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!

The image shows several triangular-shaped treats designed to look like Christmas trees. Each tree has a bright green base with a textured, crispy look. White drizzle runs diagonally across each tree, resembling garlands. Colorful sprinkles in red, green, and gold, including small stars and round shapes, decorate the trees like ornaments. Each tree has a pretzel stick at the bottom that looks like a tree trunk. The treats are placed on a white plate with a slightly wavy edge, set on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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.

The image shows five Christmas tree-shaped treats on a white plate with a textured surface. Each treat is made of a green crispy rice base shaped like a triangle to form the tree. The trees are decorated with a drizzle of white icing running diagonally across each one. They are topped with small colorful sprinkles in red, green, gold, and silver, including shapes like stars and tree designs. Each tree has a pretzel stick at the bottom, acting as the trunk, sticking out from under the base. The background is a white marbled texture with small bowls and holiday decorations nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

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!

Flat lay of fresh unsalted butter slab, a pile of white marshmallows, a few drops of vibrant green gel food coloring on a small white ceramic bowl, a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a heaping mound of puffed rice cereal, a neat bundle of whole pretzel sticks, a small white bowl filled with colorful Christmas sprinkles, melted white chocolate in a small white ceramic bowl placed elegantly, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

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.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

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

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - Serving Suggestion

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:

Can I use different cereal besides Rice Krispies?

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.

How do I prevent my treats from getting hard?

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.

Can I make these without food coloring?

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.

How do I keep the sprinkles from sliding off the chocolate?

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.