Snowman Hot Chocolate Toppers

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These snowman hot chocolate toppers might be one of my favorite little Christmas treats. They’re made with jumbo marshmallows and pretzel sticks, and the finished snowmen actually perch right on the edge of your mug!

They’re also ridiculously simple. You only need marshmallows, pretzels, toothpicks, and a couple of tubes of cookie icing to make them. Add one to a warm mug of hot chocolate and you have a really cute Christmas treat without having to bake anything.

And yes, the pretzel legs hanging over the side of the mug are definitely my favorite part.

Marshmallow Snowmen for Hot Chocolate

I’ve seen plenty of marshmallow snowmen floating in hot chocolate, but I wanted these guys to look like they were sitting on the edge of the mug.

Each snowman is made with three jumbo marshmallows connected with toothpicks. Broken pretzel sticks become the arms and legs, and a little cookie icing is all you need for the face and buttons.

They’re cute enough for a Christmas party, but easy enough that you could make a few for a Christmas movie night or an afternoon of decorating cookies with the kids.

What You’ll Need

You’ll need:

• 15 jumbo marshmallows
• 10 toothpicks
• 10 pretzel sticks
• Orange cookie icing
• Black cookie icing

This makes five snowmen, so you’ll need three jumbo marshmallows for each one.

You’ll also want your favorite hot chocolate for serving. Homemade is great, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with using a packet of hot cocoa here. The snowman is clearly the star of the show.

How to Make Snowman Hot Chocolate Toppers

Start by connecting three jumbo marshmallows with toothpicks to create the snowman’s head and body.

Next, break two pretzel sticks in half. Press one piece into each side of the middle marshmallow for his arms, then add two pieces to the bottom marshmallow for his legs.

Now you get to give him a little personality.

Use black cookie icing to add two eyes, a smile, and buttons down the front. Then use the orange icing to make a small triangle-shaped carrot nose.

Repeat with the remaining marshmallows until you have five snowmen.

Perch Your Snowman on the Mug

This is what makes these so much fun.

Instead of dropping the marshmallow snowman into the hot chocolate, position him so he’s sitting on the rim of the mug with his pretzel legs hanging over the edge.

He’ll look like he’s just hanging out and enjoying a cup of cocoa with you.

Eventually, of course, the marshmallows can go into the hot chocolate. That’s half the fun.

A Few Tips

• Be gentle when pushing the toothpicks and pretzels into the marshmallows so you don’t tear them.
• If you’re making these ahead of time, wait until the icing has had a chance to set before moving them around too much. That will help keep your snowmen’s faces from getting smudged.
• You’ll also want to choose a mug with a fairly standard rim. Since the snowman needs to balance against the edge, an unusually thick mug may make him a little harder to position.
• And since these contain toothpicks, make sure they’re removed before anyone eats the marshmallows, especially when you’re serving these to kids.

Perfect for a Christmas Hot Chocolate Bar

These would be adorable set out with a Christmas hot chocolate bar.

You could make the snowmen ahead of time and put them on a platter next to the mugs. Everyone can make their hot chocolate, add their favorite toppings, and then grab a snowman to perch on top.

Add bowls of mini marshmallows, whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and candy canes and you’ve got an easy Christmas activity that doubles as dessert.

They’re also a fun surprise to make for the kids on a cold December afternoon. Sometimes it’s the really simple Christmas things that they get the biggest kick out of.

Snowman Hot Chocolate Toppers FAQs

Can I make the marshmallow snowmen ahead of time?

Yes. You can put the snowmen together ahead of time and keep them in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve them. Make sure the icing has completely set before storing them so you don’t smudge their little faces.

How do you get the snowman to sit on the mug?

The bottom marshmallow rests against the rim of the mug while the pretzel legs hang over the side. You may need to adjust the position slightly depending on the shape and thickness of your mug. I found that a pretty standard coffee mug works best.

Can I put the marshmallow snowman directly into the hot chocolate?

Absolutely! Perching him on the edge is what makes these so cute, but eventually you can remove the toothpicks and add the marshmallows right to your hot chocolate.

What can I use instead of cookie icing?

You could use melted chocolate for the eyes, mouth, and buttons. For the carrot nose, orange candy melts or a small amount of orange-tinted melted white chocolate would work, too. Cookie icing is just the easiest option because you can draw the details straight from the tube.

Can kids make these hot chocolate toppers?

These would be a really fun Christmas activity for older kids. Younger kids can help decorate the snowmen, but an adult should handle the toothpicks and make sure they’re removed before the marshmallows are eaten.

What kind of marshmallows work best?

Use jumbo marshmallows rather than regular mini marshmallows. They’re large enough to create the three sections of the snowman’s body and give you plenty of room to draw the face and buttons.

More Christmas Hot Chocolate Ideas

For another cozy Christmas drink, try my Gingerbread Hot Chocolate. It has those warm gingerbread spices that are especially good on a cold December night, and one of these little marshmallow snowmen would be adorable perched on top.

My Peppermint Hot Cocoa in a Jar is a fun one to make for the holidays, too. You can keep it at home for an easy cup of cocoa or put the mix together in jars for a simple homemade Christmas gift.

If you’re planning a Christmas movie night, don’t miss my Grinch Hot Chocolate. It’s bright green and loaded with fun toppings, making it an especially cute drink to serve while watching the Grinch.

These snowman hot chocolate toppers are such a cute way to make a regular cup of cocoa feel a little more festive for Christmas. I love that they’re simple enough to make in about 15 minutes, but the little snowmen sitting on the edge of the mugs look like you put in way more effort. Make a few for a Christmas movie night, add them to a hot chocolate bar, or surprise the kids with them after a cold afternoon outside.

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