For a holiday party or your homemade cookie tray, be sure to add these Starbucks Snowman Cookies, a copycat recipe of your favorite winter coffeehouse treat!
We’ve all been there; we’re grabbing a coffee and next thing you know, you’ve ordered a cookie alongside your java. The rumble in your tummy is calling for a sweet bite, so you go for the snowman-shaped sugar cookie!
Starbucks is known for their adorable snowmen cookies during the holiday season, but did you know you can make your own at home? Well, you absolutely can! Make Starbucks Snowman Cookies for a holiday party, Christmas Eve, or for enjoying with a cup of coffee anytime of year.
Cutting Perfect Sugar Cookies
Using cookie cutters is a fun way to make themed cookies. However, in order to get crisp lines on your cookies, you need to ensure a few things first. For that professional look, follow these tips.
First, your dough must be very cold upon entering the oven. Once the dough is chilled and the cookies are cut, you may want to place the whole baking sheet into the fridge before the cookies go in the oven. The cold from the fridge helps the butter stay firm. Firm butter equals perfectly-shaped cookies.
If you bake room temperature dough, the edges will soften and expand in the oven, leaving a less-than-perfect shape in the end result. If you fear your cookies are becoming too warm before baking, simply stick them back in the fridge for about 20 minutes before baking.
The Scoop on Icing
Either homemade or store-bought royal icing works on these cookies. We’re here for a tender, flavorful cookie with a gorgeous design. Both store-bought and homemade royal icing will give you that result.
Royal icing is used here because it becomes firm at room temperature. This means once the icing hardens, you can stack, store, and eat these cookies without messy frosting getting everywhere!
Ingredients in Starbucks Snowman Cookies
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these tender, delightful cookies!
- 2¼ cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 ½ sticks of butter, softened
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- Icing:
- 1 pouch cookie icing in white
- Orange food dye
- 1 pouch cookie icing in red
- 1 pouch cookie icing in black
How to Make Starbucks Snowman Cookies
To a sifter fitted over a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt. Sift together to eliminate any lumps. Set aside.
In another large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy using a hand mixer.
Once light and fluffy, add the egg and mix to combine fully, then add the vanilla.
Carefully and slowly, add the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing only until no dry flour remains. Do not overmix.
Dump the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap. It will be crumbly, but form the crumbles into a mound. Wrap tightly and place the cookie dough in the fridge for 30-45 minutes until very firm.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Divide your dough into two equal portions. Place the second portion back in the fridge. On a well-floured board or countertop, roll out your dough to ¼-inch thickness. Be sure the dough is evenly rolled.
Flour your snowman cookie cutter and punch out your snowman shapes. Add each cookie to the lined baking sheets, making sure to not overcrowd the sheets.
Place the first cookie sheet back into the fridge while you repeat the same steps with the second portion of dough.
Bake for 12 minutes in a preheated oven.
Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing the Cookies
When ready to decorate the cookies, add 1 tablespoon of white icing into a small bowl. Add a drop of orange food coloring and mix with a toothpick. Set aside.
Ice each cookie with a coat of white and allow it to dry. Use a toothpick to spread the white icing if needed. This will create a smooth base.
Then, create the eyes, mouth, and buttons with the black icing. Next, create the hat and scarf with the red dye. Create the orange nose as a final touch.
Allow the icing to harden before serving.
Notes/Tips/Troubleshooting:
The cookie dough will be very crumbly, but do not be tempted to add water or liquid to the dough! As the dough sits in the fridge, it will come together.
Feel free to add lemon zest or almond extract to add a little something extra to your cookies!
Storage:
Store the baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
The dough can be frozen after placing it in plastic wrap and before baking. Freeze for up to 6 months. Simply remove from the freezer and chill the dough in the fridge the night before using.
Nutritional Facts:
Calories: 169
Total fat: 9.2g
Saturated fat: 5g
Cholesterol: 31g
Sodium: 67mg
Total Carbohydrate: 18.9g
Fiber: 0.4g
Sugars: 4.7g
Protein: 2g
Vitamin D: 6mcg
Calcium: 12mg
Iron: 1mg
Potassium: 39mg
FAQ
Yes, feel free to use this same recipe for any sugar cookie shape you need!
Keep the dough cold for as long as possible before baking. You can even place your cut cookies back into the fridge to set their shape before baking.
You certainly can make your own icing, but nope! This recipe calls for premade cookie icing to make it that much easier.
No, unfortunately these cookies are not gluten-free. Try this recipe with gluten-free flour and let us know how it goes!
Yes, you can use equal amounts of either in this recipe.
Other Recipes You’ll Love!
PrintStarbucks Snowman Cookie (Copycat Recipe)
Get festive with these adorable and tasty copycat Starbucks Snowman Cookies, a copycat recipe of your favorite festive cookie from your local coffee shop!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rest Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 12 minutes
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Icing:
- 1 pouch cookie icing in white
- Orange food dye
- 1 pouch cookie icing in red
- 1 pouch cookie icing in black
Instructions
- To a sifter fitted over a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt. Sift together to eliminate any lumps. Set aside.
- In another large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy using a hand mixer.Â
- Once light and fluffy, add the egg and mix to combine fully, then add the vanilla.
- Carefully and slowly, add the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing only until no dry flour remains. Do not overmix.
- Dump the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap. It will be crumbly, but form the crumbles into a mound. Wrap tightly and place the cookie dough in the fridge for 30-45 minutes until very firm.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Divide your dough into two equal portions. Place the second portion back in the fridge. On a well-floured board or countertop, roll out your dough to ¼-inch thickness. Be sure the dough is evenly rolled.
- Flour your snowman cookie cutter and punch out your snowman shapes. Add each cookie to the lined baking sheets, making sure to not overcrowd the sheets.Â
- Place the first cookie sheet back into the fridge while you repeat the same steps with the second portion of dough.Â
- Bake for 12 minutes in a preheated oven.
- Remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- When ready to decorate the cookies, add 1 tablespoon of white icing into a small bowl. Add a drop of orange food coloring and mix with a toothpick. Set aside.
- Ice each cookie with a coat of white and allow it to dry. Use a toothpick to spread the white icing if needed. This will create a smooth base.
- Then, create the eyes, mouth, and buttons with the black icing. Next, create the hat and scarf with the red dye. Create the orange nose as a final touch.
- Allow the icing to harden before serving.
Notes
The cookie dough will be very crumbly, but do not be tempted to add water or liquid to the dough! As the dough sits in the fridge, it will come together.
Feel free to add lemon zest or almond extract to add a little something extra to your cookies!
Nutrition Facts
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 169
- Sugar: 4.7g
- Sodium: 67mg
- Fat: 9.2g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 18.9
- Fiber: 0.4g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 31g
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