Step into a whimsical winter wonderland with these absolutely delightful Melted Snowman Cookies! Far more than just a treat, these are edible works of art that bring smiles and festive cheer to any gathering. Our recipe elevates the classic concept with a truly irresistible combination: soft, chewy peanut butter cookies topped with luscious peanut butter cups, draped in smooth white chocolate, and adorned with charming candy decorations to create that iconic “melting snowman” look. They’re not only incredibly fun to make but also astonishingly delicious, making them a must-have for your holiday baking list.

Looking for more festive treats to spread holiday joy? Don’t miss these other delightful recipes: Christmas Oreo Truffles, classic Gingersnap Cookies, or super fun Christmas Oreo Pops!

Overhead image of beautifully decorated Melted Snowman Cookies ready to be enjoyed, showcasing their unique melted appearance. — A festive platter of Melted Snowman Cookies, showcasing their adorable and delicious design. Ideal for holiday parties and family fun!

Melted Snowman Cookies: A Peanut Butter & White Chocolate Dream

The concept of melted snowman cookies has charmed the internet for years, captivating bakers with its whimsical design. However, many versions fall short on flavor, often relying on marshmallows for the snowman’s head. While cute, marshmallows tend to harden quickly and don’t offer the delightful taste and texture we crave in a holiday cookie. This recipe presents my refined take, transforming a popular idea into a genuinely gourmet experience. If you’re a fan of the classic chocolate and peanut butter pairing, prepare yourself for the most indulgent and satisfying melted snowman cookies you’ve ever tasted!

Why Our Melted Snowman Cookie Recipe Stands Out

Last year, I experimented with the traditional marshmallow-headed snowman cookies. They looked adorable, but the hardened marshmallows left much to be desired in terms of taste and texture. I knew there had to be a better way to achieve that soft, melt-in-your-mouth experience without sacrificing the fun aesthetic.

After much brainstorming and delicious testing, the solution became clear: swap out the marshmallows for miniature peanut butter cups! This simple yet brilliant change makes all the difference. Peanut butter cups remain wonderfully soft, offering a creamy contrast to the chewy cookie base. Their rich chocolate and peanut butter flavor perfectly complements our homemade peanut butter cookies. The result is a treat that’s not only visually charming but also a true delight for the taste buds. You could even try this topping on Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies for a delightful twist!

Process shots showing the making of peanut butter cookie dough, rolling it into balls, and placing peanut butter cups on baked cookies. — Visual guide through the initial steps: preparing the rich peanut butter cookie dough, forming perfect spheres, and the crucial step of adding the peanut butter cup while the cookies are warm.

Essential Ingredients for Your Melted Snowman Cookies

Crafting these adorable melted snowman cookies requires a few key components, each playing a vital role in both flavor and presentation. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why specific choices make a difference:

The Cookie Base: For unparalleled flavor and a truly homemade touch, I highly recommend making your own peanut butter cookies from scratch. The recipe provided below yields perfectly soft and chewy cookies that are the ideal foundation. However, if you’re short on time or prefer a quicker route, high-quality store-bought peanut butter cookies work wonderfully. Just ensure they are flat enough to accommodate the snowman toppings.
Miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (for the head): These are the game-changer! Unlike marshmallows, mini Reese’s cups stay soft and contribute a fantastic chocolate and peanut butter flavor. Press them onto slightly warm cookies to ensure they adhere securely without melting completely. You’ll use the “Miniature” size for the main snowman head.
Reese’s Minis (for the hat): These are even smaller unwrapped peanut butter cups, perfect for creating the snowman’s adorable little hat. To get a clean cut for the hat’s base, gently warm a serrated knife under hot water, dry it, and slice the minis cleanly. This prevents crumbling.
Orange Jimmies Sprinkles: These small, rod-shaped sprinkles are perfect for giving your snowman a cute, carrot-like “nose.” Their vibrant color stands out against the white chocolate.
Mini Chocolate Chips: These tiny chocolate chips serve as the snowman’s “eyes.” The key is to press them gently into the melted white chocolate while it’s still soft, ensuring they stick firmly and don’t slide off.
High-Quality White Chocolate Chips (or Melting Wafers): This is what creates the “melted snow” effect. Opt for good-quality white chocolate chips (like Ghirardelli) or, even better, white chocolate melting wafers or baking bars. These melt more smoothly and consistently than lower-quality chips. Melt them in short bursts in the microwave, stirring frequently, to prevent overheating and seizing, which can ruin the texture.

Process shots illustrating white chocolate being carefully spooned over the peanut butter cup layer on a melted snowman cookie. — The art of creating the “melted snow” layer: carefully spooning and spreading smooth white chocolate over the peanut butter cup, setting the stage for decoration.

