Pin to Board My daughter pressed her nose against the kitchen window one December morning, watching the snow pile up outside, and suddenly decided we needed edible snowmen before lunch. I had some crushed Oreos sitting in the pantry from another project, cream cheese ready to go, and exactly the kind of chaotic energy that turns midday baking into something neither of us would forget. Two hours later, our kitchen smelled like white chocolate and possibility, and we had little snowmen lined up like they were waiting for their own adventure.
I brought these to a winter book club once, completely unprepared for how they'd become the main event instead of the snacks. One friend spent fifteen minutes just photographing them before eating one, and another insisted on learning the recipe on the spot because she wanted to make them for her office party. Something about watching someone's face light up when they realize these tiny snowmen are actually delicious does something to your heart.
Ingredients
- Oreo cookies: 36 cookies give you enough dough to roll and stack, and honestly, this is the whole flavor foundation—use the regular ones, not the double-stuffed or weird flavors, because you want that classic chocolate-and-cream taste to shine through.
- Cream cheese: 180 g softened is crucial because cold cream cheese will fight you when you're mixing; let it sit on the counter for thirty minutes and your arms will thank you.
- White chocolate or candy melts: 350 g melts smoother than regular chocolate and sets faster, which matters when you're racing against tacky coatings.
- Mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel: Use whichever you have on hand for eyes and buttons, but the gel gives you more control if you care about symmetry.
- Orange sprinkle or colored icing: This tiny detail actually makes them look like real snowmen instead of just white blobs with dots.
- Pretzel sticks or colored fondant: Pretzels are easier and taste better, but fondant lets you get creative with scarves if you're in that mood.
- Lollipop sticks: These are what hold everything together literally and emotionally.
Instructions
- Crush the Oreos until they're fine crumbs:
- A food processor makes this take thirty seconds, but if you don't have one, throw them in a zip-top bag and lean into it with a rolling pin—honestly kind of therapeutic. You want the texture between sand and powder, nothing chunky left behind.
- Mix the dough until it's completely smooth:
- Combine your crushed Oreos with softened cream cheese in a bowl and stir until there are no dark streaks, just a uniform gray-black mixture that holds together. This usually takes a couple of minutes of patient mixing.
- Roll your snowman body parts:
- Make 32 smaller balls around the size of a grape and 16 slightly larger ones around the size of a ping-pong ball. Set them on parchment as you go, and don't worry if they're not perfect—snowmen are bumpy anyway.
- Stack and stick:
- Press one small ball on top of each large ball and gently push a lollipop stick straight through the middle of both, so it goes all the way to the bottom. Place them upright on a parchment-lined baking sheet and pop the whole thing into the freezer.
- Chill for 20 to 30 minutes:
- This step is non-negotiable because you need them firm enough that they won't slide off the stick when you dip them. You'll know they're ready when they don't give much when you poke them.
- Melt the white chocolate slowly:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate in 30-second bursts, stirring between each one until it's completely smooth. Overheating makes it thick and grainy, so patience here actually matters.
- Dip each snowman into the white coating:
- Hold the stick and rotate the snowman slowly in the melted chocolate, letting the excess drip off, then place it upright in a styrofoam block or even a tall coffee mug. The first few will feel awkward, but you'll find your rhythm.
- Decorate while the coating is still slightly tacky:
- This is when you add the eyes and buttons—if you wait until it's completely set, they won't stick as well. Use your chocolate chips, gel, and orange sprinkles to bring each snowman to life.
- Add the finishing touches:
- Once the white chocolate has set, push pretzel stick arms into the sides, and if you're using fondant scarves, wrap or drape them around the neck. Let everything set for another ten minutes before moving them around.
Pin to Board There's something magic about turning humble Oreos and cream cheese into something delightful enough to make people smile. My daughter now requests these every December, and I've stopped trying to make fancier things because nothing beats watching someone's face when they realize a tiny cake pop is their favorite thing they've eaten all winter.
Making Them Look Picture-Perfect
The decoration step is where personality happens. You can make them all identical and formal, or you can give each one a different expression and outfit, which honestly is more fun. I've learned that uneven eyes actually make them cuter—one slightly higher than the other gives them character, like they're surprised to exist.
Storing and Serving
These keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to five days in an airtight container, which means you can make them a few days before your party without stress. They also travel well, don't melt immediately at room temperature because of the white chocolate coating, and somehow taste better when they're cold.
Variations and Creativity
Once you understand the basic structure, there's so much room to play. You can tint the fondant scarves different colors, use different sprinkles for noses, or even make them in different sizes depending on what you're doing.
- Try adding a tiny ball of different colored fondant to one side of each snowman's head like a winter hat for extra charm.
- If you want to make them ahead, you can freeze the completed, decorated snowmen for up to a week in a freezer-safe container.
- For a shortcut, skip the pretzel arms and just draw on scarves with food-safe edible markers instead.
Pin to Board These little cake pops carry a lot of joy for something so small. Make them, share them, and watch people remember why winter treats matter so much more than just being food.
Common Questions
- → How do I crush Oreo cookies without a food processor?
Place Oreos in a sealed plastic bag and crush them using a rolling pin or a heavy object until finely ground.
- → What is the best way to melt white chocolate smoothly?
Melt white chocolate in short bursts in the microwave, stirring frequently to prevent burning and ensure smoothness.
- → Can I prepare these snowmen in advance?
Yes, after assembling and coating, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- → How do I decorate the snowmen’s faces and arms?
Use mini chocolate chips or black decorating gel for eyes and buttons, orange icing or sprinkles for the noses, and pretzel sticks or fondant for arms and scarves.
- → What should I do if the dough is too soft to shape?
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for a short time to firm it up before shaping.