Dive into the holiday season with these charming Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats! Learn how to make these delightful square or rectangular treats into an amazing dessert decorated with chocolate, M & Ms and mini pretzel antlers. Read along for the step-by-step guide to making these Christmas fun recipe.
Love festive cereal treats? You should try our Snowman Rice Krispie treats and Rice Krispies egg nests next .
Reindeer Christmas Rice Krispie treats Recipe
In the midst of the holiday bustle, Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats bring a dash of whimsy and deliciousness to any celebration and there no better time to get creative in the kitchen for some holiday fun and no better way to do this than turning classic rice krispie treats into adorable reindeers.
These antlered rectangular bars make for endless decorating possibilities and are a delightful addition to your festive table, perfect for sharing joy and spreading smiles.
Why you’ll love this
Fun to make: Their adorable reindeer look, complete with chocolate and pretzel antlers, brings a playful charm to any gathering.
Easy to make: With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, these treats are perfect for beginners and an enjoyable family activity during the holiday season.
Perfect edible take-home gift or dessert for family and friends.
Family time: Kids will have fun decorating these.
Ingredients
- Salted butter
- Mini marshmallows
- Pure vanilla extract
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Christmas themed nonpareils
For decorating the reindeer Christmas Rice Krispies
- Mini pretzel twists, for the antlers
- Candy eyes
- Red and brown M&M’s, for the nose
- Red candy melts, for the scarf
How to make reindeer Rice Krispie treats
This is an overview of the recipe with step by step photos. Scroll down to end of post for a printable recipe card with the amount of ingredients and full recipe instructions.
Line the 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Melt butter in a pot on the stove top or microwave then add the marshmallows reserving 1½ to 2 cups for later. Stir until just melted.
Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract before folding in the Rice Krispies cereal. Next fold in the reserved marshmallows and the nonpareils.
Transfer mixture to the lined baking pan. Press it down with a greased spatula or you cover the top with parchment paper or wax paper then press it down with your palms.
Decorating Christmas reindeer Rice Krispie treats
You can leave these as is with a variety of minimal decorations like Christmas themed sprinkles, m and ms or the nonpareils used in this homestyle Rice Krispie treats recipe.
Alternatively go a step further and decorate with candy melts to make reindeer or snowman cereal treats. For the reindeer version, follow the steps below.
Melt candy melts in the microwave (30 secs intervals till it’s melted). Next dip the top of each rice krispie treat bar into the melted candy, coating just the top. Place on the lined tray with the chocolate side up.
Add two pretzels to the top corners for antlers, two candy eyes, and an M&M for the nose.
Melt ⅓ cup red candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl on low power, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag.
Let the candy melts cool slightly. Snip off the end of the piping bag. Pipe a scarf onto each rice krispie bar.
Substitutions
Cereal: You can swap out a the Rice Krispie for a different cereal like Fruit loops, cheerios, lucky charms or Cocoa Krispies to make a different cereal treat.
Marshmallows: You can use colored marshmallows, regular sized or jumbo sized marshmallows.
Butter: make these dairy free or vegan by using coconut oil or vegan butter instead of regular butter.
Variations
Here are a few variations to help customize these crispy treats for the holidays.
Peppermint: Add crushed peppermint candies or candy canes to the mix and make peppermint Rice Krispie treats.
Chocolate chips: throw in some mini chocolate chips (👈 affiliate link) to when you add the reserved marshmallows to make some chocolate chip Rice Krispie treats.
Eggnog: Use egg nog flavor (👈 affiliate link) in addition to the vanilla for a more festive flavor.
Gingerbread: Add pumpkin pie spice or gingerbread spice mix when melting the butter and marshmallow to infuse some flavors to the cereal treats.
Make it gluten free: Use a certified gluten free Rice Krispies to make these reindeer treats.
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- Large pot
- 9 by 13 in baking pan
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Piping bag
Storage instructions
Store completely cooled treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. For longer storage, keep rice krispie treats in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The fridge helps keep them firm and fresh.
