You’ve had Rice Krispy treats before, but have you ever had Christmas Tree Rice Krispies? These festive holiday treats are perfect for the upcoming holiday season. Whether you need a quick dessert or you just want to have some fun, you can easily make these Rice Krispies Christmas Treats.
Chewy, sugary Rice Krispy Treats in the shape of a tree just bring so much joy to all who eat them! Imagine bringing these trees to a holiday party and everyone’s faces light up!
The holidays are about bringing light and joy to everyone’s lives. These trees don’t take many ingredients at all and kids can even help decorate them. These Christmas Trees can be an activity and a dessert, all rolled into one!
Christmas Tree Rice Krispies: Ingredients & Utensils
Don’t worry, making these Christmas Trees from Rice Krispies will be a super fun food project!
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter: This ingredient will help bond the marshmallows and the Rice Krispies together.
- Bag mini marshmallows: To help make the Rice Krispy treats, this bag of mini marshmallows will come in handy.
- Vanilla extract: A little sweetness goes a long way with the help of vanilla extract.
- Green food coloring: To help make the trees festive, you will need green food coloring.
- Rice Krispies cereal: The most important ingredient for these Christmas Trees is the Rice Krispies cereal.
Decorations
- Sprinkles: We used a variety of sprinkles for these trees, Snowflakes, Polar Pals, Gems, and a Sprinkle Mix.
- Powdered Sugar for snow: This part is so much fun for kids because seeing the snowy scene come to life is incredible.
- White decorator icing: This is optional, but you can use whatever decorator icing you have on hand.
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Candy for the trunk: This part is also optional, but adding a little chocolate is always welcome!
How to Make Rice Krispies Christmas Trees
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat
- Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
- Remove from heat and add in vanilla extract and a very small amount of green food coloring until you reach desired shade
- Stir in cereal until evenly coated
- Allow to cool about 5 minutes or until you can easily handle the mixture, but not too long or it will be harder to work with
- Spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray and shape about ⅓ – ½ cup of the mixture into a cone/tree shape, pressing firmly together. The trees can be different sizes.
- Set on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining mixture
How to Decorate Christmas Tree Rice Krispies
- After the trees have set, about 30-60 minutes, decorate using sprinkles and decorator icing.
- You can also melt a small amount of colored chocolate melts to attach the tree trunks and sprinkles.
- Go crazy with the sprinkles because the kids LOVE it!
Rice Krispies Christmas Treats: FAQS
Answers to common questions about these Christmas Rice Krispies Treats!
Can I use different cereal instead of Rice Krispies?
Yes, you can substitute any crispy cereal for the Rice Krispies. However, keep in mind that using a different type of cereal may change the overall flavor and texture of the treat.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, simply use a gluten-free crispy cereal alternative and make sure all of your other ingredients (such as marshmallows and green food coloring) are also certified gluten-free.
Can I make these ahead of time?
These treats are best enjoyed fresh, but you can make them up to a day in advance and store them in an airtight container.
How do I decorate the trees differently?
Feel free to use any type of candy or decoration to make these treats your own. Some ideas could be M&M’s, sprinkles, or even frosting. Have fun with it!
Ready to try our Rice Krispies Christmas Treats?
Christmas Rice Krispies are so easy to make that we think they’ll make for an awesome holiday tradition. Leave a comment below if you gave this holiday treat a try. Let us know what you think.
More tasty holiday recipes to try…
We love Christmas here at Sweets & Treats, so make sure you follow along for more recipes this holiday season.
- Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Christmas Ornament Cupcakes Tutorial & Ideas
- Gingerbread Cookie Bites Recipe – Easy Christmas Cookies
- Rudolph Cakesicles
Rice Krispies Christmas Trees
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (½ stick) unsalted butter
- 1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
- Sprinkles
- Powdered Sugar for snow
- White decorator icing, optional
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Candy for trunk, optional
- Decorations
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat.
- Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
- Remove from heat and add in vanilla extract and a very small amount of green food coloring until you reach desired shade.
- Stir in cereal until evenly coated.
- Allow to cool about 5 minutes or until you can easily handle the mixture, but not too long or it will be harder to work with.
- Spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray and shape about ⅓ - ½ cup of the mixture into a cone/tree shape, pressing firmly together. The trees can be different sizes.
- Set on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining mixture.
- After the trees have set, about 30-60 minutes, decorate using sprinkles and decorator icing.
- You can also melt a small amount of colored chocolate melts to attach the tree trunks and sprinkles.
