Cookie Dough Snowman Truffles

One day, the little hands that help decorate Christmas treats won’t be quite so little. Until then, there’s something lovely about slowing down, making a sweet mess, and giving these tiny snowmen their smiles.

These cookie dough snowman truffles have a soft chocolate-chip cookie dough center, a vanilla candy shell, and the cutest little faces. They’re a cheerful addition to a Christmas dessert tray—and decorating them can become its own small holiday tradition.

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Why You’ll Love These Snowman Truffles

• No baking required: Use ready-to-eat flour or labeled edible cookie dough.
• Simple decorations: Chocolate dots and orange sprinkles turn each truffle into a snowman face.
• Easy to prepare ahead: Chill the finished treats until you’re ready to serve.
• A fun family activity: Prepare the dough and coating, then let everyone add a little personality.

Recipe at a Glance

Yield: About 24 truffles
Prep and decorating: About 45 minutes
Chilling and setting: About 60 minutes
Total: About 1 hour 45 minutes
Equipment: Mixing bowl, electric mixer or sturdy spoon, small cookie scoop, parchment-lined tray, microwave-safe bowl, fork, piping bag or small zip-top bag.

Ingredients

For the Edible Cookie Dough

• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup (100 g) packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon fine salt
• 1½ cups (180 g) commercially heat-treated all-purpose flour specifically labeled ready to eat
• 1–2 tablespoons milk, as needed
• ½ cup (85 g) miniature chocolate chips

For the Coating and Snowman Faces

• 16 ounces (454 g) white vanilla candy melts or white candy coating
• ¼ cup (43 g) semisweet chocolate chips, melted
• About 24 orange carrot-shaped sprinkles or short orange jimmies
• Optional: miniature chocolate sandwich cookies and chocolate chips for hats

Flour matters: This dough contains no eggs, but ordinary raw flour still isn’t suitable for eating uncooked. Use flour explicitly labeled ready to eat; a generic “heat-treated” label alone may not mean it is suitable. The FDA advises against trying to heat-treat flour at home. If suitable flour is unavailable, use about 24 ounces (680 g) of store-bought chocolate-chip cookie dough labeled safe to eat raw instead of making the filling. Follow its storage instructions.

How to Make Cookie Dough Snowman Truffles

1. Mix the Cookie Dough

Beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes, until creamy. Mix in the vanilla and salt.

Add the ready-to-eat flour and mix just until combined. Start with 1 tablespoon of milk, adding the second only if necessary. The dough should hold together when squeezed and feel soft enough to roll, without being sticky. Fold in the miniature chocolate chips.

2. Roll and Chill

Scoop approximately 1 tablespoon of dough per truffle and roll into smooth balls. Place on a parchment-lined tray. You should have about 24, depending on the size of your scoop.

Refrigerate for 30–45 minutes, until firm. If the dough is too soft to roll initially, chill it for 10–15 minutes first.

3. Melt the Candy Coating

Melt the white candy coating according to its package directions. Stir well between short microwave intervals and avoid overheating. Keep the bowl and utensils completely dry.

If the coating needs thinning, use only the shortening, oil, or thinning product recommended on the package. Do not stir in milk or water.

4. Dip the Truffles

Working with a few chilled balls at a time, lower each into the melted coating. Lift it out with a fork, gently tap off the excess, and slide it onto the parchment.

Add an orange sprinkle nose while the coating is still wet. Let the shell become firm before piping the chocolate details. Keep any remaining dough balls refrigerated between batches.

5. Give Them Their Smiles

Spoon melted semisweet chocolate into a piping bag with a tiny opening. Pipe two dots for eyes and a curved row of small dots for the mouth on the upper-facing side of each truffle.

For optional hats, attach a chocolate chip to a miniature chocolate sandwich cookie with a dab of melted coating, then secure the hat to the top of the truffle. The faces are lovely without hats, too.

6. Let Them Set

Refrigerate for about 15 minutes, or until the coating and decorations are firm. Arrange on a serving plate and keep chilled until shortly before serving.

Tips for Pretty Snowman Truffles

• Use miniature chips. They make the dough easier to roll and give every bite a little chocolate.
• Chill, but don’t freeze solid before dipping. A very cold center can make the shell more prone to cracking as it warms.
• Keep the faces simple. Two eyes, a nose, and a dotted smile are all you need.
• Let the shell set before piping. Chocolate details slide around on wet coating.
• Use a small scoop. Similar-sized truffles look especially cute together on a platter.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Store the finished truffles in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or follow any shorter ingredient-label guidance. Separate stacked layers with parchment.

For longer storage, freeze the undecorated dough balls in an airtight container for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator before dipping and decorating. Finished truffles can also be frozen, although the coating may develop condensation and the decorations may lose their crisp appearance.

If serving these at a party, bring out a small batch at a time. Keep refrigerated treats at room temperature for no longer than 2 hours, or 1 hour in temperatures above 90°F (32°C).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular refrigerated cookie dough?

Only if the package explicitly says it is safe to eat raw. Cookie dough intended solely for baking isn’t a substitute for edible cookie dough.

Can I use white chocolate instead of candy melts?

Yes, but real white chocolate behaves differently and may need tempering for a firm shell at room temperature. White candy coating is the simpler option for this recipe. Follow the melting instructions for whichever product you use.

Why is my dough crumbly?

Flour brands and measuring methods vary. Mix in milk 1 teaspoon at a time until the dough holds together. Avoid adding enough to make it sticky.

Why did my coating crack?

Temperature differences can contribute to cracking. Use chilled dough rather than frozen-solid centers, and let excessively hot coating cool slightly before dipping.

Are these snowman heads or full snowmen?

This recipe makes single round truffles decorated as snowman faces. They’re easier to dip, decorate, and serve than stacked snowmen.

A Sweet Little Christmas Tradition

Set out the sprinkles, give each snowman a smile, and leave room for a few imperfect ones. Those are often the ones everyone remembers.