Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

If you’re looking for a super fun and festive treat this holiday season, you’re going to adore this Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe. I absolutely love how these little green trees come together—crispy, chewy, and perfectly sweet with a pop of color that will make your holiday table shine. Plus, decorating them is half the fun, especially if you have little helpers around. Stick with me and I’ll share all my best tips for making these festive treats a hit in your kitchen!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

This Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe relies on simple basics that work beautifully together. The key is using mini marshmallows—that way, they melt quickly and smoothly, coating the cereal perfectly. And the green gel food coloring helps you get that vibrant tree color without watering down the mix. Let’s dive into what you’ll need:

• Salted butter: Using salted gives just the right balance of flavor; I like to dice it so it melts evenly without burning.
• Mini marshmallows: These melt quicker than large ones, giving you smooth, sticky marshmallow goodness.
• Green gel food coloring: Gel is best because a little goes a long way without thinning your mixture.
• Rice Krispies cereal: Classic for that crispy, light texture – makes these treats just right.
• White decorating icing: I usually grab a tube from the store for ease, perfect for “gluing” on your toppings.
• Miniature Reese’s peanut butter cups: Unwrapped and used as “tree stumps” – adds a fun chocolate-peanut butter twist.
• Round red sprinkles: These mimic ornaments and add cheerful color.
• Star sprinkles or yellow mini M&Ms: For the tree topper – my kids insist on making these extra special!

Variations

I love this recipe because it’s so easy to make your own spin on it. Over the years, I’ve tried swapping out some decorations or playing with flavors to keep it fresh and fun. Don’t be afraid to get creative with what you’ve got!

• Nut-Free Variation: Instead of Reese’s, use mini chocolate chips or candy melts if you need to avoid nuts – still festive and delicious!
• Flavored Marshmallow Twist: Try adding peppermint extract to the marshmallow melt for a minty holiday vibe; my family goes crazy for this surprise flavor.
• Gluten-Free Option: Ensure you use gluten-free crispy rice cereal; this recipe is naturally gluten-free otherwise.
• Colored Trees: Make some blue or red fun trees using different gel colors for variety on your holiday dessert table.

How to Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

Step 1: Melt Butter and Marshmallows

Start by melting your diced salted butter over medium-low heat in a large saucepan. I like this gentle heat because it helps avoid scorching the butter. Once melted, toss in your mini marshmallows and stir constantly until they’re completely melted and smooth. Here’s my favorite part: add the green gel food coloring bit by bit and stir until you get that perfect, festive shade of green. Don’t worry if it looks a little bright at first – it tones down once you add the cereal.

Step 2: Combine with Rice Krispies Cereal

Remove your marshmallow mixture from heat and add in the Rice Krispies cereal. Gently fold it all together using a spatula or wooden spoon until the cereal is evenly coated with the green marshmallow mixture. This part is all about being thorough but gentle—you want each cereal bit covered without squashing it all.

Step 3: Shape Your Trees

To shape your trees, spray your hands lightly with non-stick cooking spray – trust me, this keeps the sticky marshmallow from gluing itself to your fingers. Then scoop about ⅓ to ½ cup of mixture and press firmly into a cone shape to resemble mini Christmas trees. The firmer you press, the better they’ll hold their shape. I like to set them on parchment paper as I go so they don’t stick and can cool easily.

Step 4: Decorate Your Trees

Now for the fun! Use white decorating icing to “glue” on your round red sprinkles as ornaments and your star sprinkles or yellow mini M&Ms as tree toppers. For a special touch, put a little icing on the bottom of each miniature Reese’s peanut butter cup and place it under your tree as the trunk. If you want the icing to harden to hold everything perfectly in place, let the trees sit at room temperature overnight. Or, if you’re like me, just dive in and enjoy them right away!

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

Garnishes

I like to keep the garnishes festive and colorful: red round sprinkles as ornaments always look charming, and a sparkling star sprinkle or a bright yellow mini M&M as the tree topper finishes it beautifully. For a little extra holiday sparkle, you can dust crushed peppermint candy around the base or add edible glitter if you want to impress the kids even more.

Side Dishes

These treats are a perfect sweet finisher alongside a warm cup of hot cocoa or eggnog. You could also serve fruit and cheese platters to balance the richness, or include them on a cookie tray for holiday parties where everyone can nibble throughout the evening.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve found that stacking a few Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats on a cake stand creates an adorable mini forest centerpiece. Wrapping them individually in clear cellophane tied with festive ribbons makes lovely party favors, and placing them on holiday-themed plates or trays really elevates their presentation when hosting friends and family.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftover treats in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them nice and chewy. Just make sure they’re not exposed to too much humidity, or they might get a little sticky. They stay great for about 3-4 days this way—though they hardly last that long in my house!

Freezing

If you want to make these ahead and freeze them, wrap each treat tightly in plastic wrap first, then place in a freezer-safe container or bag. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The texture holds up surprisingly well, though the decorations can get a little softer.

Reheating

I don’t typically reheat Rice Krispies treats, but if you want to soften them up a bit, just pop them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds on low power. Be careful—they can get marshmallow gooey real fast! It’s best to enjoy them fresh whenever possible.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

When I first made this Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe, I wasn’t sure if shaping the treats into trees would be tricky, but it ended up being such a joyful process. I love how these treats brighten up the holiday table and bring everyone together for a little decorating fun. If you try them, I’m pretty sure you’ll find yourself making them year after year—it’s that kind of recipe that becomes a holiday tradition. So grab your ingredients, get comfy in the kitchen, and enjoy making your own crispy, sweet mini forests this Christmas!

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