There's something about the sizzle of melting marshmallows and the crunch of Rice Krispies that brings a wave of nostalgia every holiday season. This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is a festive twist that’s as fun to make as it is to eat, and it’s perfect for sharing that cozy Christmas spirit with family and friends.

The image shows green triangular treats shaped like Christmas trees arranged on a white plate with a textured edge. Each treat has a light brown pretzel stick at the base to look like a tree trunk. The green layers have a textured, rice crispy look and are decorated with white icing drizzled in diagonal lines across the triangles. Small colorful sprinkles add detail, including red and green thin sprinkles, gold star shapes, round yellow dots, and small silver balls. The plate sits on a light blue surface with some white powdered sugar and Christmas ornaments nearby. 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

Honestly, these Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats aren’t just cute— they’re irresistibly delicious and kid-approved, making them a must-have in your holiday dessert lineup. I love that they bring joy with every bite and add a handmade touch to holiday parties.

Festive and Fun: Shaped like Christmas trees, these treats brighten up any holiday table instantly.
Simple to Make: With just a handful of ingredients, this recipe is straightforward even for beginners.
Customizable: Tweak the colors, decorations, or add-ins to fit your family’s style and taste.
A Crowd-Pleaser: Crunchy, sweet, and festive, they never fail to disappear fast at holiday gatherings.

The image shows five triangular rice cereal treats shaped like Christmas trees on a white plate with a slightly uneven edge. Each treat has a bright green textured base made from rice cereal, layered with white icing drizzled diagonally across the top. Colorful sprinkles in red, green, gold, and silver star and round shapes are scattered all over the green surface, making the treats look festive. At the base of each triangle, a short brown pretzel stick sticks out, acting as the tree trunk. The background is a soft white marbled texture, with some small Christmas ornaments and a white bowl partially visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient plays a role in creating that perfect balance of chewy, crispy, and colorful fun. Here’s a quick look at why these components are essential and some handy tips to get the best results.

Flat lay of a few tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small white bowl, a small mound of fresh white marshmallows, a tiny white bowl containing a few drops of green gel food coloring, a small white bowl with pale vanilla extract, a crisp pile of golden puffed rice cereal, a neat bundle of natural pretzel sticks, a scattering of colorful Christmas sprinkles on a white ceramic plate, a small white bowl filled with melted white chocolate, all arranged with perfect symmetry 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: Melting this first gives your treats a rich base without any extra saltiness which can throw off the sweetness.
Marshmallows: The magic glue. Using fresh marshmallows ensures a gooey texture, so don't skimp or use stale ones!
Green gel food coloring: Gel coloring is concentrated, so it colors without watering down your treats or making them mushy.
Vanilla extract: Just a touch lifts all the flavors, making the marshmallow goo taste homemade and cozy.
Rice Krispies cereal: The classic crunch you expect; be sure it’s fresh for optimum crispness.
Pretzel sticks: These act as “trunks” for your Christmas trees and add a savory crunch contrast.
Christmas sprinkles: Because what’s a festive treat without colorful decorations? They add fun textures and color.
White chocolate (melted): This acts like glue for sprinkles and gives a pretty snowy effect over your trees.

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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

One of the best parts about this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is how easy it is to customize. I often swap out sprinkles for mini M&Ms or add a pinch of peppermint extract for some holiday zing. Feel free to experiment and make it all your own.

Variation: One year, I made a batch using red and green food coloring swirled together for a marbled effect — the kids were mesmerized!
Dietary Modifications: Use gluten-free cereal or dairy-free butter alternative to accommodate allergies without sacrificing taste.
Seasonal Changes: Swap green food coloring for orange and add candy eyes to turn these into Halloween trees turned pumpkins for a fun twist.

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

Step 1: Prep Your Pan and Melt the Butter

Start by lightly greasing a 13×9-inch baking dish or lining it with parchment paper — trust me, this makes cleanup so much easier! Melt your unsalted butter in a large pot over low heat. Low and slow keeps the butter from browning and ensures your marshmallows will melt evenly.

