These Snow Globe Cookies are such a fun and festive Christmas treat! They start with a delicious almond cookie base and are decorated with colorful candies, frosting, and a clear plastic half-ornament that creates the cutest little snow globe scene. While you can’t shake them like a real snow globe, they’re just as charming and so much fun to make!
In this post, I’ll show you how to make Snow Globe Cookies step by step. They’re surprisingly easy to put together, and you can have so much fun creating different little Christmas scenes inside each one. These festive cookies are perfect for holiday parties, Christmas cookie exchanges, or giving as homemade gifts!
What Makes These Snow Globe Cookies Special?
- Adorable Christmas Design: The clear plastic half-ornaments create little snow globe scenes filled with colorful Christmas candies and snowy decorations.
- Delicious Almond Cookie Base: These buttery, flaky almond cookies taste wonderful and are sturdy enough to hold all the festive decorations.
- Easy to Make: You don’t need any fancy decorating skills to make these cookies. Just a little creativity and some fun Christmas candies!
Ingredients and Supplies for Snow Globe Cookies
- Almond Cookie Base: My homemade almond cookies make a delicious, sturdy base for the snow globes. You can also use your favorite sugar cookie recipe.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: The frosting adds a delicious creamy layer and helps hold the decorations and clear domes in place.
- Clear Plastic Half-Ornaments: These create the adorable snow globe effect. You can find them at craft stores or online.
- Edible Christmas Decorations: Use colorful sprinkles, mini gingerbread men, candy Christmas trees, or other small edible decorations to create your winter scenes.
- White Sugar Pearls or Sprinkles: These add a pretty snowy effect around your Christmas decorations.
Note: The clear plastic ornaments are for decoration only and should be removed before eating the cookies.
Where to Find Snow Globe Cookie Decorations
One of my favorite parts of making these cookies was picking out all the tiny Christmas decorations! I found some adorable Santa faces, candy canes, Christmas trees, and colorful sprinkles that are perfect for creating little holiday scenes.
I’ve gathered my favorite candies and decorating supplies in my Amazon Christmas Baking Shop so you can easily find everything you need to make your own Snow Globe Cookies.
How to Make Snow Globe Cookies
Step 1: Bake the Almond Cookies
Roll the almond cookie dough into balls using about ⅛ cup of dough for each cookie. Place them on a baking sheet, leaving enough space between each one since they will spread while baking.
Bake for 12–15 minutes, then allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
Prepare the cream cheese frosting according to the recipe. This creamy frosting adds a delicious layer to the cookies and acts as the glue that holds your Christmas candies and decorations in place.
Step 3: Decorate the Cookies
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Spread a layer of cream cheese frosting over each cooled cookie to create a snowy base. While the frosting is still soft, arrange your favorite edible Christmas decorations on top. Tiny snowmen, Santas, Christmas trees, and snowflakes are perfect for creating adorable little winter scenes!
Small tip: Keep the decorations toward the center of each cookie so there’s enough room around the edges to attach the clear plastic dome in the next step.
Step 4: Add the Finishing Touches
For a little extra detail, add small sprigs of fresh rosemary to resemble miniature Christmas trees. The natural green color looks so pretty against the white frosting! Sprinkle a few white sugar pearls around your decorations to create the look of freshly fallen snow.
Step 5: Attach the Snow Globe
Carefully place the clear plastic half-ornament over your decorated cookie, making sure all the candies fit comfortably inside. Gently press the edges of the dome into the frosting to help hold it in place. Allow the frosting to firm up before moving the finished cookies.
Important: The plastic domes are decorative and must be removed before eating the cookies.
Snow Globe Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Almond Cookie
- 1 cup vegetable shortening (Crisco)
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 tsp Almond Extract
- 2 cups Flour
- Pinch of Salt
- ¼ tsp Cream of Tartar
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
Frosting
- 1½ cup cream cheese, softened
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 4½ cups powedered sugar
- 1½ tsp almond extract
Instructions
Cookie
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and almond extract, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, cream of tartar, and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture.
