The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
Rice Krispie Christmas Trees are a festive and fun treat perfect for the holiday season. Grab the kids because they’ll love making these easy treats with you.
It costs around $3.55 to make this recipe. This recipe costs about $0.19 per serving and makes eighteen servings.
Rice Krispie Christmas Tree
Sometimes, it is just easier to make something without overthinking it. That is precisely what you can do with our recipe. Follow our step-by-step directions, and decorate these Rice Krispie Christmas Trees the same way we do, or decorate them differently.
This is a fun Christmas activity that will get everyone involved. This hands-on activity is simple enough for little ones and festive enough for experienced bakers.
The recipe is versatile enough to spend as little or as much time decorating them as you want. We have spent so much time creating these with our families that we have all the tips and tricks for involving your little ones. Also, we have pictures of how we decorated our trees to get your creative juices flowing.
These festive Rice Krispie Christmas trees are perfect for an afterschool snack, holiday dinner dessert, decorating party with friends, or decorations alongside our Homemade Gingerbread Recipe or Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses.
What You’ll Love About These Rice Krispie Christmas Treats
- No-Bake Treat: There is no need to heat the oven with this recipe. It is a simple, no-bake recipe that can be easily made.
- Festive Fun: This can be a fun yearly tradition to create these Christmas Treats using Rice Krispies and food coloring to make year after year with friends and loved ones.
- Versatile Decorations: There are so many options as to what you can use to decorate these trees. Some examples include mini M&M’s, red hots, sprinkles, powdered sugar, and frosting. Use your favorite candies, and the possibilities are endless.
Ingredients & Estimated Cost:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter – $0.56
- 10 oz bag mini marshmallows – $1.25
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract – $0.23
- Green food coloring – $0.01
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal – $1.50
The recipe cost is calculated by the amounts needed for the recipe. To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained. The pricing for this recipe was updated in October 2023.
How To Make Rice Krispie Christmas Trees
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
- First, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Then, melt the butter over medium-low heat in a large saucepan.
- Next, stir in the marshmallows until melted.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and green food coloring.
- Let the mixture cool for about five minutes before spraying your hands with non-stick cooking spray and shape about ⅓-½ cup of the mixture into a tree shape.
- Set the finished trees on the baking sheet to set for thirty to sixty minutes.
- Finally, decorate the trees to your liking.
Serving and Storage Tips
Serve:
1. Once you’ve made and decorated the Rice Krispies Christmas trees, you can serve them immediately. Place them on a festive serving platter or dish for presentation.
Store:
1. If you have leftover Rice Krispies Christmas trees or want to prepare them in advance, store them in an airtight container or a single layer in a large container separated by parchment paper or wax paper.
2. Keep the container at room temperature for 2-3 days to maintain freshness and crispness.
Freeze:
1. To freeze the Rice Krispies Christmas trees for more extended storage, individually wrap each tree in plastic or aluminum foil.
2. Place the wrapped trees in a freezer-safe, airtight container or a resealable freezer bag.
3. Label the container or bag with the date for reference.
4. Store in the freezer for up to 1-2 months.
Thaw:
1. When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen Rice Krispies Christmas trees, remove them from the freezer and unwrap them.
2. Allow the trees to thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Rice Krispie Christmas Trees Recipe FAQs
These Rice Krispie Christmas Trees will stay trees for about two days when stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
Rice Krispie treats are all about the ratios. We have made rice krispie treats for years and have perfected the recipe. Too much butter or marshmallows can create wet and sticky treats.
We recommend using fresh marshmallows. Stale marshmallows do not melt properly, making mixing difficult.
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Set up a decoration station for your little ones to have a fun, hands-on experience decorating a tree how they would like.
Ages 4-5: Talk about shapes and have your child help form the cones for a fun, hands-on experience. Have them help you unwrap the candies and put them into bowls.
Ages 6-8: Your child can pre-measure the ingredients and mix them to make the Rice Krispies.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe unsupervised while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
We have found it cost-effective to make our Homemade Vanilla to use in various recipes like this one.
Rice Krispie Christmas Trees
Equipment
- baking sheet
- large saucepan
- mixing spoon
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
FOR THE TREES:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 10 oz bag mini marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green food coloring
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
FOR DECORATING: (all optional)
- Sprinkles
- Mini M&M’s candies
- Powdered Sugar for snow
- White decorator icing
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Candy for trunk
Instructions
PREP BAKING SHEET:
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
MAKE TREES:
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat.
- Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
- Remove from heat and add in vanilla extract and a very small amount of green food coloring until you reach the desired shade.
- Stir in cereal until evenly coated.
- Allow to cool about 5 minutes or until you can easily handle the mixture, but not too long or it will harden and be difficult to work with.
- Spray your hands with non-stick cooking spray and shape about ⅓ – ½ cup of the mixture into a cone/tree shape, pressing firmly together.
- The trees can be different sizes.
- Set the tree on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining mixture.
DECORATE TREES:
- After the trees have set, about 30-60 minutes, decorate them how you like.
Leave a Reply