How To Make Melted Snowman Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these charming melted snowman cookies is a fun and rewarding process. Follow these detailed steps to bring your adorable winter treats to life:

Prepare Your Cookies: Begin by baking your homemade peanut butter cookies according to the recipe provided in the recipe card below. Alternatively, if using store-bought cookies, simply arrange them on a baking sheet. Allow your baked cookies to cool on the sheet pan for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool almost completely. They should still be slightly warm to the touch.
Attach the Snowman Heads: While the cookies are still slightly warm (this helps adhesion), gently unwrap a miniature peanut butter cup for each cookie. Press one miniature peanut butter cup firmly into the center of each cookie. Be gentle to avoid breaking the cookie. If your cookies have fully cooled, you can use a tiny dab of melted white chocolate to secure the peanut butter cup. Allow the cookies to cool completely with the peanut butter cups attached.
Melt the White Chocolate: Place your white chocolate chips or melting wafers in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in short intervals of 20-30 seconds, stirring thoroughly between each burst. Continue until the white chocolate is completely melted and smooth. Avoid overheating, as this can cause the chocolate to seize or burn. Let the melted chocolate cool slightly for a minute or two; it should still be liquid but not piping hot.
Create the “Melted Snow” Effect: Using a small spoon (a teaspoon works perfectly), carefully spoon the slightly cooled melted white chocolate over the top of each miniature peanut butter cup. Let some of the chocolate naturally spill over the edges of the cookie, creating an organic, melted snow puddle effect. You can gently tap the cookie on your counter a few times to help the chocolate spread evenly and achieve that perfectly imperfect “melted” look.
Craft the Snowman Hats: Take your Reese’s Minis (the smaller ones). To create the snowman’s hat, you’ll need to cut off the very base of each mini peanut butter cup. For a clean cut, run a very sharp serrated knife under hot water, dry it completely, then make your cut. Place a tiny bit of the melted white chocolate onto the bottom of the cut mini peanut butter cup (this is your “hat”).
Decorate Quickly and Charmingly: This step requires a bit of speed, as white chocolate sets rather quickly. Immediately after spooning the white chocolate over the peanut butter cup, gently press the “hat” you just prepared onto the top of the larger peanut butter cup “head.” Then, add two mini chocolate chips (placed upside down for a smoother look) below the hat for the “eyes.” Finally, place one orange jimmie sprinkle below the eyes for the “nose.” It’s best to decorate one cookie at a time to ensure the chocolate is still soft enough for the decorations to adhere.
Allow to Set: Once all your cookies are decorated, allow them to rest at room temperature until the white chocolate has completely hardened. This might take an hour or two, or you can carefully place them in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes to speed up the setting process. Once set, your delightful melted snowman cookies are ready to be served and enjoyed!

Expert Tips for Melted Snowman Cookie Perfection

To ensure your Melted Snowman Cookies turn out absolutely perfect every time, keep these expert tips in mind:

Peanut Butter Cup Placement is Key: Press the miniature peanut butter cups into your cookies when they are almost, but not entirely, cooled. If the cookies are too hot, the peanut butter cups will melt and lose their shape. If they are completely cold, the cups won’t adhere properly. A slightly warm cookie provides the ideal temperature for the cups to nestle in securely. If you find your cookies have fully cooled, simply use a small dot of melted white chocolate to “glue” the Reese’s cup into place.
Mastering White Chocolate: The quality of your white chocolate makes a huge difference. Use high-quality white chocolate chips, baking bars, or melting wafers for the smoothest melt and best flavor. When melting, microwave in short 20-second bursts, stirring vigorously after each interval until completely smooth. Crucially, let the melted white chocolate cool slightly before spooning it over the peanut butter cups. If it’s too hot, it can melt the peanut butter cups and create a messy look. To get that iconic “melted snow” effect, spoon the chocolate over the Reese’s and then gently tap the cookie a few times on your counter. This helps the chocolate spread out naturally into an irregular, flowing shape without you needing to touch it with a spoon.
Decorate with Speed and Precision: White chocolate tends to set up quite quickly, especially if your kitchen is cool. To ensure your snowman’s hat, eyes, and nose stick properly, you’ll need to work efficiently. It’s highly recommended to decorate one cookie fully at a time – spoon on the white chocolate, then immediately add the hat, eyes, and nose before the chocolate hardens. Trying to do it in batches (e.g., all white chocolate first, then all hats) can lead to decorations not adhering.
The Right Peanut Butter Matters: For the cookie base, I strongly recommend using a creamy, no-stir peanut butter like Skippy® or Jif®. Natural peanut butters that separate and require stirring can alter the cookie’s texture, making it too oily or crumbly.
Accurate Flour Measurement: Measuring flour precisely is critical for perfect cookie texture. Too much flour can result in dry, crumbly cookies, while too little can make them too soft or spread too much. If possible, use a food scale for accuracy; 385 grams is ideal for this recipe. If you don’t have a scale, fluff your flour, spoon it into your measuring cup, and then level it off with a straight edge.

