A peek inside: Ready to bring the holly and jolly to your friends and neighbors this holiday season? You’ve simply got to try these Christmas ding dong ditch ideas! We’ve included printable tags for your Christmas Treat Ding Dong Ditch shenanigans. Have all the fun and none of the hassle.
One of my family’s favorite nights of the Christmas season is when we doorbell ditch our friends and neighbors.
We spend some time during the day getting goodies ready: printing clever gift tags and attaching them just so.
I prep a simple supper ahead of time so it’ll be ready by the time we get back.
When it’s dark, we put on our favorite Christmas pajamas, load up the van, and crank up the carols as we drive around, hitting our friends and neighbors with holiday cheer.
We pull up to each targeted house, and our four boys take turns running the gifts up to the front door. A quick “ding dong” or “knock knock” and then they run away, giggling the whole way before diving back into the van:
It is easily one of our favorite traditions, and the recipients are always SO delightfully excited and thankful!
And, it’s a tradition that can grow with your family. We started this when our boys were young, but now they’re all tweens and teens and still their cheeks jiggle with laughter with every drop off.
Do you want to Christmas Treat Ding Dong Ditch your friends and neighbors too? We have made it as easy as possible for you with tons of ideas and printable tags.
Christmas Ding Dong Ditch Ideas
1| Cinnamon Rolls and Orange Juice – “Just ROLLin’ by to say Merry Christmas!”
This is the Ding Dong Ditch Christmas Treat we have used for the last several years. We typically deliver on Christmas Eve-Eve (December 23), and our friends and neighbors GO NUTS over it.
We’ve been told it’s the perfect combination of practical and fun. Kids are always excited because it’s a delicious surprise and parents love it because they’ve likely been cooking, baking, and gearing up for Christmas and it’s nice not to have to plan another meal.
If it’s in your budget, you could also add a roll of sausage to round out the meal.
>> Get the printable gift tag here.
2| Paper plates – “Sending Merry and Bright Holiday Wishes with Less Washing Dishes”
Another win for a practical gift! Paper plates are great for all the holiday hosting or even just the non-stop nibbling that comes with the season. Plus, who doesn’t want a night off from doing dishes?!
Along with the paper plates you could include napkins, bowls, cups, straws, or even plastic cutlery. Whatever your budget allows, your friends and neighbors are sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness!
>> Get the printable gift tag here.
3| Homemade Treats – “Ho Ho HOmemade”
This adorable tag will work for any homemade treat!
Attach it to some homemade sourdough bread and butter, fudge, breakfast casserole, or your favorite Christmas cookies.
Looking for a new recipe to add to your Christmas arsenal? Try our ginger creams or toffee– they’re both delicious!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
4| Pineapple – “Mele Kalikimaka”
Bing Crosby would be proud! This is such a fun ding dong ditch idea for Christmas, especially if you live in a warmer climate or are spending your holiday somewhere tropical.
If you wanted to make this a bigger gift, you could also include a ham or some smoked sausage for a yummy dinner or appetizer! Or even include some Hawaiian rolls to stay on theme!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
5| Root beer + Ice Cream – “Just Floating by to say Merry Christmas and a Happy Root Beer!”
I don’t know about you, but my kids LOVE root beer by itself or root beer floats as a special treat. They would be ecstatic if someone dropped this off on our front porch as a fun surprise!
Pair your favorite root beer with either delicious homemade ice cream or store bought, you really can’t go wrong!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
6| Bagels and Cream Cheese – “Have Some Bagels and Schmear!”
Another done-for-you breakfast idea. Stack some bagels with a container or two of cream cheese and call it a day!
You could also add some fruit, OJ, or chocolate milk.
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
7| Mayonnaise – “Mayo Days be Merry and Bright”
I got this idea when a good-natured debate amongst friends broke out over the best brand of mayonnaise. I’m from the midwest and relocated to Georgia. Let’s just say, the love of Duke’s runs deep down here and my unwavering loyalty to Kraft mayo is downright offensive to some southern belles!
To that end, I’ve included two different gift tag options: One can be used for any brand of mayonnaise.
The other is for Duke’s enthusiasts only.
To make this a well-rounded gift, you could include some bread or sandwich rolls, deli meat, and cheese.
