Want to make a cute holiday treat without spending hours in the kitchen? These Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats are perfect for busy moms who need an easy, festive holiday treat that’s ready in minutes.
With a simple tree shape design, and a combination of different cereals, you’ll have a fun and flavorful snack that is sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike.
What Makes these So Great
- These aren’t your old bland cereal treats. Using in a flavorful fruity cereal in the mix makes them taste amazing.
- No cookie cutters required = less waste, and less pain. (You know what I mean if you’ve ever tried to use a cookie cutter on rice Krispy treats)
- They’re colorful without having to place a dozen candies on each treat, which means you can spend time doing the most important thing…spending time with your family.
- They’re ready to eat in about 30 minutes, which makes them a perfect last-minute option for holiday parties and hostess gifts.
What You’ll Need:
Ingredients:
- Butter
- Mini marshmallows
- Fruity Pebbles cereal
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Green food coloring
- White chocolate chips
Supplies:
- Large jellyroll pan
- Parchment paper
- Microwave safe mixing bowls
- Spatula
- Rolling pin
Step-by-Step Directions:
To make things even easier for you, I created a simple photo guide below. For all measurements and a more detailed guide, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
First, Make the Fruity Pebbles Cereal Treat Mix
- Line a large jellyroll pan with parchment paper. Cut another large sheet of parchment and set both aside.
- To one large microwave safe bowl, add 3 tablespoons butter and 4 cups mini marshmallows.
- Microwave the butter and marshmallows on high for 1.5 minutes. Stir gently. Microwave an additional 1.5 minutes, then stir until smooth.
- Add 6 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal to the marshmallow mixture and stir until well incorporated.
- Drop scattered mounds of the treat mix onto the prepared jellyroll pan. Set aside.
Next, Make the Green Rice Cereal Treat Mix
- To another large microwave safe bowl, add 3 tablespoons butter and 4 cups mini marshmallows.
- Microwave the butter and marshmallows on high for 1.5 minutes. Stir gently. Microwave an additional 1.5 minutes, then stir until mostly smooth.
- Add several drops of green food coloring and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and the food coloring is evenly incorporated. Add more food coloring if necessary.
- Stir in 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal until evenly coated.
- Quickly drop the green cereal mixture onto the prepared pan in between the mounds of Fruity Pebble cereal. Try to fill in the gaps as much as possible.
Flatten and Cut out the Christmas Trees
- Place the second piece of parchment paper on top of the cereal mixture and gently use a rolling pin to make it flat and even. (See tips)
- If the cereal treat mixture is still soft or warm, place it in in the refrigerator or freezer for 5-10 to firm up.
- Remove the sheet of cereal treats from the jelly roll pan by using the bottom layer of parchment paper to slide the treats out of the pan onto a cutting board.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the sheet of cereal mixture into three long sections.
- Next, cut triangles out of the long sections by angling your knife back and forth until all the trees are cut out.
Decorate the Christmas Trees
- Place the Christmas tree triangles onto a sheet of parchment paper with at least 1 inch between each of the cereal treats.
- Add 1/2 – 3/4 cup white chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave the chocolate chips at 50% power for 20 seconds. Stir, and continue heating at 10 second intervals until smooth when stirred with a fork.
- Using the same fork, drizzle white chocolate over the treats with a back and forth motion. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.
Essential Tips:
Don’t skip these tips – read them before baking to avoid any potential mistakes.
- When rolling them flat, try not to compress the cereal too much, or the treats will become hard and difficult to bite.
- You may want tot trim the edges of the sheet of cereal treats before cutting to make sure everything’s even.
- Use some butter or butter flavored spray on your spatula to keep the marshmallow from sticking.
- If you don’t like the look of flicking a fork to create the drizzle, you can also pipe the chocolate onto the treats with a zip-top bag.
- White chocolate can burn easily. Make sure you heat the chips up slowly and check out my guide all about how to melt chocolate.
- If you want your chocolate to harden quickly, you can place the decorated cereal treats in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes. If you want to use vertical space, remember you can also use stacking cooling racks in the refrigerator too.
Storing Your Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats
Store your treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you are giving them as gifts, wrap them individually in cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon and a cute tag.
If you liked my Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats, you’re going to love my gingerbread magic bars. They’re full of all the warm holiday flavors with the ease of classic 7-layer bars.
Or you can check out my other Christmas desserts recipes here.
Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats
Made with two kinds of cereal, these colorful Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats are a delicious holiday treat that are sure to be a hit with everyone.
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 8 cups miniature marshmallows
- 6 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Green food coloring
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
Make the Fruity Pebbles Cereal Treat Mix
- Line a large jellyroll pan with parchment paper. Cut another large sheet of parchment and set both aside.
- To one large microwave safe bowl, add 3 tablespoons butter and 4 cups mini marshmallows.
- Microwave the butter and marshmallows on high for 1.5 minutes. Stir gently. Microwave an additional 1.5 minutes, then stir until smooth.
- Add 6 cups Fruity Pebbles cereal to the marshmallow mixture and stir until well incorporated.
- Drop scattered mounds of the treat mix onto the prepared jellyroll pan. Set aside.
Make the Green Rice Cereal Treat Mix
- To another large microwave safe bowl, add 3 tablespoons butter and 4 cups mini marshmallows.
- Microwave the butter and marshmallows on high for 1.5 minutes. Stir gently. Microwave an additional 1.5 minutes, then stir until mostly smooth.
- Add several drops of green food coloring and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth and the food coloring is evenly incorporated. Add more food coloring if necessary.
- Stir in 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal until evenly coated.
- Quickly drop the green cereal mixture onto the prepared pan in between the mounds of Fruity Pebble cereal. Try to fill in the gaps as much as possible.
Flatten and Cut out the Christmas Trees
- Place the second piece of parchment paper on top of the cereal mixture and gently use a rolling pin to make it flat and even. (See tips)
- If the cereal treat mixture is still soft or warm, place it in in the refrigerator or freezer for 5-10 to firm up.
- Remove the sheet of cereal treats from the jelly roll pan by using the bottom layer of parchment paper to slide the treats out of the pan onto a cutting board.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the sheet of cereal mixture into three long sections.
- Next, cut triangles out of the long sections by angling your knife back and forth until all the trees are cut out.
Decorate the Christmas Trees
- Place the Christmas tree triangles onto a sheet of parchment paper with at least 1 inch between each of the cereal treats.
- Add 1/2 - 3/4 cup white chocolate chips in a small microwave safe bowl.
- Microwave the chocolate chips at 50% power for 20 seconds. Stir, and continue heating at 10 second intervals until smooth when stirred with a fork.
- Using the same fork, drizzle white chocolate over the treats with a back and forth motion. Allow the chocolate to set before serving.
This post was originally published on December 12, 2016. It has been updated with step-by-step photos, more detailed tips, and a printable recipe card.
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