Church Window Cookies: Easy & Colorful No-Bake Treats

If you’re on the hunt for a nostalgic, colorful treat that’s surprisingly easy to make, you’re in luck! This Church Window Cookies Recipe is one of those delightful classics that instantly brings back memories and never fails to impress guests. I absolutely love how these cookies come together with marshmallows, chocolate, and coconut—such a fun, chewy, and sweet combo that almost looks like stained glass when sliced. If you’ve never tried them before, stick with me because I’m going to share everything you need to make them just right!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy to Make: You don’t need fancy equipment or baking skills—just simple mixing and chilling.
Kid-Friendly Fun: The colorful marshmallows make these cookies as visually appealing as they are tasty for little ones.
Perfect Make-Ahead Treat: They set in the fridge, so you can prepare them ahead of time for parties or holidays.
Classic Retro Appeal: These cookies bring a lovely vintage vibe that’s always a hit at gatherings.

The image shows small round sweets arranged in a neat grid on a white marbled surface. Each round sweet has a dark brown chocolate layer as the base, embedded with colorful pastel candy pieces in shades of pink, green, orange, and yellow evenly spread inside. The edges of the sweets are coated with a white shredded texture, giving a rough and fibrous look to the borders. The sweets are evenly spaced and uniformly sized, highlighting the vibrant colors contrasting with the dark chocolate and white coating. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of this Church Window Cookies Recipe lies in its simple yet perfectly balanced ingredients. Each component plays a role: the chocolate and butter create a rich, smooth base, the pastel miniature marshmallows add the signature pops of color and chewy texture, while toasted walnuts and coconut contribute crunch and a bit of tropical flair. When shopping, look for fresh mini marshmallows that’ll hold their shape nicely.

Semisweet chocolate chips: Using semisweet balances the sweetness; I wouldn’t recommend milk or dark chocolate here.
Butter: Cubed and softened for easy melting; unsalted is best so you control saltiness.
Pastel miniature marshmallows: These give the cookie its “church window” stained glass effect—don’t substitute with larger marshmallows!
Walnuts: Toasted for extra flavor and crunch; you can chop them coarsely or finely depending on how much texture you want.
Flaked coconut: Sweetened or unsweetened works, but I like sweetened for that extra hint of sweetness and chew.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I’m a big fan of keeping classics close to their original form, but I also love switching things up to suit what I have on hand or seasonal preferences. Feel free to customize this Church Window Cookies Recipe to your liking.

Nut-Free Version: I’ve swapped out walnuts for toasted sunflower seeds when making these for nut-sensitive friends, and it works beautifully.
Chocolate Variety: Mixing half semisweet and half white chocolate chips adds a richer depth and extra sweetness.
Fruit Fun: Adding chopped dried fruit like cherries or cranberries gives a tart contrast that can be refreshing.
Coconut Swap: You can toast your flaked coconut lightly for more flavor or use shredded coconut for a different texture.

How to Make Church Window Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Melt the Chocolate and Butter Gently

Start by placing the semisweet chocolate chips and cubed butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir gently and consistently until the mixture is completely smooth and combined. The key here is patience—low heat prevents burning and keeps the chocolate shiny. Once melted, take it off the heat and let it cool just slightly so it’s still pourable, but won’t melt the marshmallows when combined.

Step 2: Fold in Marshmallows and Toasted Walnuts

Next, stir in your pastel miniature marshmallows and toasted walnuts. I love watching the colors nestle into the rich chocolate. These marshmallows are the secret to that stained glass look once sliced. Be sure they get evenly coated but try not to over-mix, or the marshmallows might break down.

Step 3: Divide, Shape, and Roll in Coconut

Divide the mixture into three equal portions and place each one on its own piece of waxed paper. Using the edges of the wax paper, gently shape each portion into a 10-inch-long roll. Then, carefully roll each log in the flaked coconut so it gets a nice coating on the outside. This coconut crust adds a lovely texture and prevents the log from sticking. Wrap each roll tightly in the waxed paper and pop them into the fridge.

