These Christmas Rice Krispies Treats are an easy, no-bake holiday treat made with crispy rice cereal, gooey marshmallows, and colourful Christmas candies. They're wonderfully chewy, quick to make, and perfect for Christmas parties, homemade gifts, or a fun afternoon of baking with the kids.
I love cutting mine into generous squares and decorating them with red and green candies for a simple, festive treat everyone can enjoy!
Happy Holidays, Everyone! 🎄
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❤️ Why You'll Love These Christmas Rice Krispies Treats
No Baking Required – These festive treats are quick and easy to make without turning on the oven. Perfect for busy holiday preparations!
Fun to Make with Kids – Decorating the squares with colourful Christmas candies and sprinkles is a fun activity for the whole family.
Soft, Gooey and Crunchy – Every bite combines crispy rice cereal with sweet, chewy marshmallows and delicious chocolate candies.
Easy to Customize – Swap the M&Ms for Christmas sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or a drizzle of melted white chocolate.
Perfect for Christmas Parties – These treats look lovely on a holiday dessert table and make wonderful homemade gifts.
Nikki's Favourite Part – I love making my Rice Krispies squares extra large. I'm talking squares almost the size of my hand! ✋
Ingredients You'll Need & Substitutions
Unsalted Butter – Gives the treats a rich, buttery flavour and helps melt the marshmallows smoothly. Salted butter works too; just leave out the additional salt.
Marshmallows – The secret to soft, gooey Rice Krispies treats! I use full-size marshmallows and cut them into smaller pieces so they melt more evenly. Mini marshmallows work just as well.
Vanilla Extract – Adds a lovely hint of vanilla and enhances the sweetness of the marshmallows.
Salt – Just a pinch balances the sweetness and brings out the buttery flavour.
Rice Krispies Cereal – Creates that classic light, crispy texture. You can use another brand of crispy rice cereal if you prefer.
Red and Green M&Ms – Give these treats their festive Christmas colours! Swap them for Christmas sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or your favourite holiday candies.
Chocolate Vermicelli Sprinkles – Add a little extra chocolate flavour and a fun finishing touch. You can substitute festive sprinkles or leave them out completely.
👩🏻🍳 How to make Christmas rice krispies treats
1. Prepare the Pan: Lightly grease a 9 × 9-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. Melt the Butter and Marshmallows: Cut the large marshmallows into smaller pieces. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add 7 cups of marshmallows and stir gently until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat, then stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
3. Add the Rice Krispies: Immediately add the crispy rice cereal to the melted marshmallow mixture. Gently stir until all the cereal is evenly coated.
4. Make Them Extra Gooey: Fold in the remaining 1 cup of marshmallows. They won't melt completely, and that's exactly what we want! Those little marshmallow pockets make the treats extra delicious.
5. Press into the Pan: Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan. Using a lightly buttered spatula or greased hands, gently press it into an even layer. Avoid packing it down too firmly, or your treats may become hard.
6. Add the Christmas Candies: Scatter the red and green M&Ms over the top while the mixture is still warm. Gently press them into the surface so they stick.
7. Decorate: Finish with a generous sprinkle of chocolate vermicelli or your favourite festive sprinkles.
8. Let Them Set: Leave the treats at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes, or until firm enough to slice. Cut into squares and enjoy!
📝 Tips and Tricks
Use Low Heat – Melt the butter and marshmallows slowly over medium-low heat. Overheating the marshmallows can make your Rice Krispies treats hard instead of soft and chewy.
Don't Press Too Firmly – When transferring the mixture to your baking pan, gently press it into an even layer. Packing it down too tightly can make the treats dense and difficult to bite into.
Use Salted or Unsalted Butter – Both work well! If you're using salted butter, simply leave out the additional salt.
Prevent Sticky Hands – Lightly butter your hands or spatula before pressing the mixture into the pan. This makes working with sticky marshmallows much easier.
Get Creative with Shapes – Use festive cookie cutters to make Christmas trees, stars, or snowmen. Lightly grease the cutters to prevent sticking.
Add a Chocolate Drizzle – Drizzle melted white or milk chocolate over the finished treats, or dip one end into chocolate for an extra-special Christmas treat.
Make Them Gluten-Free – Use certified gluten-free crispy rice cereal and check that your marshmallows, candies, and sprinkles are also gluten-free.
❓FAQS
Rice crispy treats aren't typically considered a healthy snack, as they are usually made with ingredients like marshmallows and butter, which are high in sugar and fat. Everything is in moderation, right?
