Snowman Cookies are soft and chewy, rolled in sugar, with a burst of sweetness in every bite. Which is why these soft sugar cookies are a favorite recipe.
Who doesn’t love a snowman? I sure do, the whimsical playful expressions and top hats are sure to create some magic.

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This recipe is truly fantastic. It’s a light and fluffy cookie that is crispy on the outside and chewy soft on the inside. Doesn’t that sound great?
No need to over bake these cookies, just follow the directions and you will be enjoying the best sugar cookie recipe you’ve ever tasted.
This recipe is adapted from my Circus Animal Cookies made with a Funfetti Cookie recipe. The small batch makes 24-36 cookies depending on the size scoop used.
For Snowman Cookies I prefer to use a small cookie scoop size #60. I’ll explain more about that below.

Do you want to build a snowman?
These fun cookies can be made as a single cookie of a snowman head or a double cookie and adding the head and body. There are a few ‘extra’ ingredients needed to make these look amazing and I have a few substitutions too.
Shopping List
This recipe calls for standard ingredients of flour, eggs, Vanilla Extract, baking soda and Cream of Tartar.
- Fats: Use a combination of fats including Butter and Vegetable Oil to create a cookie that is soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- Sugars: White granulated sugar as well as powdered sugar are used in this recipe
- Vanilla Candy Melts: Used for the face as well as the bodies of each snowman
- Wilton Snowman Candy – I found these in the Holiday Baking Section and it includes black candy balls used to eyeballs and buttons and orange candy carrots. Use black and orange frosting as a substitute
- Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter cups for the top hats of each Snowman
How to make Snowman Cookie Recipe
Step 1: Start by mixing room temperature butter with white sugar until light and creamy either in a stand mixer or by using a hand mixer in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Add Vegetable Oil and powdered sugar and creaming the butter mixture together. This will take a minute or two to come together.
Step 3: Mix in Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda as well as Vanilla Extract and add the egg. Mix all ingredients to combine. Try Almond Extract as a substitute.
Step 4: Gradually add flour to mixture and mix well. Add flour 1 cup at a time.
Step 5: Using a small cookie scoop, scoop dough and roll in sugar in medium bowl. Then carefully place of baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 6: Bake cookies for 7-9 minutes. Cookies are done when edges barely turn golden. Do not over bake
How to Decorate Cookies
Step 7: Immediately out of the oven place 1 vanilla candy melt in the center of each cookie for the Snowman Face. Allow candy melt to sit on cookie for 1-3 minutes.

Step 8: Once candy melt and melted drop 2 black candy balls for eyes on face and 1 orange candy carrot for the snowman nose. Black and Orange frosting can also be used as substitution.
Step 9: Slice mini Reese's peanut butter cups in half and place on top as a Top Hat. It's best if a portion of the peanut butter cup touches the melted candy. Once cooled it will stick to the cookie

Step10: Allow cookies to completely cool before serving
Children love Snowmen and adults love to enjoy a themed cookie. It just makes them smile and remember a happy place of long ago.
Take the opportunity to indulge yourself while making these Snowman Holiday Cookies, I bet you will find yourself smiling and the personalities that comes from these cookies.
Pro Tip
Making a snowman head with body is super easy, let me help you. I used a small cookie scoop and rolled 2 balls into sugar. Place dough on cookie sheet next to each other touching. This allows the cookies to spread and stick together.
Once baked, place vanilla candy melt on top for the face and on the body to represent the belly of the snowman adding candy for the eyes and buttons or use black frosting.
This is a great recipe that also tastes great too.

Substitutions
- Vanilla Extra ~ Almond Extract
- Black Candy ~ Black frosting
- Carrot Candy ~ Orange Frosting
- Vanilla Candy Melt ~ White Frosting
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How to Freeze Cookies
Allow cookies to fully cool and place cookies in a sealed container placing parchment paper between layers.
Christmas Cookies
Making Christmas Cookies has always been a tradition in my home. I love these small batch recipes that make about 24 cookies.
They are quick and easy enough to make a couple batches in no time. Make sure to check out my Eggnog Cookies or a Christmas Cookie recipe made with a cake mix. Both recipes are favorites
Another favorite is a soft and chewy Ginger Snap Cookie recipe. Try dipping into white chocolate and sprinkle with holiday sprinkles too. They are not only fun but beyond tasty too.

This recipe is apart of Christmas Cookie Week so make sure to check out these fellow bloggers who are sharing some incredible Christmas cookies.
Tuesday Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Andes Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jen Around the World
- Cappuccino Swirl Butter Cookies from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Chai Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Frosting from Blogghetti
- Chocolate Chunk Cherry Oatmeal Cookies from Christmas Tree Lane
- Cream Cheese Sprinkle Cookies from Shockingly Delicious
- Gluten-Free Brownie Cookies from Family Around the Table
- Gluten-Free Peppermint Meltaways from Frugal & Fit
- Hot Cocoa Cookies from Magical Ingredients
- Nana's Molasses Cookies from Daily Dish Recipes
- Oatmeal Pecan Cookies from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Peanut Butter Brownie Bombs from Palatable Pastime
- Snowman Cookies from Devour Dinner
Snowman Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Butter Softened
- ½ Cup Sugar
- ¼ Cup Vegetable Oil
- ½ Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Egg
- ½ teaspoon Cream of Tartar
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cup Flour
Decorations
- Mini Reeses Peanut Butter cups
- Black Candy Eyes
- Orange Candy Nose
- Vanilla Candy Wafers
Instructions
- Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees
- Cream Butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. About 2 minutes
- Add Vegetable Oil and powdered sugar and creaming the butter mixture together. This will take a minute or two to come together.
- Mix in Cream of Tartar and Baking Soda as well as Vanilla Extract and add the egg. Mix all ingredients to combine.
- Gradually add flour to mixture and mix well. Add flour 1 cup at a time.
- Using a small cookie scoop, scoop dough and roll in sugar in medium bowl. Then carefully place of baking sheets with parchment paper
- Bake cookies for 7-9 minutes. Cookies are done when edges barely turn golden. Do not over bake
- Immediately out of the oven place a round vanilla candy wafer in the center of each cookie. The heat from the cookie will melt the wafer.
- Place 2 black round balls for eyes and 1 orange candy nose while candy melt is still melted. As it cools it will harden.
- Cut Mini Reeses Peanut Butter cups in half and place on head as a top hat
- Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 2 minutes before moving to cooling rack.
- Cookies need to completely cool before storing.
Christie
Oh my goodness! These cookies are super cute. What a fun cookie for a an exchange or a party.
Radha
Gorgeous! Perfection! My kids love the idea of this cookie! Love these delicious cookies!
Colleen - Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck
So, I know that I said these were my favorite cookie of the day...but honestly, they are probably my favorite cookie of the week! They look like something I would like to eat...plus they are just so adorable!!! Great recipe!!!
Lisa Kerhin
These snowmen cookies are just so cute!
Emily
These are too cute! My daughter would love these! These are so sweet and delicious, and a great winter time cookie!
Dorothy Reinhold
The clear winner of the cutest cookie! I bet the are delicious too!
Terri Steffes
These are simply adorable. How fun would it be to find these in your swap box!