There’s something truly magical about this festive treat that sparkles on every holiday table. The Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe transforms a classic snack into a playful, colorful centerpiece that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Let me show you how simple it is to spread some holiday cheer with these adorable crispy delights!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients & Why They Work
- Make It Your Way
- Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
- Top Tip
- How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Final Thoughts
- Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I absolutely love how this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe brings a burst of holiday spirit with minimal fuss. It’s the kind of recipe that instantly puts you and anyone you share it with in a festive mood — plus, kids especially get a kick out of the decorating step.
- Easy to Make: The steps are straightforward, perfect for a quick festive project with kids or friends.
- Fun and Festive Shape: Turning treats into Christmas trees brings that extra holiday charm to your dessert table.
- Customizable Decoration: You can personalize your trees with sprinkles, chocolate, or whatever festive toppings you love.
- Perfect Holiday Snack: These treats hold up well, making them great for parties, gifts, or just keeping on hand for sweet cravings.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe uses simple, familiar ingredients that come together beautifully. Each one plays an important role: the butter adds richness, the marshmallows bind everything sweetly, and the Rice Krispies provide that signature crispy crunch. Picking the freshest marshmallows and cereal really makes a difference here — trust me, no one wants stale treats!
- Unsalted Butter: Helps melt the marshmallows smoothly and keeps the sweetness balanced without extra salt.
- Marshmallows: The glue that binds the cereal and adds that gooey, soft texture we love.
- Green Gel Food Coloring: Gives your treats that vibrant, festive tree color without altering flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a subtle depth of flavor that elevates the sweetness nicely.
- Rice Krispies Cereal: Classic crispy base that keeps the treats light and crunchy.
- Pretzel Sticks: Cute “tree trunks” that also add a little salty crunch contrast.
- Christmas Sprinkles: For that festive pop of color and extra fun.
- White Chocolate: Melts easily and acts like edible glue to attach sprinkles and add a creamy touch.
Make It Your Way
I love playing with decorations on these little trees, and I encourage you to get creative! Whether you add extra colors to the marshmallow mix or swap out sprinkles for crushed candy canes, the sky’s the limit.
- Variation: One year, I swapped white chocolate for milk chocolate and dusted my trees with edible gold glitter — it was a hit at our party!
- Dietary Modification: Use gluten-free Rice Krispies and mini marshmallows to make this friendly for gluten-free guests.
- Seasonal Change: Off-season, change green food coloring to pastel tones or red for Valentine’s Day trees.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Pan Like a Pro
I lightly grease my 13×9-inch baking dish so the treats come out cleanly, or sometimes I line it with parchment paper for an even easier removal. This small step makes clean-up way less stressful and keeps your treats looking picture perfect.
Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows Gently
Use low heat to melt butter in a large pot, then add marshmallows gradually. Keep stirring constantly to avoid burning or sticking. You'll know it’s ready when the marshmallows become smooth, glossy, and fully melted — that gooey texture is what binds everything together.
Step 3: Add Color and Vanilla Extract
Right off the heat, stir in your green gel food coloring and vanilla extract. The color will brighten as you blend it in — I like to add just a few drops at a time so I don’t go too dark. Plus, vanilla adds a softness that balances the sweetness.
Step 4: Fold in the Rice Krispies
Next, fold in the cereal gently but thoroughly, making sure every crisp is coated in that luscious marshmallow mixture. Don’t overmix — you want to keep the cereal’s crunch intact.
Step 5: Press, Cool, and Cut
Pour your mixture into the prepared pan and press it gently — not too firm or your treats will turn dense. Let them sit for at least an hour at room temperature until set but still soft enough to cut. I slice them horizontally in half first to make two thinner layers, then cut into festive triangle shapes that look just like little Christmas trees.
Step 6: Add Trunks, Chocolate, and Sprinkles
Melt white chocolate according to your package instructions. Carefully stick a pretzel stick at the base of each triangle to serve as the tree trunk. Then pipe or drizzle melted chocolate on top and sprinkle with fun Christmas sprinkles. Let the chocolate set before serving or packaging — this finishing touch is what makes them irresistible.
Top Tip
From my experience, the key to perfect Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is balancing softness and shape. These tips will save you from common pitfalls and make your treats shine.
