Recipes » Desserts

No-Bake Stained Glass Cookies with Marshmallows (Church Window Cookies)

4.80 from 73 votes
ByMadison Wetherill | Joyfully Mad Updated:
43 Comments

Also called Church Window Cookies, No Bake Stained Glass Cookies are made with melted butter and chocolate chips plus colorful mini marshmallows. The mixture is rolled into logs and sliced into one-inch thick cookies. This quick recipe makes enough for a crowd so this recipe is perfect for all of your holiday gatherings!

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Dark gray stone plate with one inch thick stained glass window cookies.
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Stained Glass Cookies with Marshmallows

Christmas cookies are such a family tradition for so many people because they just aren't something you make any other time of year.

There are so many varieties of special holiday-time cookies that people make that are different from your basic chocolate chip cookie you may enjoy any time of year.

Whether it's using flavors like peppermint or ginger during the holidays or cookies made in special shapes, Christmas cookies are just unique and usually nostalgic!

These Stained Glass Window Cookies are totally those cookies for me. Biting into these soft, chocolate-covered NO-BAKE cookies instantly floods me with memories of visiting my grandparents every Christmas season and shamelessly enjoying a few Stained Glass Window Cookies.

Dark gray stone plate with one inch thick stained glass window cookies, bright colored mini marshmallows and covered in chocolate.

Why you'll love this recipe

Also called Church Window Cookies, these cookies are sure to be a holiday favorite for you!

  • They look like pretty church stained-glass windows!
  • With no baking involved, these cookies are incredibly simple to make. The hardest part is waiting for them to chill!
  • Kids will love these fun marshmallow cookies.

Ingredients

I remember growing up wondering what kind of magic made these cookies SO good. Well... That magic?

Butter. Chocolate. Marshmallows. That's it!

To make these cookies taste the best, use high-quality unsalted butter like Kerrygold and quality chocolate chips like Ghirardelli.

For the marshmallows, make sure to stock up on pastel-colored mini marshmallows. These are what give them their stained-glass look and distinct flavor. You can find them with the regular mini-marshmallows in grocery stores or Amazon has them as well.

If you love marshmallows, you'll love these Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies, too!

Dark gray stone plate with one inch thick stained glass window cookies.

Variations & Substitutions

You totally could experiment here to make these yours.

  • Use dark chocolate chips for a deeper flavor.
  • Stir 1 tablespoon of peanut butter into the chocolate.
  • Add ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract to the chocolate.
  • For a vegan option, use vegan chocolate chips and colored vegan marshmallows. (Here are some top brands.)
  • Roll the chocolate logs in shredded coconut, graham cracker crumbs or or finely chopped peanuts.

I'm going to stand as a Stained Glass Window Cookie purist here, simply because THIS is the way I grew up eating these.

But if you try something different, please comment and let me know! I'd love to hear how it went.

A female hand holding a cookie with colored marshmallows and chocolate.
Step by step grid of the process of making stained glass window cookies.

How to Make Stained Glass Window Cookies

These cookies are so easy. You're not going to believe how simple they are to put together. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool and set!

  1. Add ½ cup unsalted butter to a saucepan on low heat. Melt butter until almost melted.
  2. Add in chocolate chips and stir to melt the chocolate. Stir until smooth.
  3. Remove from heat and let cool until it's cool enough to touch, but hasn't hardened.
  4. After the chocolate has cooled, pour in colored mini marshmallows and stir until completely coated.
  5. Form into a log using wax paper and refrigerate until solid. Slice and serve!
Step by step grid of the process of making stained glass window cookies.

How to Roll Stained Glass Window Cookies

Making the cookies into a roll isn't hard, but it is tricky the first time. After this, you'll be a pro. Here's what I do to get the perfect roll every time.

  1. Cut out three pieces of wax paper, 10-12 inches long. Remove the roll from the box (you can put it back later!) .
  2. Lay one piece of wax paper into box.
  3. Pour the chocolate-covered marshmallow mixture into the box, leaving about 2 inches on each end.
  4. Take the wax paper sheet out of the box and wrap up the log, twisting the ends of the wax paper like hard candy. This prevents air from getting into the wraps.
  5. Refrigerate until solid. If you are in a pinch, you can also freeze to solidify the chocolate.
  6. Slice the log into ½-inch slices and serve immediately or refrigerate until later!

Tips & Tricks

While these no bake Christmas cookies are ridiculously easy to make, there are a handful of things to remember:

Use low heat. There is nothing worse than burning the chocolate. (You can also melt the chocolate and butter together in the microwave in 30-second intervals.)

Wait for the chocolate to cool. The chocolate must be COOL before adding the marshmallows. You should be able to stick your finger into the chocolate, but it isn't cooled and hardened.

Use colored mini marshmallows for the full effect. White marshmallows might be fine in a pinch, but you'd lose the pretty stained glass effect.

Dark gray stone plate with one inch thick stained glass window cookies.

Chilling Stained Glass Window Cookies

These cookies do require a bit of chill time, but depending on where you live, you may not need the full eight hours.

The chocolate-covered, marshmallow-filled logs just need to be firm enough that you can cut them in slices.

Storage Tips

If you need to store these to enjoy later, slice the log first, then rewrap in wax paper, place in a zip-top bag or storage container and refrigerate.

More holiday cookie recipes

This recipe is a part of The Sweetest Season virtual cookie exchange, hosted by my good friend, Erin, of The Speckled Palate! You can find out all about the exchange here as well as find out how we are raising money for the nonprofit Cookies for Kids' Cancer.

Ready to learn how to make these beauties yourself? Scroll down for the recipe!

Hey, you! If you make this recipe or want to, would you leave a comment with a rating below? It would mean the world to me!

