Introduction

Rice Krispie Christmas Trees are a fun and festive treat perfect for the holiday season. These green, crunchy, and sweet snacks are easy to make and great for kids and adults alike. With simple ingredients and adorable decoration options, they bring holiday cheer to any gathering.

The image shows six green triangular treats shaped like Christmas trees, each made of puffed rice cereal and held together by a green coating. They have white icing drizzled in a zigzag pattern across the front to resemble garlands, and are decorated with small round and star-shaped colorful candies in red, gold, silver, green, and blue colors, scattered unevenly as ornaments. Each tree has a brown pretzel stick at the bottom acting as the trunk. Sprinkles matching the colors of the candies are scattered on the white marbled surface around the treats. In the top center, there is a small white bowl filled with green, red, and gold sprinkles. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
16 ounces marshmallows (about 64 regular or 8 cups miniature)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups Rice Krispie cereal

Green gel food coloring
12 mini pretzel sticks

Christmas sprinkles
4 ounces white candy melts or white chocolate chips

Instructions

Step 1: Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. If you don’t have parchment paper, lightly grease the dish to prevent sticking.

Step 2: In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter and marshmallows together, stirring continuously with a silicone spatula. Once melted, add the vanilla extract and stir quickly.
Step 3: Turn off the heat. While the marshmallow mixture is still hot, stir in green gel food coloring until you reach your desired tree color. Immediately fold in the Rice Krispie cereal until fully coated.
Step 4: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Place an additional piece of parchment paper on top and gently but firmly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Let cool completely for at least one hour.

Step 5: Lift the cooled mixture out of the pan using the parchment paper. On a cutting board, cut the rectangle in half lengthwise, then cut each half into six triangles to create tree shapes. Carefully insert a pretzel stick at the base of each triangle to serve as the tree trunk.
Step 6: Melt the white candy melts or white chocolate chips in a small heatproof bowl according to package instructions, using half power for a smooth consistency. Transfer the melted chocolate to a freezer zip-top bag, snip off a corner, and drizzle the chocolate over each tree. Immediately sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.

Tips & Variations

If you don’t have parchment paper, lightly grease the baking dish and use a spatula to press the mixture down.

For extra festive colors, try different gel food coloring shades to make rainbow trees.
Swap pretzel sticks with candy canes or toasted nuts for a unique trunk.
Use regular chocolate chips if candy melts aren’t available—white chocolate chips work great as well.

Storage

Store the Rice Krispie Christmas Trees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Keep them away from heat or humidity to prevent the marshmallow from becoming sticky. If needed, re-crisp by microwaving for a few seconds but enjoy fresh for best texture.

How to Serve

The image shows green Christmas tree-shaped treats made of puffed rice cereal. Each tree has two layers of shiny green cereal mixed together, decorated with small round and star-shaped candy sprinkles in red, gold, green, white, and silver, giving a festive look. White icing is drizzled across each tree in a zigzag pattern, resembling garlands. The tree trunks are made from light brown pretzel sticks placed at the bottom of each triangle. The treats are placed on a white marbled surface, scattered with more colorful sprinkles around them. A small white bowl filled with red, green, gold, and white sprinkles sits near the top center between the treats. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use marshmallow fluff instead of marshmallows?

Yes, marshmallow fluff can be used as a substitute, but use about 4 cups of fluff since it’s more concentrated. Adjust butter accordingly and melt gently to avoid burning.

How do I get the green color to be vibrant?

Gel food coloring works best for bright, vivid colors without thinning the marshmallow mixture. Add color gradually and mix well until you achieve your desired shade.