This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
These Cornflake Wreaths are an all time favorite every Christmas. Sweet, chewy, and so festive. This vintage recipe is just like Grandma made!
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Is it even Christmas without the cornflake wreaths??
Grandma’s Vintage Christmas Wreath Cookies!
I am a total sucker for marshmallow based treats.
A classic rice krispies treat is always good, but I will always prefer using different cereals.
Take my Christmas Crunch Bars or Christmas Rice Krispies Treats – a must make this time of year, because not only are they delicious, they are super easy! And let’s be real…we all could use a little easy during he busiest time of year.
These cornflake Christmas wreath cookies? Can. Not. Resist.
My mother-in-law makes these every year, just like her mama always did, and then shares tins of goodies with us. I claim these for myself every time.
Back off kids – the cornflake wreaths are for mama. 😉
♥ What We Love About This Recipe:
- 5 Ingredients: Did I mention how simple this recipe is? Just 5 ingredients to whip up a batch of the most festive little treats.
- Festive: These are festive treats that are perfect for Christmas or holiday parties! They’re not as fancy as some Christmas cookies but they’re definitely easy to make and decorate.
- Vintage Recipe: I love a recipe that takes me back to childhood and these do just that. I used to pick off the Red Hots and eat them separately, but these days I like them paired with the sweet marshmallow goodness.
Ingredient Notes:
Butter – We use salted butter in most of our recipes. Keep it simple!
Marshmallows – You can use pretty any sized marshmallows for this since they’re just going to get melted up in the saucepan.
Food Coloring – You can use more or less of the green food coloring to get these Christmas wreath cookies looking just the way you like! We went bold with the green for a really festive look!
Cornflakes – We’re sticking with some classic Kellogg’s Cornflakes but you could use any brand of cornflake cereal to make these.
Candies – You’ve got a few options for decorating the cornflake wreaths. Personally, I like Red Hots best, but my kids prefer mini red M&Ms to look like the mistletoe. Pretty much any similar red candy is okay to use!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Cornflake Wreaths:
Melt the butter in a pot and then stir in the marshmallows and green food coloring.
Continue stirring over low heat until the mixture is smooth, creamy, and vibrantly green.
Once the marshmallows are melted, remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cornflakes until it’s all coated in goo.
Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into 12 equally sized blobs on some parchment paper and then use your hands to shape them into wreaths. Add the red candy last.
Helpful Tips!
- Work quickly after removing from the heat and mixing so that it doesn’t begin to set before you can shape the cookies into wreaths.
- Butter your hands or spray with non-stick spray so that the wreaths are easier to shape and will not stick to your hands!
- We use a teaspoon or two of dark green food coloring, but you can add as much as you like.
- Don’t overcook the marshmallow mixture. Pull it off the heat as soon as it’s melted, or your cornflake wreaths will be crunchy and hard instead of soft and chewy.
Kitchen Hack
These are not at all difficult, but if you don’t want to deal with shaping these into wreaths, just press the mixture into a 9×13 baking dish and arrange the red candy however you’d like. Not quite as cute as the cornflake Christmas wreath cookies, but just as tasty!
Freezing & Storage Instructions:
Keep the Christmas cornflake wreaths stored at room temperature in an airtight container for about a week.
Many people freeze these corn flake wreaths, but we do prefer them freshly made. If freezing, seal the container tightly and freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe FAQs:
Also known as Christmas wreath cookies, these cornflake wreaths are a quick and easy holiday treat that you can prepare with just 5 ingredients. They’re very similar to a Rice Krispie Treat, but they’re made with cornflakes and shaped into a wreath.
To keep your cornflake wreaths from sticking to your hands, butter or spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray.
Cornflake Wreaths
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces marshmallows
- 1-2 teaspoons green food coloring more if desired
- 6 cups cornflakes cereal
- Red Hots or mini red m&ms
Instructions
- Add the butter to a large sauce pan over medium and cook until melted.
- Add the marshmallows and green food coloring and cook, stirring constantly, until the marshmallows have melted. Do not overcook the marshmallow mixture.
- Remove from the heat and stir the cornflakes into the mixture.
- Working quickly, drop spoonfuls of the cereal mixture into 24 evenly sized portions onto wax paper.
- Butter your hands or spray with nonstick spray to make it easier to work with the mixture. Use your hands to shape the cereal into a wreath with a hole in the center.
- Arrange candies on the wreaths as desired.
- Let set for at least 1 hour to firm up before transferring to an air-tight container.
Gail Moyer says
How many cookies does this make ? THX
Brittany says
The recipe says it makes 12 wreathes. ?
Alanna says
Haha! I got 32 good size cookies from this recipe.
david@Lee says
I use a double boiler as the marshmallow is easy burned. Shape using a teflon donut tray to ensure a hole is in center.
Karly Campbell says
Smart!
REBECCA LOWE says
THESE ARE SO EASY AND SO GOOD.
Karly says
Thanks, Rebecca!