This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
The cutest Melted Snowman Cookies top buttery homemade sugar cookies with a thick vanilla frosting and a fluffy marshmallow! These super fun cookies are sure to delight young and old.
My kids absolutely love these adorable melted snowman cookies, and I’m sure yours will, too! They are the best holiday cookies and we look forward to making them all year long. Whip up some Christmas cake mix cookies, candy cane cookies, and homemade butter cookies, and add them to your holiday cookie plate along with melting snowman cookies! Don’t forget a side of minty candy canes!
Why I Love Melted Snowman Cookies
- Great for kids. Have your kids help bake the cookies, then have all the assembly components ready to go. Let them go wild with decorating and creating their own fun cookies!
- So festive. These melting snowman cookies are perfect to serve as holiday cookies, or go ahead and make them during all the months the snow flies.
- Get creative. You can use my suggestions in this post or use them to kickstart your imagination for ways to personalize each melted snowman cookie.
- Party ready. This year, host a holiday cookie swap and have everyone decorate a few cookies with melted snowman as a party activity!
What You’ll Need
A handful of pantry ingredients are all you’ll need for these holiday cookies, and here’s a look at what they involve. Check the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter softened to room temperature so that it seamlessly blends into the dough.
- Dry ingredients – Granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Egg – Use a large egg brought to room temperature.
- Flavorings – Pure vanilla extract and orange extract (the orange extract is optional).
- Powdered sugar – Sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps!
- Milk – Whole milk or 2% milk is fine.
- For decorating the cookies – Marshmallows, food coloring or writing (gel) icing, and sprinkles.
How to Make Melted Snowman Cookies
If you’re short on time you can pick up a package of sugar cookies and decorate them using my method in this post. Here’s a quick look at how to make melted snowman cookies:
- Prepare the dough. Cream the butter and sugar, then add the egg and vanilla extract.
- Combine. Whisk together the dry ingredients separately then add them into the butter mixture.
- Roll out and cut. Roll out the dough on a floured surface then cut into cookie rounds. Bake the cookies at 350°F for 12-14 minutes.
- Prepare the icing. In a small bowl, mix the sifted icing sugar with milk, one teaspoon at a time, until a smooth and slightly thick consistency is achieved.
- Decorate the cookies. Spread the icing over each cooled cookie and place a marshmallow on one side of each cookie. Use edible food colors to draw on faces and arms.
Tips for Perfect Cookies
- Room temperature ingredients: Always use room temperature ingredients when baking. They blend more easily into the dough, creating a smooth texture to work with and ensuring the best results after baking.
- Make the cookies ahead: You can make the cookie dough ahead of time and freeze it or bake the cookies and freeze them for up to 3 months. Then thaw them before continuing with the recipe.
- Using store-bought cookies: If you’re short on time, grab a package of sugar cookies from the bakery aisle and decorate them according to my recipe instructions.
- Try white chocolate: Instead of the icing, use melted white chocolate chips! Gently smooth the melted chocolate over each cookie to get that melted snow look.
How to Store
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. I don’t like to refrigerate or freeze my snowman cookies because it will affect the texture of the marshmallows. However, if you want to extend their lifespan a little bit, place the container in the fridge for up to 7 days, then let them come to room temperature before serving.
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
Snowman Cookies
Ingredients
For the cookies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon orange extract, optional
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Icing:
- 1 cup Icing sugar, sifted
- 1 tablespoon milk
For the decorating:
- 16 white large marshmallows
- edible food colors, I use this writing gel
- Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Cream the butter and sugar. Using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and continue mixing until smooth and well combined.
- Combine the ingredients. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a soft dough forms.
- Roll and cut the cookies. Lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness. Use a 2–3 inch round cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Carefully transfer the cutouts to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Prepare the icing. In a small bowl, mix the sifted icing sugar with milk, one teaspoon at a time, until a smooth and slightly thick consistency is achieved. Adjust as needed to ensure the icing spreads easily but doesn’t run off the cookies.
- Decorate the cookies. Spread the icing over each cooled cookie to resemble melted snow. Place a marshmallow on one side of each cookie (over the icing so it sticks) to act as the snowman’s head. Use edible food colors to draw faces on the marshmallows and add decorative elements like buttons, arms, or scarves directly on the icing.
- Set and serve. Allow the decorated cookies to sit for about 30 minutes or until the icing has fully set, and then enjoy these adorable Melted Snowman Cookies!
Equipment
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
