Christmas Rice Crispy Treats: Festive, Cozy, and Irresistible Holiday Bites

If there’s one treat that instantly makes your kitchen feel like Santa’s workshop (minus the reindeer hair), it’s Christmas Rice Crispy Treats. These little holiday gems are cute, quick, and perfect for anyone who wants to bring festive cheer without spending hours baking. As someone who lives for low-effort, high-reward recipes, trust me—you’re going to love how simple and satisfying these are.

During the holidays, life gets busy—school concerts, end-of-year deadlines, gift shopping, and trying to remember where you hid that present you bought in October. That’s exactly why recipes like this feel like a warm hug. They’re easy, nostalgic, crowd-pleasing, and fun to make (yes, even with “helpers” under the age of 10).

So grab your sprinkles, your marshmallows, and your holiday spirit. Let’s whip up a batch that’ll make your house smell like cozy joy.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Rice Crispy Treats

There’s something magical about Christmas Rice Crispy Treats—they’re basically the holiday version of edible joy. Here’s why they’ll become your new December tradition:

• Quick and foolproof: The entire recipe takes under 30 minutes.
• Kid-friendly: Perfect for little hands to help roll and decorate.
• Festive and beautiful: The sprinkles add instant holiday sparkle.
• Great for gifting: They pack perfectly into cookie boxes or tins.
• Crowd-pleasing: Adults love them as much as kids (sometimes more).

And did I mention they require zero oven time? That’s the holiday miracle we didn’t know we needed.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• 3 cups puffed rice cereal
• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows (or 1 cup mini marshmallows + 1/4 cup marshmallow fluff)
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups white chocolate chips or white chocolate candy melts
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional, for smoother melting)
• 1/2 cup red, green, and white nonpareils

How to Make Christmas Rice Crispy Treats

Step 1: Make the Rice Crispy Mixture

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, add the mini marshmallows (and marshmallow fluff if you’re using it). Stir gently until everything is smooth, gooey, and fully melted — like a cozy little snowman puddle in your pot.
Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Fold in the puffed rice cereal until every piece is coated. Let the mixture cool for 2–3 minutes so it’s warm but comfortable to handle.

Step 2: Shape the Bars (or Roll into Balls — Optional)

For classic bars (as shown in the photos), press the warm mixture firmly into a parchment-lined 8×8 pan. Use a greased spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth the top. Let it cool for 20–30 minutes, then lift it out and cut into squares.
Optional: If you prefer bite-sized treats, lightly grease your hands with butter or cooking spray and roll the mixture into 1–1.5 inch balls. Place them on parchment paper to cool.

Step 3: Melt the White Chocolate

Place the white chocolate chips or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 20–30 second intervals, stirring between each round until smooth. If the chocolate seems thick, stir in a little coconut oil. Let it rest for a minute — slightly thicker chocolate clings beautifully to the bars.

Step 4: Drizzle or Dip and Decorate

For bars, drizzle the melted white chocolate over the tops of the squares using a spoon.
For balls, dip the tops or roll each one lightly in the chocolate. Tap gently with a fork to remove excess.
Immediately add red, green, and white sprinkles while the chocolate is still soft.

Step 5: Let Them Set

Let the treats sit at room temperature until the chocolate firms up, or place them in the refrigerator for 15–20 minutes for a quicker set. Once ready, arrange them on a festive holiday plate or store them in an airtight container..

Tips for Perfect Christmas Rice Crispy Treats

• If the mixture seems too sticky: Let it cool a bit longer before rolling. Warm marshmallow can be clingy (relatable, honestly).
• If the chocolate gets too thick: Stir in another splash of coconut oil to loosen it.
• Want a stronger vanilla flavor? Add an extra 1/4 teaspoon. It gives these treats cozy sugar cookie vibes.
• For extra crunch: Add more nonpareils into the mix before rolling. It’s like hidden Christmas magic.

This recipe saved me one December when the week felt like an endless to-do list. Between work emails, wrapping gifts, and trying to remember when the kids needed to wear pajamas to school, these fast, festive treats felt like a tiny win. And sometimes tiny wins are everything, especially during the holidays.

FAQs About Christmas Rice Crispy Treats

Bringing the Holiday Magic Home

Christmas Rice Crispy Treats are the kind of recipe that turns simple ingredients into something festive, fun, and totally irresistible. Whether you’re making them for a school party, a holiday potluck, or just a cozy night with the family, they bring that nostalgic holiday warmth we all crave.

And in true SlowCookersRecipes style, they’re low-effort, budget-friendly, and big on flavor—my favorite kind of treat.

If your December has felt like a whirlwind, let this recipe be your moment of calm and comfort. Pour a cup of cocoa, turn on some twinkle lights, and enjoy every sweet, crunchy bite.

More Festive Treats You’ll Love

If you enjoyed these Christmas Rice Crispy Treats, here are a few more fun, delicious holiday recipes you might like exploring next. They’re all simple, cheerful, and perfect for gifting or adding to your dessert table.

• If you love no-bake goodies, these cute and creamy holiday bites are a must-try:
  Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake Truffles
• For something sweet, salty, and totally eye-catching, you’ll enjoy these festive dipped treats:
  easy Christmas Pretzel Rods
• If you want a colorful treat kids adore (and adults sneak seconds of), take a peek at:
  festive Christmas Oreos
• And if you’re in the mood for something rich, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, don’t miss:
  Sugar Cookie Christmas Fudge
• For anyone who wants the classic nostalgic version of the iconic marshmallow treat, here’s a helpful guide:
  classic marshmallow treats recipe

Christmas Rice Crispy Treats: Festive, Cozy, and Irresistible Holiday Bites

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• Author: Mounia
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 18–22 bite-sized treats (depending on size) 1x

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Description

These Christmas Rice Crispy Treats are festive, fun, and incredibly simple to make. With gooey marshmallows, crispy cereal, smooth white chocolate, and holiday sprinkles, they’re the perfect no-bake treat for parties, gift boxes, or cozy nights at home.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 cups puffed rice cereal

• 1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows (or 1 cup mini marshmallows + 1/4 cup marshmallow fluff)

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 2 cups white chocolate chips or white chocolate candy melts

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil (optional)

• 1/2 cup red, green, and white nonpareils

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows (and marshmallow fluff if using) and stir until completely melted and smooth.

2. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Fold in the puffed rice cereal until fully coated. Allow the mixture to cool for 2–3 minutes.

3. Shape the Treats:
   For bars (as shown in the photos), press the warm mixture firmly into a parchment-lined 8×8 pan. Let it cool for 20–30 minutes, then cut into squares.
   Optional: If you prefer bite-sized treats, lightly grease your hands and roll the mixture into 1–1.5 inch balls. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet to cool.

4. Melt the White Chocolate:
   Add the white chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 20–30 second intervals, stirring between each round until smooth. Add a little coconut oil if you want a thinner drizzle.

5. Decorate the Treats:
   For bars, drizzle the melted chocolate over the tops of the squares.
   For balls, dip the tops or roll each one lightly in the chocolate, using a fork to shake off any excess.
   Immediately add holiday sprinkles before the chocolate sets.

Notes

If the mixture feels too sticky to roll, let it cool slightly longer.

Coconut oil helps make the melted chocolate smoother and easier to coat.

Add extra sprinkles into the mixture for more crunch and color.

Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes (melting + mixing)
• Category: Dessert, Holiday Treats
• Method: No-Bake
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 treat (ball)
• Calories: 110
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 35 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 15 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg