My Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies have become an annual Christmas tradition in our house. Soft and chewy gluten-free sugar cookies are topped with vanilla frosting, marshmallow snowman heads, chocolate chip buttons, and funny faces drawn with food-safe markers. Ready in just 35 minutes, they're an easy Christmas cookie to make with kids because everyone can decorate their own melted snowman and give it a completely different personality.
Quick Look: Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 13 minutes
- ☃️ Decorating Time: 12 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 35 minutes
- 🍪 Total Cookies: 15 Cookie
- ⚡ Calories: 204 calories per cookie
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: soft, buttery, and sweet with holiday cheer
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy, a perfect cookie to make with the kids
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Melted snowman cookies have been a tradition in my house for many years. My kids have always loved getting out the cookie sheets and decorate the melting snowman exactly as they wanted. I've learned to let their imagination run wild. It's way more fun than trying to make each cookie look perfect. If you have little ones, they will love my Christmas Celebration Cookies too.
After years of cookie recipes and exchanges, I knew it was time for these to be shared with all of you. If you are looking for other cookie recipes then you have to check out my Christmas Cookie Sandwiches. If cakes are more your vibe then don't forget to check out my other dessert recipes.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Ready in 35 Minutes: Using a gluten-free sugar cookie mix keeps the prep simple, so you can bake and decorate these melted snowman cookies in about 35 minutes.
- Easy to Decorate: Food-safe markers make it easy to draw the snowman's face directly onto the marshmallow without dealing with multiple colors of piping icing.
- Fun for Kids: Decorating is part of the experience! Kids can give each snowman a different face and personality using chocolate chip buttons, pretzel arms, sprinkles, and their favorite candies.
- Soft and Chewy: The sugar cookies stay soft and chewy underneath the creamy vanilla frosting and marshmallow topping, giving you a great combination of textures in every bite.
- Gluten-Free Christmas Cookie: I make these with a gluten-free sugar cookie mix, making them an easy addition to a gluten-free Christmas cookie tray or holiday party.
Key Ingredients
You'll find a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Olive Nation Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix
I used Olive National Sugar Cookie Mix for my cookies. I find it stays soft, rolls easily, and holds its shape well. This mix always helps me save time during a busy cookie decorating season.
Marshmallows
These are the star of the show. Make sure you get the normal size ones so they match the size of the cookie. I like to buy a fresh bag as the ones in the pantry usually turn hard over time. A fresh bag also insures you have extras incase the kids want to start over on a decoration. Removing the bottom third also helps make the melting effect!
Food Safe Pens
Food-safe markers are my favorite shortcut for decorating these melted snowman cookies. Instead of preparing several colors of piping icing, you can draw the eyes, mouth, carrot nose, and different expressions directly onto the marshmallows. They're especially great for giving kids freedom to decorate without making a mess with traditional piping bags. I recommend drawing the faces on the marshmallows before placing them in the frosting because they're much easier to decorate while you can still hold them.
Frosting
You can use any frosting for Christmas snowman cookies but make sure to thin it out. A thin frosting will give off the perfect "melted" look. A thicker frosting could get clumpy and look more like a snow pile and that is not the result we are looking for.
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"My family has loved this one since the day we found it. The kids always ask to make these when they are out on Christmas break. This recipe will be in family photo albums for years to come." - Michelle
Variations
- Decorations: I was using black and orange food pens to save time but you can use food safe black gel and orange gel to make decorations come to life.
- Accessories: You can give your melting snowman sugar cookies an extra touch with chocolate chips for buttons, pretzels for realistic arms, and extra frosting to make a scarf! My Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies are great inspiration to help with this!
- Cookie Dough: The preference is all yours. You can use snickerdoodle, peanut butter, or even chocolate cookie dough. These will all help the melted snowman cookies recipe stand out.
- Allergy Friendly: You can easily swap to dairy-free ingredients or traditional flour if you do not have a gluten allergy.
How to Make Melting Snowmen Cookies
Step 1. Add melted butter (or Vegan alternative) and water to 12 oz. of Sugar Cookie Mix in a mixer. Mix until fully blended.
