Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treats Recipe for Holiday Parties

Chocolate Rice Krispie treats shaped into festive Christmas trees — a quick, fun holiday treat.

christmas rice krispie treats

December is here and with it the best season for easy, cheerful baking. These chocolate Rice Krispie treats are perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or a cozy night in. They’re simple to make, can be cut into tree shapes, and decorated however you like.

chocolate christmas tree rice krispie treats
bite shot

How to make chocolate Rice Krispie treats

Rice Krispie treats are one of the quickest desserts to prepare. This chocolate version is adapted from a popular peanut butter recipe and uses melted marshmallows and chocolate to coat the cereal for a rich, gooey texture. The marshmallow fluff folded in at the end creates pockets of extra chewiness.

ingredients for rice krispie treats
melting butter and marshmallows

Start by melting butter and marshmallows in a saucepan, stirring frequently until smooth. Add unsweetened cocoa and chocolate chips, stirring until they’re fully melted and combined. Pour the chocolate-marshmallow mixture over the cereal and stir just until the mixture is about halfway blended. Finally, fold in marshmallow fluff (or mini marshmallows) so it remains slightly visible in clumps — this keeps the treats extra gooey.

melting the chocolate
mixing marshmallow fluff

How to make Christmas Rice Krispie treats

To cut the treats into Christmas trees, let the pan of Rice Krispie mixture set until it’s firm but not completely cold. If chilled fully, the mixture will be hard to cut. Lift the slab from the pan, press a tree-shaped cookie cutter into the surface until it reaches the bottom, and use a knife to free the shape. If edges look messy, trim them with a knife. Melt additional chocolate and drizzle over the trees, then finish with festive sprinkles. You can use white chocolate colored with food dye for a different look if desired.

chocolate rice krispie treats
cutting out christmas trees

How to store Rice Krispie treats

Store these treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one day. For longer storage, refrigerate them in a covered container for up to a week. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled for the best texture.

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christmas rice krispie treats

I hope you enjoy making these little Christmas tree treats — they’re fun to cut out, decorate, and share. If you try the recipe, tag the creator on social media to show off your results. Happy baking and Merry Christmas!

Love, B

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Recipes

Brownies & Bars

Christmas Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

5 from 2 votes
prep 20
Additional Time2
total 2 20
Serves 12 trees
Chocolate Rice Krispie treats made with chocolate rice krispie treats and cut out into cute little Christmas trees!
Author: Bernice Baran
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Binder clips (to secure parchment)
  • 8-inch square baking pan

Ingredients

Rice Krispies

  • 120 grams Kellogg’s® Rice Krispies® cereal
  • 113 grams unsalted butter, softened
  • 285 grams marshmallows
  • 20 grams unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 170 grams dark chocolate chips
  • 165 grams marshmallow fluff

Topping

  • 45 grams chocolate chips
  • sprinkles

Method

  1. Grease and line an 8″ pan with parchment paper and use binder clips to secure it. Place the Rice Krispies cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
  2. In a large saucepan, melt butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Add cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips and stir until fully melted and combined.
  3. Pour the chocolate-marshmallow mixture over the cereal and stir until about halfway combined. Fold in marshmallow fluff so it remains slightly distributed in pockets rather than fully blended.
  4. Press the mixture into the prepared pan and allow it to set for 1–2 hours until firm but not rock hard. Use a Christmas tree cookie cutter to cut shapes; press and re-cut any leftover scraps.
  5. Melt chocolate chips for the topping in short intervals in the microwave or using a double boiler, stirring until smooth. Drizzle over the trees and add sprinkles.

Notes

Swap marshmallow fluff for mini marshmallows if you prefer — fold them in while the mixture is still warm so they melt slightly.

White chocolate makes a lovely drizzle and accepts food coloring well if you want colored decorations.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 2g
Course: Brownies & Bars
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate rice krispie treat, christmas cookies, christmas dessert, christmas rice krispie, rice krispie, rice krispie treat

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