- Shape the dough into balls using approximately ⅛ cup of dough per cookie. Place them on an ungreased baking sheet, leaving room for spreading.
- Bake for 12–15 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and allow them to cool completely before decorating.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar, about ½ cup at a time, mixing on low speed until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Add the almond extract and mix until the frosting is smooth.
Assemble the Snow Globe Cookies
- Spread cream cheese frosting over each completely cooled cookie to create a snowy base.
- Arrange small edible Christmas decorations, such as Santas, candy canes, and Christmas trees, in the frosting.
- Add white sugar pearls or sprinkles to resemble snow. You can also use small, clean sprigs of rosemary for miniature Christmas trees.
- Carefully position a clear plastic half-ornament over the decorations. Gently press the rim into the frosting to help secure it.
- Allow the frosting to firm up before carefully moving the cookies. Remove the plastic domes before serving or eating.
Notes
Nutrition
Easy Shortcuts for Making Snow Globe Cookies
If you’re short on time, there are a few ways to make these Christmas cookies even easier! You can still create adorable little snow globes without making everything from scratch.
- Use Store-Bought Cookies: Skip the baking and use sturdy sugar cookies that are large enough to hold your plastic domes.
- Try Ready-Made Frosting: Save time with store-bought frosting that’s thick enough to hold your decorations in place.
- Buy Edible Decorations: Look for miniature Santas, candy canes, Christmas trees, and snowflake sprinkles instead of making your own.
- Prepare Ahead: Bake your cookies a day or two in advance and gather all your decorating supplies before assembling them.
Tips for Making Snow Globe Cookies
Here are a few helpful tips to make your snow globe cookies turn out just right!
- Test Your Cookie Size: Bake one cookie first to make sure it’s large enough to fit the clear ornament dome. The cookie should extend slightly beyond the edges of the dome.
- Secure the Snow Globe: Use a thick layer of frosting around the edge of the ornament to help keep it in place.
- Make Your Own Decorations: If you enjoy working with fondant, try making tiny snowmen, Christmas presents, or miniature stars to personalize your cookies.
- Create Different Christmas Scenes: Have fun arranging your decorations! Each cookie can have its own little winter scene.
- Add Baker’s Twine: If your plastic half-ornaments have a small hanger, you can carefully remove it or tie on a little baker’s twine for a decorative touch.
Frequently Asked Questions About Snow Globe Cookies
Can I make Snow Globe Cookies ahead of time?
Yes! You can bake the almond cookies a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container. I recommend waiting until closer to serving time to add the frosting, candies, and clear plastic domes.
Can I use store-bought sugar cookies?
Absolutely! If you’re short on time, store-bought sugar cookies are a great shortcut. Just make sure they’re sturdy and large enough to accommodate the clear plastic half-ornaments.
How do I store Snow Globe Cookies?
Since these cookies are decorated with cream cheese frosting, they should be stored in the refrigerator. Keep them in a covered container and handle them carefully so the decorations stay in place. Refrigeration may cause some condensation inside the plastic domes.
Can I use different candies inside the snow globes?
Of course! That’s one of the most enjoyable parts of making these cookies. Try miniature Santas, snowflakes, Christmas trees, candy canes, or colorful sprinkles. Just make sure the decorations fit comfortably beneath the clear dome.
Are the snow globe domes edible?
No, the clear plastic half-ornaments are for decoration only. Always remove the domes before eating the cookies. Make sure your guests know they’re not edible, especially when serving these treats to children.
More Creative Christmas Treats to Make
I love baking traditional Christmas cookies, but sometimes it’s fun to try something a little different! If you enjoy making festive treats that are just as cute as they are delicious, here are a few more holiday recipes you might love.
I had so much fun making these little Snow Globe Cookies! There’s something so cute about creating tiny Christmas scenes with candies and sprinkles. I hope you give them a try this holiday season and have just as much fun decorating them as I did!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy Christmas baking!
Cheers,
Photo Credits: MyPhotography.com
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Debra
So clever and adorable! Going to look for appropriate adornments to make these for Hanukkah! Thank you for your endless creativity.