Make your holiday cookie tray extra special this year with easy cornflake Christmas wreath cookies. This fun recipe doesn't require any baking, uses simple ingredients, and is an exciting activity to do with your kids-great when they (or you!) are starting to get restless on holiday break!
Table of Contents
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Cornflake wreaths are festive and tasty-they're the perfect blend of crisp and sweet. Plus, no baking!
- These are a great treat for Christmas parties, the perfect cookie for gifting/shipping, and make any holiday dessert table look complete.
- My quick hack is a game-changer for preventing sticky hands-if you've ever made Rice Krispie treats, you know it can get a little messy!
These tasty, no-bake cookies are made with cornflakes, melted marshmallows, and red candies for a picture-perfect finish and a can't-stop-reaching-for-another flavor.
Delicious and adorable, it's no wonder these Christmas cornflake wreath cookies fly off the table faster than I can say, "Happy Holidays!"
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- Instead of sprinkles, you can use Red Hot candies or red M&Ms to create the look of Holly berries.
- Add a few drops of peppermint extract to the marshmallows mixture to give your cornflake Christmas wreaths special holiday season flavor!
- If you'd like to use a different cereal, classic Rice Krispies or lightly crushed Chex cereal work.
- Feel free to stir a few crushed pretzels, peanut butter candies, or butterscotch chips into the cornflakes for a Haystack cookie taste.
- Forgot to pick up store-bought frosting? Melted chocolate will work fine, too, in a pinch!
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page. Click on the image to see it full size.
In a large pot, melt butter and add the marshmallows. Stir until melted.
Whisk the green food coloring and vanilla extract into the melted marshmallows.
In a
Form the cornflake Christmas wreaths and decorate.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
You'll be able to form cuter Christmas wreath shapes if you work quickly. The "cookie dough" will start to set as the marshmallows cool, so have your cookie sheet, wax paper, and candy ready to go before making the cornflake mixture.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
🍴 Equipment
- large saucepan
- silicone spatula or wooden spoon
- cookie trays
- parchment or wax paper
🥫 How to store leftovers
These delicious little cornflake cookies are addicting! If you've got leftovers, though, they're easy to keep.
Once your festive wreaths are fully set, place 'em in an airtight container. I like to separate stacked layers with a piece of parchment paper-in case my kitchen gets warm, it'll prevent the cookies from sticking together.
Store leftovers at room temperature. Enjoy them within four or five days for the best flavor and texture.
You can also freeze cornflake Christmas wreath cookies and thaw them to make prepping for all your holiday parties a breeze. Tightly sealed, they'll keep for 3 to 6 months. Thaw at room temp until soft again!
Marye's Tip o' the day
Spritz your hands with nonstick cooking spray (or use butter) so that the marshmallows don't stick while you're forming your cute Christmas treats. You may need to re-grease them a few times.
💭 Things to know
- Adjust the green color if you want the wreaths a little less green. I used 1 tablespoon of food coloring to get the shade shown in the photos.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper for easy cleanup. This way, you can peel the cornflake Christmas cookies right off-there is no risk of them sticking to the sheet.
- Try to find the Pull 'n Peel Twizzler candy so you can separate it into strands. Traditional licorice is too thick to tie into a bow.
- The cookies will take a little while to set-plan for about an hour or so. If you want to speed things up, you can pop them in the fridge.
👩🍳 FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
I prefer mini marshmallows because they melt more quickly and evenly. If your local grocery store only has big ones, they'll be fine. Just watch the heat carefully and stir frequently as the marshmallow melts to prevent burning on the bottom.
Sure, but your cookies will be a tad on the sweeter side-FYI.
You can, but be careful not to overheat them. Work in thirty-second increments, stirring in between, just until it's fully melted and incorporated with the butter.
🍪 Build Your Perfect Holiday Cookie Tray
These Hawaiian Shortbread Cookies will bring a taste of paradise to all your cookie exchanges this year. They're crisp and crumbly with buttery macadamia nuts-yum.