Detailed process shots showing how to cut a Reese's Mini for the hat, attach it to the snowman's head, and add the chocolate chip eyes and orange sprinkle nose. — A close-up of the delicate finishing touches: preparing the peanut butter cup hat, meticulously adding mini chocolate chip eyes, and placing the festive orange sprinkle nose.

Creative Variations: Switch Things Up!

While the classic peanut butter and white chocolate combination is a true winner, these Melted Snowman Cookies are wonderfully adaptable. Feel free to unleash your creativity with these fun variations:

Store-Bought Cookie Shortcuts: For an even quicker assembly, use your favorite store-bought peanut butter cookies as the base. You can also experiment with other plain cookie varieties, or try Pillsbury® Snowman Cookies for a themed shortcut – just add the peanut butter cup and white chocolate topping!
Snowman Cupcakes: Extend the snowman fun to cupcakes! Bake your favorite cupcakes (a Cake Mix Cupcakes recipe in any flavor works perfectly). Frost them generously with creamy cream cheese frosting, then place a miniature peanut butter cup on top. Drizzle with melted white chocolate and decorate with candies just as you would for the cookies.
Chocolate Snowman Cookies: If you’re a devout chocolate lover, swap out the peanut butter cookies for rich chocolate cookies. The dark chocolate base with the white chocolate snowman and peanut butter cup head creates a delicious and visually striking contrast.
Sugar Snowman Cookies (Marshmallow Option): For a more traditional look or a different flavor profile, use Peppermint Sugar Cookies as your base. Instead of a peanut butter cup, top these with a halved large marshmallow for the snowman’s head (as in the traditional method). Skip the hat for this version and use mini M&M’s or sprinkles for festive buttons on the melted white chocolate body.
Add Edible Glitter: For an extra magical touch, give your snowmen a frosty sparkle! After the white chocolate has set, lightly dust them with edible glitter spray or powder. It adds a beautiful shimmer that catches the light and enhances the winter theme.
Seasonal Flavors: Experiment with different cookie base flavors like gingerbread, oatmeal, or even a hint of mint in your white chocolate for a peppermint snowman.
Mini Candy Buttons/Scarves: Use tiny candy buttons or thinly cut licorice laces to give your snowmen little “buttons” or “scarves” for even more personality.

Overhead image of a collection of finished Melted Snowman Cookies arranged on a serving platter, ready for holiday enjoyment. — The final festive display: a tray of completed Melted Snowman Cookies, promising joy and deliciousness to all who partake.

Melted Snowman Cookies: Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

Planning ahead or managing leftovers is easy with these helpful storage tips for your Melted Snowman Cookies:

Storing Baked and Decorated Cookies: Once fully cooled and the white chocolate has set, store your decorated Melted Snowman Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Layer them carefully with parchment paper in between to prevent any decorations from smudging or sticking. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days. For best results and to maintain the integrity of the white chocolate, avoid refrigerating them unless your kitchen is exceptionally warm.
Freezing Cookie Dough for Later: If you love making homemade cookies but want to save time, you can prepare the peanut butter cookie dough in advance. Simply scoop the cookie dough into individual balls (3 tablespoons each), place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe, airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Baking from Frozen Dough: When you’re ready to bake, there’s no need to thaw the dough! Preheat your oven as directed and place the frozen dough balls directly onto a lined baking sheet. You will need to increase the baking time by a few minutes compared to fresh dough. Bake until the edges are lightly golden and set, and the centers are still soft and slightly underbaked for that perfect chewy texture.

More Fun Holiday Treats:

Christmas

Peppermint Bark

Quick And Easy

Christmas Brownies

Desserts

Peppermint Fudge Recipe

Desserts

Santa Cookies

Close-up of a Melted Snowman Cookie with a perfect peanut butter base, white chocolate topping, and candy decorations.

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5 from 3 votes

Melted Snowman Cookies

By

Chelsea Lords

Melted Snowman Cookies are a cute and tasty winter treat! Peanut butter cookies topped with a peanut butter cup, melted white chocolate, and candy decorations bring these adorable snowmen to life.

Prep Time:

20

Cook Time:

8

Total Time:

28

Servings:

24 large cookies

Video

Equipment

Large sheet pan (15″ x 21″)
Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Cooling rack

Ingredients

Cookies (Or Use Store-Bought Cookies Instead!)