Step 4: Chill Until Firm, Then Slice

Refrigerate your coconut-covered logs for at least 2 hours or until they’re firm enough to slice cleanly. When chilled, unwrap and gently cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick slices. The colorful marshmallows will peek out like little stained glass windows—this part always makes me smile!

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Pro Tips for Making Church Window Cookies Recipe

Low Heat Melting: Always melt chocolate and butter over low heat to keep the mixture smooth and glossy.
Toast Your Nuts: Toasting walnuts brings out their flavor and adds a lovely crunch to the cookies.
Use Waxed Paper Smartly: Waxed paper makes shaping and wrapping the logs easier and prevents sticking—don’t swap it out for parchment unless you’re sure it’s non-stick.
Perfect Slicing: Chill the logs thoroughly before slicing to avoid crumbly or squished cookies.

How to Serve Church Window Cookies Recipe

A close-up of a round slice of a multi-layered dessert with a dark chocolate base that holds irregular chunks of pastel-colored marshmallows in green, orange, yellow, and pink. These marshmallows are embedded unevenly inside the chocolate, creating a mosaic pattern with soft, fluffy textures. Around the edges, white shredded coconut pieces stick to the chocolate, adding a rough, flaky appearance. The slice rests on a white marbled surface, showing small crumbs scattered nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple and serve these cookies as-is because the marshmallow colors are so pretty. But if you want to get fancy, a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate can add extra pizzazz without overwhelming the flavors.

Side Dishes

This cookie pairs wonderfully with a hot cup of coffee or tea, especially during chilly afternoons. I also like offering fresh fruit like sliced apples or berries on the side to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For holidays or potlucks, I love arranging the slices on a colorful serving platter lined with a few evergreen sprigs or edible flowers. If you’re bringing them as gifts, wrapping the whole log in cute wax paper with a festive ribbon makes a charming presentation.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Church Window Cookies keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I always separate layers with parchment paper to avoid sticking. The chilled coconut coating holds up perfectly if you want to nibble over several days.

Freezing

I’ve frozen the uncut logs wrapped tightly in foil and plastic wrap before, and they thaw beautifully without losing texture. When you’re ready, just thaw overnight in the fridge then slice as usual. It’s a lifesaver for holiday prepping!

Reheating

Honestly, these cookies are best enjoyed cold or at room temperature, so I don’t recommend reheating. If you want a softer bite, letting them sit out a few minutes works great, but avoid microwaving or warming, which can melt the marshmallows and coconut.

FAQs

Can I use different types of nuts in this Church Window Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! While toasted walnuts are traditional and add great flavor, you can substitute with pecans, almonds, or even seeds like sunflower or pumpkin for a nut-free option. Just make sure to toast them lightly to enhance their taste.
Why do the marshmallows melt sometimes?

If the chocolate mixture is too hot when you add the marshmallows, they’ll start to melt, losing that colorful, chewy texture. To avoid this, let the chocolate and butter cool for a few minutes before folding in the marshmallows.
Can I make these cookies without coconut?

You could skip the coconut, but it does add a nice texture and helps keep the logs from sticking. If you’re not a fan, try rolling the logs in crushed nuts or sprinkles instead for a different twist.
How long do Church Window Cookies last?

Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these cookies stay fresh for about 5-7 days. Because they don’t bake, they don’t harden or dry out quickly.

Final Thoughts

This Church Window Cookies Recipe holds a sweet spot in my heart—not just for the vibrant look or the delicious taste, but for the simple joy of creating something fun and colorful with easy ingredients. Whether you’re baking for a holiday, a kid’s party, or just because, these cookies never fail to bring smiles. Give them a try—I promise once you slice into that coconut-coated log and see those marshmallow “windows” shining, you’ll be hooked just like I was the first time!