No Bake Stained Glass Window Cookies are made with melted butter butter and chocolate chips plus colorful mini marshmallows. The mixture is rolled into logs and sliced into one inch thick cookies. This quick recipes makes enough for a crowd so this recipe is perfect for all of your holiday gatherings!?

No-Bake Stained Glass Cookies

No Bake Stained Glass Window Cookies are made with melted butter butter and chocolate chips plus colorful mini marshmallows. The mixture is rolled into logs and sliced into one inch thick cookies. This quick recipes makes enough for a crowd so this recipe is perfect for all of your holiday gatherings!
4.80 from 73 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 3 dozen
Author: Madison | A Joyfully Mad Kitchen

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 10 ounces colored mini marshmallows

Video

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, melt ½ cup of unsalted butter on low heat.
  • Once butter is almost melted, add 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips to pan. Use a spatula or wooden spoon to combine butter and chocolate. Stir occasionally to ensure chocolate does not burn.
  • Remove pan from heat and allow to cool enough to place your finger in the melted chocolate, but chocolate has not solidified.
  • Stir in mini marshmallows until completed coated in chocolate.
  • Separate chocolate mixture onto two sheets of wax paper.
  • Use wax paper to form the mixture into a log shape. Pro tip: you can also use the wax paper box to help form the log's shape.
  • Place logs on baking sheet and refrigerate for 8 hours.
  • Remove from fridge and use a sharp knife to slice logs into ½ inch to 1 inch thick slices.
  • Serve immediately or put back in fridge until serving.

Notes

If your chocolate solidifies, just put it back on low heat until it melts again and then let cool once again.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 8mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g

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43 Comments

  2. 5 stars
    I have tried to make these cookies in the past but had a hard time shaping the log. I love your suggestion of shaping the log on wax paper in the box. Now I can't wait to make them this year.

    Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  4. Thank you for the ideal of using the box to make the logs. that has been the hardest part for me. I'm not a cook. but these were a childhood favorite. our neighbor made them.

    Reply

  5. OMGoodness I had more of a mess in my kitchen than I do making turkey dinner..
    Hope they turn out.. In fridge.. More than total 10minutes..

    Reply

  6. I made these for my kids last weekend. Not only did the kids enjoy them but the cookies were easy enough even I could make them!

    Reply

  7. It's the first time that I heard this Stained Glass Window Cookie recipe so I gave it a try! It was easy and fun to make with the kids. Only a few ingredients and that's it! Thank you!

    Reply

  8. I recently tried making these no-bake stained glass cookies with marshmallows, and they turned out absolutely delightful! I prepared a batch for our get-together, and my guests couldn't get enough of them. The cookies were not only sweet but also incredibly colorful, making them a real treat for the eyes and taste buds. What's more, the entire process of making them was so much fun! I'm already looking forward to making these again in the future!

    Reply

  9. We make this recipe EVERY holiday season and always get compliments on it. They're so fun to make and festive on a platter.

    Reply

  10. I love these no bake cookies because they're so easy but eye-catching. Everyone always asks me about them when I serve them to guests or bring them to parties!

    Reply

  11. I love making these. My only variation is adding 1 cup finely chopped nuts. Usually walnuts. So good with the crunch.

    Reply

    1. Yes! My grandmother does that every year 🙂 You can slice them frozen and let them come to room temp.

      Reply

  15. When I make these, I add one tsp. Of almond extract to the chocolate, and one cup of rice krispies to the marshmallows for some extra crunch!

    Reply

  16. My mother made these every year, but she used German Sweet Chocolate, added finely chopped nuts & rolled them in graham cracker crumbs. They are definitely yummy or why bother, but they are also very pretty & brighten any cookie plate. Happy Holidays & stay safe & healthy everyone.

    Reply

    1. Rolling them in graham cracker crumbs sounds delightful! This recipe comes from my grandmother, so it's always a favorite of ours 🙂

      Reply

    1. Amazon does have some, but not sure about shipping times at this point! You can use white marshmallows too 🙂

      Reply

    2. Not sure where you live but if there's a Dollar General or Family Dollar where you are, I found the colored marshmallows at both of those stores this past Sunday for just $1 per bag. Good luck and Merry Christmas! 🙂

      Reply

    3. The colored marshmallows are mostly a Canadian thing. I grab a bunch whenever we go back. They are extremely inexpensive and are fruity flavored, so white marshmallows will not be the same but probably still good.

      Reply

  18. Mom made these every year and sadly, now that she is nearly 90 yrs young, she doesnt really remember them. I am making them now for Valentines Day! Making some for her and other special people and we always coated the outside with powdered sugar. Added chopped pecans to the mix too before forming the log. I still have friends from many years ago ask about these cookies.

    Reply

    1. I love those variations! I never thought of making them for Valentines day but that is definitely a fun treat. This recipe comes from my grandparents so it must have been something in their time that they enjoyed with family 🙂

      Reply
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  20. The pictures you took make the cookies look so good! Like you suggested, I've tried these rolled in coconut and absolutely love them 🙂 So easy and yummy!

    Reply

      1. Mhmmm!! They're one of my favorites. I honestly forgot about them until I saw your post and it reminded me that I need to make them again soon. SO GOOD!

        Reply

  21. I love a good no bake cookie, though I've never tried something like your Stained Glass Window Cookies before. Clearly, it's time to fix that because these sound yummy and because I know a little helper (and a big one, too, for that matter) in my house would looooooooove them. Nicely done, lady! And I cannot stop watching the video!

    Reply
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  23. These seriously look like so much fun to make! I bet they would be a hit at a cookie exchange or Christmas party.

    Reply

    1. Mine were about the length of the wax paper wrap! Anything from 8-12 inches or so should be manageable. It won't change the integrity of the treats though!

      Reply