Christmas Rice Krispies Treat: Recipe & Decorating Ideas
What’s more fun than a treat you can eat and decorate? Christmas Rice Krispies are the ultimate holiday dessert—quick to make, endlessly customizable, and perfect for creating memories with the kids. Whether you’re shaping them into festive trees or adding sprinkles to classic squares, these treats are guaranteed to bring a little extra cheer to your holiday season!
10 Days of Christmas Treats
Welcome back to my 10 Days of Christmas Treats series!
If you’re new here, this series is inspired by my love for creating festive desserts that bring joy and magic into our home. I wanted to share a mix of treats—some quick and easy for busy days and others that let you get a little more creative.
No matter your baking style, the goal is to make the holidays feel special and fun for your family.
Today’s treat is one of my kids favorites, so let’s jump in!
Day 6 – Christmas Rice Krispies
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are a classic for a reason—they’re quick, easy, and perfect for adding a little creativity to your holiday lineup.
I like to do my own creative twist on the traditional Rice Krispie for each holiday and Christmas is no different.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can transform these gooey, marshmallow-filled squares into festive shapes like trees, wreaths, or even snowmen.
Add food coloring, sprinkles, and a drizzle of chocolate to make them extra merry and bright!
These treats are great for making with kids or as a last-minute dessert for holiday gatherings.
The best part? You can customize them however you like!
Let’s get into the recipe and some fun decorating ideas to make your Christmas Rice Krispie Treats truly magical.
Christmas Rice Krispies Treat Recipe
These Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are the ultimate festive dessert—gooey, buttery, and packed with marshmallow goodness. Decorate them with colorful sprinkles, drizzles of chocolate, or shape them into holiday-inspired designs for a magical touch.
Supplies You’ll Need
- Parchment Paper: Keeps your treats from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze—plus, it’s perfect for lifting them out of the pan with ease.
- 9×13 Pan: The ideal size for evenly thick Rice Krispie Treats that are easy to cut and decorate.
- Spatula: A must-have for spreading the gooey mixture smoothly into the pan without making a sticky mess.
- Measuring Cups & Spoons: Ensure precise measurements for perfectly balanced buttery, marshmallowy goodness.
- Large Saucepan: The perfect size for melting butter and marshmallows together without spilling over.
- Mixing Bowl (optional): Perfect for melting chocolate or mixing in extra toppings to add a festive touch to your treats.
- Dough Scraper: Ideal for cutting clean, even bars with ease, but a sharp knife works just as well in a pinch!
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks)
- 20 oz mini marshmallows (2 10oz bags)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 10 cups Holiday Rice Krispies (traditional will work fine too)
For Toppings
- (Optional) White melting chocolate
- (Optional) Holiday Sprinkles
- (Optional) Crushed Peppermint
Step-by Step Instructions
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper. If your parchment paper keeps sliding around, here’s a little trick: lightly mist the bottom of your pan with water first to help it stick. Then give the top of the parchment a quick spray with non-stick cooking spray so nothing sticks.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Keep an eye on it as it starts to brown—you want it foamy and golden, but don’t let it burn! The nutty aroma is your cue it’s ready.
- Take the pan off the heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and mix it all together until smooth and fragrant.
- Add one bag of marshmallows to the pan and return to medium heat, stirring constantly until they’re almost melted. Toss in the second bag of marshmallows and keep stirring until you’ve got a smooth, gooey marshmallow mixture.
- Remove the pan from the heat and start adding your Rice Krispies, 2 cups at a time. Stir after each addition until everything is evenly coated and perfectly sticky.
- Once the Rice Krispies are fully coated, pour the mixture into your prepared pan.
- Grab your spatula and gently press the mixture into an even layer. Let it cool before cutting into squares—or get creative with shapes!
Christmas Rice Krispies Treat: Recipe & Decorating Ideas
Description
These Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are the ultimate festive dessert—gooey, buttery, and packed with marshmallow goodness. Decorate them with colorful sprinkles, drizzles of chocolate, or shape them into holiday-inspired designs for a magical touch.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter (2 sticks)
- 20 oz mini marshmallows (2 10oz bags)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 10 cups of Holiday Rice Krispies (traditional will work too)
Optional Toppings
- White melting chocolate
- Holiday Sprinkles
- Crushed Peppermint
Instructions
- Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper. If your parchment paper keeps sliding around, here’s a little trick: lightly mist the bottom of your pan with water first to help it stick. Then give the top of the parchment a quick spray with non-stick cooking spray so nothing sticks.
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Keep an eye on it as it starts to brown—you want it foamy and golden, but don’t let it burn! The nutty aroma is your cue it’s ready.
- Take the pan off the heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and mix it all together until smooth and fragrant.
- Add one bag of marshmallows to the pan and return to medium heat, stirring constantly until they’re almost melted. Toss in the second bag of marshmallows and keep stirring until you’ve got a smooth, gooey marshmallow mixture.
- Remove the pan from the heat and start adding your Rice Krispies, 2 cups at a time. Stir after each addition until everything is evenly coated and perfectly sticky.
- Once the Rice Krispies are fully coated, pour the mixture into your prepared pan.
- Grab your spatula and gently press the mixture into an even layer. Let it cool before cutting into squares—or get creative with shapes!
Festive Decorating Ideas
The magic of Christmas Rice Krispie Treats is in the decorating—they’re a blank canvas for all your holiday creativity! Here are a couple of fun ideas to make your treats stand out:
• White Chocolate & Sprinkles: Dip the tops of your Rice Krispie squares in melted white chocolate and add colorful holiday sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet. Think red, green, and gold for classic Christmas vibes or go for snowflakes and stars to keep it wintery!
• Chocolate & Crushed Peppermint: For a cool and cozy twist, dip the treats in melted milk or dark chocolate, then sprinkle crushed peppermint candy on top. The combination of chocolate and peppermint is a holiday classic that everyone loves.
• Shaped & Festive: Use cookie cutters to turn your Rice Krispie Treats into trees, stars, or snowflakes. Dip the edges in chocolate or drizzle over the top, then finish with sprinkles for extra flair.
• Drizzled Designs: Melt a mix of white and dark chocolate, then use a spoon or piping bag to drizzle designs across the top of your treats. Add edible glitter or sugar pearls for a touch of sparkle.
These decorating ideas are simple, fun, and perfect for involving the kids. Plus, they make your Rice Krispie Treats look just as festive as they taste!
How to Store Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
To keep your Christmas Rice Krispie Treats fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Layer parchment paper between the treats if you’re stacking them to prevent sticking. They’ll stay soft and gooey for up to 3 days, though they’re so good they probably won’t last that long!
If you’ve dipped them in chocolate, make sure the chocolate has fully set before storing to avoid smudging.
For longer storage, you can freeze them: wrap each treat individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag.
When you’re ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. Perfect for making ahead during the busy holiday season!
Wrapping It Up: A Festive and Fun Holiday Treat
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect combination of simple, fun, and festive—ideal for busy holiday schedules or creating sweet memories with the family.
Whether you dip them in chocolate, sprinkle them with peppermint, or shape them into Christmas trees, these treats are sure to bring a little extra magic to your season.
If you loved this recipe, make sure to click the pin to save it for later—you’ll want to have this one handy for your holiday celebrations!
And if you missed Day 5 of my 10 Days of Christmas Treats series, we made Peppermint Bark Oreos that are just as fun and delicious.
Be sure to pin it too, so you don’t miss a single treat in this festive series.
Be sure to follow me on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube so you don’t miss the rest of the 10 Days of Festive Christmas Treats.
Let’s keep spreading the holiday cheer, one dessert at a time!