Find the easy steps to make Marshmallow Topiaries. A budget-friendly craft project, these topiary trees are festive as well as fun to create as a centerpiece for your holiday table or to display with gingerbread houses.
Happy Monday!
I’m sharing a fun and affordable craft project that anyone can do
to make your holiday table merry and bright and
put you in the Christmas spirit!
I’ve seen these marshmallow topiary trees on Pinterest
and most recently in the Holly Jolly Collection by Southern Living at Dilliard’s. . .
The large size marshmallow topiary is $109 and the smaller one is $99.
I thought they were adorable, especially on the red pedestals, but knew
I could make some for a fraction of the price for table centerpiece.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information see my disclosure policy.
These marshmallow topiaries are super fun and easy to create,
customizing to your taste and the size you need!
You need just a few supplies:
Marshmallows, toothpicks and a styrofoam cone.
Optional: hot glue gun, Christmas floral picks or candy
Customize these marshmallow topiary trees to whatever size
you desire using the cone size of your choice.
I made a total of three topiaries, using a 3.8 inch x 11.9 inch cone
and (2) 3.7 inch x 8.9 inch cones.
I found my styrofoam cones at Michaels.
Each cone took (2) 10 oz. bags of large marshmallows,
with the largest cone taking about 2 1/2 bags.
I used 2/3 of a bag of mini marshmallows between the 3 cones,
along with a box of toothpicks.
Note: I used my grocery store brand of marshmallows that were as puffy and fresh
as the name brand marshmallows and only $1 a bag.
I had three assorted small pedestals that I’ve picked up over the years at HomeGoods.
They were inexpensive, ($10 or less) that I use as risers for tablescapes
or for serving sweet treats for Tea on Tuesdays.
I placed my cones on my pedestals while I worked to ensure bottom row of marshmallows
would sit flat and the topiaries would sit level.
I started at the bottom and worked my way up the cone.
You don’t have to use pedestals; a plate as a base would work too.
Here are some helpful tips I learned along the way:
Place your toothpick in your styrofoam cone, then add your marshmallows.
The marshmallows are too ‘squishy’ to add the picks to them and then try to attach them to the cones.
The toothpick should be in the foam far enough so that it doesn’t
stick out of the opposite end of your marshmallow;
snap off some of the length if it’s too long.
I snapped the toothpicks in half for the marshmallows at the bottom of the cones,
and used 3/4 to a whole toothpick towards the top of the cones,
placing them in at an upwards angle so they were less likely to fall off.
Note: The marshmallows are not sticky and easy to work with unless you cut them.
For the mini marshmallows, I stacked them in sets of two on a whole toothpick,
so the mini marshmallows would be visible, tucking them in between the larger marshmallows
for contrast and to add some dimension.
Place your marshmallows as close together as possible
as they will shrink a little as they dry.
You can go back and fill in any gaps with mini marshmallows,
faux berries, greenery or the candy of your choice.
For the larger topiary tree in the above photo,
I placed all the marshmallows in the same position and direction. . .
On the smaller two cones, I placed the marshmallows in a more random arrangement
which I think looks more interesting.
Arrange your marshmallows how they look good to you; there’s no right or wrong way.
If you don’t like how one looks as you go, pull it out and reposition it,
shifting the toothpick or rearranging the marshmallow.
Once the cones were covered, I add some peppermints, fresh boxwood sprigs and candy picks.
I found the candy picks at Hobby Lobby; all the Christmas floral picks are 50% off.
I used a glue gun to attach the peppermints.
The boxwood sprigs were snipped from the shrubs and just tucked in among the marshmallows.
They will look good for 10 days to 2 weeks and they can be replaced easily with fresh ones that way.
I cut down the candy picks and stuck them into the tops of the styrofoam cones.
I removed the marshmallows on the top of the cones to position the picks and then reattached
the marshmallows fitting them snuggly around the picks to hide any gaps.
This is a very forgiving, fun and easy craft project!
