Church Windows: vintage recipe series - Simple and Seasonal (2024)

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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.

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5 from 1 vote

Church Windows

Dress up the dessert table or cookie exchange with this colorful treat! Church Windows are a holiday tradition that everyone can enjoy.

Prep Time30 minutes mins

Freeze5 hours hrs

Total Time5 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cookies, no bake, Christmas, marshmallows

Servings: 10 slices

Calories: 261kcal

Author: Nicole Burkholder

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
See Also
Instant Pot GAPS Diet White Chicken Chili Recipe (Gluten-free, Crock Pot Opt.)
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!