How to Decorate Butterfly Cookies: Easy Video Tutorial
Make butterfly cookies decorated for parties in minutes! These easy, adorable treats use pretzels, Skittles & licorice—no special skills needed. Kids love them!
Spring is here, and honestly? Any excuse to make cute cookies is a good one. These butterfly cookies are SO fun to put together — and your kids can help! You don’t need fancy tools or decorating skills. Just a few simple ingredients and you’re good to go.
What Are Butterfly Cookies?
So, what exactly are butterfly cookies? They’re decorated sugar cookies that look like little butterflies. Instead of piping royal icing wings (no thank you 😅), you use white chocolate pretzels as the wings. It’s a genius shortcut.
The “body” is made from colorful Skittles. The antennas are tiny strips of black licorice. And the base? Green-tinted coconut flakes that look just like grass. Honestly, they’re almost too cute to eat. Almost.
These are a no-bake decorating project, which means less mess and more fun. You know, the best kind of recipe.
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Ingredients You’ll Need 🛒
Here’s your shopping list. Simple stuff, nothing wild:
- Sugar cookies (store-bought rounds work great or make your own)
- Green food coloring (liquid or gel food color, both work)
- Coconut flakes
- White chocolate pretzels (the round or pretzel shape kind)
- Skittles
- Black licorice twists
- White frosting (store-bought is totally fine)
That’s it! You probably have most of this in your pantry already.
How to Make Butterfly Cookies Decorated 🦋
This is where the magic happens. Follow these easy steps and you’ll have a whole tray of butterflies in no time.
Step 1: Color Your Frosting and Coconut
First, add a few drops of green food coloring to your white frosting. Stir until it’s a nice grassy green. Then, in a separate small bowl, mix green food coloring into your coconut flakes. Toss them around until they’re evenly coated consistency. Set both aside.
Step 2: Frost the Cookies
Spread a generous layer of green frosting on each sugar cookie. Work quickly — you want the frosting sticky so everything sticks!
Step 3: Add the Grass
While the frosting is still wet, press a small handful of green coconut flakes onto the surface of each cookie. This creates a cute little grassy look. So charming!
Step 4: Make the Wings
Place one white chocolate pretzel on each side of the cookie. These are your butterfly wings! Press them gently into the frosting so they stay in place.
Step 5: Build the Body
Place 3 Skittles in a vertical row down the center of the cookie. These become the butterfly’s head and body. You can match colors or mix and match — totally up to you! 🌈 If needed, add a small dot of frosting on each skittle to make sure it stays attached.
Step 6: Add the Antennas
Cut small pieces of black licorice, about 1 inch each. Stick two pieces above the top Skittle at a diagonal angle to create the antennas. Press them firmly into the frosting.
Pro tip: If you’d rather skip the licorice, you can pipe antennas using black icing. Just tint a small amount of white frosting with black food coloring, then use a fine-tip to draw them on.
Perfect Places to Use This Recipe 🎉
These butterfly cookies are a total crowd-pleaser. Here are some great occasions to bring them along:
- Spring birthday parties — they’re colorful and festive, and kids go crazy for them
- Easter gatherings — a fun alternative to just candy
- Mother’s Day brunch — hello, beautiful cookie tray moment!
- Garden parties or outdoor picnics — they fit the theme perfectly
- School bake sales — stand out from the typical brownies
- Baby showers — especially for nature or garden-themed celebrations
- End-of-year class parties — teachers love a good themed treat
Basically, anytime there’s a reason to celebrate (and honestly, Tuesday counts), these cookies are a yes.
Fun Variations to Try 🌸
Want to mix things up a little? Here are some easy ways to change this recipe:
- Use different candy for the body. M&Ms, mini Reese’s Pieces, or even gummy candies work great instead of Skittles.
- Try different pretzel shapes. Pretzel rods or small pretzel twists give you different wing looks.
- Change the color scheme. Instead of green, try purple or pink icing/frosting and coconut flakes for a more magical vibe. 💜
- Add edible glitter. Sprinkle a little on the wings for extra sparkle — especially for birthday parties!
- Use heart-shaped cookies instead of round ones for a Valentine’s Day butterfly moment.
- Make them monochrome. All-white butterflies with white frosting and white sprinkles look elegant for fancier events.
- Butterfly Cookie Cutter. Instead of round cookies, start with a butterfly cookie cutter to enhance the shape of the bottom and top wings.
The base recipe is so versatile. You can truly make it your own!
Can You Make These Ahead of Time?
Yes! And that’s honestly one of the best things about this recipe.
To make ahead: Assemble the cookies up to 24 hours in advance. Store them in a single layer in an airtight container at room temperature. The frosting firms up a bit, which actually helps everything stay in place.
To store leftovers: Keep decorated cookies in a covered container for up to 3 days. They hold up really well! Just don’t stack them — the pretzels can get crushed.
Can you freeze them? It’s better to freeze the plain sugar cookies before decorating. Thaw them fully, then decorate fresh. The coconut and candy don’t freeze well together.
Common Questions About Butterfly Cookies 🤔
Do the pretzels get soggy? Not if you store them properly! Keep them in an airtight container and they’ll stay crunchy for a couple of days. After that, the frosting can soften them slightly.
What if I can’t find white chocolate pretzels? Regular pretzels work too! You can dip them in white chocolate yourself, or even use them plain. The cookie will still look adorable.
Can kids help make these? Absolutely — in fact, that’s half the fun! Kids can press on the coconut, place the Skittles, and stick the pretzels on. Little hands love this kind of project.
Do I have to use sugar cookies? Nope! Shortbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, or even store-bought round cookies work great. You want something with a flat surface.
How many cookies does this recipe make? That depends on your cookie size! As a guide, one batch typically decorates about 12–18 standard-size cookies.
How to Decorate Butterfly Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- Sugar Cookies
- Green Food Coloring
- Coconut Flakes
- White Chocolate Pretzels
- Skittles
- Black Licorice
- Frosting
Instructions
- Mix the food coloring into the frosting & frost each cookie.
- Mix food coloring into the coconut flakes and stick to each freshly frosted cookie to create grass.
- Place a pretzel on each side of the cookie to create butterfly wings.
- Make a body using three skittles.
- Cut the black licorice into antennas and stick them on top of the skittle body row each at a diagonal.
Let’s Make Something Cute! 🌼
There you have it — everything you need to make butterfly cookies decorated for your next party, playdate, or just a fun Tuesday. These are simple, fast, and honestly so satisfying to put together.
Because sometimes the best moments aren’t the big ones. Sometimes it’s just you and your kids at the kitchen table, covered in coconut flakes, laughing about a crooked pretzel wing. You know what I mean?
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it goes! Drop a comment below, or save this post to your Pinterest board so you can find it later. 📌
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Hi there!
I’m Emily, a mom and wife with a passion for crafting, celebrating holidays, and creating memorable moments. From Idaho to the world, The Benson Street is a treasure trove of easy, fun DIY projects, delightful printables, and delicious recipes. With over a decade of experience in blogging and a love for all things seasonal, I’m here to share my tips, ideas, and occasional mishaps. Join me in adding a dash of joy and creativity to every day! Read more…
