Nothing says holiday fun quite like these festive, crisp, and chewy delights. The Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is a joyful spin on a classic treat, perfect for sharing smiles and sweet moments around the kitchen or gift-giving during the season.

The image shows several triangular-shaped treats designed to look like Christmas trees. Each tree has a bright green base with a textured, crispy look. White drizzle runs diagonally across each tree, resembling garlands. Colorful sprinkles in red, green, and gold, including small stars and round shapes, decorate the trees like ornaments. Each tree has a pretzel stick at the bottom that looks like a tree trunk. The treats are placed on a white plate with a slightly wavy edge, set on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made many versions of Rice Krispie treats, but transforming them into Christmas trees makes the experience all the more magical—especially when the kids get to help decorate! It’s simple, fast, and just plain fun.

Easy to make: Just a few ingredients and steps, perfect for holiday baking with minimal fuss.
Kid-friendly: Decorating with sprinkles and pretzels doubles as a fun activity before enjoying the treats.
Customizable: You can tailor sprinkles, chocolate drizzle, and even colors to fit your holiday vibe.
Perfect for gifting or parties: These festive trees make sweet edible gifts or standout snacks at holiday gatherings.

The image shows five Christmas tree-shaped treats on a white plate with a textured surface. Each treat is made of a green crispy rice base shaped like a triangle to form the tree. The trees are decorated with a drizzle of white icing running diagonally across each one. They are topped with small colorful sprinkles in red, green, gold, and silver, including shapes like stars and tree designs. Each tree has a pretzel stick at the bottom, acting as the trunk, sticking out from under the base. The background is a white marbled texture with small bowls and holiday decorations nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient brings an important role—from texture to flavor to festive color. Using fresh marshmallows and crisp cereal is key to getting that soft, chewy bite that makes these treats irresistible.

Flat lay of fresh unsalted butter slab, a pile of white marshmallows, a few drops of vibrant green gel food coloring on a small white ceramic bowl, a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a heaping mound of puffed rice cereal, a neat bundle of whole pretzel sticks, a small white bowl filled with colorful Christmas sprinkles, melted white chocolate in a small white ceramic bowl placed elegantly, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Melts smoothly to blend perfectly with marshmallows and adds richness without overpowering.
Marshmallows: The sticky, gooey base that holds everything together—freshness is crucial here for softness.
Green gel food coloring: Gives the treats their signature Christmas tree hue without watering down the mix.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and aroma, elevating the overall flavor without being too sweet.
Rice Krispies cereal: Provides that iconic crunch and lightness, balancing out the gooey marshmallow.
Pretzel sticks: Perfect for tree trunks — adding a little salty crunch and structure.
Christmas sprinkles: Brightens up the treats with festive colors and texture, making them visually appealing.
White chocolate (melted): Acts as edible glue for sprinkles and adds a luscious drizzle finish.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love mixing up the look of these treats by switching sprinkles seasonally or adding a hint of peppermint extract for a holiday twist. You can easily adapt this recipe to suit your family's taste or dietary needs.

Variation: I once swapped green gel for red and used crushed candy canes with white sprinkles—totally festive and loved by guests.
Dairy-free option: Swap butter for coconut oil and use dairy-free marshmallows so everyone can indulge.
Extra crunch: Add chopped nuts or mini chocolate chips to the cereal for a little extra texture.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Ingredients

Start by lightly greasing a 13×9-inch baking dish or lining it with parchment paper. This step saves you from sticking frustrations later. Have your marshmallows, butter, and cereal ready to go so you can work quickly once melting starts.

Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows Gently

In a large pot over low heat, melt the butter slowly. Once melted, add marshmallows and stir continuously. Patience here is key—low and slow prevents burning or sticking. Keep stirring until everything is smooth and glossy.

Step 3: Add Color and Flavor

Remove from heat once melted. Stir in a few drops of green gel food coloring and vanilla extract. This is where your treats start looking like little Christmas trees. Fold in the Rice Krispies cereal gently but thoroughly until every flake is coated.

Step 4: Form and Set

Transfer the mixture to your prepared pan. Press gently to spread evenly, but don't pack it tight—you want to keep the treats soft and chewy, not hard. Let them set at room temperature for at least an hour to firm up properly.

Step 5: Cut, Decorate, and Finish

Once set, slice your treats horizontally in half for two thinner layers, then cut into triangle shapes for your Christmas trees. Melt white chocolate and carefully insert pretzel sticks at the base of each triangle as trunks. Pipe on melted chocolate and sprinkle your festive decorations while still wet. Let them set and get ready to delight!

Top Tip

I’ve made these treats dozens of times, and the best success comes from gentle handling and fresh ingredients. These tips saved me from soggy or rock-hard batches more than once!

Gentle pressing: Press the mixture lightly into the pan to keep the treats soft and chewy instead of dense and tough.
Low heat melting: Melting butter and marshmallows on low heat avoids scorching and ensures smooth texture.
Use fresh marshmallows and cereal: Stale ingredients mean stale treats — freshness impacts both flavor and texture.
Cutting trick: Use a sharp knife sprayed with cooking spray for clean triangle cuts that don’t crumble.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I favor bright red and white sprinkles with tiny star shapes—it feels like snow on the trees! Sometimes I’ll add mini edible silver balls for that extra festive sparkle. These decorations make the treats pop on any dessert table and inspire smiles.

Side Dishes

Pair these treats with a warm cup of hot chocolate or peppermint-spiked coffee for a cozy holiday vibe. They also go wonderfully alongside gingerbread cookies or a simple fruit platter to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

I often arrange the trees standing upright in a shallow box filled with colored sugar or edible glitter to mimic a snowy forest. Wrapping them individually with clear cellophane and festive ribbons also makes for charming, homemade gifts your friends will adore.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature to maintain their chewy texture. In my experience, they stay fresh and delicious for up to a week—though they rarely last that long around here!

Freezing

If you want to keep them longer, I wrap each treat individually in plastic wrap, place them in a freezer-safe bag, and freeze. When thawed, they still hold their shape and flavor nicely—perfect for prepping in advance.

Reheating

Reheating isn’t necessary, but if you want that freshly made softness, warm treats in the microwave for 10 seconds wrapped in a damp paper towel. It softens them up without melting the decorations.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other cereals instead of Rice Krispies?

You can substitute with similar puffed rice cereals, but keep in mind the texture might differ slightly. It’s best to stick with Rice Krispies for that classic crispy chew.

How do I prevent the treats from becoming too hard?

Press the mixture gently into the pan—not too firmly—to keep them soft. Also, using fresh marshmallows and butter melted slowly on low heat helps maintain that perfect chewiness.

Can I make these treats gluten-free?

Absolutely! Just make sure your Rice Krispies cereal is labeled gluten-free (some versions contain malt flavoring) and use gluten-free pretzels for the tree trunks.

What’s the best way to store decorated treats?

Once decorated, allow any chocolate to set fully. Store in an airtight container at room temperature in a single layer, or use parchment paper between layers to avoid smudging the decorations.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it brings everyone together—no matter your age. The combination of simplicity, festive flair, and tasty nostalgia makes it a holiday favorite I’m always eager to share. Give it a try and watch your kitchen fill with joyful smiles!