Have you ever needed a homemade holiday treat in a hurry? As a working mom, I have a lot of guilt about not being able to attend my kids’ school parties or contribute the way I’d like. This year, my youngest asked me to volunteer to make the treats for his school Christmas party. His specific request was that I make melted snowman cookies. How could I refuse? Now I’ve made melted snowman cookies in the past, but that was when I wasn’t teaching full-time. (You high school teachers understand…it’s final exam week!) In the past, I took the time to pipe on each eye, nose, and button. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time in my schedule for that type of detail. There had to be an easier way!!
So I created my own version of the melted snowman cookie. Personally, I refuse to buy cookie dough when I can make a much cheaper and tastier product. I started with my mother-in-law’s rolled sugar cookie recipe that is our absolute favorite! (Please see the recipe is below.) These easy, buttery cookies work well with any type of frosting. A great base for the snowmen!
The Steps for Melted Snowman Cookies…
First, I rolled, cut out, and baked the round sugar cookies for the melted snowman cookies. I used a 3 inch biscuit cutter, but any drinking glass will work, too. Due to time constraints, I actually baked these two days before decorating and kept the cookies in a tightly sealed plastic container.
The next step was to add the frosting for the melted snow. I used this recipe from food.com because it dries hard and shiny. These little melted snowmen had to survive the trip to school by school bus. Fluffy frosting won’t work here. It needs to dry hard! I believe that any icing that contains a little corn syrup and says it sets up will work fine, but I like the vanilla and almond flavor of this recipe.
After spooning puddles on each cookie, I added a marshmallow head. I used large marshmallows, but before placing them on the frosted cookies, I added two eyes and a nose with Wilton’s Food Writers. These markers are amazing for a fast decoration on cookies! They work just like markers and made quick work of the snowmen’s faces.
For the buttons, I added upside down mini chocolate chips. However, I could have used the Food Writers to make these, too, after the icing hardened.
The little melted snowmen had to harden before packaging, yet I was able to stick all 24 in a 9×13 Tupperware container. Some were upside down, some right side up, but because I used an icing that set up hard, they survived the bumpy bus ride in one piece. 🙂 These melted snowman cookies turned out super-cute and really took very little time from my busy holiday and work schedule. Maybe I’m still in the running for Mom-of-the-Year…
As a working parent, do you ever feel guilty about not being the perfect parent? Please share any tips, comments, or concerns! I am always looking for ways to better meet the needs of my family. 🙂
Merry Christmas and wishes for a blessed New Year!
Notes
Recipe doubles well. However, if doubling, only add 3 T. of milk.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ c. sugar
- ½ t. baking soda
- ¼ t. salt
- ½ t. cream of tartar
- ½ cup shortening (butter-flavored is best)
- 2 T. milk
- 1 egg
- ½ t. vanilla
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar.
- Cut in shortening.
- Add milk, egg, and vanilla. Mix well.
- Chill overnight or roll out right away.
- Roll on lightly floured board and cut with biscuit cutter or cookie cutters.
- Arrange on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned (be sure to watch).