more fun things you can do with your older kids this season.

• These simple Christmas crafts are perfect for tweens.
• If your older kids are fans of Harry Potter, they’ll want to make these Harry Potter-themed ornaments for the tree.
• Turn a sock into an adorable snowman.

Which one of these easy holiday desserts are you most excited to try?