Church Window Cookies
Church window cookies are a classic no bake Christmas cookie made with mini marshmallows, chocolate, walnuts and shredded coconut!
The colored marshmallows look like stained glass window cookies!
These no bake stained glass window cookies are a family favorite! This is an easy to follow no bake Christmas recipe with only 5 ingredients, plus there’s a video tutorial!
Everyone has that cookie that they grew up making and eating during the holidays.
This one is my husband’s favorite from his childhood! It’s an old school, vintage Christmas cookie recipe! These cookies go by a few different names – cathedral window cookies, stained glass window cookies, window pane cookies.
I assumed that this was a pretty common Christmas cookie’ But I shared these with 3 different groups of friends in Illinois and no one had any idea what they were! Are these like a Minnesota thing? Haha.
Why You’ll Love Them
- easy to make with 5 ingredients
- only 10 minutes of hands on time
- perfect Christmas treat for the whole family to help make, especially kids!
- a vintage recipe that is fun to pass down from generation to generation
What are church windows?
This no bake cookie is a classic American Christmas dessert to make during the holidays!
It’s made by combining melted chocolate, mini marshmallows and walnuts. Use plastic wrap sprinkled with shredded coconut to roll the mixture into a log.
Place the log in the fridge for 1 hour to harden. Slice the no bake cookies with a sharp knife and you’ll see the beautiful stained glass effect from the mini colored marshmallows.
Ingredients
- unsalted butter
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- diced walnuts
- sweetened shredded coconut
- mini colored marshmallows
How to make church window cookies
Melt chocolate. In a small pot on the stove over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate chips, stirring frequently until smooth and melted. Allow the chocolate to cool for 5 minutes before moving forward.
Prepare rolling station. While the chocolate is cooling, prepare your ‘rolling’ station. Lay 2 pieces of long plastic wrap on a flat surface. Sprinkle each piece with a generous amount of shredded coconut, but reserve some.
Marshmallows and walnuts. Dump the mini marshmallows and chopped walnuts into a large mixing bowl. Pour the cooled chocolate over the marshmallows and mix well to combine.
Shape into log. Place half of the marshmallow mixture in a log shape on one piece of plastic wrap (on top of the coconut) and place the other half of the mixture on the second piece of plastic wrap.
Coconut. Sprinkle more coconut on top of the marshmallow mixture.
Roll into log. Use the plastic wrap (or wax paper) to roll the mixture into a uniform log shape, wrapping it tightly. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap and secure with a small piece of tape. Repeat with the second log.
Refrigerate. Place the logs in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Use a serrated knife to cut the logs into slices.
Coconut Substitute
If you are looking for a coconut substitute, here are a few ideas.
- Powdered sugar
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Powered sugar mixed with cocoa powder
- Crushed nuts
- Holiday sprinkles
Use any of these substitutes. Sprinkle them over the plastic wrap, or wax paper, then roll into a log.
Variations
Omit the nuts or use chopped pecans or almonds in place of the walnuts.
Omit the shredded coconut, and roll the log in powdered sugar or graham cracker crumbs.
Add 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter to the melted chocolate for a peanut butter chocolate version.
Add 1/2 tsp mint or peppermint extract for a minty flavor.
Use any flavor of marshmallows. You can even cut large marshmallows into smaller pieces like mini marshmallows.
Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk or dark chocolate chips.
Tips for Success
- Use low heat when melting the chocolate and butter and stir the mixture frequently
- Allow the chocolate to cool slightly before adding it to the marshmallows
- A single recipe will make 2 logs and and I recommend splitting it in half because it will be easier to roll
- Use plastic wrap or parchment paper to roll into a log
How to Store
Wrap the whole log in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 1 week. I would recommend not pre-slicing the cookies until you’re ready to serve them. If you want a longer storage option, see the section below.
How to freeze church window cookies
You can either freeze the log whole or cut into cookies and then freeze.
To freeze the log: wrap it well in plastic wrap and place in the freezer for up to 1 month. When you want to thaw, place the log in the fridge overnight.
To freeze individual cookie slices: use a serrated knife to slice the cookies then wrap bundles of 3-4 cookies in plastic wrap and place inside a ziplock freezer bag for up to 1 month. To thaw, place the bag in the fridge overnight.
Are church windows gluten free?
Yes! As long as the chocolate, marshmallows, and nuts you are using are gluten free.
