Making your own Christmas decorations is a lovely activity to do with the kids, but for something a little different this year, why not try edible decorations? They make gorgeous homemade gifts for friends and family, and they double as a tasty treat for your own tree when you’re feeling peckish. Here are 8 tempting homemade Christmas decorations that you can eat — good luck making sure they last until Christmas Day!
Jump to a decoration:
1. Gum Drop Pomanders
2. Star Christmas Tree Decorations
3. Chocolate Candy Hearts
4. Jolly Ranchers Christmas Trees
5. Cornflake Wreath
6. Gingerbread Christmas Decorations
7. Peppermint Tree Ornaments
8. Stained Glass Cookies
#1. Gum Drop Pomanders
These edible gum drop pomanders are a lovely one to make with the kids. They look great hanging on the tree — the only trouble is getting them to last until Christmas without being eaten first! If gum drops aren’t your sweet of choice, swap them for any small, soft sweet you have to hand.
#2. Star Christmas Tree Decorations
These star Christmas tree decorations look impressive but are actually a pretty easy homemade decoration for kids to make. Add a coloured edible bauble to the points of each star to give your tree a really festive finish.
Recommended Reading: 10 Festive Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes
#3. Chocolate Candy Hearts
These chocolate candy heart decorations are so easy to make, needing just two ingredients and a ribbon. There’s no cooking involved and they set in the fridge in about 10 minutes — handy, since you may well need a few batches between now and Christmas Day!
Recommended Reading: Easy Homemade Food Gifts for Kids to Make at Christmas
#4. Jolly Ranchers Christmas Trees
These hard-boiled-sweet Christmas trees are a fun one for the kids to help with. If you can’t get hold of the exact sweet named in the original recipe, any similar hard sweet will work just as well — a good excuse to experiment and see what melts nicely.
Recommended Reading: 20 Homemade Christmas Decorations for Kids
#5. Cornflake Wreath
This no-bake cornflake Christmas wreath should be easy for kids of all ages to make. It might not survive long hanging on the door, but it makes a beautiful gift or a pretty table centrepiece for breakfast on Christmas morning.
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#6. Gingerbread Christmas Decorations
Follow a simple gingerbread recipe and cut it into any shape you like — men, trees, stars, angels — using festive cookie cutters. If you want hanging decorations, remember to add a hole near the top of each shape before baking.
Once the gingerbread has cooled, decorate each piece and thread through a ribbon so they can be hung around the house. For something more ambitious, you could even try building a gingerbread house.
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#7. Peppermint Tree Ornaments
These peppermint tree ornaments are lovely to make with children, though little ones will need a hand getting anything out of the oven. The rest of the steps are easy enough for kids to manage themselves, and the finished ornaments make a really sweet gift for a friend or teacher.
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#8. Stained Glass Cookies
Impress friends, family and even Santa himself with stained glass cookies. Food colouring is added to the cookie dough to create bright, colourful shapes that look wonderful hanging on the tree.
More Festive Fun: Our Christmas Section
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do homemade edible Christmas decorations last?
It depends on the recipe — hard sweet and gingerbread decorations tend to keep well for a couple of weeks in a cool, dry spot, while anything with fresh cream or soft sweets is best made closer to when you plan to display or eat it.
Are edible Christmas decorations safe to hang on a real tree?
Most of these are best treated as gifts, table decorations, or ornaments for a tree that’s out of reach of pets and very young children, since they’re sweets and baked goods rather than food-safe long-term decor.
Can young kids help make these decorations?
Yes — most of these projects are hands-on and simple enough for children to take the lead, with an adult helping at any oven or stovetop step.
Do I need any special equipment to make these?
No. These are all designed to be made with basic baking equipment you’re likely to already have at home — mixing bowls, baking trays, cookie cutters and a fridge for the no-bake ones.
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More Christmas Ideas
Loved these edible decorations? Browse our full Christmas section for more festive activities, recipes and gift ideas to try with the kids this year, or save this page now so you have it handy when you’re ready to bake.
Have your kids made any of these tempting edible Christmas decorations, or do you have a favourite recipe of your own? Let us know in the comments below.
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