FAQs
We used 9x13” rectangular baking pans, a standard 8x8” baking pan will work if you want really tall treats.
A small dollop of melted chocolate works perfectly.
Absolutely, but making them from scratch allows for customization and freshness.
Regular Rice Krispies are not gluten free. Rice on its own is naturally gluten free, however, the cereal is made with malt flavor which isn’t gluten free.
To make sure that your cereal treats are gluten free, use a rice cereal that’s certified gluten free.
Yes, prepare the plain rice krispie base and store for up to 5 days in an airtight container, then decorate just before serving.
Helpful Tips
- Avoid stale marshmallows when making Rice Krispie treats.
- When pressing the mixture into the pan, covering with parchment paper or wax paper prevents it from sticking to your hands.
- Allow it cool fully usually takes up to an hour. This helps you get clean edges when you cut them.
- Customize with any festive candies, sprinkles, nuts, or dried fruits.
- Substitute for gluten-free cereal.
More holiday recipes
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Have fun with your holiday celebrations with these adorable Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats! Get started on your own batch, embrace the joy they bring, and make this season even more magical with these delightful, whimsical delights.
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Reindeer Rice Krispie treats
Equipment
- Large pot
- 9x13 baking pan
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Piping bags
Ingredients
Rice Krispie treats base
- 1 stick salted butter
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows divided
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- ¼ cup nonpareils
For the decoration
- 10 ounce package Ghirardelli milk chocolate melting wafers.
- Mini pretzel twists (for the antlers)
- Red and brown m&ms (for the nose)
- Candy eyes (for the eyes)
- Red candy melts (for the scarf)
Instructions
- Prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Reserve 2 cups of mini marshmallows for later use. Add the remaining marshmallows to the pot and melt in the butter, stirring occasionally until smooth.
- Remove the pot from heat as soon as the marshmallows are melted. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt until fully incorporated.
- Add the Rice Krispies cereal, folding it into the melted marshmallows.
- Incorporate the reserved 2 cups of marshmallows and nonpareil sprinkles, folding until evenly distributed and coated. Act fast cos the marshmallows might start melting, causing the sprinkles' color to bleed.
- Spread the prepared Rice Krispies mixture evenly in the baking pan, lightly pressing it down. A rubber spatula can help prevent sticking.
- Allow the mixture to cool on the counter for 30 to 45 minutes. Then, cut it into bars about 3 inches long and 2 ½ inches wide, using a ruler for straight lines.
Decorate the reindeer treats
- Melt the Ghirardelli brown melting wafers in a double boiler over low heat until smooth.
- Dip each Rice Krispie treat bar partially into the melted chocolate wafers , coating the top only then place it on the lined baking tray with the coated side up.
- Add two pretzels on the upper corners for the antlers right away, then two candy eyes next on the upper half of the cereal treats for the eyes, and a brown or red m & m just below the eyes in the middle for the nose. Repeat for all the bars.
- Prepare for the scarf by melting ⅓ cup of red candy melts in a piping bag. Heat in the microwave at low or defrost settings in 30-second intervals, massaging the bag each time until smooth. Allow it to cool slightly.
- Once slightly cooled, cut a small piece off the piping bag's tip and pipe scarves on the lower third of the reindeer treats.
- Allow the treats to set completely for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy your reindeer Rice Krispie treats!
Video
Notes
- You can use Cocos Rice Krispies and just use a little melted chocolate to attach the pretzels, candy eyes and m&ms.
- Avoid stale marshmallows when making Rice Krispie treats.
- When pressing the mixture into the pan, covering with parchment paper or wax paper prevents it from sticking to your hands.
- Allow it cool fully usually takes up to an hour. This helps you get clean edges when you cut them.
- Customize with any festive candies, sprinkles, nuts, or dried fruits.
- Substitute for gluten-free cereal.
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