Cornflake Christmas Wreaths (An Easy Holiday Treat!)

Santa’s Workshop: The Essential Ingredients

This iconic party treat uses a handful of high-quality pantry staples to create its signature festive look and delicious flavor.

• The Wreath Base (The No-Bake Magic!):
  • Fresh Marshmallows: The number one, non-negotiable secret to a wonderfully soft and chewy, not hard and brittle, crispy treat is to use fresh marshmallows. Stale marshmallows can be dry and will not melt as smoothly or result in a tender texture.
  • Cornflakes: A classic, crunchy cornflake cereal is the key to the wonderful texture of these wreaths.
• The Festive Decorations:
  • The Green Color: To achieve that beautiful, vibrant, and festive green wreath color, a gel food coloring is highly recommended. It is much more concentrated than a liquid food coloring, so you will get a deep green color without adding too much extra liquid to your mixture.
  • The “Holly & Bow”: A few small, round red cinnamon candies make the perfect, classic holly berries, and a simple strip of a red sour candy roll-up is the easiest way to create a beautiful, edible bow.

The No-Bake Masterclass: The Secret to Perfect, Chewy Wreaths

This recipe uses a few simple but brilliant techniques that guarantee a flawless, delicious result.

1. Use Low Heat: The secret to a soft and chewy, not hard, crispy treat is to melt your marshmallows over a low and gentle heat. High heat is the number one culprit that will cause the sugars in the marshmallows to caramelize and become hard and brittle when they cool. This recipe’s microwave method, using 50% power, is perfect for this.
2. Grease Your Hands!: The non-negotiable secret to handling the sticky, warm marshmallow mixture is to generously grease your hands with cooking spray or a little butter. This creates a non-stick barrier that will allow you to easily mold and shape the warm treats without them sticking to you and creating a huge mess.
3. Work Quickly: The marshmallow mixture will start to cool and set very quickly, so you need to work with a sense of urgency while it is still warm and pliable.

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Step-by-Step to the Best Cornflake Christmas Wreaths

This fun and festive project is a joy to prepare.

Part 1: The Art of the Green Marshmallow “Glue”

Step 1: First, line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine your 1 bag of marshmallows and the 6 tablespoons of butter. Microwave on 50-percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each one, until the marshmallows have completely melted and the mixture is smooth. This will take about 1 minute and 30 seconds total.

Step 3: Stir in the 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and about 10 to 15 drops of your green gel food coloring, until the mixture is a deep, vibrant green.

Part 2: Mix, Shape, and Decorate Your Wreaths

Step 1: Add your 6 cups of cornflakes to the green marshmallow mixture and stir until the cereal is completely and evenly coated.

Step 2 (The Fun Part!): Working quickly while the mixture is still warm, and using your well-greased hands, form the mixture into twenty-four, 2-inch balls.

Step 3: Place the balls on your prepared baking sheets, flatten them slightly, and then poke a hole in the middle of each one with your finger to create the classic wreath shape.

Step 4: While the wreaths are still sticky, decorate them with your cinnamon candies to create the “holly berries” and form your red candy strips into a simple “bow” on each wreath.

Step 5: Give your finished wreaths a final, magical dusting of “snow” with your white mini nonpareils.

Let the wreaths set at room temperature to firm up, which will take about 2 hours.

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Cornflake Christmas Wreaths (An Easy Holiday Treat!)

An easy, no-bake recipe for festive ‘Cornflake Christmas Wreaths,’ a classic holiday treat. This simple, kid-friendly project involves melting marshmallows and butter, tinting the mixture a vibrant green, and then stirring in cornflakes. The sticky mixture is then shaped by hand into small wreath shapes. Each wreath is decorated with mini round cinnamon candies to look like holly berries and a bow made from a red sour candy strip, creating a perfect edible decoration for a Christmas party.

• Author: Grace

Ingredients

• One 16-ounce package marshmallows
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Green gel food coloring
• 6 cups cornflakes
• Mini round cinnamon candies, for decorating
• Red sour candy roll-ups or licorice ropes, for decorating
• White mini nonpareils, for decorating

Instructions

1. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the marshmallows and butter. Microwave on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted (about 1 minute 30 seconds total).
3. Stir in the vanilla extract and enough green food coloring to achieve a deep green color (about 10-15 drops).
4. Stir in the cornflakes until they are completely and evenly coated.
5. Working quickly with wet or greased hands, form the mixture into twenty-four 2-inch balls.
6. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheets, flatten them slightly, and then poke a hole in the middle of each with your finger, shaping the sides to form a wreath.
7. Decorate each wreath with the cinnamon candies to create ‘holly berries’ and form a simple bow on each with a strip of the red candy.
8. Sprinkle lightly with the white nonpareils for a ‘snow’ effect.
9. Let the wreaths set at room temperature for about 2 hours, or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, until firm.

Notes

• This is a classic no-bake Christmas treat that is fun and easy to make with kids.
• It is very important to work quickly and to wet or grease your hands when shaping the wreaths, as the marshmallow mixture is very sticky.
• These treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

These Cornflake Christmas Wreaths are the ultimate make-ahead party treat!

• Make-Ahead: You can prepare and fully assemble and decorate the entire batch up to 2 days in advance.
• Storage: Store the finished wreaths in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Be sure to place a sheet of wax paper between any layers to prevent them from sticking.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the absolute, number one secret to soft and chewy, not hard, crispy rice treats?

There are two main secrets! First, be sure to use fresh marshmallows, as stale marshmallows can be dry and will not melt as well. Second, and most importantly, be sure to melt your marshmallows over a low and gentle heat and to not press the mixture too firmly when you are shaping it.

Q2: How do I keep the warm marshmallow mixture from sticking to my hands?

The non-negotiable secret is to generously coat your hands with cooking spray, a neutral-flavored oil, or even just a little butter. This creates a non-stick barrier that will allow you to easily mold and shape the warm treats.

Q3: Can I make these ahead of time for a Christmas party?

Yes, absolutely! This is a perfect make-ahead treat. You can prepare the entire recipe up to 2 days in advance and keep them, well-covered, at room temperature.

Q4: Can I make this with a different kind of cereal?

Of course! This fun technique would also be fantastic with a classic crispy rice cereal (like Rice Krispies®) for a more traditional treat, or even a puffy corn cereal for a different texture.

Q5: Can I make these on the stovetop instead of in the microwave?

Yes! Simply melt your butter and your marshmallows together in a large pot over a low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth. Then, you can proceed with the recipe as directed.