These Snowman Cookies are a a sweet and whimsical addition to your Christmas baking list, made with a soft sugar cookie dough that's shaped before baking. They're the kind of cookie that brings a little joy to the kitchen and easily becomes part of yearly holiday traditions.
I've always loved making festive cookies with my family, and these little snowmen fall right in line with favorirtes like my Snowflake Sugar Cookies, Poinsettia Balls, and Santa's Whisker's. They're charming, simple to make, and perfect for sharing.
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Why You'll Love Snowman Cookies
Kid friendly: a small batch recipe that little hands can easily roll, stack, and decorate.
Holiday trays: these adorable snowmen brighten up Christmas cookie platters and winter celebrations.
Simple sharing: no cookie cutters needed - just roll, stack, and bake.
Key Ingredients for Christmas Snowman Cookies
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
- Unsalted butter and cream cheese: add flavor and create a tender, soft cookie.
- Granulated sugar: sweetens the dough and helps with browning.
- Almond extract: gives both the cookies and icing a warm, festive flavor.
- All purpose flour: provides struture so the snowmen hold their shape.
- Baking powder and Salt: help the cookies rise and balance flavor.
- Pretzel sticks: used to make the adorable snowman arms.
- Confectioners' sugar and milk: create the smooth decorating icing.
- Food coloring: adds detail for scarves, buttons, and faces.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Vanilla extract can replace almond extract for a milder flavor.
- Orange extract adds a citrus twist that works beautifully in holiday cookies.
- Melted chocolate chips can replace icing for the eies and buttons.
Variations on Snowman Cookies
- Add mini chocolate chips directly to the dough for chocolate-chip snowman.
- Use colored sugar or sprinkles to create scarves instead of icing.
- Bake the cookies touching slightly so they look like a melted or "snuggled" snowman.
Tips for the Best Christmas Sugar Cookies
- Chill the dough so the snowmen bake with clean, defined shapes.
- Use gel food colors to keep the icing thick and easy to pipe.
- These cookies are delicate, if you plan to gift or ship them, wrap each cookie securely in bubble wrap inside the box.
How to Store
Store Snowman Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen cookies on the counter before serving.
🍽 Serving Suggestions for Holiday Cookies
These Snowman Cookies pair beautifully with a full Christmas Cookie Platter. Try adding Italian Christmas Cookies, Red Velvet Peppermint Thumbprints, Candy Cane Cookies, or Cranberry Orange Cookies (Buttery Holiday Shortbread).
More Recipes You'll Love
If holiday baking is in full swing at your house, you might enjoy making Grinch Cake Pops, Old-Fashioned Cranberry Bread, Pecan Tassies, and Winter Wonderland Cake with White Chocolate Snowflakes.
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Snowman Cookies
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Ingredients
For the cookies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter , softened
- 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1⅔ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 9 pretzel sticks , broken in half
For the Icing
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk , as needed
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
For the cookies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer on high speed, cream butter, cream cheese, and sugar until blended.
- Add the egg and almond extract to the butter mixture and mix until completely blended.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Gradually mix flour mixture into butter mixture until completely combined.. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
- Using a tablespoon, ½ tablespoon and teaspoon measure, scoop dough and shape into balls. Layout in snowman shape with largest ball on bottom on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Break pretzel stick in half and place one half in each side of center snowman ball. Bake for 11-15 minutes or until set.
- Remove cookies from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely.
To make the decorating icing:
- In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and extract until of piping consistency. Color portions of the icing as desired.
- Decorate cooled cookies by piping a scarf, nose, eyes, and nose. I like to do black icing for the eyes and orange icing for the carrot nose.
Mary Ellen says
I love your snowman cookies! They are just too cute....
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads says
I know my daughter and I would love these cookies! So cute and Christmasy!
Rachael says
First, these are seriously cute. My favorite holiday treat is caramels, but I also love making Mexican Wedding cookies!
Life Tastes Good says
I LOVE these so much! They are the cutest!! How sweet you call your boys your "Snow" men 🙂
Carrie R says
These are so cute! And I love that you used pretzels for their arms. 🙂
Rebekah Hills says
Oh those are completely adorable!!
honeyb says
These are so cute. I love them!