More Christmas Treats
Church Window Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 stick unsalted butter, 1/2 cup
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips, 2 cups
- 1 cup finely diced walnuts
- 1 ½ cups sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 bag mini multi colored marshmallows, 10 oz
Instructions
- In a small pot on the stove over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate chips, stirring frequently until smooth and melted. Allow the chocolate to cool for 5 minutes before moving forward.
- While the chocolate is cooling, prepare your ‘rolling’ station. Lay 2 pieces of long plastic wrap (or wax paper) on a flat surface. Sprinkle each piece with a generous amount of shredded coconut, but reserve some.
- Dump the mini marshmallows and chopped walnuts into a large mixing bowl. Pour the cooled chocolate over the marshmallows and mix well to combine.
- Place half of the marshmallow mixture in a log shape on one piece of plastic wrap (on top of the coconut) and place the other half of the mixture on the second piece of plastic wrap.
- Sprinkle more coconut on top of the marshmallow mixture. Use the plastic wrap to roll the mixture into a uniform log shape, wrapping it tightly. Twist the ends of the plastic wrap and secure the a small piece of tape. Repeat with the second log.
- Place the logs in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. Use a serrated knife to cut the logs into slices.
I haven’t had church windows in a long time! My grandma used to make them every Christmas!
I definitely think it’s an old school cookie!
Thank you so much for this recipe. My grandmother use to make these every Christmas and we decided this year to go and look for the recipe! So glad I found it and can surprise my mom with this dessert this Christmas!
That will be so sweet!! Enjoy!
Kids of all ages will love these.
I don’t think it’s a “Minnesota” thing-I was born and raised in Minneapolis (still live there-came back just as soon as I could!) and I have never seen these! They look really neat!
Hahaa, okay, good to know!!!
These cookies are so pretty and everyone will love them!
My Mother In Law makes these! So fun! Kids love ’em!
I bet the kids would love these!
My aunt was the expert in making Church Window cookies. To make slicing easier, she would freeze the logs and then slice then as they were partially frozen. This made the slicing easier, and the cookies always looked perfect.
What a fun recipe!
I am so intrigued by these! The name is so clever and I think they are beautiful!
I remember eating these as a kid, haven’t had one in years.
Could you make them without nuts?
Yes, definitely!
How many cookies does this recipe make?
Hi Amanda! The recipe makes 2 large logs and it depends how you slice them, but I would estimate about 20-24.
Thanks! Never heard of these~! 12 year old daughter and I are going to make these today! Thanks! Can’t wait to try these!
Oh my goodness! I was looking for something totally different but ran across this recipe. My grandmother made them at Christmas time and I’ve been looking for the recipe for years. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
They are SO good! Enjoy!
We In the old wild far west, crawled out from our wagon train and actually found a stove and Fire! …lol
Back in them days, me mother made ‘CHURCH WINDOWS’. Probably an ‘Injun’ recipe. That was the turn of the century, so we caught up with Minnesotans! Love this sweet treat! For my whole life…Deep South WASHINGTON state!
Instead of coconut? Suggestions would be great. Can’t wait to try them.
you can also make and roll in finely ground graham crackers for the folks who don’t care for coconut.
I roll mine in powdered sugar (as my grandma did!)
Can these be frozen, and if so, before or after they are cut. Thank you
Hmmm.. I would say you could probably freeze the log before you slice them!
My mom always makes these, has for many years since I was young. (From WI) We call them Cathedral Cookies. Always a big favorite!
These recipes, make me want to bake for hours. They look so easy, especially the CHURCH WINDOWS! I just found these, but you can bet they will be on my list for next time I am baking!!
YUMMY!! 2017
I’ve lived in Massachusetts my whole life, and my mom makes these when she can find the colored mini-marshmallows. She’s from Nova Scotia, though. (Also she leaves out the nuts for us because why would you put a nut in a space that could be filled by chocolate?)
Hahaha, more chocolate the better!
I grew up in Michigan and my older sister made these at Christmas time. Over 40 years later, my 22-years old daughter makes them!!! So yummy and great to freeze for later use.
What am I doing wrong? First tried melting on low heat hot hard, I just tried double boiled on low heat . Says to stirred Occasionly.which I did and turning hard before the butt melts. ???? Help
These cookies are so adorable
Thank you Vivian!
I thought these were unique to our family! I’ve been making them for years. Got the recipe from my great-aunt, and it’s been in the family for at least 50 years. Looks like the same exact recipe, too.
