Elf on the Shelf Baking and Sweet Treat Ideas for the Weekend
The weekend is the perfect time to slow down, make memories with your kids, and add a sprinkle of Christmas magic to your home. And what better way to bring everyone together than combining fun Elf on the Shelf antics with irresistible baking and sweet treat activities?
Whether your elf loves decorating sugar cone Christmas trees, hosting a hot chocolate party, or encouraging the kids to whip up fresh cookies, these ideas create unforgettable moments while letting your little ones play a starring role.
If your family loves cozy weekend traditions, this blog post will give you tons of inspiration. We’ll walk through the cute Elf on the Shelf setups shown in the photos, plus additional baking-inspired ideas like pancake breakfasts, waffle bars, snack boards, and more festive treats your elf can “help” create. These simple setups feel magical for kids but are stress-free for parents—exactly what weekends should be.
Elf on the Shelf on Weekdays vs Weekends
During the busy weekdays, Elf on the Shelf ideas are all about being quick, simple, and stress-free—something you can set up in under five minutes before heading to bed. A tiny note, a silly pose, or a small prop is usually all you need to keep the magic alive without adding extra work to an already full schedule.
But when the weekend rolls around, you have the luxury of slowing down and making the setups more interactive and memorable. Saturdays and Sundays are perfect for baking activities, craft-themed elves, mini scavenger hunts, and scenes that invite kids to participate. Weekdays keep the elf magic manageable; weekends let you turn that magic into full family experiences.
Why Baking-Themed Elf Setups Are Perfect for Weekends
Elf on the Shelf mornings are always fun, but baking-themed setups are especially great for Saturdays and Sundays. Here’s why:
- Weekends give you more time. No rushing out the door—kids can bake, decorate, and enjoy every step.
- It adds hands-on creativity. Even young kids can pour, mix, sprinkle, and decorate.
- You create real treats to share as a family. Not just a setup to look at, but something delicious to enjoy.
- Your elf “inspires” a fun family activity without huge effort. A few simple ingredients and props, and the magic is done.
- Pro tip: Make Your Elf on the Shelf Bendable for sure easy set ups!
Now let’s walk through each idea, starting with the sweet scenes shown in your photos.
Decorate an Ice Cream Cone Christmas Tree
One of the most photogenic and easy Elf on the Shelf setups is a Christmas tree decorating station featuring ice cream sugar cones, green frosting, and Christmas sprinkles. This activity works wonderfully with kids of all ages and looks adorable when styled for your elf to “invite” everyone to participate.
How to Set Up the Scene
Re-create the charm of your images by arranging:
- Sugar cones placed upside down like blank Christmas trees
- A tub of green vanilla or buttercream frosting
- Small bowls of candy decorations such as:
- Mini M&Ms
- White pearl sprinkles
- Holiday jimmies
- Mini marshmallows
- Star sprinkles for toppers
- A simple note from the elf: “Help me decorate a tree!”
Position your elf next to the supplies, as if they were mid-project. In your example photo, one cone is already fully decorated with green frosting and festive sprinkles, so kids can see how magical their own creations can be.
Let the Kids Do the Decorating
Once your children discover the setup, give each one their own sugar cone and let them frost and decorate it however they like. This activity is:
- Quick
- Affordable
- Very low-mess (if you frost the cones ahead of time!)
- A wonderful afternoon treat
These decorated sugar cone trees can be:
- Displayed as edible holiday décor
- Added to gingerbread houses
- Eaten immediately
- Used as cupcake toppers
- Given to grandparents as sweet little gifts
It’s a perfect weekend activity because you don’t need to bake anything—and it’s done in under 20 minutes.
“Can We Make Cookies Today?!” – The Elf Cookie Baking Setup
There’s something magical about walking into the kitchen on a December morning and finding the elf surrounded by cookie mix, sprinkles, eggs, and baking tools. Your second photo shows this beautifully—a cheerful elf sitting beside a bag of cookie mix, festive sprinkles, butter, eggs, and a measuring cup, with a note saying:
“Can we make cookies today?!”
Kids love this setup because the elf isn’t just being silly—they’re asking the family to bake something together.
What You Need
Set out:
- A package of sugar cookie mix (or any flavor your family loves)
- Butter and eggs
- Mixing bowl and spoon
- Christmas cookie cutters
- Sprinkles (holiday blend, trees, stars, red & green)
- A rolling pin
- A whisk or spatula
- A handwritten note from the elf
Place the elf among the ingredients as if they planned everything. You can even dust some flour or sprinkle decorations around them for a playful, mid-baking feel.
Make It a Full Baking Activity
Once the kids find the surprise, dedicate time that day to baking a batch together. Choose one of these fun variations:
- Classic sugar cookies with frosting and sprinkles
- Thumbprint cookies filled with strawberry jam or Nutella
- Cut-out cookies shaped like snowflakes, bells, mittens, and stars
- Elf-inspired mini cookies for tiny elf “snacks”
Turn on Christmas music, set out extra sprinkles, and make it a slow, memory-filled weekend baking moment.
