Food tastes better when it has a face

Kirsten Nunez
February 06, 2018

If there’s one thing that coffee snobs and tea gurus can agree on, it’s that a piping cup of hot cocoa is a good thing. How can anyone say no to drinkable chocolate? And when you’re all about getting in the holiday spirit, making homemade snowman marshmallows might be exactly what you need. This charming idea is an easy way to spruce up your drink with a seasonal vibe. And it's super cheap to make: Each cheery marshmallow will only set you back a few pennies unlike the Free People version—sold for five bucks a pop—that inspired this project.

The secret lies within a few tubes of decorating icing from the baking section of craft and grocery stores. Typically, this ingredient is used to adorn baked goods like cakes and cookies. But who says marshmallows can’t get in on the fun? This festive creation is a major upgrade from the mini marshmallows typically stowed away in packets of instant hot chocolate. You can also use it to top off a homemade mocha or latte. It’s a foolproof way to make family and friends smile.

If you’re up to the challenge, use icing in different colors to personalize each marshmallow. Make the different faces, make the eyes really big and weird—it's up to you. 

Snowman Marshmallows

kirsten nunez

Yields: 2 snowmen per 1 marshmallow
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes 


Jumbo marshmallows
Confectioners’ sugar
Black and orange decorating icing or gel (squeeze tubes with tip)


Wax paper

Chill the marshmallows in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Once firm, roll the marshmallows in between the palms of your hands to encourage a round, cylindrical shape.

Sprinkle confectioners' sugar on to the knife. Slice down the middle of a marshmallow, width wise.

Tip: Press the knife into the marshmallow. Rotate your wrist outward so the knife pushes against one half of the marshmallow, making it tear slightly. Repeat this process of pressing and pushing until you have two separate pieces. Don’t forget to firmly grip the rest of the marshmallow with your other hand—and watch your fingers.

Dust the sticky side of each half with confectioners’ sugar. 

Place the marshmallow halves on wax paper dusted with more confectioners' sugar.

Using the black decorating icing, make two dots for eyes.

Tip: For a crisp and clear dot, don’t let the tip of the tube touch the marshmallow. Give the tube a quick squeeze and quickly move away. Practice on scrap wax paper before doing the real thing.

Along the bottom, add black dots to create the mouth.

Create a carrot-shaped nose with the orange icing. Mid-squeeze, move your hand outward to create a pointed tip. Remember, lift your hand quickly to create a cleaner breaking point.

Add a snowman or two to a cup of hot cocoa. Marshmallows can be stored in an air-tight sealed container in the refrigerator.

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