- Gentle Pressing: Don’t pack the mixture too hard in the pan — it keeps treats soft instead of rock-hard later.
- Use Fresh Ingredients: Marshmallows and cereal lose their charm if stale — fresher means fluffier and crunchier treats.
- Timing is Everything: Don’t rush the cooling — cutting before fully set can wreck the shape and stickiness.
- Chocolate Temperature: Avoid overheating white chocolate. Melt it gently to keep it smooth and perfect for piping.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Garnishes
I usually stick with classic red and white sprinkles plus tiny silver balls; they're simple but instantly festive. Sometimes I toss on crushed peppermint candy for a refreshing crunch and a burst of Christmas scent — it really ups the wow factor!
Side Dishes
Pair these treats with hot cocoa or a warm spiced cider for the perfect holiday combo. They also go great alongside a cheese platter or fresh fruit for a nice balance of flavors.
Creative Ways to Present
I’ve wrapped individual trees in clear cellophane tied with festive ribbon for gifting, and another time arranged them standing upright in a shallow tray filled with green-tinted sugar “snow” — it became a charming edible centerpiece everyone admired before digging in!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled and decorated, I store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature, layering parchment paper between to keep them fresh. They hold up well for about a week, perfect if you want to prep for a party ahead of time.
Freezing
I’ve frozen these treats wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil — just thaw at room temperature before serving. The texture remains surprisingly good, and it’s a fantastic way to prepare in bulk if you’re in the holiday hustle.
Reheating
Generally, you don’t need to reheat Rice Krispie treats, but if you want to soften them slightly, a few seconds in the microwave (covered loosely) works — just be careful not to overdo it or they’ll melt into a sticky mess.
Frequently Asked Questions:
You can experiment with similar puffed cereals, but Rice Krispies have the ideal size and texture to get that signature crunch without becoming too dense or soggy. If substituting, make sure the cereal is light and crispy.
The key is not to press the mixture too firmly in the pan and to use fresh marshmallows and cereal. Also, storing them properly in an airtight container at room temperature helps maintain softness.
Absolutely! The green food coloring is just to make them look like Christmas trees. You can skip it or use natural colorings like spinach powder or matcha for a subtle green tint.
Make sure to let the melted chocolate cool just a bit before piping, but not fully set. Then, immediately add your sprinkles so they stick before the chocolate hardens completely.
Final Thoughts
I cherish this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe because it brings my favorite childhood treat into the magic of the holidays. Making these with my family reminds me that cooking isn’t just about food, but about creating warm memories together. I’m sure once you try this, it’ll become an annual tradition you’ll love sharing, just like I do.
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Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 treats
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Festive and fun Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats made with gooey marshmallows, crispy cereal, and decorated with colorful sprinkles and pretzel sticks for the perfect holiday treat.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 5 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 16 ounces marshmallows (1 bag)
- 3 drops green gel food coloring
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 ½ cups rice krispies cereal
Decorations
- 12 pretzel sticks
- Christmas sprinkles
- 4 ounces white chocolate, melted
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt Butter and Marshmallows: In a large pot, melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and continue stirring over low heat until the marshmallows are smooth and fully melted.
- Add Color and Flavor: Remove the pot from heat and stir in green gel food coloring and vanilla extract until evenly combined.
- Combine Cereal: Fold in the rice krispies cereal until all pieces are completely coated with the marshmallow mixture.
- Set in Pan: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and press gently to spread evenly without packing it too firmly.
- Let Set: Allow the treats to set at room temperature for at least one hour until firm.
- Cut Shapes: Slice the treats horizontally in half and then cut into triangle shapes resembling Christmas trees.
- Decorate: Melt white chocolate according to package directions. Carefully insert one pretzel stick into the base of each triangle to act as a tree trunk. Pipe melted white chocolate onto each tree and add Christmas sprinkles for decoration.
- Serve: Let the chocolate set and enjoy your festive Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats!
Notes
- Use fresh marshmallows and cereal for the best flavor as stale ingredients result in stale treats.
- Store treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain freshness.
- Press the cereal mixture gently into the baking dish to keep the treats soft; avoid packing it too tightly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
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