Hello lovelies,
You guys know me well enough by now to know that there’s nothing I love more than sharing with you a cookie/biscuit recipe!
There’s also nothing I love more than sharing recipes with you that are quick, easy and taste absolutely blooming delicious.
Therefore today, I’m combining the two and sharing with you what I can only describe as a ‘simple yet adorable’ festive bake that I know will go down a treat with all your loved ones. From little to older, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit!
If you hadn’t guessed from the title of today’s recipe, this is my version of the ‘melting snowmen’ cookies which have gone viral across all social media platforms.
All you need is a shortbread base, a marshmallow, a bowl of royal icing, m&m’s, and some edible decorating pens – everything you can buy during your weekly shop from any supermarket!
So, if these melting snowmen have caught your attention and got you wanting to know more, you know the drill by now. Keep on scrolling below and you’ll find today’s recipe.
Category: Sweet Treat
Servings: 12
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Bake Time: 15-18 Minutes
Decorating Time: 20 Minutes
Overall Time: 50-60 Minutes
Ingredients You Need For The Shortbread Base:
- 113g Of Caster Sugar
- 226g Of Unsalted Butter
- 2tsp Of Vanilla Bean Paste / Extract
- 340g Of Plain Flour
Ingredients You Need For Decorating:
- 12 Large White Marshmallows
- 50g Of Royal Icing Sugar
- 2tbsp Of Water
- Black & Orange Decorating Icing Pen
- 24 M&M’s
How To Make The Shortbread Base:
- Firstly, gather together your equipment and ingredients, line two baking trays with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 180C / 160C Fan / Gas Mark 4.
- Secondly, in a large bowl, cream together the 113g of caster sugar with the 226g of unsalted butter and 2tsp of vanilla extract until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the 340g of plain flour until a shortbread dough begins to form (TIP: if the mixture begins to look like bread crumbs, add in 2tsp of milk to bring the dough together.
- When the dough has formed, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and roll out to around a two pound coin thickness.
- Using a circle cookie cutter, cut out 12 large shortbread circles.
- Place the shortbread circles onto the pre-lined baking tray and place into the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
How To Decorate:
- Now that the shortbread base has been baked and cooled, it’s time to decorate.
- Using the decorating icing pens, pipe the snowman’s eyes, carrot nose and smile onto the marshmallow. Then, set to one side.
- Next, in a mixing bowl, combine the 50g of icing sugar with 1tbsp of water and mix together until a thick paste forms (TIP: at this stage, if the icing is too runny, add 1tbsp more of icing sugar and continue doing this until you reach the right consistency. If the icing is too thick, add a dash more water to loosen).
- When you’ve reached the right consistency, transfer the icing into a small piping bag p, snip off the very tip of the bag and pipe the white icing onto the cookies to create melted blobs.
- Place the marshmallow faces on-top of the white icing.
- Then, place two m&m’s onto the white icing to create the snowman’s buttons.
- Finally, allow the cookies to sit for 30-40 minutes before serving. This will allow time for the icing to set.
That’s your Melting Snowmen Cookies prepared, baked, cooled and decorated, ready for you to enjoy this Christmas!
Notes:
- Store these cookies in an airtight container for 3-4 days at room temperature or in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.
- You can buy all of todays ingredients in a ‘one-stop-shop’ at any supermarket market.
- I wouldn’t recommend using smarties over m&m’s as smarties colourings do have a tendency to spread once wet.
- You could add little fondant scarfs or pipe on some snowmen arms – however you decorate, these will look amazing.
I’m sorry, but are these not the cutest little snowmen you’ve ever seen?
Simple yet effective – that’s a bake I can get down with. I just know the little ones in your life in particular will love these.
One thing I love more than anything about these cookies is how versatile these are, you can add or take away as much as you like and you’re guaranteed a perfect outcome. There’s no hard techniques involved, it’s just straight forward decorating and perfect for all skill types!
Let me know in the comments below if you make these cookies yourself and if you do, what your thoughts are on them. Do you love the simplicity of these?
Sending you all tons of love & hugs as always,
Elle xo
