8 Fun Treats Your Kids Can Leave For Santa on Christmas Eve

When we think of Christmas traditions from our childhood, one of the most memorable ones was leaving treats for Santa on Christmas Eve. It's one of the ways we keep the magic of Santa and the holiday season alive for children and get them excited for all the presents he'll bring. You can go classic by following the milk-and-cookies route, or you may want to switch it up for your kids — we've heard Santa might enjoy a few other treats on Christmas Eve. Try some of these fun options ahead to get ready for the big guy's arrival.

01
Candy Canes
Unsplash | Greyson Joralemon

Candy Canes

It's safe to assume Santa has a sweet tooth, so candy canes are a great choice. The festive, sweet, minty treat will be a welcome indulgence for Santa and will remind him of his home back in the North Pole. Set out a bunch of candy canes so he can share them with Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer!

02
Coffee
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Coffee

Santa has a long night ahead of him, so why not help him stay awake — and warm up — with a nice cup of coffee? Coffee is a popular treat for kids to leave for Santa in Sweden.

03
Reindeer Food
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Reindeer Food

Santa's helpers need some sustenance to help them on their journey, too! Leave some food for the reindeer, like carrots and other crunchy vegetables, or you might want to find a fun and festive snack-mix recipe for Santa's helpers to munch on.

04
A Letter
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A Letter

You can't get much more personal than a letter for Santa (unless you're as savage as this kid), and it's a great way to encourage your children to write. Ask them to pen a letter for Santa to greet him when he visits your house. Who knows? Maybe Santa will write one back.

05
Milk and Cookies
StockSnap | Snufkin

Milk and Cookies

Milk and cookies are the most classic treat for Santa on Christmas Eve, so why mess with a good thing? Bake up a fresh batch of cookies with your kids, and leave some for Santa on a plate with a glass of milk.

06
Mince Pies
Unsplash | Toa Heftiba

Mince Pies

Mince pies are such a delicious Christmas treat, so you'll want to share the holiday spirit with Santa. Mince pies are fairly simple to make, so get your kids to help.

07
Beer
Unsplash | Patrick Fore

Beer

Take a cue from the Australians and leave Santa a cold mug of beer. It can help Santa keep warm on such a cold Winter night and give him the jolt he needs to get around to all of the houses in the world in time for Christmas morning.

08
Shoes
StockSnap | Daria Nepriakhina

Shoes

In some cultures, children leave their shoes for Santa when he visits on Christmas Eve. The idea is that Santa will leave their shoes filled with tiny presents for them to open in the morning. This is likely where the tradition to hang stockings and fill them with presents comes from.