Who doesn’t love Rudolph? Reindeer Rice Krispie treats are a cute, easy no-bake treat for Christmas.
reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Reindeer Rice Krispie treats are cute as can be for Christmas. Rudolph is decorated simply with pretzel antlers, candy eyes, bright red candy nose, and caramel for the snout. The extra step with the caramel is optional, but it adds a clever touch.
Shown are our favorite chocolate Rice Krispie treats. You may also use:
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video how-tos
how to make Christmas cereal treats
For less sticking and to make cereal treats a breeze, spray cooking spray on your bowls and spatulas.
To make these chocolate Rice Krispie treats, I use two types of chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate chips and unsweetened cocoa powder. I love adding cocoa powder, because it adds richness and depth to the taste, but for sweeter, milder treats, omit the cocoa powder.
supplies you’ll need
- baking tray
- parchment paper
- cooking spray
- 2 1/4-inch circle cookie cutter
- 1 1/4-inch circle cutter
- candy eyes
- M & M red candies (or any comparable, such as cinnamon imperials)
- caramel cubes
- mini pretzels
- light corn syrup (optional)
ingredients you’ll need
- 10 ounces marshmallows (about 40 regular size OR 6 cups mini)
- 4 2/3 cups Rice Krispies
- 4 tablespoons European salted butter
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (optional)
let’s make Rudolph cereal treats!
stove-top method
Line your baking tray parchment paper and set aside.
Next, pour the Rice Krispies in a large bowl greased with cooking spray. Set aside.
Coat a saucepan with cooking spray. Add the butter, marshmallows, chocolate chips, cocoa powder (if using) in the pan over medium low. Stir frequently until the marshmallows are almost melted. Remove from the burner and stir, using the residual heat to fully melt the marshmallows and chocolate. The mixture should be very smooth.
Alternatively, if you prefer to not coat your pan with cooking spray, melt the butter first, and then add the other ingredients.
Scrape the chocolate marshmallow mixture over the cereal. Stir very well, coating every piece of cereal. Overturn the treats onto the baking tray.
Use a greased spatula to spread the treats in a rough rectangle that measures about 12-inches by 9-inches by 3/4-inch. Refrigerate the tray for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the treats to cool.
Cut out circles, trying to cut as close to each other as possible to minimize scraps.
Then, chill the treats again until firm, about 30 minutes.
To decorate the reindeer treats
The treats should be sticky enough for the decorations to adhere, but you may secure the candies with dabs of light corn syrup.
Break a pretzel in half and insert two pieces for reindeer. Use a small knife to cut a slit in the cereal treats to make adding the pretzel easier.
Attach two candy eyes.
Unwrap a caramel and place it on a small piece of wax or parchment paper. Microwave for 5 seconds. The caramel should NOT be hot or sticky. It should be easily pliable. You may add 2 to 3 more seconds at a time, but do not overheat. Stretch and flatten the caramel with your palm (or use a glass to flatten). Use the small circle cutter to cut out circles. You should be able to cut out 2 circles per candy.
Adhere the snout to the treat and top with a red M and M candy.
microwave rice krispie treat method
Because chocolate can overheat quickly, I prefer making these treats on the stove-top. But you may also make them in the microwave.
Place the butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chips in a large microwave-safe bowl.
Heat on high for 1 minute. Stir the marshmallows until they start to melt. Heat for an additional 15 seconds and let the bowl sit in the microwave for one minute. Stir the marshmallows very well until smooth, using the residual heat to fully melt the mixture.
Stir in the cocoa powder, if using.
Follow the rest of the instructions above.
printable reindeer Rice Krispie treats recipe
reindeer Rice Krispie treats
Equipment
- non-stick cooking spray
- baking tray
- parchment or wax paper
- 2 1/4 inch circle cookie cutter
- 1 1/4 inch circle cookie cutter
- light corn syrup (optional)
Ingredients
- 4 2/3 cups Rice Krispies
- 10 ounces marshmallows about 40 regular OR 6 cups mini
- 4 tablespoons salted European butter
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder optional
- 9-10 caramel cubes
- 36 candy eyes
- 18 M and M candies
- 18 to 20 mini pretzels
Instructions
Chocolate Rice Krispie treats
- Line your baking tray parchment paper and set aside. Pour the Rice Krispies in a large bowl greased with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Coat a saucepan with cooking spray. Add the butter, marshmallows, chocolate chips, cocoa powder (if using) in the pan over medium low. Stir frequently until the marshmallows are almost melted. Remove from the burner and stir, using the residual heat to fully melt the marshmallows and chocolate. The mixture should be very smooth.
- Alternatively, if you prefer to not coat your pan with cooking spray, melt the butter first, and then add the other ingredients.
- Scrape the chocolate marshmallow mixture over the cereal. Stir very well, coating every piece of cereal. Overturn the treats onto the baking tray.
- Use a greased spatula to spread the treats in a rough rectangle that measures about 12-inches by 9-inches by 3/4-inch. Refrigerate the tray for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the treats to cool.
- Cut out circles, trying to cut as close to each other as possible to minimize scraps.
- Then, chill the treats again until firm, about 30 minutes.
decorate Reindeer Rice Krispie treats
- The treats should be sticky enough for the decorations to adhere, but you may secure the candies with dabs of light corn syrup.
- Break a pretzel in half and insert two pieces for reindeer. Use a small knife to cut a slit in the cereal treats to make adding the pretzel easier.
- Attach two candy eyes.
- Unwrap a caramel and place it on a small piece of wax or parchment paper. Microwave for 5 seconds. The caramel should NOT be hot or sticky. It should be easily pliable. You may add 2 to 3 more seconds at a time, but do not overheat. Stretch and flatten the caramel with your palm (or use a glass to flatten). Use the small circle cutter to cut out circles. You should be able to cut out 2 circles per candy.
- Adhere the snout to the treat and top with a red M and M candy.
more fun reindeer Christmas treats
- reindeer peppermint meringues
- cheeseball reindeer appetizer
- reindeer donut pops
- Rudolph Christmas breakfast biscuits
- chocolate pretzel reindeer
more Rice Krispie treats
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We love creating easy Rice Krispie Treats recipes to share with you and hope you find our tips and instructions helpful.
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Donna Roman
there are AMAZING! Ido have a question though. What candies do you use for the eyes??? I couldn’t find anything that looked like the pictures. PLEASE HELP LOL!
Beth Klosterboer
Thanks, Donna. They are Festival Candy Eyes. You can get them from Amazon here – https://amzn.to/3gydVu6 and I’ve also seen them at Walmart during the holidays. Wilton has candy eyes too and they sell them at Jo Ann’s and Michaels.