Step 2. Roll out the dough to ¼" thickness. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and gently transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 3. Bake the cookies for 10 to 13 minutes in a pre-heated 350°F oven until the edges begin to brown slightly. Then, place the cookies on a baking rack and allow them to cool completely before starting decorations.
Step 4. While they are cooling, cut off the bottom ⅓ of the marshmallow. Then using food-safe markers, draw the two eyes and carrot onto the marshmallow. It is easier to draw on them before they are stuck to the cookie.
Step 5. Frost your cookie with the icing of your choice.
Step 6. Place the marshmallow onto the cookie base while the frosting is still wet. Then place three chocolate chips in a strait line leading to the nose and eyes. Add these while the icing is still wet. Add other decorations of your choice and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Don't Overmix the Dough: Over-mixing the dough can make the cookies tough and dry. This is true for both wheat flour and gluten free flour.
- Cool the Cookies Before Decorating: Let the cookies cool before icing them. If they are too hot the icing won't be able to solidify and will leave you with an unwanted mess.
- Frost before Cooling: Make sure you let the frosting cool completely before storing these. If the frosting is still warm it can melt and cause you to lose buttons and marshmallows!
- Make Them Different: These cookies do not have to look the same. You can make each one unique. This is about fun, not perfection.
Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies FAQs
Royal icing is your best bet. It is used for decorating cookies and hardens into a nice shiny layer. This helps give the illusion of melting on these cookies. A buttercream frosting will also work but won't have the same hard finish.
No. You do not need royal icing but I find it is the best option when making these cookies.
The trick is to thin your frosting with a few drops of water. This is just enough to give it a more "wet" or glossy finish without impacting the taste. You can do this with lemon juice but I tend to stick to water.
The key to keeping your marshmallow in place is adding it on top while the frosting is still wet. Then, let the cookie sit until fully cooled. This will ensure the icing acts as a glue and holds the marshmallow exactly where you want it.
Yes! Sprinkles and cookies go together like salt and pepper. The kids will love it and it makes these winter days that much more fun.
Of course! I make hundreds of cookies during the holiday so a pre-made mix helps save me time. You can definitely make your own or use any mix of your choosing!
I love adding a little lines for twig arms! I think a scarf around the base of the marshmallow is also such a cute way to add some color to the cookie. Finally, you can use any candy for buttons so pick something the kids will love!
Yes! All of my website is gluten free but you can easily use a regular cookie mix or traditional flour if you do not have a gluten allergy!
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📖 Recipe
Melted Snowman Sugar Cookies
Video
Equipment
- 1 food safe markers
Ingredients
- 1 package Olive Nation Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix or any sugar cookie mix of your choosing
- 1 Stick butter melted
- 3 tablespoon water
- 1 Sugar cookie frosting of your choice
- 1 bag mini chocolate chips for the buttons
- 15 marshmallows a few e
- ½ cup Gluten Free 1:1 Flour or traditional flour if you do not have a gluten allergy. This is for dusting the counter.
Instructions
Making the Cookies
- Add melted butter (or Vegan alternative) and water to 12 oz. of Sugar Cookie Mix in a mixer. Mix until fully blended.
- Carefully coat a non stick surface with a bit of gluten free flour.
- Roll out the dough to ¼ inch thickness.
- Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and gently transfer to baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake 10-13 minutes in pre-heated 350°F oven until the edges begin to brown slightly.
- Place the cookies onto a baking rack and allow them to cool for 15 minutes before frosting. Cool completely before frosting or decorating.
Decorating the Cookies
- While they are cooling, cut a small amount of the marshmallow off. Then using either cookie icing or food-safe markers, draw the two eyes and carrot onto the marshmallow.
- Frost with your choice of sugar cookie frosting.
- Place the marshmallow onto the cookie while the frosting is still wet. Then place the three chocolate chips as buttons while it is still wet. Allow them to cool before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Remove the Cookies Before They're Done: Your cookies should be golden on the edges and soft in the center. Carryover cooking from the hot baking sheet will finish them to perfection. Remember, a fully baked cookie is an OVERBAKED cookie!
- Use Parchment Paper: Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Perfectly Round Cookies: For pretty, perfectly round cookies, place a large cup over each cookie when removed from the oven, then use a circular, swirling motion to round the edges.
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