▢ 16 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup, melted
▢ 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
▢ 1 cup granulated sugar plus some extra for rolling cookie dough balls
▢ 1 cup creamy peanut butter see note 1
▢ 1/8 teaspoon almond extract optional—see note 2
▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
▢ 2 large eggs
▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
▢ 2-2/3 cup all-purpose flour see note 3

Decorating

▢ 12 ounces Miniature Reese’s Cups 1 bag, unwrapped
▢ 8 ounces Reese’s minis 1 bag; these are even smaller than the miniature ones; they come in a bag unwrapped.
▢ Orange jimmies sprinkles
▢ mini chocolate chips
▢ 1 (11-ounce) bag white chocolate chips see note 4

Instructions

Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone liner and set it aside.
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the butter until it’s melted. Set aside to cool back to room temperature (hot butter will melt sugars and cause greasy cookies). Once at room temperature, use a spatula to scrape every bit of butter into a large bowl and add brown and granulated sugar. Mix with a large whisk until smooth.
Add peanut butter, almond extract (if using), and vanilla extract. Mix until combined. Add in 1 egg and mix just until ingredients are incorporated, then add the other egg. Continue mixing until the ingredients are just incorporated. Add baking soda and salt and mix until just incorporated. Add flour and again mix until just incorporated. Don’t overmix.
Cover the dough and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 325°F. Scoop the cookie dough and roll into large balls that are each 3 tablespoons in size (don’t make these smaller) and if desired, roll dough balls in some extra granulated sugar. Place dough balls on a lined sheet pan—6 cookies at a time, leaving ample room for spreading.
Bake for 8–14 minutes. Ever so slightly underbaking the cookies will keep them soft and chewy. (They also bake a bit more on the cookie sheet when removed from the oven). Be careful to not overbake these cookies!
Remove the cookies and allow them to cool on the sheet pan 5 minutes before removing them to a cooling rack to finish cooling completely.
When the cookies are almost completely cooled, but not all the way, gently press an unwrapped miniature peanut butter cup into the center of the cookies. Let the cookies finish cooling completely. (If the cookies are fully cool, it’s fine, just attach the Reese’s with melted white chocolate.)
Once the cookies are completely cooled (you can chill them if you’re in a warm kitchen), melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave. Microwave the chips (don’t add oil or anything) in bursts of 20 seconds, stirring between each burst for 10 seconds until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Using a small spoon, spoon white chocolate over the miniature peanut butter cup. Tap the cookie on the counter a few times, then add another spoonful of white chocolate on top if needed. Again, tap the cookie a few times to get the white chocolate to spread out smoothly.
Run a very sharp serrated knife under very hot water. Dry and cut off the base of a miniature peanut butter cup. Place some of the melted white chocolate on the bottom of a mini peanut butter cup and attach it to the cut miniature cup. Repeat the process to make more snowman hats.
Immediately press in the “hat” (see above step) to the top of the “head” of the snowman, then add 2 mini chocolate chips (placed upside down) below the hat and 1 orange sprinkle below the chocolate chip eyes (see note 5). Repeat with remaining cookies. Allow them to harden at room temperature.

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I love and highly recommend Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter for these cookies (not sponsored). I don’t recommend a natural peanut butter that needs stirring.
Note 2: Almond extract is completely optional; almond extract adds an additional nutty flavor to the cookies if you’d like that. If you have some add it in, but it’s not essential.
Note 3: Measuring flour can vary widely from person to person and is usually the culprit for cookies not working out. If you have a food scale, use that instead. 385 grams is perfect for this recipe!
Note 4: Use good, high-quality chocolate chips (I love Ghiradelli®) or white chocolate melting wafers/baking bars for best results. Let the chocolate slightly cool before spooning it on top of the peanut butter cup. Instead of touching the white chocolate, tap the entire cookie on the table to smooth the chocolate in an even layer. Tapping also helps the white chocolate to spread into an irregular “melted snow” look.
Note 5: White chocolate has a tendency to set up fast, so you’ll want to add the hat, eyes, and nose as quickly as possible. Decorate 1 cookie at a time instead of adding decorations in batches.
Storage: Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temp for up to 5 days. To freeze, drop dough balls onto a sheet pan and freeze until solid. Move to a sealed container or bag and freeze for 3 months. Bake straight from the freezer, adding a few minutes to the bake time.

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Conclusion: Your New Favorite Holiday Cookie

These Melted Snowman Cookies are more than just a recipe; they’re an invitation to create lasting holiday memories. With their irresistible blend of soft peanut butter cookies, creamy peanut butter cups, and smooth white chocolate, combined with an undeniably charming appearance, they are guaranteed to be the star of any winter celebration. Whether you’re baking them for a school party, a family gathering, or just a cozy evening at home, their unique appeal and delicious flavor will bring joy to everyone. So, gather your ingredients, enlist some eager helpers, and embark on this delightful baking adventure. You’re just a few steps away from creating a batch of these truly magical and memorable winter treats!