This Easy Cinnamon Roll Snowman Recipe Will Entertain Your Kids (Without Destroying Your Kitchen)

By Candace Davison

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Published Jan 7, 2026

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When it's cold outside, this is the only snowman I want to make.

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Snow days are all too rare—at least where I live, outside of New York City—so when they happen, I like to make them a moment. That’s where these cinnamon roll snowmen come into play. They’re fun, festive and easy enough that even the preschool crowd can help decorate ‘em.

I’d seen various all over my feed (shoutout to @thebakermama and @charcuterie_n_things!) and wanted to try making smaller versions that everyone in the family could get in on decorating. You could make the cinnamon rolls from scratch, but I took the Ina Garten “store-bought is fine” route and went with Pillsbury rolls. (On that note, if you do, look for Grands—they’re true cinnamon rolls that you can unfurl, whereas the smaller eight-pack tubes are more like cinnamon-sugar-topped biscuits.)

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Creating the snowmen is as easy as unraveling the outer ring of each roll, then curling it back up to form the head of the snowman, and baking it according to the package’s instructions until golden. I found it took about half as long to bake, just because there was less surface area per snowman.

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From there, set up a toppings bar. Chopped berries and slivers of mandarin oranges make for great eyes, buttons and noses (a peel also works well as a scarf!), and if you’re feeling indulgent, you can go all out with mini chocolate chips, mini M&M’s and gummy belts. Candy eyes are a delightfully goofy addition. Just don’t forget the pretzel stick arms.

Honestly, when it’s cold outside, this is the only snowman I want to make. As for my kids, this is the only treat that will lure them back inside when they’re sledding and snowball-hurling. Win-win.

Prep

Cook

Total

Serves

10 minutes

12 to 14 minutes

22 to 24 minutes

Ingredients

1 tube cinnamon roll dough (plus frosting)

10 pretzel sticks

1 mandarin orange

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

1/3 cup mini M&Ms (optional)

1 package sour gummy belts (optional)

Candy eyes (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven according to the cinnamon roll package’s instructions. As the oven heats, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and separate the cinnamon roll dough into individual rolls.

Take each cinnamon roll and unravel the outer layer of the roll, cutting the piece off. Place the remaining roll on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Roll the strip of dough into a smaller cinnamon roll and place it at the top of the larger roll, creating the snowman’s head. (Tip: Place the smaller roll’s seam against the outer edge of the larger roll to help keep it from unfurling while baking.)

Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, or until lightly golden. (It shouldn’t look jiggly or have that glisten-y, doughy look anymore.) Remove from oven and let cool before frosting and decorating, using pretzel sticks for the arms, a sliver of orange for the nose, and mini chocolate chips and/or M&M’s for the eyes, mouth and buttons. A sliver of orange peel—which you can remove before eating—or a gummy belt make for a great scarf, too.

Nutrition Facts

Note: The information shown is Edamam's estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.

Candace Davison

VP of editorial content

Oversees home, food and commerce articles
Author of two cookbooks and has contributed recipes to three others
Named one of 2023's Outstanding Young Alumni at the University of South Florida, where she studied mass communications and business

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