• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Work with Me
  • Contact
  • Homemade Cookie Cakes

Design Eat Repeat

Food Crafting, Free Printables, Recipes, Paper Crafting, Graphic Design and more!

Display Search Bar
  • All Recipes
  • Cookies & Bars
  • Cakes & Cupcakes
  • Breads & Muffins
  • Copycat Recipes

Easy Decorated Snowman Cookies

Share
Comments 1
Updated:January 2, 2022
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. This won’t change your price but will share some commission.
Jump to RecipeRate this Recipe

No fancy decorating needed with these adorable & super EASY decorated snowman cookies! Use your favorite cut out sugar cookie recipe, white icing, and some mini M&M’s to create the cutest snowman faces!

decorated snowman cookie with M&M face

These decorated snowman cookies are an easy way to get into the holiday spirit & bake with the kids! They’re cute, they taste great, and they’re simple enough for even young bakers. If you like making decorated Christmas cookies but don’t like all the fancy decorating, these are for you. Let’s get started!

Materials for Decorated Snowman Cookies:

  1. Cut out sugar cookie dough (recipe below): homemade or premade Pillsbury works just fine!
  2. White cookie icing (recipe below) or buttercream frosting (you can also use canned or for a super quick icing, check out how to make icing with icing sugar and water.
  3. Miniature M&M’s
  4. White sanding sugar (optional)
  5. Round cookie cutter (or glass cup): I used a 2.5″ circle. No snowman cookie cutter needed!
bowl of mini M&M's

How to Make Easy Snowman Sugar Cookies

Step 1: Roll Out Dough & Bake

Roll out your sugar cookie dough to about 3/8-1/2″ thickness and use your round cookie cutter (or a glass) to cut circles in the dough. (3/8″ is my purple ring on the Best Rolling Pin for Sugar Cookies.)

Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake according to recipe instructions (my cut-out sugar cookie recipe is below!).

Tip: Since these are circle cookies & it’s fine if they spread a little, there’s no need to chill the dough!

bowl of sugar cookie dough

Step 2: Frost or Ice Cookie

After cookies are fully cooled, spread, pipe, or dip your cookies into white icing or frosting. For a smooth finish like shown in the photos, you can use the simple powdered sugar and water icing included in the recipe below and then dip the tops (allow the excess to drip off before flipping back over). For a fluffier frosting, try my buttercream Christmas Cookie Frosting.

Tip: Pop any air bubbles with a toothpick or fork. You want to do this right away or else the frosting will harden.

hand dipping top of sugar cookie into white icing

Step 3: Add M&M faces

Have an adult cut 12 brown mini M&M’s in half to create the smiling mouth. To decorate the snowman faces, press on 2 brown M&M’s for the eyes, 1 sideways orange M&M for the carrot nose, 2 red M&M’s for the rosy cheeks, and then finish it off with the half brown M&M. If desired, you can add 2 green M&M’s to a blank cookie to create a button body.

For an added touch, once faces have been added, sprinkle on a small amount of white sanding sugar.

Note: If you’re using the powdered sugar icing in the recipe below, you need to work fast and press the candy M&M’s into the icing right after icing the cookie. Because the icing hardens fast, waiting too long will create cracks in the icing when you press on the candy.

decorated snowman cookie with M&M face

Step 4: Enjoy!

Let the iced snowman cookies sit for 1-2 hours to completely harden. Store in an airtight container or serve on a holiday cookie platter and wait for everyone to tell you how adorable your decorated snowman cookies are!

6 decorated snowman cookies on wire cooling rack

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these without M&M’s?

If you don’t have mini M&M’s you can use mini chocolate chips and then pipe on the orange nose with icing (they also make cute carrot sprinkles!). If you don’t have chocolate chips, you could decorate the entire face using piped frosting (but if doing this, I recommend using a buttercream or traditional royal icing because this quick icing won’t hold it’s shape well).

Easy Decorated Snowman Cookies

No fancy decorating needed with these adorable & super EASY decorated snowman cookies! Use your favorite cut out sugar cookie recipe, white icing, and some mini M&M’s to create the cutest snowman faces!

Author: Melissa Rose
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Dessert
Category: Cookies
Keyword: decorated snowman cookies
Servings: 12 Cookies (Makes 1/2 cup icing)
Print this Recipe
5 from 1 vote
Did you make this recipe?
Leave us a review

Ingredients

  • Cut Out Sugar Cookie Dough
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons water (luke-warm) can also use milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt optional, see notes

Toppings

  • Miniature M&M’s
  • White sanding sugar  optional

Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.

