Christmas Rice Crispy Treats

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
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Updated on 10/18/21
Christmas rice crispy treats recipe

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 12 to 14 servings
Yield: 12 to 14 rice crispy squares
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
220 Calories
4g Fat
46g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 14
Amount per serving
Calories 220
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 7mg 2%
Sodium 92mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 46g 17%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 26g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 8mg 38%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 4mg 21%
Potassium 32mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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. 

This is a great recipe to get the kids involved, as they really enjoy making these festive holiday rice crispy treats. Unlike cookies they don't have to be rolled, baked, or cooled very long before the kids—and adults—can eat them. Easily scale the recipe up to make double, or triple the amount of trees.

Enjoy these treats as afternoon snacks around the holidays, school parties, or Christmas gatherings.

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Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 10 ounces marshmallows, or 4 cups miniature marshmallows

  • 6 cups crispy rice cereal

  • 12 to 14 candy canes

  • Red and green gel icing, for decorating

  • M&Ms, for decorating

  • Colored sugar, for decorating

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for rice crispy treats
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

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

    Line a baking sheet
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Melt the butter and the marshmallows in a large saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows melt completely.

    Melt the butter and marshmallow
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  4. 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.

    Stir in rice crispies
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

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

    Cut with sharp knife
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck 

  6. 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.

    Break candy canes
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

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

    Decorate
    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tips

  • Use fresh marshmallows for best results.
  • Diet, reduced calorie, or tub margarine is not recommended.


Recipe Variation

  • You can use a 7-ounce jar of marshmallow crème instead of marshmallows.

How to Store and Freeze

  • Rice crispy treats are best eaten right away, so they stay gooey and chewy. But, if there are any leftovers, these treats can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for two to three days.
  • Make these rice crispy treats ahead of time and freeze them. Layer these treats with wax paper in between in a freezer-safe airtight container. Rice crispy treats can be frozen for up to six weeks. Before serving, let them sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes.