Cornflake Wreaths are one of my favorite easy Christmas treats, made with just a few ingredients including cornflakes, marshmallows and butter.

A Christmas Cornflake Wreath with red hots on top.

Of all of my Christmas recipes, these Cornflake Wreaths are most dear to me because I made them every single year with my mom and sister. They’re as easy and fun to make with kids, or your family, as they are to eat, and the ingredients are few and simple!

Labeled ingredients needed to make cornflake wreaths.

How to make Cornflake Wreaths:

  • Measure corn flakes into a large bowl.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir continuously until completely melted. Stir in food coloring.
  • Pour melted marshmallow mixture over the corn flakes and stir until well coated.
  • Lay out a piece of parchment paper on your kitchen counter. Dollop spoonfuls of the cornflake mixture onto the parchment paper.
Four process photos for melting butter and marshmallows in a saucepan, adding green food coloring, and pouring over cornflakes.
  • Grease your (clean) hands with butter or cooking spray, or dip them in a little bit of water. Use your fingers to shape each mound into a wreath, then top each cinnamon candies.
A sheet pan with shaped cornflake wreaths on it.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Consider trying these holiday treats:

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Recipe

A Christmas Cornflake Wreath with red hots on top.
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 25 minutes
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Ingredients
  

Instructions
 

  • Measure cornflakes into a large bowl.
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir continuously until completely melted. Stir in food coloring.
  • Pour melted marshmallow mixture over the cornflakes. Stir until well coated.
  • Lay out a piece of parchment paper on your kitchen counter. Dollop spoonfuls of the cornflake mixture onto the parchment paper. 
  • Grease your (clean) hands greased with butter or cooking spray, or dip them in a little bit of water. Use your fingers to shape each spoonful into an individual wreath. 
  • Top each wreath with cinnamon candies.

Notes

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 89kcalCarbohydrates: 13gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 88mgPotassium: 10mgSugar: 6gVitamin A: 235IUVitamin C: 1.3mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1.9mg

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I originally shared this recipe October 2014. Updated December 2020.

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Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 3 stars
    My husband and I did as one of my sisters requested it for Christmas. My grandmother made it for her grandchildren in the 1970’s one year. There are various versions of it floating on the web. I even saw a cake version of it. My grandmother used red licorice whips to tie bows on the wreaths which we also did. We made the 6″ version as the smaller ones were too difficult to control. For the red candies we used a combo of mini red M&Ms, mini cherry jelly beans and mini red licorice drops as there are folks that are allergic to cinnamon in our group. We also added some vanilla and a quarter shot of blood orange liqueur to the cornflake mixture. It gave it a little more of a boost to the flavor profile. Finally, we wore well-buttered non-latex gloves to shape the cookies. It is essential that everything is laid out ahead of time and you are ready to go because it all sets up quickly! 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    This is the 2nd recipe I tried. Do not skimp on the butter. I sprayed cooking spray on my hands and dipped fingers in water. This method worked really well for shaping the wreaths.

  3. I make every year! I also use the entire batch and make 1 huge wreath and raffle it off at Christmas! Everyone signs up, drums roll, and the winner is announced. So fun!!! I use red licorice whips to make bows around the wreath.

  4. 5 stars
    LOVE these cookies – same idea as Rice Krispy treat cookies, but WAY better. Problem is I can’t stop eating them.

  5. Have made these for decades!
    I add teaspoon of vanilla flavoring, and use quartered maraschino cherries instead of red hots because they are easier to eat!

  6. This is something the kids like. I wish the video showed how to shape them into wreaths. Mine had to be Christmas balls since I could not get them into a wreath shape! Even with my fingers greased, it stuck like glue.

    1. I plan on using latex gloves. I did that with some peanut butter/cornflake candy, and it worked wonderful. Also, maybe need to use a few more marshmallows.