Aw, I love that! Definitely a favorite in our home!
I like church windows. do you?
Oh, yes!
My mom always made these with Baker’s unsweetened chocolate. They were much richer flavored and more chocolaty but I can’t find the original recipe anywhere. Does anyone know it?
my mom used baker’s chocolate too!
I have her recipe, but I use this one now.
Mom’s called for raw egg and powdered sugar…..hold on…. I’ll go get her old recipe card….
Okay-
1 bar german chocolate
2 tsps butter
melt these together over very very low heat…?
in large bowl mix one egg, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tsp vanilla
add one bag of mini marshmallows..then pour chocolate mixture over it. mix well, shape into 2 logs, roll in coconut, wrap tightly and freeze.
slice and serve.
PS: I use an electric knife to slice one they are semi thawed, so much easier, doesn’t smash the log down from trying to slice it by hand,
I understand your frustration!
My mother’s recipe called for “1 bar Bakers German chocolate” , 1 cup confectioners sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 bag colored mini marshmallows, 1/2 c. chopped nuts, and shredded sweetened coconut.
The problem with these older recipes that call for a “bar” of chocolate or a “bag” (or part of a bag) of an ingredient is package sizes have changed considerably over the past 15-20 years. For example, all of the Bakers chocolate bars are smaller now. This makes using old recipes that don’t provide weight or volume ingredient measurements difficult to recreate.
Hi
Could I replace the nuts with Rice Krispies? Our daughter has peanut, nut, soy and seed allergies.
Yes, that’s a great idea Lynn!
It’s a Michigan thing too! My mom made these every Christmas. But I can no longer find colored mini marshmallows that aren’t fruit flavored anymore ! Yuck! It ruins it!
This is also a very Canadian thing. My Mom made these every Christmas. We just called them “Marshmallow Log” but I know other Canadians who call them Church Windows.
Made these with my grandmother back in the 60’s in Nebraska. Just was thinking about them & googled for the recipe. Will definitely be making these for the grandkids this week.
My Grandmother always made these too! Going to make them this year. She omitted the nuts and would roll 1 in coconut and the other in crushed graham crackers .
could you use ground or finely chopped nuts instead of coconut My grand daughter is allergic to it
Yes, that’s a good alternative!
My husband’s grandmother had this recipe; however, she called them cathedral windows. Also, didn’t use coconut or walnuts – instead rolled them in powdered sugar.
I made these for my kids till they married and had kids of their own. Then I made these for my grandkids. I lost the recipe a few years ago but made them this year with your recipe that looks exactly like mine. Thank you so much and God bless ♥️
These are one of our family’s favorite treats that we make over and over! Choc, marshmallows and coconut, how can you go wrong?! Delicious every time and so easy!
I have made something similar for years. No nuts, but maraschino cherries were a must! I lost my recipe but this is close so I’ll try these. Thanks!
My boys don’t like shredded coconut. Can I leave it out inthis recipe ? Or substitute with smth else ?
You can omit the coconut and wrap the log using parchment or wax paper. It might be a little messier, but the chocolate will set!
can i leave out the shredded coconut ? will it affect the outcome of the cookies ?
Yes you can omit the coconut. Others have suggested rolling in powdered sugar or crushed graham cracker crumbs. Or you can just omit the coconut and roll it into a log using parchment paper and wait for it to get hard in the fridge before slicing.
I made these per recipe and they tasted great.
My mother used to make these cookies too but 1 in our family didn’t like coconut nor Graham crackers so for this person, the log was rolled in crushed vanilla wafers. They tasted great too!
Could you make them into balls and roll into coconut ?
Oh I love that idea!
My grandma made these when I was little. She called them Cathedral Windows. She used German Chocolate. I make them now with my grandkids, they love them! This is the first time I have seen them posted.
Childhood favourite, my mom added maraschino cherries. Going to make this year.
J’ai une recette semblable que je fais quelques fois par année et c’est un gagnant chaque fois … Merci je vais faire celle ci et je suis certaine que tous les invités vont adorés
Thanks for posting the recipe. Used to make these every Christmas. Haven’t made them for a couple of years. I grew up with these and we used powdered sugar instead of coconut. I’m in Minnesota and weade these as kids too.
It’s easier using wax paper instead of plastic wrap, in my opinion.
I am from the South and have made these since the 70’s. They are delicious and so easy to make.