Cute Christmas Rice Krispie Treats

Growing up, Rice Krispie treats were always just Rice Krispie treats – you know, the classic marshmallow and cereal combo my mom would whip up for school bake sales. My kids thought they were pretty boring until last Christmas when I decided to give them a holiday makeover.

It turns out that adding a few festive touches to these simple treats makes them so much more fun. Unlike complicated Christmas cookies that need precise baking times and decorating skills, these dressed-up Rice Krispie treats are practically impossible to mess up. Even my 8-year-old can help make them without any kitchen disasters.

What Kind of Marshmallows Should I Use?

Mini marshmallows are your best bet for making rice krispie treats since they melt more quickly and evenly than their larger counterparts. While regular marshmallows will work in a pinch, you’ll need to cut them into smaller pieces and spend more time stirring to get them to melt smoothly. Fresh marshmallows are key here – if yours have been sitting in the pantry for months, they might be a bit dried out and won’t melt as nicely. If you’re shopping for this recipe, stick with a well-known brand like Kraft or Jet-Puffed, as store brands can sometimes be less consistent in how they melt.

Options for Substitutions

Making these festive treats but missing something? Here are some helpful swaps you can try:

• Puffed rice cereal: While Rice Krispies are the classic choice, you can use any puffed rice cereal. In a pinch, you could even try Corn Flakes or Cheerios for a different but still tasty twist.
• Mini marshmallows: Regular-sized marshmallows work too – just use the same amount by weight. You can also use marshmallow fluff (about 13 oz for this recipe), though it might be a bit stickier to work with.
• Butter: If you don’t have salted butter, use unsalted and add a tiny pinch of salt. Margarine can work too, but the flavor won’t be quite as rich.
• Food coloring: Any brand of food coloring works here. If you’re missing some colors, you can mix primary colors to create what you need – mix red and yellow for green, or red and blue for purple. Gel food coloring is actually better than liquid as it won’t add extra moisture.
• Christmas sprinkles: Feel free to use any festive sprinkles you have on hand – jimmies, sugar crystals, or even crushed candy canes work great. You can skip them altogether if you prefer, the treats will still look festive with just the colored cereal.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making Rice Krispie treats is getting the marshmallow mixture too hot, which can lead to rock-hard treats instead of soft, chewy ones – keep the heat on medium-low and remove from heat as soon as the marshmallows are melted.

When adding food coloring, work quickly but carefully since the marshmallow mixture starts setting fast – divide your melted mixture into separate bowls and add coloring immediately while it’s still warm and pliable.

A common mistake is pressing the mixture too firmly into the pan, which can result in dense, tough treats – use a piece of parchment paper or butter your hands and press down gently with just enough pressure to hold them together.

For the best texture and easy mixing, make sure your cereal is fresh (not stale) and add the sprinkles while the surface is still slightly warm so they stick properly without melting.

What to Serve With Christmas Rice Krispie Treats?

These festive rice krispie treats are perfect for holiday gatherings and pair wonderfully with hot beverages that’ll warm everyone up during the cold season. A mug of hot cocoa topped with mini marshmallows makes for an extra-sweet combo that kids especially love. If you’re serving these at a holiday party, try setting up a hot chocolate bar with different toppings, or offer some warm spiced apple cider as an alternative. For the grown-ups, these treats taste great with a cup of coffee or peppermint tea, which helps balance out the sweetness of the marshmallow treats.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These festive Rice Krispie treats stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container. Place wax paper or parchment paper between layers to prevent them from sticking together. Keep them away from direct sunlight or heat to maintain their shape and prevent the marshmallow from getting too soft.

Freeze: Want to make these ahead for the holidays? You can freeze them for up to 6 weeks! First, wrap each treat individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. The sprinkles might lose some of their shine in the freezer, so you might want to add fresh ones after thawing.

Thaw: When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen treats, just let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The great thing is, they thaw pretty quickly and taste almost as good as fresh ones. Just remember to keep them in their wrapper until they’re completely thawed to prevent condensation from making them sticky.

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	5-10 minutes
Total Time	15-25 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 3600-3800
• Protein: 30-40 g
• Fat: 150-160 g
• Carbohydrates: 550-580 g

Ingredients

• 9 cups puffed rice cereal
• 9 cups mini marshmallows
• 9 tablespoons butter (salted sweet cream)
• Red, crimson, yellow, and blue food coloring
• Christmas-themed nonpareils sprinkle decoration

Step 1: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

Begin by melting 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium pan over low heat.

Once the butter is fully melted, add 3 cups of mini marshmallows to the pan.

Stir continuously until the marshmallows are completely melted and blended smoothly with the butter.

Step 2: Add Food Coloring

Remove the pan from the heat.

Add your desired food coloring to the melted marshmallow mixture and mix thoroughly until the color is even and well-incorporated throughout the mixture.

Step 3: Mix in the Rice Krispies and Sprinkles

Add 3 cups of Rice Krispie cereal to the colored marshmallow mixture.

Stir well until all the cereal pieces are evenly coated.

If you wish, sprinkle some Christmas sprinkles into the mixture for added festive flair.

Allow the Rice Krispie mixture to cool slightly, just until it is comfortable to handle.

Step 4: Form the Rice Krispie Bites

Once the mixture has cooled enough to handle, measure .6 oz of the mixture and roll it into a ball.

Repeat this process for each ball until all of the mixture is used.

Allow the Rice Krispie bites to cool and set completely before serving.

Step 5: Repeat for Additional Colors

For a more colorful selection, repeat the previous steps for each additional Christmas color you desire.

Shape and cool the Rice Krispie bites as before, and enjoy your festive treats!