Get creative this Christmas with adorable Christmas Wreath Cookies made with marshmallows, cornflakes, and green food coloring! They’re crunchy and sweet, and offer a fun twist to classic Rice Krispie Treats!
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Pin RecipeIf you’re looking for a delightful sweet treat to add cheer throughout the holiday season, these Christmas wreath cornflake cookies are a must-make recipe! One of my favorite no-bake desserts, they require no cooking time and are easy to prepare with just a handful of ingredients.
Get the whole family involved in decorating with red cinnamon candies to mimic clusters of holly! Or, get creative with M&Ms, Red Hot candies, licorice, icing, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Christmas Wreath Cookies Recipe
These holiday wreath cookies are the perfect combination of crunchy and gooey textures with a sweet taste all your friends and family will love. With the cornflakes looking like clustered leaves, they’ll make an eye-catching addition to any Christmas Dessert Charcuterie Board alongside Christmas Tree Brownies, Peppermint Oreo Balls, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, and more!
But why stop there?! Once set, these Christmas wreath cornflake cookies can also be hung on your tree as fun edible decoration! However you decide to serve these wreath cookies, they’re guaranteed to be hit with adults and kids alike.
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Ingredients for Christmas Wreath Cookies
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Butter – I always prefer unsalted butter for desserts.
- Large marshmallows – Plain white marshmallows are preferable so they don’t affect the color of these cookies when combining the melted mixture with green coloring. Always use fresh marshmallows, or they won’t melt well!
- Green food coloring – Use high-quality green coloring for best results.
- Vanilla extract
- Cornflakes cereal – Measure the cornflakes accurately as excess cornflakes in the cookie mixture can result in dry Christmas wreath cookies.
- Red cinnamon candies or red hots – You can also decorate these cookies with red licorice strings and white frosting.
- Cooking spray or wax paper – For shaping.
Variations
- Use red M&Ms if you don’t like the sweet spiciness of the red cinnamon candies.
- Add a light dusting of powdered sugar to these wreath cookies for added effect.
- Select a gluten-free brand of cornflakes to make this recipe gluten-free-friendly.
- Make mini Christmas wreath cookies, and use them as fun toppers for a serving of ice cream or as decoration on holiday cupcakes and cakes.
- Replace the vanilla extract with almond extract or peppermint extract for an extra hint of festive flavor.
How to Make Christmas Wreath Cookies
- Make the cookie mixture: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows, and stir until they’re completely melted and combined. Remove the mixture from the heat, and add the green coloring and vanilla extract. Working quickly, gently fold the cornflakes into the mixture until well-coated.
- Shape the cookies: Add small portions of the cookie mixture to a prepared baking sheet, and shape them into mini-wreaths, creating small center openings for each cookie. Add the red candies to the wreath cookies while they are still slightly tacky.
- Cool and set: Allow the cookie wreaths to cool and set for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Quick Tip
Grease your hands with butter or cooking oil when handling and shaping the cookie mixture to help prevent it from sticking to your skin!
How to Store Christmas Wreath Cookies
Once completely cool and set, store these Christmas wreath cookies in a lightly greased container or an airtight container lined with parchment paper at room temperature for up to one week.
Serving Suggestions
Add these adorable Christmas wreath cookies to a Christmas Dessert Charcuterie Board for the holidays where they can be on full display and enjoyed at parties or on Christmas day! Or, wrap them up in goodie bags along with your favorite Christmas cookies and candies to give as gifts to family and friends.
FAQs
Yes, you can. The butter and marshmallows can be melted in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat the mixture for 2 minutes, stir, and resume for another 2 minutes. Then, fold in the remaining ingredients, and shape as the recipe card states.
Yes, these cookies will stay fresh in the freezer for up to one month. To keep them fresh, wrap each cookie in plastic wrap, and transfer them to an airtight container or sealable bag. Allow the cookies to thaw in the fridge and come to room temperature before serving.
This depends on the brand used. Kellogg’s cornflakes are not gluten-free. Always select a ‘certified gluten-free’ brand when making these wreath cookies for those with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.
More Christmas Cookies
Christmas Wreath Cookies
Equipment
- large saucepan
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Baking sheet
- Wax paper or cooking spray
- Buttered or greased hands for shaping
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- 30 large marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon green food coloring
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups cornflakes cereal
- Cooking spray or wax paper for shaping
- Red cinnamon candies or red hots
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Add the marshmallows to the melted butter and stir continuously until the marshmallows are completely melted and the mixture is smooth.30 large marshmallows
- Remove the saucepan from heat and quickly stir in the green food coloring and vanilla extract until the mixture is evenly tinted green.1 teaspoon green food coloring, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Add the cornflakes to the marshmallow mixture and gently fold them in until all the cornflakes are well coated.4 cups cornflakes cereal
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.Cooking spray or wax paper
- Using buttered or greased hands (the mixture can be sticky), shape small portions of the cornflake mixture into wreath shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Create a hole in the center of each wreath to resemble a wreath's opening.
- While the wreaths are still tacky, place red cinnamon candies or red hots onto the wreaths to mimic holly berries. Press them gently into the wreaths to ensure they stick.Red cinnamon candies
- Allow the Christmas wreath cornflake cookies to cool and set for about 30 minutes at room temperature.
Notes
- Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they should remain fresh and crispy for up to one week.
