Cornflake Wreaths are one of my favorite easy Christmas treats, made with just a few ingredients including cornflakes, marshmallows and butter.
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!
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.
- 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.
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:
- Roasted Chestnuts (and even tips for roasting on an open fire!)
- Homemade Caramels
- Caramel Chocolate Dipped Pretzel Rods
- Peppermint Candy Cane Brownies
- Turtle Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint Bundt Cake
- Caramel Hot Chocolate
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Recipe
Christmas Cornflake Wreaths
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 5 heaping cups mini marshmallows , or about 52 large marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon green food coloring
- 6 cups cornflakes cereal
- 1/2 cup red hots , or small red cinnamon candies
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
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe October 2014. Updated December 2020.
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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! 🙂
Really Good
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.
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.
Can I use frosted cornflakes
Yes, that’s fine!
I use Holiday Nerds instead of red hots (couldn’t find red hots one year), highly recommend.
LOVE these cookies – same idea as Rice Krispy treat cookies, but WAY better. Problem is I can’t stop eating them.
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!
Mine came out very stuff. Not sure what caused that.
I was glad to find this!
Add vanilla extract and almond extract. It’ll bring them to another level!
How much of each? Definitely want to try this!
How much of each what?
I followed the recipe and they taste great however they don’t stick together very well. Tips, suggestions
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.
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.
I start out with balls then stick my finger in the middle to make a hole and form them around my finger
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
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!
Can you use frosted flakes instead of corn flakes?
Sure, if that’s what you have.
Can you freeze these?
Yes. Enjoy!
Can they be frozen
Yes, you can freeze them.
Would sugar Frosted Flakes work in these?
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.
These are so festive! Could i use Special K instead of corn flakes?
Sure!
That’s a GENIOUS!!!! idea, thanks for sharing!
I make mine & shape them in a bundt pan, then slice the wreath for serving pieces. Much less time involved than making individual wreaths.
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
But the individual ones will look GLORIOUS on my cookie tray. Always looking for more and different cookies
If I need them for the 25th, how far in advance can i make them?
They’d be fine 1-2 days in advance. Enjoy!
My granddaughter can’t have butter. Would corn syrup instead work? Any idea how much you would use in place of the butter?
A butter substitute would be better. I think corn syrup would be too sticky.
About how large should they be? How long should the sit to ‘set up’ before eating?
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 🙂
Do these need to be refrigerated?
No, they can be stored in an air-tight container at room temperature.
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.
Can you freeze these?
Yes, freeze them in an air-tight container.
Made about 15. I couldn’t make them smaller with out crushing the cornflakes.
Super fun and super easy!
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.
Made these for the Christmas Carole’s coming to my house. So easy and fun and 😋yummy
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.
How many wreath cookies do you get with this recipe?
About 24
I love these!!! I made them with my mom every Christmas!! What wonderful memories!!
Anothor suggestion for a different candy instead of cinnamon would be sixlets in the red color.
this recipe is great I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😊😊🎂😍😎😀🤣
I’ve always used Sugar Frosted Flakes instead and they taste much better and don’t get soggy either.
I make just one big one. Tastes the same. Makes a nice impression.
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!
We have always added almond extract….irresistible! YUM!
My grandma’s (I’m 50+) handwritten recipe of this states to “mold the mixture around a buttered thimble”.
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.
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.
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!
I add a teaspoon of almond extract. Really gives it great flavor!
Salted butter or unsalted?
Either will work great. I usually use salted.
These are absolutely ADORABLE!!!
Thanks for sharing!!! They look incredible:)
Would these do ok if I sprinkled some raw sugar on them for a little bit bit of sparkle and sweetness
Definitely! That sounds so cute!
Sprinkle powdered sugar to look like a dusting of snow!
What a great idea! Love it!
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!
SO mine did not set up and are super sticky and just fell all apart. =[
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.
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.
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!!
How long do need to wait before they set? And do u store them in fridge or in airtight container at room temp?
Hi Tay, they should set up after 10 minutes or so. You can store them covered at room temperature!
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?
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 🙂
How many cookies does this recipe make?
Hi Mary, it makes about 15-20 wreaths (depending on how big you make them)
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..
Hi Susie, I would put them in an airtight container for shipping. Good luck!
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.
I just used a spoon full plus the red candy!!