Classic Corn Flake Christmas Wreath Cookies Recipe

 

Corn flake wreath cookies have been a staple in our family for decades. Although, my mother is responsible for making the majority of the holiday cookies. This one happens to be one of my favorites. I created this article as a reminder how I make them, and to share with you the exact steps I use. It is also handy to have the recipe on my phone or iPad to refer to while in the kitchen. You may also find this article handy.

I’ve observed this cookie recipe on the internet and social media with varying units and measures and I wanted to demystify the exact method we employ create them in our family. Some recipes use miniature marshmallows, some recipes use 4 and a 1/2 cups of corn flakes, and it seems all bloggers or articles use different amounts of green food coloring for varying hues of green wreaths.

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Tips for success

For starters, do NOT use imitation vanilla extract, my mother used this for years, and I never knew the difference. (we were kids), Imitation vanilla is less money, so I can understand the reason for saving a bit, but it is worth splurging on pure vanilla extract, especially since you’ll using it for other recipes anyway.

Second, make these one recipe / batch at a time, only use the 30 count large marshmallows and stick to the amounts outlined in the recipe. If you try to double the recipe, the mixture becomes to difficult to work with and messy. Unless of course you are working in a commercial kitchen and you have all those large mixing bowls and tools to work with. But if you are reading this article, chances are you are working from home and making them in a standard American kitchen. Make them one recipe at a time and repeat the process if you desire more.

Before we get to the step-by-step directions.

Gather all the supplies.

Shop Supplies

• Pot – Cuisinart 644-24 Chef’s Classic 6-Quart Nonstick-Hard-Anodized, Stockpot w/Cover (Amazon)
• Utensil – Cuisinart GreenGourmet Bamboo Solid Spoon (Amazon)
• Wax paper – Reynolds Cut-rite Wax Paper, 60 Sq.ft. Total (60.5ft X 11.9in), Microwave Safe (Amazon)
• Storage container – Yaomiao 6 Pcs Christmas Cookie Storage Buckets with Lids Decorative Christmas Themed Plastic Bucket Stackable Snack Container Cookie Jars Winter Candy Containers for Holiday Baked Goods Gift Giving (Amazon)
• Measuring cups – Hudson Essentials Stainless Steel Measuring Cups Set (6 Piece Set) (Amazon)
• Measuring spoons – Measuring Spoons, Premium Heavy Duty 18/8 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons Cups Set, Small Tablespoon with Metric and US Measurements, Set of 6 for Measuring Dry and Liquid Ingredients (Amazon)

Preparation, and organization are an important part of the process, lay out the wax paper and clear your counter top to make room to work. Once you start making the cookies, your fingers and utensils are going to get sticky. It is much easier to take spoonfuls of the mixture and place it directly on the wax paper. Having this setup prior to starting makes the process easier.

If you forget, or skip this step, then you end up fiddling with the box of wax paper and getting sticky marshmallow mixture all over the wax paper box, the kitchen cabinets handles get sticky, if you have the wax paper stored in there….  you get the picture. Just make it easier on yourself and lay out the wax paper first.

Gather the ingredients

Shop Ingredients

• Butter 1 stick –  Amazon Fresh, Unsalted Butter Sticks, 16 Oz (Previously Happy Belly, Packaging May Vary) (1 stick) (Amazon)
• Marshmallows (30 large) – Jet-Puffed Marshmallows (1 lb Marshmallow Bag) (Amazon)
• Corn Flakes (4 cups) – Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Breakfast Cereal, Kids Cereal, Family Breakfast, Giant Size, Original, 24oz Box (1 Box) (Amazon)
• PURE vanilla (1 teaspoon) – McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract (Made with Madagascar Vanilla Beans), 8 fl oz (Amazon)
• Green food coloring (1 teaspoon) – McCormick Green Food Color, 1 fl oz (Amazon)
• Cinnamon candies (approximately 60) – Brach’s Cinnamon Imperials – 2 Bags (Amazon)

Directions

Step 1: Melt the butter

Using low heat, melt the butter in the pot. It is important to use low heat so you don’t burn the butter. If you try and speed things up by turning up the heat, so it melts faster, there is a higher chance it will burn. Just slow down and use low heat. Make sure all the butter is melted before adding the marshmallows.

Step 2: Melt the marshmallows

Add the marshmallows to the melted butter. Keep the stove on low heat and let the marshmallows melt. Continue stirring the mixture. If you leave it alone, the mixture heats up in one spot and you increase your chance of burning the mixture. Keep stirring until all the marshmallows are melted, then remove it from the heat.

Step 3: Add the vanilla & food coloring

Add the pure vanilla extract and the green food coloring to the mixture and stir. Make sure you get the sides of the pot. You want all the marshmallows/butter mixture to be green.

 

Step 4: Add the corn flakes

Add the corn flakes, and coat them all. This is the messy part and takes a bit of patience as it is sometimes tricky to get all the nooks and crannies coated with the green mixture. If you don’t get it all, that is fine. The cookies will taste the same, even if a few flakes don’t get coated.

 

Step 5: Form the cookies

Using a medium or large spoon, drop the mixture onto your prepared sheets of wax paper. I prefer not to get this sticky stuff all over my hands, so I use a spoon for this step. Some people butter their fingers and form the cookies, which is how I initially learned this recipe. but as an adult, I just use a spoon and drop clumps of the mixture onto the wax paper. In our family we don’t bother attempting to shape these into actual wreaths with a circle or hole in the middle. That is too much work. We just want to eat these and they won’t be around for long.

One idea or suggestion, is if you are making a lot of other holiday cookies and plan to make a sample platter, you may want to make them a bit smaller or bit size so they fit on the plate or box along with the rest of your holiday cookies. Just a thought.

Step 6: Decorate

Add the cinnamon candies. The classic recipe calls for cinnamon candies to decorate. I’ve heard and seen many articles with people decorating them with red M&M or even red cherry licorice formed into bows. Those options are fine, but we prefer the classic recipe with red cinnamon candies. Besides I eat the cinnamon candies all by themselves when nobody is home or watching me stuff my face. Yum!

That’s about it, the mixture may still be a bit warm. Let the cookies cool on the wax paper before storing them in an airtight container.

Does your family make Corn Flake Christmas Wreath Cookies for the holiday’s? How do you decorate your wreaths, with cinnamon candies or something else? Please comment and share it with us.

Enjoy! and you’re welcome!

Here is the finished product. This recipe and size cookies shown make about 20 cookies.

 

Original Source

Wisconsin Electric Power Company Christmas Cooky Book