Melted Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies

I do love a Christmas treat that looks like you’ve made loads of effort when actually it’s really simple, and these Melted Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies are exactly that. They’re cute, a little bit messy and they definitely don’t need to look perfect. In fact, I think the wonkier the snowmen are, the better!

There’s no baking involved with these either. You’re basically dipping Nutter Butters in melted white candy, then adding pretzel arms, chocolate chip eyes, M&M buttons and a little peanut butter cup hat. It’s the sort of recipe that’s really easy to get the kids involved with too, although I’d probably expect quite a few of the M&Ms to disappear along the way.

These would be lovely for a Christmas party, a holiday cookie tray or just as something fun to make on a December afternoon. You can make 15 from one batch, and once the candy coating has set, they’re ready to eat. Nice and easy, which is exactly what I want at Christmas when there’s already far too much going on.

Ingredients

• 15 Nutter Butter cookies – These are just the right shape for making little snowmen, plus you get that lovely peanut butter filling underneath all the chocolate.

• 12 ounces white candy melts – This is what gives the snowmen their snowy white coating. Don’t worry about making the edges neat because we actually want them to look a bit melted and messy.

• 15 pretzel sticks – Snap these in half to make the little snowman arms. They don’t need to be exactly the same size.

• 30 chocolate chips – Two for each snowman to make the eyes. I like using chocolate chips because they’re easy and you don’t have to mess around piping anything.

• 45 M&Ms – You’ll need three for each snowman’s buttons. Use a mixture of colors or pick out your favorite Christmas colors if you want to make them a bit more festive.

• 8 mini peanut butter cups, cut in half – These make the cutest little hats and add even more peanut butter and chocolate, which is never a bad thing.

Recipe Instructions

Full measurements and cooking times can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Melt the white candy melts according to the package directions, stirring until smooth.

Step 2: Dip each Nutter Butter into the melted candy until completely coated, then place it onto a sheet of parchment paper.

Step 3: Spoon a little extra melted candy around the sides and bottom of each cookie. Don’t worry about making it neat – the messy edges are what give the snowmen that fun melted look.

Step 4: Break each pretzel stick in half and tuck one piece into each side of the cookie to make the snowman’s arms.

Step 5: While the coating is still soft, add two chocolate chips for the eyes and three M&Ms down the front for the buttons.

Step 6: Place half of a mini peanut butter cup at the top of each snowman to make the hat.

Step 7: Leave the cookies to sit until the candy coating has completely hardened, then they’re ready to serve.

What to Serve with Melted Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies

These are definitely more of a fun Christmas treat than a proper dessert, so I’d serve them alongside a few other festive bits and let everyone help themselves. They’d be really cute on a Christmas cookie tray or set out at a holiday party, especially if you’ve got kids around.

• Hot chocolate – Probably my favorite option. A snowman cookie and a big mug of hot chocolate just feels very Christmassy.

• Christmas cookies – Add them to a cookie tray with sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies and anything else you’re making.

• Fresh fruit – Strawberries, grapes or berries are nice if you want something a little lighter alongside all that chocolate and candy.

• Ice cream – Serve one alongside a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream for a really easy Christmas dessert.

• Other Christmas treats – Mix them with fudge, chocolate bark, truffles or whatever else you have for an easy festive dessert table.

Storing

Once the candy coating has completely set, you can store these in an airtight container at room temperature. I’d put a piece of parchment paper between the layers if you need to stack them, just to stop the decorations from getting knocked off. They should keep well for around a week, although the pretzels can start to soften a little after a few days.

I wouldn’t put them in the fridge unless your kitchen is particularly warm, as you may find the candy coating gets a bit of condensation on it when you bring them back to room temperature. Keep them somewhere cool and dry instead, and they’re a really handy Christmas treat to make a day or two ahead if you’ve got a party or get-together coming up.

Freezing: You can freeze any leftovers, although the decorations and pretzels might not be quite as good once they’ve thawed. Place the cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between the layers and freeze for up to 2 months. Let them thaw at room temperature before serving. I’d leave them in the container while they thaw so any condensation forms on the container rather than directly on the cookies.

Variations & Substitutions

These are really easy to change around depending on what you have in the cupboard, so don’t worry if you haven’t got every single decoration. As long as you’ve got the Nutter Butters and something white to coat them in, you can have a bit of fun with the rest.

• Use white chocolate – If you don’t have candy melts, you can use melted white chocolate instead. Just bear in mind it can be a little trickier to get a really smooth coating.

• Swap the M&Ms – Skittles, mini M&Ms or any small colorful candies would work for the buttons.

• Change the eyes – Mini chocolate chips, candy eyes or little dots of melted chocolate are all easy alternatives.

• Use different hats – If you don’t have mini peanut butter cups, try a chocolate button, half an Oreo or another small chocolate candy.

• Add a nose – A tiny piece of orange candy or an orange sprinkle makes a cute little carrot nose if you want to give your snowmen one.

• Make them extra festive – Add a few Christmas sprinkles around the melted candy coating before it sets.

FAQs

Can I make Melted Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies ahead of time?

Yes! These are actually a really handy Christmas treat to make ahead. Once the candy coating has completely set, pop them into an airtight container and keep them somewhere cool and dry. I’d happily make them a day or two before I needed them.

Can I use white chocolate instead of white candy melts?

You can. White chocolate will still give you that lovely snowy look, although I find candy melts a little easier to work with for this sort of thing. If your melted white chocolate seems too thick for dipping, you can stir in a tiny bit of coconut oil to help thin it out.

How do you melt candy melts for Nutter Butter snowman cookies?

I’d follow the directions on the package as brands can vary slightly. If you’re using the microwave, heat them in short bursts and give them a good stir each time. It’s much better to go slowly than accidentally overheat them.

How long do Melted Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies last?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, they should keep for around a week. The cookies themselves will be fine, but the pretzel arms can start to lose a bit of their crunch after a few days.

Can kids help make these melted snowman cookies?

Definitely. This is a really fun Christmas recipe to make with kids because there’s no baking involved. Younger kids can add the eyes, buttons and hats while an adult takes care of melting the candy and dipping the cookies.

Why is my candy coating too thick for dipping?

Candy melts can sometimes be a bit thick once melted. Make sure you haven’t overheated them and give them a really good stir first. If your brand recommends thinning the melts, follow the package directions. You don’t need a perfectly neat coating for these either – they’re supposed to look like melting snowmen!

Do Melted Snowman Nutter Butter Cookies need to be refrigerated?

No, there’s no need to refrigerate them. I actually prefer keeping them at room temperature in an airtight container somewhere cool and dry. Refrigerating them can cause condensation to form on the candy coating.

What can I use instead of Nutter Butter cookies?

The peanut shape of Nutter Butters is what gives these snowmen their really cute shape, so they’re definitely my first choice. If you can’t get them, you could experiment with another long sandwich cookie, but obviously they won’t look quite the same.