Hot Chocolate Party! – Elf Mug Setup
Your fourth photo is one of the sweetest setups—a cheerful elf sitting in a Christmas mug holding a cute little sign that reads:
“Hot Chocolate party!”
Surrounding the elf are mini marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate chips, and Swiss Miss packets, making it instantly clear the elf is hosting a cocoa celebration.
How to Set This Up
Gather:
- A festive Christmas mug
- Hot cocoa packets
- A bowl of mini marshmallows
- Chocolate chips or chunks
- Stir sticks or candy canes
- Whipped cream
- A small handwritten note from your elf
Place the elf inside the mug (propped up so they look cozy) and scatter the toppings around them.
Make It a Family Hot Chocolate Bar
Once the kids find their elf’s setup, continue the fun by creating a full Hot Chocolate Bar, including:
- Peppermint pieces
- White chocolate chips
- Caramel drizzle
- Holiday sprinkles
- Cinnamon
- Gingerbread cookie stirrers
- Whipped cream towers
- Chocolate syrup
Invite your kids to customize their drinks and sip them while watching a Christmas movie or reading a holiday book. It’s an easy, warm, cozy weekend treat.
Elf-Inspired Pancake Breakfast
Nothing says holiday weekend warmth like waking up to a stack of pancakes—especially ones your elf “prepared.”
Easy Setup Ideas
Pose your elf next to:
- Pancake mix
- Measuring cups
- A whisk
- Christmas sprinkles
- Mini chocolate chips
- Cookie cutters (for shaping pancakes into stars, bells, or Christmas trees)
Add a note:
“Let’s make Christmas pancakes for breakfast!”
Fun Variations
- Green Grinch pancakes with a cherry nose
- Rudolph pancakes decorated with bananas, blueberries, and chocolate chips
- Snowman pancake stacks with powdered sugar snow
- Christmas-tree pancakes piped in tree shapes and decorated with sprinkles
Your elf can even hold a tiny spatula for extra charm.
Waffle Bar with Holiday Toppings
Waffles are another family-friendly weekend breakfast that pairs perfectly with an Elf on the Shelf setup. You can keep it simple or go all out.
What the Elf Sets Out
- Waffle mix
- A waffle maker (unplugged for safety)
- Red and green berries
- Sprinkles
- Mini marshmallows
- Whipped cream
- Chocolate chips
- Maple syrup
Add a note:
“Waffle bar time—build your own holiday waffle!”
Kid-Approved Topping Ideas
- Crushed candy canes
- White chocolate shavings
- Festive M&Ms
- Crushed Oreos
- Holiday-themed fruit shapes (stars or trees cut from strawberries and kiwis)
Decorating Gingerbread Men (or Gingerbread Houses)
Your elf can also bring:
- A box of gingerbread cookie kits
- Tubes of icing
- Holiday candies
- Gumdrops
- Pretzel sticks
- Candy canes
Add a note saying:
“Can you help me decorate these gingerbread friends?”
Or for larger projects:
“Family gingerbread house day!”
This is a perfect longer weekend project for cozy afternoons.
Tips for Stress-Free Baking-Themed Elf Setups
You don’t need to spend a lot of time each night preparing elaborate scenes. Here are parent-approved shortcuts:
Use mixes and pre-made dough
Sugar cookie mix, waffle mix, and pancake mix make everything easier.
Prep the elf scene the night before
Set everything out quietly after the kids go to bed or during your evening routine.
Keep a few extra baking items on hand
Sprinkles, chocolate chips, frosting tubs, and cones keep well and are elf-approved essentials.
Let the kids handle the decorating
It’s messy, but magical—and that’s the beauty of it.
Snap photos for memory books
These sweet baking days are the moments kids remember forever.
Conclusion – Sweet Treats + Elf Magic = The Perfect Weekend Tradition
Pairing your Elf on the Shelf antics with baking and sweet treat activities is one of the easiest ways to add joy to your weekends in December. The ideas from your images—decorating sugar cone trees, mixing up cookies, and hosting a hot chocolate party—are already simple, magical, and kid-friendly. Add in whimsical weekend breakfasts like elf pancakes, waffle bars, and Christmas snack boards, and you have a month full of warm, cozy family moments.
These setups don’t require perfection—just a few ingredients, a sprinkle of Christmas spirit, and your beloved elf encouraging everyone to join in. Whether your kids are decorating cookies, stirring cocoa, or topping pancakes with sprinkles, you’re creating traditions that make the holiday season feel truly magical.
Your elf is more than a visitor—they’re a cheerful little ambassador of joy, family time, and delicious treats. So embrace the messy kitchens, the frosting-covered fingers, and the sprinkle-filled floors. These are the moments your kids will remember long after the elf flies back to the North Pole.
