Cornflake Christmas Wreaths are bright green, chewy little rings of cornflakes held together with buttery melted marshmallow and dotted with red cinnamon candies. They taste sweet and crunchy-soft, like a holiday marshmallow treat, and they are the easy no-bake cookie for a Christmas party tray, a classroom treat or an afternoon of baking with kids.
How to make cornflake Christmas wreaths: Melt butter and marshmallows over low heat, tint the mixture green, stir in the cornflakes, then shape 1/3 cup portions into rings with greased hands and let them firm up for about 15 minutes.
Why You’ll Love It
- No oven needed: everything happens in one saucepan on the stove.
- Five main ingredients: butter, marshmallows, green coloring, cornflakes and red candies.
- Ready fast: about 35 minutes from the first melt to firm wreaths.
- Kid-friendly: little hands love rolling the logs and pressing on the berries.
Ingredient Notes
Mini marshmallows. One 10-ounce package melts quickly and evenly over low heat, which keeps the binder smooth and glossy instead of scorched. Low heat matters here; marshmallows turn tough if they cook too hot.
Salted butter. It adds richness and a little salt to balance all that sugar. Four tablespoons is enough to give the wreaths a soft, chewy bite.
Green food coloring. About 7 drops of green gel gives a deep holly green. If you only have water-based coloring, use 1 teaspoon instead.
Cornflakes. Plain cornflakes give the wreaths their leafy, ruffled look. For a tighter, more cookie-like ring, crush the flakes slightly before you stir them in.
Red cinnamon candies. Three small red cinnamon candies on each wreath look like holly berries. You need 45 for the whole batch of 15.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows (1 package)
- 7 drops green gel food coloring, or 1 teaspoon water-based green food coloring
- 5 cups cornflakes
- Nonstick cooking spray, for your hands
- 45 small red cinnamon candies
How to Make Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
1. Line the pans. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper so the wreaths lift off cleanly once they set.
2. Melt the marshmallows. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted and smooth.
3. Color it green. Stir in the green food coloring until the color is even all the way through, with no white streaks.
4. Add the cornflakes. Take the pan off the heat, add the cornflakes and stir gently until every flake is coated in green. Let the mixture cool slightly.
5. Shape the wreaths. Spray your hands with nonstick spray. Take 1/3 cup of the mixture, roll it into an even log and join the ends to make a ring. Set it on a lined sheet and repeat with the rest, spraying your hands again whenever they get sticky.
6. Decorate and set. Press 3 cinnamon candies onto each wreath while it is still soft. Let the wreaths sit until firm, about 15 minutes, before serving.
How to Shape Wreaths That Hold Together
Warm marshmallow is sticky, and that is exactly what holds each ring together. The trick is to work while it is still soft but not so hot that it clings to everything. Let the coated cornflakes cool slightly after you take the pan off the heat, then grease your hands well before you touch them.
Measure the same 1/3 cup for every wreath. Even portions roll into even logs, the logs close into neat rings, and the whole batch looks like a matching set on the tray. Press the ends together firmly where they meet so the wreath does not open up as it sets.
Give the wreaths their full 15 minutes before you move them. As the marshmallow cools it firms up, and the wreaths go from floppy to chewy and sturdy enough to pick up.
| Step | Amount or time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Portion | 1/3 cup per wreath | Same-size rings, about 15 in all |
| Berries | 3 candies per wreath | They stick while the mixture is soft |
| Set | About 15 minutes | The wreaths firm up and hold their shape |
Tips for Success
Why are my wreaths hard and stiff?
Marshmallows that cook over high heat lose their soft stretch, and the wreaths end up hard. Keep the heat low the whole time you melt the butter and marshmallows, and take the pan off the heat as soon as they are smooth.
Why won’t the candies stay on?
Once the marshmallow sets, there is nothing left to grab the candies. Press the red cinnamon candies on right after you shape each wreath, while the surface is still soft and tacky.
Why is my green patchy?
Coloring that goes in after the cornflakes never spreads evenly. Stir the green into the melted marshmallow first, until the color is even, and only then add the cereal.
Variations
- Microwave method: melt 1 stick of butter in a microwave-safe bowl for about 45 seconds, stir in the marshmallows, microwave 1 minute, stir, then add 30 seconds more if needed. Stir in the coloring and 6 cups of cornflakes.
- Candy-coated berries: use red and green M&M’s, or red mini M&M’s, in place of the cinnamon candies.
- Wreath cookies from spoonfuls: use 5 1/2 cups slightly crushed cornflakes, 1/2 cup butter, 5 cups mini marshmallows and 1/2 teaspoon green food coloring, then drop spoonfuls onto parchment and shape each one into a ring with buttered fingers.
Storage & Reheating
Keep the wreaths at room temperature in a covered container, in a single layer or with parchment between layers so they do not stick together. USDA FSIS advises wrapping leftovers well, and an airtight container keeps the cornflakes from going stale. There is nothing to reheat.
What to Serve With It
Put these wreaths on a holiday tray with Christmas cherry bars and homemade Christmas tree cakes for a festive mix of colors. Fill out the cookie tin with carrot cake cookies, bring an Oreo dirt cake for the kids’ table, and serve a warm pecan pie dump cake after dinner. On Christmas morning, they sit happily beside a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit casserole.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you keep cornflake wreaths from sticking to your hands?
Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray, or rub them with a little butter, and add more as soon as they feel tacky.
Can you make cornflake wreaths in the microwave?
Yes. Melt the butter for about 45 seconds, stir in the marshmallows, microwave 1 minute, stir, and add 30 seconds more if they are not fully melted.
What candy do you use for the holly berries?
Small red cinnamon candies are the classic choice, 3 per wreath. Red mini M&M’s or red and green M&M’s work too.
Final Notes
Keep a little nonstick spray next to the pan and use it often; greased hands make every wreath quicker and neater. Tell me in the comments how your wreaths turned out or what candies you used for the berries.
Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
Want This Recipe Later?
We'll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows 1 package
- 7 drops green gel food coloring or 1 teaspoon water-based green food coloring
- 5 cups cornflakes
- nonstick cooking spray for your hands
- 45 small red cinnamon candies 3 per wreath
Instructions
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted.
- Stir in the green food coloring until the color is even.
- Take the pan off the heat, add the cornflakes and stir until every flake is coated. Let the mixture cool slightly.
- Spray your hands with nonstick spray. Take 1/3 cup of the mixture, roll it into an even log and join the ends to make a wreath. Set it on a lined sheet and repeat with the rest.
- Press 3 cinnamon candies onto each wreath. Let them sit until firm, about 15 minutes, before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Made this recipe? Tap a star to rate it.
Made this recipe?
Tap a star to rate it. It helps other cooks find it.
