Recipes and Cooking Chocolaty Melting Snowmen 3.8 (487) 13 Reviews How cute are these chocolaty melting snowmen cookies? Better yet, these Christmas cookies are easy to make, too--no rolling pin needed, and the frosting is simply melted vanilla-flavored candy coating. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on October 23, 2012 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 50 mins Bake Time: 9 mins Total Time: 59 mins Servings: 4 Yield: 20 cookies Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients ½ cup shortening ½ cup peanut butter ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ⅛ teaspoon baking soda 1 egg 3 tablespoon milk ½ teaspoon vanilla ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour 10 jumbo marshmallows (optional) 1 pound vanilla-flavored candy coating, coarsely chopped 20 bite-size chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped Brown and orange sprinkles or other candies and/or tinted frosting Directions Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, milk, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the cocoa powder and as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Shape dough into twenty 1 3/4-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are just firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Place cooled cookies on prepared baking sheet. If desired, cut marshmallows in half crosswise and place one half on each cookie. In a medium microwave-safe bowl microwave candy coating on 50% power for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds. Spoon melted coating over each cookie to cover cookie and resemble melted snow. While coating is still tacky, add a peanut butter cup for a top hat and decorate with sprinkles or other candies to resemble snowman faces (If using frosting to make snowman faces, add it when the candy coating is dry.) Let stand until set. Jason Donnelly Note: Dough may be shaped into balls and then frozen until solid on parchment- or foil-lined cookie sheets. When frozen, transfer balls to an airtight container; cover. Store in the freezer. When ready to bake, arrange frozen balls on cookie sheets and bake as directed for 12 to 14 minutes. To Store: Place cookies in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze undecorated cookies for up to 3 months. Thaw if frozen. Decorate cookies before serving. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 315 Calories 17g Fat 38g Carbs 3g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 315 % Daily Value * Total Fat 17g 22% Saturated Fat 9g 45% Cholesterol 10mg 3% Sodium 101mg 4% Total Carbohydrate 38g 14% Total Sugars 28g Protein 3g Calcium 40.4mg 3% Iron 0.9mg 5% Potassium 51mg 1% Folate, total 20.2mcg Vitamin B-12 0.1mcg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.