These Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are an easy treat for the holiday season! This no bake dessert is made with gooey marshmallows, rice krispie cereal, dark chocolate, and crushed peppermint - a great option for a cookie exchange or your Christmas dessert table.
As a dietitian, I typically make treats with less sugar and processed ingredients. But I'm all about balance and during the holidays I don't think you can't beat classic rice krispie treats for Christmas parties. This is the perfect treat to bring holiday cheer to family and friends!
My sweet niece helped me with the idea and creation of this recipe and we were so excited at how it turned out! She is super creative and had the idea to make little snowmen to top the Christmas Rice Krispies with when we had leftover marshmallows. They turned out so cute! We hope you enjoy this festive treat as much as we do. 😊
If you're looking for a healthier dessert option, try my Hot Chocolate Covered Dates or 4 Ingredient Oatmeal Cookies!
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Key Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
These Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are made with simple ingredients. Below are some ingredient notes. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and full recipe.
- Rice Krispie Cereal - you'll need crispy rice cereal to make homemade rice krispie treats. Look for gluten-free on the label if you want to make these festive treats GF!
- Mini Marshmallows - you can use large marshmallows instead but they will take longer to melt. Marshmallows help give these holiday treats a fluffy texture.
- Unsalted Butter - unsalted butter makes this Christmas rice krispie treats recipe nice and moist.
- Peppermint Extract - just a small amount of peppermint extract goes a long way so be sure to measure it accurately.
- Crushed Peppermint - you can use candy canes and crush them or grab store-bought crushed peppermint. This is added on top of the cereal bars to add some holiday flare to the classic treats.
- Dark Chocolate Chips - dark chocolate chips or chocolate chunks work perfectly. I use Ghirardelli's brand, but any brand works!
- Sea Salt - a bit of sea salt brings out the sweetness in these yummy treats.
How to Make Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
Below are the instructions for how to make these easy holiday treat with some visuals that I hope are helpful!
- Step 1: Prep a 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray. Heat a large saucepan or dutch oven on medium-low heat. Melt butter in the hot pot. Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows and stir until they are almost totally melted.
2. Step 2: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract, salt, and cereal. Give it a few stirs with a large spoon until the cereal mixture is completed coated with the melted marshmallows.
3. Step 3: Add in the chocolate chips and stir until they are mostly melted.
4. Step 4: Transfer the sticky mixture to the prepared pan and pat it down to an even layer.
5. Step 5: Sprinkle crushed candy cane on top of the crispy treats and let them cool to room temperature.
6. Step 6: Cut into squares and top with marshmallow snowmen on a toothpick.
Hint: To make it easier to layer the sticky mixture in the pan, add a layer of wax paper or plastic wrap on top and flatten them with a buttered spatula.
Video of How to Make Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
Here's a recipe of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Dietitian Tip
If you're cutting back on added sugars this holiday season, cut one of these Christmas Rice Krispy treats in half and split it with a loved one!
Variations
The best part about making these holiday rice krispie treats at home is you can customize them to your liking. Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative!
- White Chocolate - replace the dark chocolate in these delicious treats with white chocolate chips! Add white chocolate drizzles on top.
- Sugar Cookies - add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and Christmas sprinkles to the melted marshmallow mixture - the perfect holiday treat!
- Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - get in the holiday spirit by using a Christmas tree cookie cutter to shape them into Christmas trees and add pretzel sticks to form the stem of the tree. Use green food coloring to make this fun holiday treat more vibrant and colorful!
- Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats - cut them into squares and add 2 mini pretzels to make reindeer ears, green M&M candies to make eyes, and a red M&M to make a red nose.
- Extra Marshmallows - if you love extra chewy rice krispie treats, adjust your ratio of marshmallows to cereal by adding more marshmallows.
Storage for Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
- Room Temperature - store these Christmas rice krispies treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use PEPPERMINT extract and not MINT extract which is much stronger.
- Be patient while the marshmallows melt! It may be tempting to turn the heat up to medium heat or high, but it will result in a tough and hard rice krispie treat.
- Don't forget to remove the pot from the heat once the marshmallows are melted before adding the cereal.
- Let them cool to room temperature before cutting them into squares.
FAQ
Absolutely! Use vegan marshmallows and chocolate to make this recipe vegan.
Yes, as long as you use gluten-free rice krispie cereal, this recipe is gluten-free.
Simple add 3 mini marshmallows to a toothpick and use an orange sprinkle to make the nose. Make the eyes, mouth, and buttons using melted dark chocolate.
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I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram....I LOVE knowing there’s people out there trying out my recipes! 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats (Chocolate Peppermint)
Equipment
- 1 dutch oven or large pot
- 1 9x9 inch pan
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 10 oz mini marshmallows
- 6 cups rice krispies
- ½ teaspoon peppermint extract
- pinch sea salt
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup crushed peppermint
Instructions
- Prep a 9x9 inch baking dish with parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray.
- Heat a large saucepan or dutch oven on medium-low heat. Melt butter in the hot pot.
- Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows and stir until they are almost totally melted.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract, salt, and cereal. Give it a few stirs with a large spoon until the cereal mixture is completed coated with the melted marshmallows.
- Add in the chocolate chips and stir until they are mostly melted.
- Transfer the sticky mixture to the prepared pan and pat it down to an even layer.
- Sprinkle crushed candy cane on top of the crispy treats and let them cool to room temperature.
- Cut into squares and top with marshmallow snowmen on a toothpick.
- Hint: To make it easier to layer the sticky mixture in the pan, add a layer of wax paper or plastic wrap on top and flatten them with a buttered spatula.
Video
Notes
- Be sure to use PEPPERMINT extract and not MINT extract which is much stronger.
- Be patient while the marshmallows melt! It may be tempting to turn the heat up to medium heat or high, but it will result in a tough and hard rice krispie treat.
- Don't forget to remove the pot from the heat once the marshmallows are melted before adding the cereal.
- Let them cool to room temperature before cutting them into squares.
- Room Temperature - store these Christmas rice krispies treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator - store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
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