The holidays are a great time to have some fun making treats and baked goods for gatherings or as gifts. Sometimes prepping all the food can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. There are some quick and easy ways to add festive holiday touches to your delicious homemade desserts.

It’s always nice to stick with family favorites, as you know your guests will be delighted. “I always think of my uncle’s whoopie pies as the holiday dessert,” said Matt Pettengill, of Portland. “He makes them every year, and they’re a staple at our family holiday party.” He added, “My mom also has a pretty famous talent for her pumpkin squares, which she ices with the perfect frosting.” Adding some holiday flair to traditional treats is simple, as are these easy ideas for holiday baking.

It’s extremely easy to make your own holiday candies. All you need is a bag of white morsels (find them with the chocolate chips in the baking aisle at your nearest Walmart or supermarket), some food coloring in reds, greens, and other holiday colors, and a plastic or silicone candy mold. (You can get holiday-themed candy molds for $2-10 at Craft Mania in Auburn.) Simply pour the white morsels into a microwave-safe bowl and melt them in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Then, add a few drops of food coloring (do a separate bowl of morsels for each color) to the melted chips, stirring until the color is even throughout. Spoon the melted morsels into the candy molds, smoothing the tops as you go. Then simply place the mold in the refrigerator for an hour or two before removing the candies. You can serve them on a platter at a party or bag them as gifts.

Cupcakes are also easy to gift. There are a lot of ways to dress them up for the holidays at little expense. TJ Maxx in Auburn carries cute holiday cupcake liners and toppers; $7 will get you enough to decorate 24 cupcakes. Simply use the liners in your cupcake/muffin tray and fill them two-thirds full with cupcake batter. After baking, allow cupcakes to cool before frosting and decorating them. Using aerosol can products like Pillsbury’s Easy Frost holiday line, you can get frostings in holiday colors with different tips for decorating. It makes it super easy to make your cupcakes look festive and professional. You can frost cupcakes in different colors, or swirl colors together. Finally, add a holiday topper or a piece of colorful fruit (like a raspberry) for a final touch.

“These are so cute!” said Cyndi Woodworth, of Auburn, of the cupcake toppers.

“I like the raspberries,” added Joe McShane, of Auburn. (If you’re serving cupcakes at a party, you can leave the tops frosted but offer bowls of additional toppings like fruit and candies for guests to add as they wish. That way guests can be creative and everyone gets what they want.)

If you’re giving these treats as a gift, invest in some cupcake gift boxes. They cost about $7 at TJ Maxx and are adorable and easy to use. It makes your kitchen handiwork look sleek and professional. You can dress up other snacks or baked goods with extra cupcake toppers or holiday food picks (available at TJ Maxx for $2-3 and at Dollar Tree for $1). Place these picks into fudge squares to add that holiday touch, or use them as mini kabobs for grape and cheese appetizers.

Need a yummy holiday mocktail to go with your desserts? Try this: mix equal parts cranberry-apple juice and lemon-lime soda (like 7-Up, Sierra Mist, or Sprite). Pour into a glass or wine goblet and garnish with an orange for a classy, delicious nonalcoholic holiday drink that’s sure to be a favorite for kids and adults. (The red color also looks gorgeous in a clear pitcher or crystal decanter.)

Making your holiday baked goods fun and festive is easier than ever. Pair these yummy treats with gifts to add a special touch to your presents this holiday season.

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