Easy Christmas Treats to Make, No Oven Needed

In an Australian December, nobody wants to turn the oven on. Happily, some of the best Christmas treats need nothing more than a saucepan, a fridge and a free afternoon. Here are our favourites, all easy enough to make with children.

1. Chocolate bark

Melt 300g of dark, milk or white chocolate and spread it thinly on a tray lined with baking paper. Scatter with toppings: chopped nuts, dried cranberries, crushed candy canes or freeze-dried raspberries. Chill until firm, then snap into shards.

2. Christmas rocky road

Chocolate, marshmallows, biscuits and nuts, set in a tin. Our Christmas rocky road guide has the recipe and the best mix-ins.

3. Chocolate truffles

Heat 125ml of cream until steaming, pour it over 250g of chopped dark chocolate and stir until smooth. Chill until firm, roll into balls, and roll in cocoa, coconut or chopped nuts. Keep them in the fridge.

4. A biscuit Christmas wreath

Arrange biscuits in a ring on a board, held with melted chocolate, and decorate with lollies and icing. Our biscuit Christmas wreath needs no oven at all. Jens Freckle Face biscuits are a good choice for it.

5. Chocolate salami

An Italian favourite that looks like a salami and slices like one. Our chocolate salami with shortbread and macadamias is rolled, chilled and sliced into rounds.

6. Coconut ice

Mix a 395g tin of sweetened condensed milk, 400g of icing sugar and 300g of desiccated coconut. Press half into a lined tin, colour the rest pink with a drop of food colouring, press on top and chill until set. Cut into squares.

7. Raspberry and coconut slice

A no-fuss slice built on a jar of good conserve. See our raspberry and coconut slice.

8. Chocolate-dipped fruit

Dip strawberries, cherries or dried apricots halfway into melted dark chocolate and set them on baking paper. Best eaten the same day. For a ready-made version, try dark chocolate figs.

9. Shortbread sandwiches

Sandwich two pieces of shortbread with jam or chocolate spread, then dip one end in melted chocolate. A quick upgrade on a plain biscuit.

10. Gingerbread decorating

Buy a few gingerbread men and set the children loose with icing and lollies. See our gingerbread guide if you want to bake your own another day.

Packaging Christmas treats as gifts

• Tins and jars protect treats and get reused. Line them with baking paper.
• Cellophane bags tied with ribbon show off what is inside.
• A handwritten label with what it is, the date it was made, and any allergens such as nuts, gluten or dairy.
• Keep chocolate treats cool until they are handed over, especially if they are travelling in a car.

How far ahead can you make them?

• Chocolate bark, rocky road and chocolate salami: up to two weeks in the fridge.
• Coconut ice: up to two weeks in an airtight container.
• Truffles: about a week in the fridge.
• Chocolate-dipped fresh fruit: on the day.

For more, see our homemade Christmas food gifts, Christmas chocolates, gluten-free Christmas treats and the full Christmas range.