Festive Rice Krispie Holiday Treats Recipe

Festive Rice Krispie Holiday Treats Recipe: Snap, Crackle, Joy

Sticky, gooey, and irresistibly sweet, these rice Krispie holiday treats sparkle with festive cheer.

Melted marshmallows bind crisp cereal into delightful squares that shimmer with seasonal magic.

Colorful sprinkles dance across the surface, turning simple ingredients into a spectacular dessert.

Kids and adults alike will swoon over these nostalgic squares bursting with childhood memories.

Soft, chewy, and packed with sugary delight, these treats come together in minutes with just a few pantry staples.

The secret lies in perfectly melted marshmallows and gentle mixing that ensures each bite is a perfect balance of crunch and sweetness.

Deck your holiday table with these crowd-pleasing squares that promise to vanish faster than snowflakes in sunlight.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 210 kcal

Servings: 13

Ingredients to Use for Rice Krispie Holiday Treats

For Base and Binding:
  • Milk Chocolate: Provides rich, creamy foundation and helps bind ingredients smoothly.
  • Butter: Enhances flavor and assists in creating a silky, cohesive mixture.
  • Mini Marshmallows: Creates sticky, stretchy texture that holds everything together effortlessly.
For Crunchy Element:
  • Rice Krispies: Delivers delightful crispy texture and light, airy crunch to the treats.
For Decorative Touches:
  • White Chocolate: Creates elegant drizzle for visual appeal and adds subtle sweetness.
  • White Sugarpaste: Allows creative holiday-themed decoration with vibrant color options.
  • Red Food Gel: Helps create festive berry accents for holly design.
  • Green Food Gel: Enables crafting realistic holly leaf decorations.
  • Water: Prevents mixture from sticking during ball formation.
  • Parchment Paper: Provides clean surface for chilling and prevents treats from adhering.

Tools to Prep Rice Krispie Holiday Treats

  • Saucepan: Essential for melting chocolate and butter smoothly over low heat.
  • Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining melted ingredients with Rice Krispies.
  • Tablespoon: Helps scoop and shape consistent treat balls.
  • Baking tray: Provides space for forming and chilling treats.
  • Parchment paper: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
  • Heatproof bowl: Needed for melting white chocolate using double boiler method.
  • Piping bag or freezer bag: Great for drizzling melted white chocolate precisely.
  • Small knife or spatula: Useful for cutting sugarpaste and helping with decoration.

Instructions for Making Rice Krispie Holiday Treats

  • Chocolate Marshmallow Mixture

Gently warm milk chocolate and butter in a saucepan, creating a silky smooth base. Blend mini marshmallows into the warm mixture until everything melts together into a luxurious cream.

  • Cereal Coating

Pour the glossy chocolate marshmallow mixture over crispy rice cereal. Fold gently, ensuring every single piece gets a delicious chocolatey embrace.

  • Treat Shaping

Using damp hands, roll the mixture into perfect round bites. Place each delicate sphere onto a parchment-lined tray, letting them rest in the cool refrigerator.

  • Festive Decorations

Melt white chocolate into a glossy river. Drizzle elegantly over chilled treats, creating swirling patterns. Top with handcrafted sugarpaste holly leaves and berries, pressing them softly to create a magical holiday touch.

  • Serving

Let treats sit at room temperature for a few minutes before serving. Watch as friends and family marvel at these delightful holiday morsels.

Tips and Options for Rice Krispie Holiday Treats

  • Holiday Magic Tricks: Transform your Rice Krispie treats from simple to spectacular with these pro tips!
  • Chocolate Swap Dance: Experiment with dark, milk, or white chocolate for unique flavor profiles that match your mood or holiday theme.
  • Texture Play: Mix in chopped nuts, crushed candy canes, or festive sprinkles directly into the marshmallow mixture for extra crunch and visual appeal.
  • Storage Wisdom: Keep these treats in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days, or refrigerate for up to a week to maintain their delightful texture and taste.
  • Decoration Freedom: Get creative with edible glitter, colored sugar, or seasonal sprinkles if sugarpaste feels too complicated for your skill level or time constraints.

Serving Ideas for Rice Krispie Holiday Treats

  • Festive Party Platter: Create a stunning holiday display by arranging the Rice Krispie treats on a decorative wooden board with sprigs of fresh evergreen and cinnamon sticks for a magical winter feel.
  • Sweet Gift Packaging: Wrap individual treats in clear cellophane with festive ribbons, making adorable homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or holiday party hosts that will definitely bring smiles.
  • Chocolate Lover's Dream: Drizzle extra milk and white chocolate over the treats, then sprinkle crushed candy canes or holiday-themed sprinkles for an indulgent and colorful twist that elevates the classic recipe.
  • Dessert Buffet Star: Include these Rice Krispie treats as part of a holiday dessert table, mixing them with other seasonal sweets like gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark for a gorgeous and tempting spread.

