Church Window Cookies

Church window cookies are a fun, vintage no-bake cookie recipe made with chocolate, walnuts, colored marshmallows, and coconut. The rolled and sliced cookies look like a stained glass window and make a delicious holiday treat.

When you think of windows in a church, you probably think of stained glass, beautiful colors, and fun designs. These no-bake church window cookies do a great job of bringing these images to life.

They’re an old-fashioned treat made with chocolate, mini pastel marshmallows, and walnuts. Then they’re rolled in shredded coconut and chilled until set.

To serve the easy no bake Christmas treats, you slice the log to expose the intricate design of the marshmallows, outlined by the chocolate. Stained glass window cookies, like all of my Christmas candy recipes, are easy to make, fun to eat, and will be a hit on any dessert table!

Ingredients for Church Window Cookies Recipe

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

• Chocolate chips – I use semi-sweet chocolate chips for these church windows because the marshmallows and coconut also add sweetness. Milk chocolate would be too much sweetness for me, but go ahead and use what you like.
• Unsalted butter – Cut the butter into slices so that it melts faster.
• Mini marshmallows – Using pastel mini marshmallows adds a pop of color and drives home the stain glass windows effect. You can find the colorful fruity marshmallows at Walmart, local supermarket chains, or Amazon. If you only have white, you can use those too.
• Walnuts – Chopped, either with a sharp knife or a food processor, or pick up a package of chopped nuts.
• Sweetened shredded coconut – For the coating on the log.

How to Make Church Window Cookies

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below. 

1. Melt chocolate chips and butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until they are melted and smooth.
2. Once melted, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool just enough so that the marshmallows won’t melt when added.
3. In the meantime (about 4-5 minutes), lay out a few sheets of parchment paper and arrange half the shredded coconut down the centers of each piece. Save the rest of the coconut for later.
4. Stir the marshmallows and walnuts into the chocolate mixture and stir to ensure each piece is evenly coated. Scoop the melted chocolate-marshmallow mixture onto the coconut, evenly dividing the chocolate onto each sheet. Form it into a log shape and sprinkle the remaining coconut overtop.
5. Use the parchment paper to roll each one into a tight log. Place the rolled logs into the fridge for at least 2 hours to chill. If you have the time, it’s best to let them sit overnight.
6. Once you’re ready to serve your stained glass cookies, remove the logs from the fridge, unwrap them, and cut them into 1/2-inch slices.

Storage

Refrigerator: Cathedral window cookies will stay fresh for up to a week in the fridge as long as they are kept in an airtight container.

Freezer: You can freeze individual cookies in an airtight freezer bag or freezer-safe container. Layer them with wax paper so they don’t all freeze in one lump.

You can also freeze the log if you’re not ready to slice and serve. Thaw in the fridge and then slice them when you are ready to enjoy a church window cookie or two.

Serving Suggestions

Since these are quick and easy no-bake cookies, you might as well whip up a few different desserts while you’re at it. These will go great on the table with chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies, Nutella no bake cookies, and peanut butter cornflake cookies too.

Recipe variations and additions

• Swap the type of nuts. Use peanuts, cashews, almonds, or pecans instead, if preferred. You can also omit the nuts completely.
• Add a different coating. Try rolling the logs in graham cracker crumbs, finely chopped nuts, rainbow or holiday sprinkles, crushed peppermint candy, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar instead of coconut.
• Use other chocolate chips. I prefer semisweet chocolate, as mentioned earlier, but feel free to use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips.

More old fashioned candy recipes:

• Martha Washington Candy
• Grandma’s Nut Brittle
• Chocolate Covered Honeycomb
• Pecan Pralines