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My Cornflake Wreaths have become our favorite holiday tradition. I started making these with my kids years ago and now the kitchen isn't complete during Christmas without little hands helping shape these chewy green wreaths. The best part is they come together in just 20 minutes which is perfect when you're juggling all the holiday chaos.
Simple Holiday Joy
You won't believe how easy these treats are to make. My kids eyes light up every time we pull out the marshmallows and cornflakes. The buttery chewy texture gets everyone sneaking bites while we work. We make them for school parties bake sales and they always steal the show on our holiday dessert table.
What Goes In Them
- Butter: Four tablespoons salted butter makes them perfectly rich.
- Marshmallows: One package of mini marshmallows they melt so smoothly.
- Green Food Coloring: Seven drops of gel coloring gives that perfect wreath color.
- Cornflakes: Five cups for that lovely crispy crunch.
- Cooking Spray: Keeps everything from sticking to your hands.
- Red Candies: Those tiny cinnamon ones make the cutest holly berries.
Kitchen Time
- Get Ready
- Line your baking sheets with parchment paper this makes cleanup so much easier.
- Make the Base
- Melt your butter in a big pot add marshmallows and stir until smooth. Add your green coloring until it looks just like a Christmas tree.
- Mix it Up
- Take it off the heat and stir in your cornflakes until every piece is coated in green goodness.
- Shape Time
- Spray your hands with cooking spray grab some mixture and shape into circles. My kids love this part.
- Final Touch
- Press three red candies onto each wreath and let them set up for a few minutes.
My Best Tips
Keep that cooking spray handy your hands will thank you. Add more green coloring if you want really festive wreaths. When we're super busy I just press everything into a pan and cut squares nobody complains.
Make Them Your Own
Sometimes I use rice cereal when we run out of cornflakes. My youngest prefers M&Ms instead of cinnamon candies. A tiny drop of peppermint extract makes them taste like Christmas. We've even made blue ones for winter wonderland parties.
Keep Them Fresh
These wreaths stay perfect in an airtight container for about a week. I often make extra and freeze them wrapped up tight. They last three months in the freezer but honestly they never stick around that long in our house.
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Perfect Family Activity
This is one of those recipes where perfection doesn't matter. Let the kids get creative with shapes some of our favorite memories are from making candy cane shapes and Christmas trees. The giggles and sticky hands are part of the fun.
What You Need
Your biggest pot works great for melting everything. Keep parchment paper handy for your baking sheets. Measuring cups help get the right amount of cornflakes but I mostly eyeball it now. Most importantly keep that cooking spray close by.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why use cooking spray on hands?
- The marshmallow mixture is very sticky. Cooking spray prevents it from sticking to your hands while shaping the wreaths.
- → Can I use different food coloring?
- Both gel and water-based green food coloring work, but gel provides more intense color with less liquid added to the mixture.
- → How should I store these wreaths?
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Place wax paper between layers to prevent sticking.
- → Can I use different decorations?
- Yes, you can substitute the red cinnamon candies with other small red candies like M&Ms or red sprinkles for a similar festive look.
- → Why let the mixture cool slightly?
- Cooling makes the mixture easier to handle while still being pliable enough to shape. Too hot can be dangerous, too cool becomes difficult to form.