Christmas Trees Recipe – Easy, No Bake, and Delicious

The sparkle of December hits different when your kitchen smells like peanut butter and chocolate. These No Bake Peanut Butter Christmas Trees capture the magic of holiday baking without ever turning on the oven. They’re chewy, sweet-salty, and fun to decorate—perfect for gifting, nibbling, or making with kids on a chilly afternoon.

Why You’ll Love These No Bake Christmas Trees

You’ll love these bars because they’re quick, festive, and endlessly snackable. No oven means less stress, and every bite brings a perfect mix of creamy peanut butter, crispy cereal, and salty pretzels. The chocolate layer melts into a smooth top, and the green icing zigzags turn them into edible Christmas Trees ready for your dessert table or gift tins.

They’re also perfect for making with little helpers. Kids can stir, press, drizzle, and sprinkle while you sip cocoa nearby. Plus, the batch makes plenty—so you can keep a few for yourself before wrapping the rest for neighbors or friends.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient has its role in the chewy, crunchy texture of these Christmas Trees.

• Light brown sugar brings sweetness and a soft caramel note.
• Karo Light Corn Syrup helps everything stick together and stay chewy.
• Creamy peanut butter adds richness and that nutty base flavor.
• Crushed pretzels balance the sweetness with a little salt and crunch.
• Quick oats and crispy rice cereal give body and texture.
• Semisweet chocolate chips melt into the smooth top layer.
• Powdered sugar, milk, and green gel food coloring make the “tree” icing.
• Sprinkles add that finishing sparkle.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Base

First, crush your pretzels finely—this helps the bars hold together well. Mix them in a large bowl with oats and crispy rice cereal. In a saucepan, stir together corn syrup and brown sugar over medium heat. Let it bubble for about 30 seconds, then remove from the heat and mix in the peanut butter until smooth.

Pour this mixture over your dry ingredients and stir until everything’s coated. Press it firmly into a greased, parchment-lined 8×8 pan. The tighter you press, the better the bars will hold their shape later.

Make the Chocolate Layer

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together in 20-second bursts, stirring between each until smooth. Spread the melted mixture evenly over the pressed bars. Gently shake or tap the pan to smooth out the surface. Chill in the fridge for 30–60 minutes (or the freezer for 20–30) until the chocolate is firm.

Slice into Christmas Trees

Once the bars are firm, remove them from the pan. Slice straight down the middle, then cut each half into five triangles. You’ll get 10 tree shapes plus four small corner pieces—snack fuel while decorating!

Chilling makes the edges clean and sharp, so don’t skip that part.

Decorate and Add Festive Touches

Mix powdered sugar and milk until you have a thick, glue-like icing. Add 1–2 drops of green gel food coloring and stir until evenly tinted. Spoon into a small piping bag or zip-top bag with a corner snipped.

Pipe zigzag “garlands” across each tree, then add sprinkles before the icing sets. For extra sparkle, use gold stars or metallic pearls. Decorating is easiest when the bars are cool but not frozen.

Tips for Perfect No Bake Bars

Crush the pretzels well for a more uniform texture. Press the mixture into the pan with your hands or a flat spatula to pack it tightly. Avoid overheating the chocolate—it should melt gently, not scorch. Always let the bars chill completely before cutting for those neat, bakery-style triangles.

At room temperature, these Christmas Trees are chewy and soft. If you serve them chilled, they’ll be firmer with a candy-bar bite.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Store your Christmas Trees in a flat container with parchment between layers. They’ll keep well at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the fridge for about a week.

You can decorate them a day ahead and store them in cookie tins—perfect for easy holiday gifting. They even travel well, making them great for cookie swaps or office parties.

How to Make These Gluten-Free

To make this recipe gluten-free, just substitute gluten-free pretzels, oats, and rice cereal. The texture stays the same, and the flavor is just as rich and buttery. It’s a simple swap that keeps everyone included at the dessert table.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these Christmas Trees at room temperature for the best flavor, or chill them for a satisfying chewy crunch. They pair beautifully with hot cocoa, coffee, or even peppermint tea. Add them to a holiday dessert tray alongside chocolate crinkle cookies for Christmas or peppermint bark brownies for the holidays for a festive spread that feels straight out of a cozy kitchen.

They also fit perfectly on cookie platters with festive patriotic sugar cookie bars or chewy pumpkin cookies with spiced flavor.

Common Questions About No Bake Christmas Trees

More Such Recipes

• no bake cookies for easy holiday treats
• soft and chewy peanut butter cookies
• 4th of July crinkle cookies recipe

Conclusion

These No Bake Peanut Butter Christmas Trees bring the spirit of the holidays straight to your kitchen without the fuss of baking. They’re fun, festive, and perfect for sharing with friends, neighbors, or anyone who could use a little extra sweetness this season. For more creative ideas, follow along on Pinterest or join the cozy kitchen crowd on Facebook.

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