Instructions

  1. Cut sugar cookie dough into circles, bake according to recipe instructions, and let cool.

  2. To make icing, combine powdered sugar, water, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl. Mix until smooth.

  3. Add more water or powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency. If using a piping bag, about 2 tablespoons of water is best (you want the icing to be about the consistency of pancake batter). If dipping or drizzling the icing, 3 tablespoons of water will likely be needed. See notes below for storing and freezing notes.

  4. To decorate, immediate press M&M's into wet icing.

    Have an adult cut 12 brown mini M&M’s in half to create the smiling mouth. To decorate the snowman faces, press on 2 brown M&M’s for the eyes, 1 sideways orange M&M for the carrot nose, 2 red M&M’s for the rosy cheeks, and then finish it off with the half brown M&M. If desired, you can add 2 green M&M’s to a blank cookie to create a button body.

    For an added touch, once faces have been added, sprinkle on a small amount of white sanding sugar.

Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.

Recipe Notes

  • Work Quickly: If you’re using the powdered sugar icing in the recipe below, you need to work fast and press the candy M&M’s into the icing right after icing the cookie. Because the icing hardens fast, waiting too long will create cracks in the icing when you press on the candy.

  • Storage: Store in an airtight container for 2-3 days. 

  • Freezing: While this quick icing does freeze, it does get a bit sticky upon thawing. If you plan to freeze the iced cookies, wait until they are hardened and then layer between pieces of parchment. When it’s time to serve, remove from freezer and immediately lay the cookies in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Again, note that the icing will likely have moisture and be a bit sticky. If you plan to freeze your cookies, I’d recommend using my buttercream Christmas Cookie Frosting instead.
  • Salt: while this is naturally a sweet icing, you can mix in 1/8 teaspoon salt to cut the sweetness.

Decorating Tips:

  • Consistency for Drizzling: If you are using it to drizzle over brownies, cookies, bundt cakes, or quick breads then you will want it a bit thinner (closer to 2 tablespoons of water)
  • For Dipping Sugar Cookies: For dipping, you want it to have a thinner consistency (closer to 3 tablespoons of water)
  • For Piping or Spreading on Sugar Cookies: For decorating sugar cookies, you will want it a bit thicker like pancake batter so that it doesn’t run off the cookies (closer to 2 tablespoons of water).

Nutrition

Calories: 234kcal
Fat: 9g
Saturated fat: 6g
Trans fat: 1g
Polyunsaturated fat: 1g
Monounsaturated fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 33mg
Sodium: 79mg
Potassium: 50mg
Carbohydrates: 37g
Fiber: 1g
Sugar: 24g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin A: 281%
Calcium: 18%
Iron: 1%
Did you make this?
Tag me on Instagram @designeatrepeat or leave a comment below to let me know how it turned out! I love seeing what you’ve made.
  • Easy Christmas Tree Cookies
  • 5 Must-Try Christmas Cookie Recipes
  • Sugar Cookie Icing Without Corn Syrup (4 Recipes)
Previous Post
The BEST Frosted Banana Bars
Next Post
Frosted Sugar Cookie Cake

Reader Interactions

1 Comment

  1. Betty says

    11/13/2021 at 7:14 pm

    5 stars
    Love how easy these are!! definitely making with the grandkids this Christmas.

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome

I’m Melissa - a Graphic Designer & Paper Crafter creating easy-to-assemble printables, party DIY's, and food crafts for family fun.
Read More...

Freebies Delivered

Free Baking e-club

Trending Now

Fudgy Cosmic Brownie Cookies

Fudgy Cosmic Brownie Cookies

Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf

7 Easy Decorated Cookies for Easter

7 Easy Decorated Cookies for Easter

Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars

The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread

The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread

30 Minute Homemade Soft Pretzels

30 Minute Homemade Soft Pretzels

Favorites

Chewy M&M Cookie Cake

Chewy M&M Cookie Cake

The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread

The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread

Quick 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Quick 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe

Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe

Copycat Panera Chocolate Chip Cookies

Copycat Panera Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Best White Wedding Cupcakes

The Best White Wedding Cupcakes

Trending Recipes

The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread

The Ultimate Moist Banana Bread

Quick 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Quick 1 Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe

Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe

Homemade Cheese Crackers

Homemade Cheese Crackers

Free Monthly Baking Challenge
Join Now!
Back to Top

Footer

Melissa is a graphic designer & craft stylist living in the Midwest, specializing in easy food and paper crafts for holidays, parties, and everyday.
Read More
  • Contact
  • Image Usage Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms
  • Contact
  • About
  • Free Printables
  • Work with Me
Copyright © 2023 Design Eat Repeat Site Credits Designed by Me Developed by Once Coupled