Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies are easy no bake treats made with corn flakes cereal, marshmallows, green food coloring and red candies. These cute Christmas wreaths are perfect for the holiday season and a fun addition to your holiday dessert table!
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Easy Christmas Wreath Cookie Recipe
These cornflake Christmas wreaths are cute traditional Christmas cookies that have been around a long time. My grandma used to make them, and she passed the recipe on to me.
This Christmas cornflake wreath cookies recipe is super easy. These little wreaths are basically Rice Krispies treats in wreath form, so it's a great recipe for kids to help make.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this Christmas cornflake wreath cookies recipe. You should be able to get everything you need in your local grocery store or online. Full amounts are in the printable recipe card below.
- Butter -- salted or unsalted butter
- Mini marshmallows -- be sure to use fresh marshmallows, as they melt better.
- Green food coloring
- Vanilla extract -- for flavor
- Cornflake cereal
- Mini red candies -- such as mini red m&m's or Red Hots
You will also need a mixing bowl, spatula, non stick spray, wax paper or parchment paper, cooking spray, baking sheets, measuring spoons, cookie scoop, large spoon or tablespoon.
How to Make Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
First, set out a couple of wax paper-lined baking sheets. Then, add mini marshmallows and butter to a large microwavable bowl. To melt the butter and marshmallow mixture, microwave on high power in 30 second increments, stirring in between.
The marshmallows take about 1 minute or so to melt. Every microwave is different, though, so it may take a little longer. Stir until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth.
You can also melt marshmallows in a large pot on the stove on low heat or in a double boiler, if you prefer.
Next, add the green food coloring and the vanilla extract to the melted marshmallows mixture.
You want to stir the mixture very well so that the marshmallow mixture is completely green. You can add more or less food coloring to get the precise green color you want.
Then, add the cornflakes cereal. Gently stir the mixture until the cornflakes are completely covered. You might have some yellow cornflakes sticking out, but this is fine.
Use a medium cookie scoop or large spoon to scoop up mounds of the cornflake mixture. Aim for roughly a heaping tablespoon of the mixture at a time.
Drop the cornflake mounds onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to form a wreath shape. Pro tip -- Spray your hands with non stick spray so that the cornflakes won't stick to your fingers!
You can poke a hole in the middle with your finger or the end of a wooden spoon. Or, use a round cookie cutter to form the wreaths if you have one.
After you form individual wreaths, press 3 or 4 small red candies around each wreath. Or stick 3 candies together, to look like holly berries on little Christmas wreaths.
Since the cornflake wreaths dry quickly, you need to work fast. This is a great job for the kids to help with!
Place the cookie sheet into the refrigerator for about an hour or until the cornflake cookies are completely firm.
Variations
You can use whatever red candies you like on these holly cookies: my kids like mini m&m's, but I prefer red cinnamon candies or red hot candies on these festive treats.
You're also not limited to red candies--different colored m&m's or candies can look like ornaments on these delicious little cornflake cookies.
Instead of a half teaspoon vanilla extract, add a half teaspoon almond extract, if you'd like. Or, leave out the extract completely.
If you don't want green wreaths, try making this sweet treat with different food coloring, or leave the food coloring out.
You can even make these holiday wreath cookies with Frosted Flakes instead of plain cornflake cereal.
How to Store Cornflake Cookies
Store your cornflake Christmas wreath cookies in an airtight container, with wax paper between each layer.
If your house is cool enough, you can leave these holiday cookies at room temperature. Otherwise, you may have to keep them in the fridge.
Allow these Christmas treats to come to room temperature before eating, so that they're not too hard on the teeth!
Tips for Success
Have all ingredients set out and ready to go. This makes the process go much faster.
Make sure you're using a 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows and not large marshmallows or measure out 6 cups miniature marshmallows from a larger bag.
Use non stick spray on your hands to make working with the cornflake cookies easier.
Enlist help to put the red candies on the wreath cookies as soon as you form them.
More No Bake Christmas Treats
If you love no bake cookies and treats, try our Oreo cake balls or old fashioned Fantasy Fudge or bourbon balls. Love peppermint?Try my peppermint bark or chocolate peppermint fudge, white chocolate peppermint fudge.
Recipe
Christmas Cornflake Wreath Cookies
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 10 oz mini marshmallows about 6 cups
- 1 teaspoon green food coloring
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups cornflakes
- mini red candies m&ms or red hots
Instructions
- Place butter and marshmallows in large microwaveable bowl, and cook on high power in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until marshmallows are mostly melted. About 1 minute
- Stir in food coloring and vanilla extract, and mix well until marshmallows are evenly green
- Stir in cornflakes, and mix until completely covered
- Use a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop cornflake mixture onto a wax paper lined baking sheet. Use hands to poke hole in center and form a wreath shape
- Press 3 to 4 red candies onto each wreath right after forming.
- Place in refrigerator until cookies firm up
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy these no-bake Christmas wreath cookies as much as my family does! They are perfect for your Christmas cookie plate or your holiday cookie tray! Love cornflakes?Try my easy cherry wink cookie recipe.
If you make this easy cornflake cookies recipe, be sure to comment and give it a star rating. Or, share on your favorite social media sites!
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Cristi says
Love how vibrant these turned out!
Erin says
My mom made these all the time! These cookies are mouth-watering!
Juliane says
Woah! I can't wait to try this!
Amanda says
These are absolutely adorable. I cannot wait to make a batch of these!
Beth says
These are the cutest Christmas cookies I've ever seen! I'm definitely making a few batches this season.