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Home » Recipes » Cookies

Holly Cookies

Nov 20, 2022 · Leave a Comment

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Three holly cookies on a round dessert plate with text overlay, "Holly Cookies, Easy & Gluten Free."

These festive Holly Cookies are an easy addition to your holiday dessert platter, or Christmas cookie tray. The bright green cookies topped with red candies look like pieces of holly.

Three holly cookies on a stack of two dessert plates with more cookies and coffee pot in the background.
Jump to:
  • Why this Recipe Works
  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • Are Marshmallows Gluten Free?
  • How to Make Holly Cookies
  • Step By Step Instructions
  • More Gluten Free Christmas Cookie Recipes
  • Recipe Tips
  • More Gluten Free Holiday Recipes
  • Recipe

Just like crispy rice treats, these no-bake cookies are loved by kids and adults. The sweet combination of corn flakes, butter, and marshmallows is hard to resist.

Some people like to shape these cookies into wreaths, but I prefer the quicker method of dropping the mixture in mounds. I use a tablespoon from my flatware to scoop out the coated cornflakes and another tablespoon to push the mixture onto the parchment paper.

If you’re not a fan of marshmallows, but still want an easy cookie recipe for the holidays, try my Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms. Like these cornflake cookies, the blossom cookies are a favorite in my family.

Why this Recipe Works

  • These no-bake cookies only need 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare.
  • The butter adds flavor and keeps the cookies from getting too firm.
  • Using cereal makes them super easy to make.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Labeled ingredients for holly cookies on counter.

This recipe uses large marshmallows, butter, food coloring, corn flakes, and red candies. These common ingredients are probably in your kitchen or pantry right now.

Are Marshmallows Gluten Free?

Most marshmallows found in your local grocery store are gluten free, but be sure to check the ingredients. For these cookies I used gluten free Kraft Jet-Puffed marshmallows.

How to Make Holly Cookies

  1. Melt butter and marshmallows and stir until smooth.
  2. Stir in drops of green food coloring.
  3. Add corn flakes and stir until well coated.
  4. Drop mounds of corn flake mixture on parchment paper and decorate with red candies.
  5. Cool until cookies are set.
  6. Serve and enjoy!

Step By Step Instructions

(For ingredient amounts see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.)

Line your cookie sheets or countertop with parchment paper.

In a double boiler, over medium heat, melt the butter and marshmallows.

Melting butter, marshmallows, and a wooden spoon in a large saucepan.

Stir with a wooden spoon until completely melted and smooth. Reduce heat to low.

Add a few drops of green food color to the marshmallow mixture and stir to combine. Add additional food color to achieve the desired color.

A wooden spoon and green colored marshmallow mixture for making holly cookies in large saucepan.

Pour corn flakes into the marshmallow mixture and stir until completely coated.

A wooden spoon stirring corn flakes into melted butter and marshmallow mixture.

Use a large tablespoon to drop the mixture in mounds onto the parchment paper. Immediately add red cinnamon candies to the center of each cookie before they cool and become set.

Holly cookies and red candies scattered on a parchment lined counter.

Allow the cookies to cool and set up before serving.

You can make these festive cookies ahead of time. They will stay fresh, stored in an airtight container, for 3-4 days. Once the cookies are cooled and set, you can stack them, and they won’t stick together.

More Gluten Free Christmas Cookie Recipes

  • Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
  • Molasses Cookies
  • Peppermint Meltaway Cookies
  • Easy Butter Cookies

Recipe Tips

  • Using a double boiler prevents the butter and marshmallows from burning. It also allows you to keep the cookie mixture warm while you scoop out individual mounds and add the candies. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make one. Simply place a heat proof bowl over a saucepan partially filled with simmering water.
  • Add the red candies immediately after scooping the mixture onto the parchment paper. If the mixture cools and sets up, the candies won’t stick. I keep the candies in a little bowl, so they are ready to be quickly added to the cookies.
  • If you don’t have parchment paper, foil or waxed paper will also work.
A round white platter with holly cookies sitting on a red and white striped kitchen towel.

During the holiday season, I have a tough time keeping these festive cookies in stock. Friends and family can’t get enough of them. They’re perfect for cookie exchanges or to simply add color to any Christmas dessert platter.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy recipe to add to your holiday celebrations, give these no bake cookies a try. I know you’ll be making them again and again!

More Gluten Free Holiday Recipes

  • Cranberry Coffee Cake
  • Festive Holiday Almond Puff
  • Ginger Snaps
  • Pumpkin Bars
  • Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on the blog, don't forget to leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below.  I really enjoy hearing from you!

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Recipe

Three holly cookies on a small round plate.

Holly Cookies

Connie @ Flavor Walk
These festive, no-bake Holly Cookies, are an easy addition to your holiday dessert platter, or Christmas cookie tray.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 10 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 18 cookies
Calories 102 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 30 large marshmallows
  • green food color
  • 3 ½ cups corn flakes
  • red candies for decorating

Instructions
 

  • Line cookie sheets or countertop with parchment paper or foil.
  • In a double boiler, over medium heat, melt butter and marshmallows. Stir with a wooden spoon until completely melted and smooth. Reduce heat to low.
  • Add a few drops of green food color to the marshmallow mixture and stir to combine. Add additional food color to achieve the desired color.
  • Pour corn flakes into the marshmallow mixture and stir until completely coated.
  • Use a large tablespoon to drop the mixture in mounds onto the parchment paper or foil. Immediately add 3 red candies to the center of each cookie before they cool and become set.
  • Allow the holly cookies to cool and set up before serving or storing.

Notes

  • Using a double boiler prevents the butter and marshmallows from burning. It also allows you to keep the cookie mixture warm while you scoop out individual mounds and add the candies. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make one. Simply place a heat proof bowl over a saucepan partially filled with simmering water.
  • Add the red candies immediately after scooping the mixture onto the parchment paper. If the mixture cools and sets up, the candies won’t stick. I keep the candies in a little bowl, so they are ready to be quickly added to the cookies.
  • If you don’t have parchment paper, foil or waxed paper will also work.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 102kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 255IUVitamin C: 1.2mgCalcium: 2mgIron: 1.6mg

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information provided is an estimate and will vary based on products and brands you use. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the ingredients you are using with your preferred nutrition calculator.

This post was originally published in 2019. It was republished in 2022 with updated images, additional text and tips.

More Cookie Recipes

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies
  • Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies
  • No Bake Cookie Dough Bites
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars (Gluten Free)

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Connie of Flavorwalk Food BlogWelcome to Flavor Walk. I'm Connie the author of this blog where I share gluten-free, simple and easy recipes that add flavor to life. Spend a little time, explore, and you may find some flavor to add to your life, too.
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