Last December, I stood in my kitchen at 9 PM, covered in sticky marshmallow goo, trying to shape cornflakes into wreaths while my dog watched me as though I had lost my mind. I had volunteered to bring a festive dessert to my kid’s preschool holiday party, and I wanted something that looked like it came from a magazine. It did not. The kids did not care that my wreaths looked more like lopsided donuts. They cared that they were green and covered in red candy.
These Christmas wreath cookies use butter, marshmallows, cornflakes, green food coloring, vanilla, and red candies. You melt the marshmallow mixture in the microwave, fold in the cornflakes, shape the wreaths in a greased measuring cup, and press on red candies. The no bake cornflake wreath treats firm up in about 20 to 30 minutes, so you can make a holiday wreath dessert without turning on the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No oven required: Make the treats while the oven holds a turkey or stays off altogether.
- Six simple ingredients: Butter, marshmallows, cornflakes, green food coloring, vanilla, and red candies.
- Kid-friendly chaos: Children can place the red candies on the wreaths.
- Budget-friendly: Cornflakes and marshmallows cost little and may already sit in your pantry.
- Quick setting time: The wreaths firm up in about 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature.
Tools You’ll Need
Nothing fancy, I promise.
- Large microwave-safe bowl: You’ll melt the butter and marshmallows here. Make sure it’s big enough to stir 5 cups of cornflakes without spilling.
- 1/4 cup measuring cup: This is the secret to uniform wreaths. Grease it well, or you’ll be picking cornflakes out of it for days.
- Sheet pan: Line it with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Trust me, you don’t want to scrub marshmallow off a bare pan.
Ingredients
- 1 stick of butter, 1/2 cup. Use salted or unsalted butter.
- 30 large marshmallows. Fresh marshmallows melt more easily.
- 6 drops green gel food coloring, or 1 1/4 teaspoons liquid green food coloring.
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- 5 cups cornflakes. Use fresh, crispy cornflakes.
- 1 bottle of red hot candies, or 1/2 cup red candy coated chocolates, such as mini M&M’s.
- Cooking spray, for greasing your hands and measuring cup.
How To Make Christmas Wreath Cookies
Set aside about 15 minutes and embrace the sticky. It’s worth it.
- Prep your pan: Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. If you skip this, you’ll be chiseling wreaths off the pan later. Learn from my mistakes.
- Melt the base: Place the marshmallows and butter in a large bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments until melted. Stir between each round. It usually takes me about 1.5 to 2 minutes total. If you overcook it, the marshmallows will puff up like a science experiment. Just stir it back down.
- Add color and flavor: Add the green food coloring and vanilla; stir until the marshmallow mixture is smooth. Gel coloring gives a deeper green, but liquid works in a pinch. Just add a tiny bit at a time until you get the shade you want.
- Fold in the cornflakes: Add the cornflakes to the bowl and gently stir to coat the cereal evenly with the marshmallow mixture. Be gentle – you don’t want to crush all the flakes. Some breakage is fine. It’s rustic.
- Shape the wreaths: Pack the mixture into a greased 1/4 cup measuring cup and turn out onto the sheet pan. Use your fingers to make a hole in the middle to form a wreath shape and decorate with red candies. It’s easiest to form the wreath holes if your fingers are damp or coated in cooking spray. If the hole closes up a bit, that’s okay. It’s still a wreath.
- Cool and serve: Cool completely until firm and serve. They firm up in about 20-30 minutes at room temperature. If you’re impatient like me, you can pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes.
♥ The Misfit Tips!
- Grease everything: Spray the measuring cup and your hands, then reapply as needed.
- Work fast: The mixture becomes less pliable as it cools. Return the bowl to the microwave for 10 seconds if it stiffens.
- Make them ahead: Store the wreaths in an airtight container for a few days.
- Do not stack them: Stacked wreaths stick together.
- Use fresh marshmallows: Fresh marshmallows melt more easily than stale ones.
Perfect Pairings
These go perfectly with a mug of something warm and a plate of other holiday treats.
- A cold glass of milk balances a marshmallow-based treat.
- Hot cocoa with extra marshmallows doubles the marshmallow flavor.
- A cookie tray at a holiday potluck gains a pop of green and red.
- Coffee gives adults a little caffeine while the kids enjoy the sugar high.
How to Store
❤
- Fridge: Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They stay firm and chewy, though the color may dull slightly.
- Freezer: Freeze the cookies in a single layer in a freezer bag or container for up to 2 months. Thaw them at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Reheat: Do not reheat the cookies. Serve them at room temperature. If they become too soft, refrigerate them for a few minutes.
- Note: Red candies can bleed color in a humid environment. Keep the cookies in a cool, dry place.
Christmas Wreath Cookies
These Christmas wreath cookies combine butter, marshmallows, cornflakes, green food coloring, vanilla, and red candies in one no-bake holiday dessert. You melt the marshmallow mixture in the microwave, fold in the cornflakes, shape the wreaths in a greased measuring cup, and let them firm up for 20 to 30 minutes. Make these Christmas wreath cookies for a holiday party, cookie tray, or preschool celebration when you need an easy festive treat.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Prep Your PanLine a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Skipping this step makes the wreaths harder to remove later.
- Melt the BasePlace the marshmallows and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring between each round, until melted. The mixture usually takes 1.5 to 2 minutes total. If the marshmallows puff up, stir them back down.
- Add Color and FlavorAdd the green food coloring and vanilla. Stir until the marshmallow mixture becomes smooth. Gel coloring creates a deeper green, while liquid coloring works in a pinch. Add it a tiny bit at a time until you reach the shade you want.
- Fold in the CornflakesAdd the cornflakes to the bowl and gently stir until the cereal coats evenly with the marshmallow mixture. Avoid crushing every flake. Some breakage is fine.
- Shape the WreathsPack the mixture into a greased 1/4 cup measuring cup and turn it out onto the prepared sheet pan. Use your fingers to make a hole in the middle and form a wreath shape. Decorate with red candies. Dampen or coat your fingers with cooking spray to make shaping easier. If the hole closes slightly, the treat still looks like a wreath.
- Cool and ServeCool the wreaths completely until firm. They firm up in about 20 to 30 minutes at room temperature. For faster setting, place them in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.