Absolutely! I personally love tossing in larger, chunky pieces of marshmallows at the end so they get wedged between the rice crispies. It adds that extra gooeyness.
Rice crispy treats make the perfect gift! You can package them in a cute, fun box lined with parchment paper, or go the extra mile and fill a glass jar with bite-sized pieces. Don’t forget to tie it all together with a pretty, festive ribbon!
Marshmallows are naturally gluten-free, but to keep your treats 100% gluten-free, be sure to swap out regular Rice Krispies for a certified gluten-free cereal!
Swap out Rice Krispies for your favorite—try Cocoa Puffs, Chex Cereal, Fruity Loops, or even a few pretzels!
Christmas Rice Krispies Treats will keep for about 3–4 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. For the best soft and chewy texture, place baking paper between the layers and avoid refrigerating them, as this can make them firm.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: These Christmas Rice Krispies Treats are perfect for preparing ahead of holiday parties! For the best texture, make them 1–2 days in advance. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature, with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.
Room Temperature: Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3–4 days. Keep them somewhere cool and dry, away from direct sunlight. They taste best during the first couple of days when the marshmallows are still soft and chewy.
Refrigerating: I don't recommend refrigerating Rice Krispies treats because the cold can make them firm and less enjoyable to eat.
Freezing: For longer storage, wrap individual squares tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Allow them to thaw at room temperature before serving.
Recipes to try next time
chocolate marshmallow ice cream
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think by leaving a ★★★★★ star rating & comment below. It genuinely helps me & I really appreciate your support! Nikki 💚
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💗 Nikki's Kitchen Tip
My secret to extra-gooey Rice Krispies treats is saving a handful of marshmallows to stir in at the very end! They create little pockets of soft, chewy marshmallow in every bite. And whatever you do, don't press the mixture too firmly into the pan. I love mine thick, soft, and almost the size of my hand!
Christmas Rice Krispies Treats (Easy No-Bake Recipe)
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
Description
These Christmas Rice Krispies Treats are an easy, no-bake holiday treat made with crispy rice cereal, gooey marshmallows, and colourful Christmas candies. They're wonderfully chewy, quick to make, and perfect for Christmas parties, homemade gifts, or a fun afternoon of baking with the kids.
Ingredients
- 8 Tablespoons (1 stick or 113 g) unsalted butter
- 16 oz (450 g) full-size marshmallows, chopped up and divided into 7 cups and 1 cup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 7 cups rice crispy cereal
- Red and green M&M's
- Chocolate Vermicelli sprinkles (as many as your festive heart desires!)
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Lightly grease a 9 × 9-inch baking pan with butter or line it with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
- Melt the Butter and Marshmallows: Cut the large marshmallows into smaller pieces. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add 7 cups of marshmallows and stir gently until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat, then stir in the vanilla extract and salt.
- Add the Rice Krispies: Immediately add the crispy rice cereal to the melted marshmallow mixture. Gently stir until all the cereal is evenly coated.
- Make Them Extra Gooey: Fold in the remaining 1 cup of marshmallows. They won't melt completely, and that's exactly what we want! Those little marshmallow pockets make the treats extra delicious.
- Press into the Pan: Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan. Using a lightly buttered spatula or greased hands, gently press it into an even layer. Avoid packing it down too firmly, or your treats may become hard.
- Add the Christmas Candies: Scatter the red and green M&Ms over the top while the mixture is still warm. Gently press them into the surface so they stick.
- Decorate: Finish with a generous sprinkle of chocolate vermicelli or your favourite festive sprinkles.
- Let Them Set: Leave the treats at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes, or until firm enough to slice. Cut into squares and enjoy!
Notes
Salted Butter: If you use salted butter, do NOT add extra salt.
Don’t overheat the marshmallows: This can make the treats hard. Melt them low and slow for a perfectly gooey texture.
Too Sticky: Wet your hands when working with these treats. It helps prevent the melted marshmallow from sticking to you.
Storage: Store your Christmas Rice Krispies Treats in an airtight container at room temperature. They'll stay fresh and chewy for up to 5 days. Avoid storing them in the fridge, as it can make them hard.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze as mentioned above. Just make sure they’re well-wrapped to avoid freezer burn. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- 30 minutes: Setting
- Cook Time: 5 min
- Category: Desserts
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: per square
- Calories: 265 kcal
- Sugar: 25 g
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
The nutritional information provided for this recipe is an estimate. The accuracy of the information listed is not guaranteed.