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Dress up the dessert table or cookie exchange with this colorful treat! Church Windows are a traditional colorful treat made with chocolate, marshmallows and nuts.
Remember the Orange Juice Balls that I posted a little while ago? It was a recipe that my Grandma Rench made every year for the holidays. I dubbed it “vintage” because it’s one of those recipes that’s been around for ages and makes an appearance in church cookbooks and hand written recipe books. This is another one of those vintage recipes: Church Windows!
The name Church Windows comes from the colorful marshmallows. They are supposed to look like stained glass panels in windows covered in frosty snow. I’m not sure if they really live up to their name, but they do look pretty on the table and the recipe is so easy.
Every year for as long as I can remember, our family has celebrated New Year’s Eve (which is also my dad’s birthday) with two other families from church: the Wilsons and the Welshes.
And almost every year, Mrs. Welsh made a plate of pretty church windows for us to snack on during the festivities. This particular recipe is included in one of our church cookbooks. 🙂
Ingredients needed for Church Windows
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- butter
- egg
- colored mini marshmallows- you can use the leftovers to make these adorable Snowball Elf Cupcakes!
- shredded coconut
- chopped nuts (optional)
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over medium low heat. (I just put mine in a glass bowl and then set that on top of a pot with simmering water.)
Add a small amount of the melted chocolate to the whisked egg to temper. Then add the mixture back into the chocolate and stir until smooth and glossy. Cook for 2 minutes and then remove from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes.
Stir in the marshmallows and nuts (if desired) and then chill for 30 minutes.
Place on wax paper and shape into a log. (I know it looks disgusting. Try to control your inner 12 year old at this moment.)
On a separate sheet of wax paper, spread out the coconut and then roll the chocolate log in the coconut until covered. Wrap tightly in wax paper and freeze for several hours or overnight for best results.
Slice to reveal the colorful marshmallows inside and serve.
Church Windows
Ingredients
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 egg whisked
- 3 cups pastel colored mini marshmallows
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts optional
- 1 cup coconut shreds
Instructions
- Melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler over medium low heat
- Add a small amount of melted chocolate to whisked egg to temper then add all back into boiler and cook 2 minutes
- Pour into bowl and cool 15 minutes
- Stir in marshmallows and nuts
- Chill in refrigerator for 30-40 minutes
- Place on wax paper and shape into a log
- Sprinkle coconut on separate sheet of wax paper and roll log until completely covered
- Wrap tightly in wax paper, twisting the ends to seal
- Freeze for at least 5 hours but preferably overnight
- Cut into slices, serve, and enjoy!
Nutrition
If you like vintage recipes like Church Windows, check out these other classics!
- Biscoff Cookies - July 9, 2025
- S’more Cookie Bars - May 30, 2025
- Toffee Apple Dip - May 27, 2025
Lesli says
How long do you think you could leave them in the freezer?
Nicole Burkholder says
I would use them within 1 month of freezing. Chocolate doesn’t seem to last too much longer than that in the freezer without getting a little yucky 🙂
Carol Gallmeyer says
My mother talks about these every year. I’m going to have to make them and suprise her this year. I vaguely remember them on grandma’s table but that’s been a long time ago!
Heather says
I’m going to substitute graham crackers for the coconut but don’t know what else to include considering I’m not a nut fan. Any suggestions are welcome!
Thank you ?
Nicole Burkholder says
You could just as easily leave them out. The log will be smaller in size probably, but I don’t think it would be a problem. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure I didn’t include them in mine, either. I like the idea of graham crackers on the outside! Let me know how it turns out.
Daniel Molitor says
My mother never put the nuts in and didn’t even do the coconut on the outside.
This is one of my favorite recipes because it so easy and quick.
Nicole Burkholder says
I just made them last night for a cookie exchange and this time I left the nuts out as well. I also just dusted with powdered sugar, rather than rolling in the coconut. It was the “quicker, cheaper” version and they still tasted great! 🙂 They are so nostalgic for me <3
Shirley says
I am looking for a recipe for marshmellow rolls made with cocoa.
Nicole Burkholder says
Maybe something like this? http://www.willcookforsmiles.com/2014/12/hot-chocolate-cake-roll.html
Try searching for those keywords on Pinterest as well as Google. There’s lots to choose from and maybe you’ll find the one you’re looking for 😉