Storage Solutions for Rice Krispie Holiday Treats

  • Smart Storage Solutions: Keep treats in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days, preventing moisture from softening their crispy texture.
  • Freezing Magic: Wrap individual treats in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. They'll stay delicious for up to 4 weeks, perfect for make-ahead holiday planning.
  • Refrigeration Tip: After decorating, store in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours to help sugarpaste decorations set quickly and maintain their shape.
  • Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare the Rice Krispie base and form balls up to 2 days before final decoration. Keep covered in the refrigerator, then add white chocolate and sugarpaste details just before serving for maximum freshness.
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Festive Rice Krispie Holiday Treats Recipe

Festive Rice Krispie Holiday Treats Recipe


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4.8 from 33 reviews

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 13 1x

Description

Festive holiday rice krispie treats bring joy to seasonal celebrations with marshmallow-coated crispiness. Colorful sprinkles and cheerful decorations make these simple desserts perfect when you want to share happiness at gatherings.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 180 g (6.3 oz) mini marshmallows
  • 100 g (3.5 oz) Rice Krispies or Coco Pops
  • 50 g (1.8 oz) unsalted butter
  • 200 g (7 oz) milk chocolate
  • 50 g (1.8 oz) white chocolate
  • white sugarpaste or pre-coloured sugarpaste
  • green food colour gel
  • red food colour gel

Instructions

  1. Chocolate Fusion: Melt milk chocolate and butter in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl using low heat, stirring continuously to prevent scorching.
  2. Marshmallow Integration: Blend mini marshmallows into the molten chocolate mixture, stirring until achieving a completely smooth and homogeneous texture.
  3. Cereal Coating: Transfer the chocolate-marshmallow blend into a large mixing bowl with Rice Krispies, folding meticulously to ensure comprehensive and even coverage of each cereal piece.
  4. Forming Treats: Slightly cool the mixture for easier manipulation. Dampen hands with water to prevent sticking, then shape compact spherical treats using a tablespoon and place on a parchment-lined tray.
  5. Chilling Phase: Refrigerate the formed treats for 30 minutes to solidify their structure and enhance stability.
  6. Decorative Preparation: Melt white chocolate using a double boiler or microwave, ensuring a silky smooth consistency for drizzling.
  7. Festive Embellishment: Craft holly leaves and berries from red and green sugarpaste, carefully molding intricate decorative elements.
  8. Final Decoration: Remove chilled treats from refrigerator, drizzle with white chocolate using a piping bag, and delicately attach sugarpaste holly accents for a whimsical holiday presentation.

Notes

  • Control Chocolate Melting: Use low, steady heat to prevent chocolate from burning or seizing, stirring constantly for smooth consistency.
  • Manage Sticky Hands: Moisten hands with cool water before shaping treats to minimize marshmallow adhesion and create clean, uniform balls.
  • Optimize Cooling Time: Refrigerate treats for 30 minutes to ensure proper setting and easier handling during decoration.
  • Master Decoration Technique: Use a piping bag or makeshift freezer bag with trimmed corner for precise white chocolate drizzling and clean sugarpaste placement.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts, Snacks
  • Method: Mixing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 13
  • Calories: 210
  • Sugar: 24 g
  • Sodium: 50 mg
  • Fat: 10 g
  • Saturated Fat: 6 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 31 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 1 g
  • Cholesterol: 30 mg
Jessica Martin

Jessica Martin

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

Recipe Development, Food Styling and Photography​, Seasonal and Local Ingredients​, Vegetarian and Vegan Cuisine​, Culinary Education​

Education

Portland Community College

  • Degree: Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in culinary techniques, kitchen management, and food safety. Gained hands-on experience in preparing diverse cuisines and understanding flavor profiles

Oregon Culinary Institute

  • Program: Baking and Pastry Certificate
  • Focus: Specialized education in baking fundamentals, pastry arts, and dessert presentation. Emphasized creativity and precision in crafting baked goods.​

Jessica Martin is a talented food writer and recipe creator who specializes in seasonal cooking and approachable home baking. 

Educated at Portland Community College with additional pastry training from Oregon Culinary Institute, Jessica’s culinary journey spans nearly a decade of creating and sharing flavorful recipes. 

Her deep appreciation for local ingredients shapes each of her recipes, making them both accessible and inspiring. At Beard and Bonnet, Jessica uses her cheerful, down-to-earth writing to help readers effortlessly bring new tastes and creative dishes into their daily routines.

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