The cones each took about an hour to assemble with the marshmallows and then another 30 minutes
to glue the peppermints, add the candy picks at the top and sprigs of boxwood. . .
enjoy your favorite Christmas movies while you work!
You can customize your marshmallow topiary trees using faux berries and leaves,
Christmas picks or the candy of your choice.
I think gumdrops would be adorable mixed in with the marshmallows!
Smaller topiary trees would be festive displayed with gingerbread houses in your kitchen
or as a centerpiece for a Christmas cookie exchange party.
These marshmallow topiaries will keep for years, stored in a climate controlled setting,
(not a hot attic where they could melt).
I’ll remove the greenery before storing them and cover them with a plastic bag
and place them in a plastic bin to reuse next year.
See them at Marshmallow World Christmas Tablescape with Snowmen, HERE.
Happy Crafting!
🎄 🍬 🎄
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase anything through an affiliate link, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Thank you for your visit, sharing with:
Those are darling. I never thought to save them for next year. It would be interesting to see how they hold up. Thanks for sharing. That would be a perfect craft for young children.
These are so cute! Thanks for the instructions and idea. It’s hard to fathom anyone paying the full price for these when they’re such a fun and easy project. Happy Monday! Clara❤️
I’ve been using the same string of real popcorn on my Christmas tree, that I popped and threaded 15 years ago!! I did not even spray it with anything. I just wrap it in tissue paper each year, and store it in a cardboard box, which I place in one of my plastic Christmas storage tubs. (The string of popcorn before that lasted many years also, before it finally crumbled.)
Those are adorable! I can see Jacqueline trying to eat them, but what a fun craft for even kids! I love the tumbled look of the random placement, looks like snow piles. Really cute, and pinned. Thanks!
You are so talented! I love the trees and will try to make them with my grandkids. Thanks for the great idea!
So very adorable
WOW!! What a creative item!! This could fit any season or holiday!! Or, use the colored marshmallows!! Thanks Mary!,,
What a cute project! Going to try it for a mother daughter sweet treat party. I appreciate all the directions and great photos.
Thanks so much!
Gosh those are cute! Your craftiness never ceases to amaze me. Excellent job!
Very cute trees and at a fraction of the cost. I can see the grandkids making these. Thanks for the tutorial Mary.
These are soooo cute Mary, and thank you for all your tips about making them, adorable!!!
Jenna
What a fun, adorable project, Mary! I have a candy cane hunt and hot chocolate party with my granddaughters each year. I think I’ll have them make a couple of these trees to decorate the table for our party. Thanks for the idea.
These are so cute and I think I will make a couple with my girls. They love crafts and will be excited to make them! Thank you Mary and Happy Monday ♥️
These are adorable and I love the idea of placing the topiary inside a bowl of greenery – just perfect! Thanks for the lovely photos and instructions!
So stinkin’cute! Thanks for all of the tips and easy to follow tutorial. Heading to Hobby Lobby for the pics (I saw them last week!) Your creativity is always an inspiration to me!
What a darling idea! I love how cute they are, and all your tips too. Thanks!
Oh, Mary! I love these! Yours are even better than the ones from Southern Living.
That is so so so so so cute!!!!!
This is an adorable idea! Thank you for sharing, I look forward to creating my own. I think I may try using red and green gumdrops.
Very decorative but all of a sudden my teeth hurt for some reason! Good job.
Love, love your posts!! Creativity at it’s finest!!!
Oh my word, Mary, these topiaries are ADORABLE! Thanks for all your tips on creating these darling centerpieces. How nice to be able to save them, too, but not in my Texas garage or attic!! ❤️
You always have so much fun, all I kept thinking is I want a bucket of hot chocolate to drink it all in!
I’ve never seen anything like this! Absolutely adorable! Thanks so much for sharing!! Merry Christmas!
Hi Mary, Thank you for sharing this! I made them for a Winter Wonderland Sweet Baby Girl shower that I hosted last week. They were perfect for the buffet and dessert tables! I got several compliments on them and I shared your blog info. Thank you for being such an inspiration to so many of us!