>>Get the printable gift tags here and here.
8| Merry Moscow Mules + Mugs – “Have a Cup of Cheer”
When I tell you the way this drink infiltrated our friend group last Christmas! A friend of mine hosted a Girls Night where everyone wore pajamas and brought their favorite drinks and dips (we called it “Dipsmas”). One girl brought this Christmas Moscow Mule, and gracious, did everybody love it!
It’s 1 part fireball, 2 parts ginger beer, add some cranberries and a lime wedge! (I added a cinnamon stick because I’m extra.)
Pair the fixings with some adorable mugs and you’re all set. You could also include some sparkling cider for the kiddies!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
9| Bourbon or Sparkling Grape Juice – “Making Spirits Bright”
Another one in the libation category, my husband loves bourbon, so I had to add this to the list!
To include the kids in the merriment, you could add a bottle of Sparkling Grape Juice and some stemmed glasses. As a parent, I would super appreciate this because I often forget to get New Year’s Eve supplies in the midst of my holiday coma. This would be great for them to set aside and ring in the new year with a toast!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
10| Hand soap + towel – “We WASH You a Merry Christmas!”
Can you tell I like practical gifts? Honestly, most people already have too much stuff and feel overwhelmed around the holidays.
A bottle of hand soap and a festive towel would be a simple way to spruce up their guest bathroom without wondering, “What am I going to do with this?!” (If this is you too, don’t miss Decluttering Before Christmas.)
This is already an affordable option, but you could bring down the cost even more by buying your own soap dispensers and making your own foaming handsoap! It’s dirt cheap and takes about a minute to make (no, seriously!).
I couldn’t decide if I liked “We WASH you a Merry Christmas!” or “SOAP you have a Merry Christmas!” better, so you can choose!
>>Get the printable gift tags here and here.
11| S’mores – “It’s a Marshmallow World in the Winter”
Who doesn’t love a s’more?! These little kits scream cozy. (Actually, maybe they whisper cozy.) Either way, your friends and neighbors would love if you doorbell-ditch-Christmas’ed them with these!
If you know your recipient doesn’t have a fireplace or a gas stove to toast their marshmallows, you could include a non-toxic candle or even a mini portable campfire.
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
12| Playlist – “The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer is Singing Loud for All to Hear”
Take a note from Buddy the Elf and spread Christmas cheer with music!
This gift idea is particularly great for a tighter budget. You can curate a playlist on Amazon Music or Spotify and share it with your friends and neighbors.
Another idea if you have room in your budget is to include a bluetooth microphone for karaoke! This would be a huge hit, especially if your recipients will be entertaining their friends and family. Youtube has tons of karaoke options!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
13| Puzzle – “Piece on Earth, Good Will to Men”
The winter season is a great time for families to work on a puzzle. In fact, it’s something my boys and I like to do almost every winter break.
This quiet activity would help bring calm to your friends’ and neighbors’ households.
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
14| Board Game/Card Game – “Join in all the Reindeer Games You Want”
Board games and card games are fun for families and especially for entertaining larger groups. If you know your friends or neighbors are hosting a big party, or even just love to play, consider this Christmas ding dong ditch idea.
Some affordable favorites that work for bigger groups and aren’t already in everybody’s game closet are:
And bonus: Board games and card games often go on sale around Christmastime!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
15| Poinsettia (or any plant) – “BeLEAF in the Magic of Christmas”
Plants are a gift that keep on giving! Of course poinsettias are uber festive, but any plant will brighten up their home or office.
You could also consider potting a plant in a Christmas mug for extra cheer!
>>Get the printable gift tag here.
Printing your Christmas Treat Ding Dong Ditch Gift Tags
Your gift tags can easily be printed at home or your favorite print shop.
For a higher quality at an affordable price, I usually print mine at Office Depot. I love their premium paper options and I can use their fancy paper cutter to make sure edges are straight. One less thing for me to fret over!
Which Doorbell Ditch Christmas Idea Is Your Favorite?
I’m dying to know which idea you like best, please let me know in the comments! I hope you and your family love this fun tradition as much as we do!
Read Also:
How to Have a Stress Free Christmas
Christmas Gift Ideas for Big Families
Making Memories at Christmas (and why it’s so important)