Christmas Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

We love making the classic Rice Krispie Treats for many occasions. But adding in Christmas Sprinkles and M&M’s really makes this the best Christmas treat. There is nothing better than making easy holiday recipes that the kids can help with and sharing them with others.

They are a crowd favorite and the perfect treat to bring to all your holiday dinners. You may love these Chocolate Covered Homemade Rice Krispie Treats or Christmas Wreaths Cookies.

Why We Love This Recipe

These treats are fun and festive and easy to make for your next holiday party. They are the perfect treat to bring out the holiday spirit and your dessert table. They are made with simple ingredients, which makes for the best last minute holiday rice krispie treats.

Jazz up your classic recipe and add in some holiday sprinkles.

Ingredients

• Rice Krispie Cereal – Any crisped cereal will work in this recipe
• Butter – We like using unsalted butter or margarine
• Marshmallows – Make sure you use fresh marshmallows. You can use large marshmallows or mini marshmallows
• Red and Green M&Ms – Use any color of M&M’s that you prefer
• Christmas Sprinkles – This is an optional topping but adds a festive look

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Substitutions and Additions

• Chocolate Chips – You can add in chocolate chips to the cereal mix.
• Food Coloring – You can use green food coloring or red food coloring to dye the cereal.
• Different shapes – Use cookie cutters to make Christmas tree shapes. This would be so fun and festive easy treat that is perfect for all your dessert trays.
• Cereal – Add in other types of cereal such as chex mix.
• Vanilla Extract – I love the warm flavors that a teaspoon of vanilla extract adds to these Christmas treats. I have even added in a teaspoon of salt.
• Icing – Add a drizzle of melted white chocolate chips to the top of the rice krispie treats before serving. You can also top the treats with frosting and add more holiday sprinkles.

How to Make Rice Krispie Treats for Christmas

• Step 1 – Spray a 9X13 pan with a non-stick cooking spray and set aside.  

Step 2 – Place the butter and marshmallow in a large saucepan or a large pot and melt over low heat stirring frequently with a large spoon. Feel free to also melt in a microwave-safe bowl.

Step 3 – Once the marshmallow mixture is completely melted and combined, remove from heat and gradually stir in the Rice Krispie Cereal.  Mix until the cereal is coated in the marshmallow and butter mixture.  

Step 4 – Then gently fold in the M&Ms and sprinkles (reserve some for topping). 

Step 5 – Press the mixture into the 9X13 pan.  I spray a piece of parchment paper with non-stick spray and use that parchment paper to press the cereal down into the baking dish. 

• Step 6 – Then top with the reserved M&M candies and sprinkles.  Gently press these down so that they stick into the Rice Krispie treats.  
• Step 7 – Let the Rice Krispie treats sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then they are ready to slice, serve and enjoy! 

Christmas Rice Krispie Treats Tips

• Cutting Bars – Allow bars to set for at least an hour before cutting.
• Pan Size – We used a 9×13 pan for this recipe. But if you prefer thicker bakery style bars, use an 8×8 size pan.
• Combine Ingredients – Combine the ingredients until just combined. Overmixing will result in the texture being hard.
• Pressing mixture into pan – Don’t pack the mixture into the pan. Firmly compacting the ingredients will make the bars lose their softness. This can be avoided by simply not pressing firmly into the pan.

How to Store Christmas Rice Krispie Treats

Store any leftover Rice Krispie treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.  

Do not store these treats in the refrigerator. They are best left to cool at room temperature so that they remain gooey and delicious.

We do not recommend freezing these crispy treats. Freezing them will change the texture of the treat.

How do you Cut Rice Krispie Treats neatly

When preparing the pan to add in the mixture, make sure that you have sprayed with cooking spray. I also like to line with parchment paper or wax paper as this allows you to easily remove the treats from the pan.

Then once the treats have been removed, simply take a knife and begin cutting into squares. It may be helpful to spray the knife with cooking spray. Wipe clean after each cut to prevent buildup.

Another option is to use a pizza cutter to cut the treats. Spray it with cooking spray and begin cutting in a individual squares.

Frequently Asked Questions