Cinnamon Crackle Cookies have a festive holiday flavor and a crisp/chewy texture. However, for me, the best part is that they only take ten minutes of active prep time!
When "festive treats" is the question, "Chewy Peanut Butter M&M Cookies" is the answer! The salty 'n sweet, nostalgic flavor is simply unbeatable.
Another vintage favorite around Christmas time, Condensed Milk Cookies are easy, buttery, and perfect for the not-too-sweet dessert lovers in your life. Great with a mug of coffee or hot chocolate!
Give the cookie cutter a break and whip up a batch of these gorgeous German Spritz Cookies with a cookie press! They look fancy, so they're great as gifts, but they take hardly any effort at all.
With flavors of cranberry, orange, and pecan, Old Fashioned Cranberry Cookies hit the holiday spot every time. Plus, they're super quick and level-one easy to make-seriously.
Rolled Sugar Cookies often have a bad rep... until now, that is. I've spent years (more than I'd like to admit, thank you!) perfecting this recipe so it's foolproof every time, and the cookies are even more delicious than they are cute.
Santa's Whiskers Cookies are easy, slice 'n bake morsels full of cherry, coconut, and almond flavor. The dough freezes great, so you can have it on hand for last-minute holiday guests and parties.
My festive and flavorful Gingerbread Snowball Cookies are nut-free, so they're perfect for loved ones with allergies. The warm, buttery flavor is so good, though, that no one will miss the nuts in these fabulous holiday cookies.
📞 The last word
Y'all, I love a cookie that can keep little hands busy while I catch my breath during the holidays. This one is it!
Put sprinkles, licorice bows, crushed candy canes, and other decorations in muffin tins and let the kiddos go to town creating their own gorgeous designs while you sip a glass of wine and practice your breathing techniques.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please comment below and give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
No Bake Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- ⅓ cup butter
- 5-½ cups mini marshmallows, about 10 ounces or 40 large
- 1 tablespoon green food coloring, gel or paste gives the best color
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 6 cups cornflakes cereal
- vanilla frosting, canned kind from the store is fine.
- red licorice laces
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Tie the red licorice laces into bows and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat.
- Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in food coloring and vanilla.
- Add cereal and stir until well coated.
- Measure out ¼ cup portions of cereal.
- Butter your hands or spray with no-stick cooking spray.
- Form into wreath shapes while still warm.
- Use frosting to stick a licorice bow and some sprinkles to each wreath.
Notes
- Spritz your hands with no-stick cooking spray as you work to keep the sticky marshmallow mixture from clinging to your fingers.
- Adjust the green color if you want the wreaths a little less green. I used 1 tablespoon of food coloring to get the shade shown in the photos.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper for easy cleanup. This way, you can peel the cornflake Christmas cookies right off-there is no risk of them sticking to the sheet.
- Try to find the Pull 'n Peel Twizzler candy so you can separate it into strands. Traditional licorice is too thick to tie into a bow.
- The cookies will take a little while to set-plan for about an hour or so. If you want to speed things up, you can pop them in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
Don't lose this recipe!
Christmas wreath cookies
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Courtenay Lancaster says
Boy, that brings back memories.
Jacque says
My friends will be green 🎄🎄with envy when I make all of these for Christmas. Although I’m 82, I still bake Christmas cookies.💚
Sherry Mash says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I had TOTALLY forgot about these delicious treats. Need to put it on my list of things to cook for the holidays this year.
Penny says
These are too cute! I may have to make up a batch or 3 for Christmas this year for the family. Thank you for sharing this one 🙂
Sue Turcsany says
These really do look like leaves on a wreath and very festive! But I've never liked corn flakes. Don't think I could get the same look with Rice Krispies or Chex. But you get 5 stars on this one for over the top originality.
Penny says
Maybe you could try lightly crushing the Chex?