Christmas Rice Crispy Treats

By Stephanie Gallagher

Updated 03/01/19

Christmas Rice Crispy Treats
Stephanie Gallagher
  • Total: 10 mins
  • Prep: 5 mins
  • Cook: 5 mins
  • Yield: 12 to 14 servings

It is always fun to serve festive desserts at Christmas, but often the most decorative treats take a lot of time to make (think of all of the hours it takes to ice and decorate sugar cookies!). These Christmas rice crispy treats look impressive, but they are super simple to put together. Just form the rice crispy treats into triangles, insert a candy cane to make the Christmas tree trunk, and decorate. Kids really enjoy making these holiday rice crispy treats, and, unlike cookies, they don't have to be rolled, baked, or cooled very long before the kids can eat them.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 10 ounces marshmallows, or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
  • 6 cups crispy rice cereal
  • 12 to 14 candy canes
  • Decorations: Red and green gel icing, M&Ms, and colored sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper or parchment paper.

  2. Melt the butter and the marshmallows in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows melt completely. Immediately stir in the crispy rice cereal. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, so that the rice crispy treats are about 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick.

  3. Spray a sharp knife generously with cooking spray. Use it to cut the rice crispy treats into large triangles.

  4. Break or cut the candy canes into 3-inch pieces. Insert a candy cane into the bottom of each rice crispy treat triangle to form the trunk of the Christmas tree.

  5. Let the rice crispy treats cool completely before decorating with icing, candies, and colored sugar.​

Other Festive Rice Crispy Treat Recipes

Holidays are always a busy time, so getting the kids to lend a hand—and choosing quick and simple recipes—is a huge help in the kitchen. Anything made with rice crispy treats is a crowd pleaser, and since the marshmallow-cereal mixture is so malleable, it can be formed into almost any shape. For Easter, make miniature crispy treat birds' nests, filled with colorful candy "eggs" and coconut "twigs." Halloween will be more fun when you have your kids help make some creepy monster treats or pumpkin-shaped treats with gummy candy and chocolate chips. Instead of birthday cake, surprise the guest of honor with a tower of funfetti rice crispy treats or decorate the cake with adorable rice crispy sprinkle bites.

To make any day seem like a holiday, have the kids help whip up some rice crispy treat doughnuts, or s'more rice crispy treats. Crispy emoji treats can make a rainy day fun; biscuit cutters or a cake ring make the perfect circle and icing is ideal for adding the goofy expressions. Let the kids get creative and design their own emojis!