Easy Rice Krispie Holiday Treats Recipe: Christmas Delight
These Rice Krispie holiday treats are an easy, no-bake dessert that is perfect for your next holiday party. A gooey marshmallow treat that won’t last long on the dessert table since kids and adults both love these rice crispy treats. They look festive, taste delicious, and they require minimal effort—which, during the busy holiday season, is about all any of us can hope for.
About Rice Krispie Holiday Treats Recipe
These Rice Krispie holiday treats feature a white chocolate drizzle, red and green M&Ms, and sprinkles, transforming the classic marshmallow treat into something that looks as good as it tastes. Most of us have probably made basic Rice Krispie treats at some point, but this version takes things just a step further without getting complicated.
What makes these treats so appealing is their accessibility. They come together in 15 minutes (plus some cooling time), which means you can whip them up on a busy December afternoon and still have time to enjoy the rest of your day. No oven, no fuss—just a quick melt, mix, and press dessert that even kids can help with. The white chocolate drizzle adds a touch of elegance, while the colorful candies and sprinkles bring all the holiday spirit you could want.
A Look at the Ingredients & Substitutions
Ingredients needed for this holiday Rice Krispies recipe:
- 6 cups rice cereal
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- ½ cup white chocolate or melts
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons Christmas sprinkles
- 40-50 red and green Christmas M&Ms
Vanilla extract – A splash of vanilla ties the flavors together. Pure vanilla is best, but imitation will do in a pinch.
Rice Krispies cereal – The base of this recipe. Any puffed rice cereal will work, but the classic brand has the best texture.
Marshmallows – Mini marshmallows melt quickly, but regular ones work just fine. They’re what make the bars soft and chewy.
Unsalted butter – Creates a smooth, rich base for melting everything together. Salted butter works too—just don’t add any extra salt.
M&M Candies– red and green Christmas M&Ms add a pop of color to these Rice Krispie holiday treats. They also add crunch and chocolate flavor. Other options include chopped peppermint candy or chocolate peppermint bark.
Step by Step With Photos
I like to start by prepping things so that I can move quickly once the butter and marshmallows are melted. Line a 9″x13″ baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Measure 6 cups of rice crispy cereal into a bowl and set aside.
Melt 1/4 cup butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, and then add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Add 10 ounces of mini marshmallows.
Stir the marshmallows for about 5-7 minutes, until melted and smooth.
Remove the pan from the heat, add 6 cups of Rice Crispy cereal, and stir until thoroughly mixed.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan.
Gently press the cereal mixture into an even layer. Don’t press too hard and compact the cereal. Let the treats sit for 30 minutes, until firm.
Remove the treats from the pan and transfer to a work surface.
Melt 1/2 cup white chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals until smooth.
Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the treats and top with sprinkles and M&Ms. Plus extra mini marshmallows if you’d like.
Drizzle extra melted white chocolate over the Rice Krispie treats and top with more sprinkles.
Let the chocolate harden and then cut the Rice Krispie holiday treats into bars.
Freezing and Storing
Store the Rice Krispie bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to keep that crispy-chewy texture. They will last longer than that, but I think after 3 days they tend to dry out a bit. Avoid the fridge unless your kitchen is super warm. The cold temperature can make them tough.
You can also freeze the bars. Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and place them in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. When you want to enjoy, thaw them at room temperature for about 30 minutes before eating.
I hope you enjoy making these Rice Krispie holiday treats. Turn a regular rice cereal treat into something special for Christmas. With the melted white chocolate, M&Ms, and sprinkles on top, these bars are equally delicious and pretty. Sell them at a holiday bake sale, or church fair, and you’re sure to hit the jackpot.
One of my favorite rice cereal treats is Scotcheroos. Peanut butter Rice Krispies topped with chocolate. This is a family favorite! A couple more no bake treats to make are these Rice Krispies with Sprinkles, Butterscotch Rice Krispies, and Rice Krispie Caramel Squares.
If you try this Rice Krispie Holiday Treats recipe, or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and tell me how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting and happy baking!
Christmas Rice Krispies
Equipment
- Saucepan
- 9×13 Baking pan
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Microwave safe bowl
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- ½ cup white chocolate
- 2 Tablespoons mini Christmas sprinkles
- 40-50 red and green M&Ms
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with foil and lightly grease it.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the salt and vanilla.
- Add the marshmallows and stir until melted and smooth, about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Remove from heat and fold in the Rice Krispies cereal until fully coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan.
- With greased hands or rubber spatula, gently press into an even layer.
- Let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, until firm.
- Remove from the pan and place on a cutting board.
- Melt the white chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth. Drizzle over the top, then add sprinkles and M&Ms.
- Add another drizzle of white chocolate and a few more sprinkles for extra color.
- Let set until hardened, then cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- You can use milk or dark chocolate instead of white if you prefer.
- Add crushed candy canes, festive mini marshmallows, or any holiday candy.
- Store treats in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days.
Follow me on Pinterest for more fun and easy cookie recipes for any occasion. And if you try this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and let me know how it went.
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