If you're looking for a fun, festive treat to make this winter, snowman Rice Krispie treats are sure to delight. The holidays are a magical time for baking and bringing joy. These adorable Christmas Rice Krispie treats are decorated like snowmen are a delight for a sweets charcuterie board or a dessert table.
Love Christmas cereal treats? You should try our Reindeer Rice Krispie treats next.
Snowman Christmas Rice Krispie treats Recipe
These snowman Rice Krispies treats are made of crisp rice cereal and marshmallow and are easy to whip up and make a great edible decoration or gift.
This recipe is one of our favorite Rice Krispie treats variations. While this is Christmas themed recipe. It can easily be adapted for any holiday including Thanksgiving.
Why we love this
- They're simple and foolproof. Just 3 main ingredients are needed rice cereal, marshmallows, and butter. Even novice bakers can make perfect snowmen every time.
- Kids love to help decorate the snowmen.
- They're customizable. Get creative with different accessories, and decorations.
- These taste amazing! The classic combo of chewy marshmallow and crunchy cereal is irresistible.
- Homestyle Rice Krispie treats make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, or party favors. Spread cheer through these adorable snowman treats.
Ingredients
- Salted butter
- Mini marshmallows
- Pure vanilla extract
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Christmas themed nonpareils
Decorations
- 10 ounce package Ghirardelli white melting wafers
- Black sugar pearls, for the eyes
- Orange tic tacs, for the nose.
- Peppermint candies, for the ear muffs
- Red candy melts, for the scarf
How to make it
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 and set aside.
First, melt the butter, then incorporate the marshmallows, setting aside 1½ to 2 cups for later use. Stir until they're just melted.
After taking it off the heat, mix in the vanilla extract before gently combining with the Rice Krispies cereal. Then, fold in the set-aside marshmallows and the nonpareils.
Place the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Use a greased spatula to press it down, or cover the top with parchment paper or wax paper and press it down using your palms.
Decorating the Rice Krispie treats
Melt the Ghirardelli white melting wafers in a candy melting pot or double boiler over low heat until smooth.
Dip each Rice Krispie treat bar partially into the melts, coating the top, and place it on the lined baking tray with the dipped side up.
Add two black sugar pearls immediately on the upper half of the snowman for the eyes, an orange tic tac for the nose below the eyes, and more sugar pearls for the mouth and buttons.
Melt 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 it’s cooled slightly, cut off a little piece at the tip and pipe on the scarves.
Substitutions
Cereal: You can use Cocoa rice cereal, Fruit loops, Cheerios, or Lucky charms instead of regular Rice Krispies.
Marshmallows: We used mini marshmallows feel free to use regular sized or jumbo sized marshmallows.
Variations
Here are a few variations to help customize these crispy treats for the holidays.
Switch up the add in: Crushed peppermint, winter sprinkles, mini chocolate chips (👈 affiliate link), m and m candies. Whichever add in you use, try to keep the top flat for facial decor.
Use festive flavors: You can use egg nog flavor (👈 affiliate link) in addition to the vanilla. You can add gingerbread spice mix or pumpkin spice mix.
Make it gluten free: swap out the Rice Krispie treats in this recipe with a certified gluten free one.
Make these into 3D snowmen instead of cutting them into squares like I did.
Color them. You can color the marshmallow mixture with food coloring to match the season. In this case, red and green.
Recommended tools for this recipe
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- Large pot
- 9 by 13 in baking pan
- Baking tray
- Parchment paper
- Piping bag
Storage instructions
Snowmen will stay fresh covered at room temperature for 2-3 days. For longer storage, keep in airtight container for up to 1 week. Freeze snowmen in resealable plastic freezer bags for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Yes, you can freeze Rice Krispie treats for up 3 months. Ensure that all air is expelled from the freezer storage bag.
Yes, you can omit the butter, but the butter helps the cereal adhere and gives a smooth, velvety texture. You can swap it out for margarine or shortening instead of leaving it out all together.
Be sure to cool treats fully before cutting. Over-mixing can crush the cereal and make the cereal treat dense and less crispy. If after 30 mins to an hour, they are still soft and sticky, try adding more cereal to the mixture. This means you will need to fold the cereal in over again.
Rice Krispie treats that are made with regular Rice Krispie cereal are not gluten free.
While Rice on it’s own is naturally gluten free, 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 gluten free.
With that said make sure to read the labels of all the ingredients to ensure it’s gluten free and made in a gluten free facility.
Helpful Tips
- Allow it cool fully before cutting for clean edges that hold their shape.
- If you are making 3D snow men, lightly butter hands while shaping for easy release without sticking. You can use cookie cutters to cut these into different shapes.
- You can keep the rice krispies plain instead of using add ins.
- Instead of peppermint candies, use gummy candies or any small round candy for the earmuffs.
- For the facial features, use black icing gel or melted black candy instead of sugar pearls.
- Change up the scarf color by using different colored candy melts. You can also sprinkle the scarf.
- Alternatively, use red Twizzlers pulled into strips for the scarf. If using Twizzlers, add it after coating the krispies at the same time you decorate the face.
More holiday recipes
- Instant pot cranberry sauce
- Chicken marsala without wine
- Chin chin
- Air fryer thumbprint cookies
Check out all our Home Cooked Recipes!
Make adorable snowman Rice Krispie treats this winter for a fun holiday activity with kids or to impress guests at your next Christmas cookie exchange. Follow the easy steps above for cute snowmen that taste as good as they look. Get creative with different sizes and decorations. Gift these edible snowmen to spread holiday cheer.
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Snowman 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 white melting wafers
- Black sugar pearls for the eyes
- Orange tic tacs for the nose
- Peppermint candies for the ear muffs
- Red candy melts for the scarf
Instructions
- Prepare a baking tray by lining it with parchment paper and set it aside.
- In a large pot over low heat, melt the butter.
- 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 swiftly as 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 treats
- Melt the Ghirardelli white melting wafers in a candy melting pot or double boiler over low heat until smooth.
- Dip each Rice Krispie treat bar partially into the melts, coating the top, and place it on the lined baking tray with the dipped side up.
- Add two black sugar pearls immediately on the upper half of the snowman for the eyes, an orange tic tac for the nose below the eyes, and more sugar pearls for the mouth and buttons. Leave space for drawing a scarf between the buttons and face. Repeat for all bars.
- Melt 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 between the face and buttons.
- Allow the treats to set completely for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy your snowman treats!
Notes
Instead of peppermint candies, use gummy candies or any small round candy for the earmuffs.
For the facial features, use black icing gel or melted black candy instead of sugar pearls.
Change up the scarf color by using different colored candy melts. You can also sprinkle the scarf.
Alternatively, use red Twizzlers pulled into strips for the scarf. If using Twizzlers, add it after coating the krispies at the same time you decorate the face.
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