Stain Glass Cookies

These no-bake cookies get their name from the way the marshmallows look when you slice the frozen log. The white and pastel puffs peek through the dark chocolate like little stained glass windows, especially if you use colored marshmallows.

The method couldn’t be simpler. Melt chocolate chips with margarine, stir in whole marshmallows and chopped nuts, roll the mixture into a log on foil, and coat the outside in shredded coconut. Into the freezer it goes.

The marshmallows stay intact inside the chocolate rather than melting in. That contrast between chewy marshmallow, crunchy nuts, and firm chocolate is what makes these so addictive. Slice them thin while still frozen for the cleanest rounds.

Pro Tips

• Let the melted chocolate cool for a minute or two before stirring in the marshmallows. Too-hot chocolate melts them into a sticky mess and you lose the stained glass effect.
• Use mini marshmallows for more even distribution, or large ones cut in half for bigger pockets of color.
• Roll the log tightly in the foil and twist the ends like a candy wrapper. A loose roll falls apart when you slice.
• Slice with a sharp, thin knife dipped in hot water for clean cuts without crumbling.

Variations

• Peppermint bark style: Use white chocolate chips and crushed candy canes instead of nuts for a holiday version.
• Rocky road: Add dried cherries or cranberries alongside the nuts and marshmallows.
• Peanut butter chocolate: Stir a spoonful of peanut butter into the melted chocolate before adding the marshmallows.