These Christmas rice krispies treats are fast and festive. They're soft and gooey with the perfect amount of crunch. These sweet treats are decorated with red, white, and green chocolate and topped with crushed candy canes. You can add in different colors and candies, making the perfect family activity for a snowy afternoon.
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Rice treats are just one of those classic treats that everyone loves. I mean, what's not to love about the crunch of crispy rice coated in buttery marshmallows?
These Christmas treats made with rice cereal are a classic made festive for the holidays! Serve these rice krispie treats at your next holiday party and just watch how fast they disappear!
📖Why My Recipe Works
- Easy to Make- Whip up a batch of treats using the classic recipe, no need to break out the cookie cutters or mold them into wreaths or Christmas trees!
- Mix and Match- This recipe is all about the fun and festive decorations. Think M&Ms and sprinkles, you can even add gel coloring to he melted marshmallows to color the whole treat!
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Crispy Rice Cereal - Any brand actually works but do not use puffed rice cereal. It's not the same thing and you'll end up with soggy rice krispie treats.
- Unsalted Butter - Cut into smaller pieces so it melts more easily.
- Marshmallows - I use mini marshmallows so they melt more quickly and easily with the butter. If you can only find regular marshmallows, that's fine, they will just take longer to melt.
- Vanilla Extract - Gives the marshmallow mix a depth of flavor and warmth. You can try peppermint extract for a different flavor.
- Kosher Salt - Cuts the sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Candy Melts - Red, white, and green of course! I used the Wilton brand because they don't have any gluten-containing ingredients.
- Vegetable Shortening - You need just a little bit of oil with the chocolate to help it stay smooth and shiney. You can also use coconut oil if you prefer.
- Candy Canes - Crushed candy canes are the perfect festive garnish for your treats. You can also add sprinkles if you like.
💭 Variations
- Use other mix-ins - Feel free to load your rice krispie treats up with other mix-ins such as chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, festive colored M&Ms, etc. Don't go too heavy on the mix-ins though. If there's too much, the rice krispie treats won't hold their shape.
- Vegan rice krispies - Use dairy-free butter, your favorite brand of vegan marshmallows, and vegan candy melts.
- Make it Gluten Free - Use gluten-free rice cereal to make my gluten-free rice krispie treat recipe. Double check that the brand you use is gluten-free. I like the Millville rice cereal from Aldi.
- Use other colors - You can totally mix it up with different colors for different holidays. Get creative!
⏲️How to Make Christmas Rice Krispies Treats
Make the Rice Krispie Treats
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add in 1 cup of marshmallows, then reduce the heat and stir until melted and smooth.
Remove the melted marshmallow mixture from the heat, mix in vanilla and salt. Add in the cereal and remaining mini marshmallows, then mix until combined.
Transfer the cereal mix to a greased or lined baking dish, gently press out evenly, then set for at least 1 hour at room temp.
Melt the Chocolate
Before you decorate, cut the rice krispies treats into rectangles so they're ready to go for decorating!
Next, combine 1 cup of white candy melts or white chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening in a bowl. Microwave for 1 minute at 50% power, remove and stir, then repeat for another 30 seconds. Stir again, then microwave for 15 seconds at a time until melted.
Dip and Decorate
At an angle, dip half of the treat into the melted chocolate, then repeat with each one. Set on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 5 minutes to set.
Repeat the melting and dipping process with the red candy melts, and let the treats set for another 5 minutes.
Then melt green chocolate and drizzle it over the edge of the treats.
Finish them off with crushed candy cane pieces and sprinkles, then serve or store them.
How to Make Santa Hats
Skip the green candy melts and candy canes. Instead, do the red and white layers only.
Press a mini marshmallow into the corner of the red layer on the long side to make the end of a Santa hat.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- Line or grease the pan. You can use parchment paper, wax paper, or cooking spray. It makes it so much easier to remove the treats once they're done.
- Melt the chocolate at 50% power. This helps prevent the chocolate from seizing up.
- Stir gently when you add the cereal. If you go at it you'll just crush the cereal.
- Give the treats at least 1 hour to set. If you try to slice into them too soon they will be much too gooey and sticky.
- Set for 5 minutes between dips. Once you dip the treats in the candy melts, give them a few minutes to set before you dip them again. We don't want to make a mess.
More Christmas Treats
💬How long should rice krispies cool before cutting?
The rice krispie treats need about an hour to set before cutting. If you cut into them too soon, they will be much too sticky and gooey.
Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more FLAVORFUL recipes?
📖 Recipe Card
Easy Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows one large bag, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ teaspoon kosher salt
- 7 cups crispy rice cereal see notes
- 1 cup White Candy Melts or white chocolate
- 1 cup Red Candy Melts
- ½ cup Green Candy Melts
- 5 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3 candy canes crushed
Instructions
- Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper or coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, add in all but 1 cup of the marshmallows. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring until completely melted.6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, 16 ounces mini marshmallows
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Add the cereal and the remaining 1 cup of marshmallows and gently stir until combined.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ⅓ teaspoon kosher salt, 7 cups crispy rice cereal
- Pour into the prepared baking dish. Press gently with your fingertips just until completely spread out.
- Allow to set at room temperature, about 1 hour. Cut into rectangles.
Decorating the Rice Treats
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut your set treats into rectangles.
- Add 1 cup of white candy melts and 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening in a glass bowl. Microwave 1 minute at 50% power. Carefully remove from microwave and stir. Put back in microwave for 30 seconds at 50% power and stir. Repeat for 15 second intervals at 50% power until fully melted and a smooth texture.1 cup White Candy Melts or white chocolate, 5 Tablespoons vegetable shortening
- At a diagonal, dip half of the rice treat into mixture allowing excess to drip off and place on your baking sheet. Repeat for each treat. Place baking sheet in refrigerator for 5 minutes to set the melted chocolate.
- While white melts are setting, repeat the melting process for the red melts.1 cup Red Candy Melts
- At a diagonal, dip half of previously dipped treat into red mixture allowing excess to drip off and place on parchment paper lined baking pan. There should be a band of white chocolate showing. Repeat for each treat. Place baking sheet in refrigerator for 5 minutes to set the melted chocolate.
- While red chocolate is setting, repeat the melting process for the green melts using the remaining shortening. Pour melted chocolate into piping bag and carefully cut off tip of bag.½ cup Green Candy Melts
- Drizzle the green chocolate over the red edge. Sprinkle on the crushed candy canes. Allow chocolate to set for 5 minutes in the refrigerator. Remove from the fridge and store at room temperature.3 candy canes
Notes
- FOR GLUTEN-FREE: Kellogg's Rice Krispies cereal is not gluten-free and they no longer make the gluten-free version. I like the Millville rice cereal from Aldi. It is gluten-free and close in texture. You can use any GF cereal brand you like check the labels for malt and barley, neither are safe for celiacs or those on a gluten-free diet. Do not use puffed rice cereal.
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