With winter upon us, you may be looking for a fun and easy cookie to get you in the spirit of the season, and these melted snowman cookies are the perfect choice! They have a delicious sugar cookie base and royal icing and marshmallow decoration that are fun to make with kids and adults.
Our recipe uses our favorite Aunt Judy’s Sugar Cookie recipe, but if you want to make yours super easy You can also buy sugar cookie mix or even pre-made sugar cookies to speed things up a bit. Don’t have time to make your own frosting? You can also use ready-to-bag icing!
Looking for more holiday cookie recipes? Check:
These cookies are perfect for a holiday cookie table or a classroom party snack idea for the kids.
Tips for Melted Snowman Cookies:
- If your icing skills are not great, try using food markers to add your details instead! Just wait until the frosting has set a few hours before writing on the cookies.
- To make your marshmallow snowman head a little melty, try microwaving the marshmallows for about 30 seconds until they puff up a bit before pressing them into your cookie.
- If you’re transporting your cookies to a party, it’s best to make them the day before and let the icing set completely overnight if possible.
- When mixing your black icing, make it a little thicker than your white icing (just add a little more powdered sugar to thicken it) so that it holds its shape and doesn’t spread when you train it.
- You can use regular food coloring, but we love gel food coloring because it is more concentrated and you will get a more intense color.
Decorating Ideas for Melted Snowman Cookies:
There are many different ways to decorate your snowman, try using:
- Icing: You can just use different colored icing for the buttons and sash for easy decoration.
- M&M’s: Round candies like M&Ms or mini M&Ms make excellent buttons.
- Pull and Pop Twizzlers: These sour straws make excellent scarves.
- Mini Reese Cups: You can use them for a snowman hat!
- Oreos: A mini Oreo on top of a single larger Oreo makes a cute top hat!
How to Make Melted Snowman Cookies:
Bake cookies: Prepare your easy cookie dough, roll out your dough and cut out the cookies, bake and let your cookies cool.
Frozen cookies: Mix your frosting ingredients until you achieve the desired consistency. The mixture should flow in thick ribbons, but not too runny.
Use a piping bag or ziplock to pipe the frosting in a puddle shape onto the cooled cookies (or you can spoon it and spread it with the back of the spoon). You want the icing to look a little messy since the snowman is melting, so it’s okay if some of it goes over the edge.
Decorate the cookies: While the icing is still wet, press your marshmallow head near the side of your cookies and onto any snowman buttons you would like to add.
Add some frosting to a small bowl and add black food coloring to a piping bag or ziplock bag and pipe to eyes, mouth and arms. Secure the orange-sprinkled nose with a small dab of icing (or make orange icing to garnish it). Use more candies to add scarves, hats or earmuffs for added detail!
New to cookie decorating? Check What you need to decorate sugar cookies!
Let the cookies set for at least 2 hours before serving, but it’s best to let them sit overnight. The frosting will get harder as it hardens, so it’s best if you plan to transport the cookies anywhere.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How do you store melted snowman cookies?
You can store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
Can you freeze melted snowman cookies?
If you want to freeze them, they will keep in the freezer for up to three months. Simply place them on a cookie sheet for 30 minutes in the freezer to quickly freeze them, then place them in a bag with sheets of wax paper between them. Let them come to room temperature before eating them.
Can I save extra royal icing?
Extra royal icing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Simply add small pieces of water to dilute before use if the mixture thickens.
Can I make royal icing if I don’t have meringue powder?
Yes! There are many royal icing recipes that don’t use meringue powder or that you can even make Vegan royal icing It’s delicious too!
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Get the recipe
Create delicious sugar cookies decorated to look like a melting snowman
Instructions
To make the cookies
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In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar. Then beat in the eggs and vanilla until just combined.
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In another bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking powder. Then incorporate the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until a dough forms.
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On a floured surface, roll out the dough so that it is 1/4 inch thick or a little less. Cut out circle shapes with cookie cutters. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or an ovenproof mat.
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Bake at 350°F for 8 to 10 minutes. The center may look a little undercooked, but the edges should just start to brown. Remove them to a cooling rack and they will firm up.
To make the icing
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To make the royal icing, simply mix the meringue powder, caster sugar and water. Start with five tablespoons and add one (or two) more if necessary. The mixture should flow in thick ribbons, but not too runny. If it is too runny, add more powdered sugar; if it’s too thick, add small pieces of water until you reach the desired consistency.
Decorate the cookies
-
Use a piping bag or ziplock to pipe the frosting in a puddle shape onto the cooled cookies (or you can spoon it on and spread it with the back of the spoon). You want the icing to look a little messy since the snowman is melting, so it’s okay if some of it hangs over the edge.
-
While the icing is still wet, press your marshmallow head near the side of your cookies and onto any snowman buttons you would like to add. Add some frosting to a small bowl and add black food coloring to add to a piping bag or ziplock bag and pipe over eyes, mouth and arms. Secure the orange-sprinkled nose with a small dab of icing (or make orange icing to garnish it). For the ear flaps, simply shorten a gumdrop by cutting off the bottom a bit and use a dab of icing to stick them to the sides of your marshmallow head. Use more candy to add scarves or hats for some extra details!
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It is best to let the cookies sit overnight, but you can also eat them immediately if you wish. The frosting will get harder as it hardens, so it’s best if you plan to transport the cookies anywhere.
Remarks
- Icing: You can just use different colored icing for the buttons and sash for easy decoration.
- M&M’s: Round candies like M&Ms or mini M&Ms make excellent buttons.
- Pull and Pop Twizzlers: These sour straws make excellent scarves.
- Mini Reese Cups: You can use them for a snowman hat!
- Oreos: A mini Oreo on top of a single larger Oreo makes a cute top hat!
Tips for Melted Snowman Cookies:
- If your icing skills are not great, try using food markers to add your details instead! Just wait until the frosting has set a few hours before writing on the cookies.
- To make your marshmallow snowman head a little melty, try microwaving the marshmallows for about 30 seconds until they puff up a bit before pressing them into your cookie.
- When mixing your black icing, make it a little thicker than your white icing (just add a little more powdered sugar to thicken it) so that it holds its shape and doesn’t spread when you train it.
Nutrition
Nutritional intake
The Best Melted Snowman Cookies
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Note: Nutrition is calculated automatically using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where applicable, we recommend using your own nutritional calculations.