Step 2: Melt the Marshmallows Slowly

Once the butter is melted, add your marshmallows and keep stirring over low heat until smooth and gooey. Patience pays off here—don’t crank the heat or you’ll risk burning. When the mixture is silky, it’s time for the exciting part.

Step 3: Add Color and Vanilla

Remove the pot from heat and stir in your green gel food coloring and vanilla extract. The color will bloom instantly—don’t add more than a few drops at first; you can always add more if you want a deeper shade!

Step 4: Fold In Cereal and Spread

Gently fold in the Rice Krispies, making sure each crispy bit is coated in that gorgeous green marshmallow mixture. Pour everything into your prepared pan and press gently with a buttered spatula or wax paper — pressing too hard makes your treats tough; light and fluffy is the goal.

Step 5: Let It Set and Shape Your Trees

After letting the treats set at room temperature for at least an hour, slice them horizontally in half, then cut into triangles — the iconic Christmas tree shape! A sharp knife works best, and a spray of non-stick oil on your blade keeps cutting clean and easy.

Step 6: Decorate with Pretzels, Chocolate, and Sprinkles

Melt white chocolate following the package directions and use it as “glue” to attach pretzel sticks at the base of each triangle – these become your tree trunks. Then, pipe or drizzle the melted chocolate on top and scatter Christmas sprinkles while it’s still wet. Let everything set, and voilà, holiday magic!

Top Tip

I’ve made this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe many times, and a few little tricks make all the difference between good and unforgettable treats. These tips will help you get perfect texture and presentation every time.

Don’t Press Too Hard: Pressing the treats firmly into the pan can turn them into a rock. Light, even pressure keeps them soft and chewy.
Use Fresh Marshmallows: I once used marshmallows past their prime, and the treats tasted dull and lacked that gooey charm—freshness is key!
Cut with a Warm Knife: Running your knife under hot water and wiping it dry before slicing helps you make clean edges without tearing.
Color Gradually: Add gel food coloring a drop at a time — it’s easy to add more, but hard to fix if it gets too dark.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping these treats with a mix of red and green sprinkles for that extra pop of Christmas cheer. Sometimes I use edible glitter or mini candy pearls for a little shimmer that catches the eye especially when the lights are low.

Side Dishes

These treats pair beautifully with a cup of hot cocoa or a spicy mulled cider — the warm drinks complement the sweet, crunchy texture. For a party, I might set them alongside gingerbread cookies and peppermint bark for a festive dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve tied little red ribbons around the pretzel trunks and placed the treats upright in a holiday-themed cup for a fun edible centerpiece. Another time, I stacked them like mini trees on a tiered stand, which was a big hit at family gatherings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. Personally, I like wrapping individual treats in plastic wrap to keep them extra fresh for lunchbox surprises!

Freezing

These treats freeze well if you want to prep ahead of time. I wrap each treat tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. When thawed at room temperature, they taste just as good as fresh.

Reheating

Since these are best enjoyed chewy, I typically skip reheating. But if you want to soften them up, a few seconds in the microwave (about 10 seconds) does the trick—just don’t go overboard or they’ll melt.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use a different cereal instead of Rice Krispies?

While Rice Krispies give the ideal crispy texture, you can swap them with any puffed rice cereal. Just expect a slightly different crunch or density in your treats.

How do I prevent my Rice Krispie treats from getting too hard?

Press the marshmallow mixture gently into the pan, and avoid compacting it tightly. Also, don’t overbake or overcook the marshmallows during melting. This keeps treats soft and chewy.

Can I make these treats ahead of time?

Absolutely! These Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats freeze wonderfully and hold their shape when stored properly. Just thaw them at room temperature before serving.

What’s the best way to attach sprinkles and decorations?

Melted white chocolate works perfectly as an adhesive. Pipe or drizzle it over the treats and then sprinkle decorations right away while it’s still wet, so they stick nicely as it sets.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe holds a special place in my holiday traditions because it’s one of those simple pleasures that bring out smiles across generations. Whether you’re making them with kids, gifting them to neighbors, or just indulging in a quiet moment with a sweet treat, they add that extra sparkle to the season. Give them a try—you’ll love how easy and joyful the process is, and they might just become your new holiday favorite!