  7. 5 stars
    Soo I’ve made these all growing up(Kansas) and remember having fun with my grandma making. So last night I wanted to make them with my daughter’s!! BUT the mix is not sticking together?! I’m wondering if living in Colorado and the Altitude has anything to do with it?! Can someone PRETTY PLEASE help a Mama out?! Lol Merry Christmas

  8. Because i am a procrastinator i waited til christmas eve to get the items to make these adorable wreaths. Corn flakes were all sold out so i substituted frosted flakes instead. They may be a touch sweeter but they worked great!

  9. Awsome idea great fot parties. You can even do for a Halloween or Birthday party event just change food coloring and decorations. Can even use Granola.

  10. I make mine & shape them in a bundt pan, then slice the wreath for serving pieces. Much less time involved than making individual wreaths.

    1. Slicing might be convenient but they won’t look like holly unless they are demensional… I would rather take the time to make them each by hand for appearance sake

  11. My granddaughter can’t have butter. Would corn syrup instead work? Any idea how much you would use in place of the butter?

    1. I make mine about 3 inches in diameter, but whatever size you want is fine! You can eat them as soon as they are cool 🙂

  12. Ours did not stiffen up. Is it really a stick of butter or suppose to be 1/2 stick? Rice Krispie treats only call for like 3 Tbsp.

  13. I only got 13 put of this recipe. They look so good! I also used frosted flakes instead of plain corn flakes. My daughter said they taste like rice krispie treats.

  14. What is the best way to store these so do not get hard, and how far in advance can they be made before using them.

  15. 4 stars
    I needed two entire bags of marshmallows to make the mixture coat the corn flakes enough so the wreaths don’t look naked. This is the first time I’ve made these. They set up pretty quickly and so my cinnamon candies didn’t want to stick. I also sprinkled some white non-pareils to look snowy. Next time I’ll get them onto the parchment paper sooner before they set up!

  16. 5 stars
    My grandma’s (I’m 50+) handwritten recipe of this states to “mold the mixture around a buttered thimble”.

  17. My mom always made these every year & I make them most years. But her recipe uses 1t vanilla and the amounts of marshmallows & cornflakes are different, the butter is the same. Mine never form up thick the way yours look. Mine are thinner and spread out. I’ll be trying your proportions next Christmas to see if they form more nicely. I really like the flavor with vanilla. I once tried adding vanilla to rice crispy treats & it was overpowering, so it must just complement the cornflakes.

  18. I just made these and I had to adjust the recipe. Instead of low heat I used med low and that was a lot better. And I increased the marshmallows to 7 cups to cover all the cereal. Plus it takes more than 10 mins for them to set. But now their done. Also it’s time consuming to form them.

  19. Hi, we have made these for birthday parties, but either colored nor formed. What color did you use? The one we bought did not really have an effect on the finish treats.
    Thanks!

  20. I first made these cookies in Jr. High cooking class some 45 years ago. I still make them every year with my step-daughter. It’s good to have at least 2 people working on these. So yummy!

    1. Hi Lauren, sorry, sometimes recipes can vary depending on where you live and your altitude. Next time just add some more cornflakes to the mixture before making the wreaths.

  21. My mom and I and (now) my kids have been making these wreaths and Christmas trees with Cheerios every year since the 80’s. So gooey and delicious.

  22. I have made these every Christmas for the last 35 years. I do find that they staying out UNcovered at room temp is so good as it tends to dry them and make them crispy. Warning: green teeth and tongues appear with the consumption of these cookies 🙂 but doesn’t last too long 🙂 ha ha They are a real hit with all ages!!

      1. Can I make these two days before the cookie exchange? Today’s the only day I have time? How do I store them so they don’t go stale?

        1. Hi Rachel, These keep great (in an air-tight container) for several days! They also freeze well if you want to try that–again just make sure they’re covered in an air-tight container 🙂

          1. Hi
            …I’m planning to make these wreaths for Christmas ..my question is..I’m going to be shipping these to my daughter in Wash.St..what’s the best thing to put them in to keep them fresh..

  23. We are making these for a cookie exchange this year. However I will not be suing my fingers…LOL just had to. sorry
    Thanks for sharing the recipe, they look so nice.