Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
These adorable Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are shaped into holiday wreathes, and decorated with red candy ribbons. They're simple, fun, festive, and an easy treat to make with the kids!
Servings: 16 treats
Calories: 166.9kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 40 marshmallows regular size
- 1/4 tsp natural green food dye
- 6 cups brown rice cereal
- 1/2 cup red candy melts
- 1/2 cup yellow candy melts
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
- Add gel food coloring to melted marshmallows and mix until tinted.
- Add rice cereal and fold until all ingredients are well combined.
- Use a spatula to evenly spread the rice cereal treats mixture onto the lined pan. Shape the it to be about 8 inches x 10 inches.
- Allow the Rice Krispies to set for about 10 minutes.
- Use a circular cookie cutter, 2 ½ inches in diameter in size and cut out circle-shaped rice cereal treats. Use another cookie cutter, ¾ inch in diameter and cut out circles in the center of each treat. You should get about 12 treats.
- Take all the leftover scraps of the rice krispie mixture and reform it on the baking sheet, repeat the cookie cutter (large then small) process in the step above. You should be able to get 4 more treats.
- Add red candy melts into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, mixing between each interval.
- Scoop the melted candy into a piping bag. Pipe out a red bow on the bottom of each rice cereal treat wreath. To form the shape of a bow, begin by piping out two circles attached together, similar to an infinity sign. Next, pipe out two lines in the center.
- Next, melt the yellow candy the same way you did the red candy melts. Scoop into another piping bag, and pipe out little yellow circle dots around the wreath (about 6).
- Allow to set and serve.
Notes
Variations and Substitutions
- Vegan: To make this recipe vegan use vegan marshmallows (like Dandies), and vegan butter. Check that the melted candies for decorating are dairy free before using, or use vegan Christmas sprinkles to decorate.
- Different Shapes: You can easily turn these treats into Christmas trees by using a Christmas tree cookie cutter! Or choose your own favorite holiday shapes!
- Different Flavors: Try adding some chocolate (dark, milk, or white) drizzled on top for chocolate rice krispie treats, use peppermint marshmallows for peppermint rice krispies, add vanilla extract for vanilla flavored treats, or add cinnamon sugar for cinnamon rice krispie treats!
- Use a non-stick saucepan that is large enough to fit all of the ingredients. This will help keep the marshmallow mixture from sticking to the pan.
- Be sure to line your baking sheet with parchment paper for easy release.
- Spread the rice krispie mixture into an even layer. You can place parchment paper on top of the rice krispie layer, and then another baking sheet on top and press firmly to ensure it is flat and even. Alternatively, you can wet your fingers with water slightly before pressing down to keep them from sticking.
- Don't over-press your treats! Gently press them just until they are spread out. If you pack them in too tightly, they will turn out to be tough vs. moist and soft!
- Make sure your marshmallows are fresh - stale marshmallows will result in stale-tasting treats.
- Use natural food coloring to keep this recipe healthy!
Nutrition
Serving: 1treat | Calories: 166.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 29.8g | Protein: 0.8g | Fat: 4.7g | Saturated Fat: 3.6g | Cholesterol: 5.8mg | Sodium: 100mg | Sugar: 18.3g