Coconut snowman treats are the cutest no-bake sweet of the winter. You do not need an oven, they come together quickly and the little snowmen are charming enough to show off to the whole family.
They also make a good rainy-afternoon activity or a decoration for the Christmas table. Put on carols, let the kids help and enjoy the project. The recipe is simple, inexpensive and tastes great. Who eats the nose first?
At a Glance
- Prep time: 20 min
- Chilling time: 30 min
- Servings: 10 to 12 snowmen
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Calories: about 220 kcal per snowman
- Trend: Kid-friendly Christmas treat
Ingredients
(US cups, with metric in brackets)
For the snowmen
- 10 1/2 ounces (300 g) butter cookies or Marie biscuits, finely crushed (about 3 cups of crumbs)
- 3 1/2 tablespoons (50 g) butter, melted
- 3/4 to 1 cup (200 to 250 ml) sweetened condensed milk, added gradually
- 1 1/4 cups (about 100 g) shredded coconut, for rolling
For decorating
- Chocolate chips (eyes and buttons)
- Dried apricot or candied fruit (noses)
- Gummy candy strips (scarves)
- Pretzel sticks (arms)
Instructions
- Put 300 g finely crushed cookies in a large bowl (a food processor does it in seconds).
- Pour in the 50 g melted butter and stir well with a spoon so the butter coats the crumbs and the mixture smells buttery.
- Gradually add the sweetened condensed milk, a little at a time. Careful: every brand of cookie absorbs differently. Start with about 3/4 cup (200 ml) and stir.
- The mixture must be pliable, thick and hold together. If it crumbles, add more condensed milk. If it is too wet, add a little coconut. Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes; it is much easier to work with then.
- With your hands, roll the chilled mixture into balls in two sizes: larger for the body and smaller for the head.
- Roll each ball well in shredded coconut.
- Assemble the snowmen: gently press a smaller ball onto a larger one. If they do not stay together, use a drop of melted chocolate as glue.
- Press chocolate chips into the top ball as eyes and into the lower ball as buttons. Press a piece of apricot in for the nose.
- Tie a piece of gummy strip around the “neck” as a scarf and stick broken pretzel sticks into the sides as arms. Done!
Video Recipe
Tips for Perfect Coconut Snowman
- Sticky hands? If the mixture sticks to your hands while shaping, dampen your palms with cold water or dust them with powdered sugar.
- For adults. For a grown-up version, add a drop of rum or coconut liqueur to the mixture. The flavor will be much stronger.
- Pretzel arms. Add the pretzel sticks only just before serving; they soften quickly.
Easy Variations
- Raffaello style. Press a blanched almond into the center of each ball.
- Chocolate snowmen. Use chocolate sandwich-style crumbs or cocoa cookies; the snowmen will look “dirty” but taste excellent.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How long do coconut snowmen keep? In an airtight container in the refrigerator they keep for 5 to 7 days. Pretzel arms soften, so add them just before serving.
- Can I use different cookies? Yes. Any plain dry cookies without filling work: butter cookies, whole wheat cookies or ladyfingers. The key is to grind them to a fine crumb.
- What if the mixture is too sticky or too crumbly? If it is too wet, add a little more coconut or cookie crumbs. If it crumbles, add more condensed milk a spoonful at a time. Chilling for 30 minutes helps either way.
- Can I make them ahead for a Christmas party? Yes. Shape and coat the balls a day ahead and assemble and decorate the snowmen close to serving time.
- Are they safe for kids to make? Since there is no baking, children can roll and decorate. Watch for small decorations such as chips and candy, and check allergies, since the treats contain milk and often gluten and nuts depending on the cookies.
Store the snowmen in the refrigerator and take them out a few minutes before serving so they soften.
The recipe is based on a version by Fatto in Casa da Alba, adapted by the We Cook With Love team.
Enjoy! Try more recipes from our kitchen.
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