These Rice Krispie Treat Monsters are so darn cute that they just might make you scream with delight!
Each marshmallow cereal treat is decorated with brightly colored modeling chocolate (candy clay) and has big googly eyes. They will make your Halloween dessert table look festive and fun.
Rice Krispie Treat Monsters
Who would have thought a monster could be so cute?
These monsters are tasty too! Each treat is made using our BEST Rice Krispie Treat recipe (award-winning!), cut into rectangles, and decorated using modeling chocolate.
Modeling chocolate looks like fondant but tastes like chocolate (in this case, white chocolate). It's easy to make using just two ingredients. You can find the recipe and see my step-by-step tutorial on my Hungry Happenings blog - SEE THE MODELING CHOCOLATE RECIPE, HERE.
video
Be sure to watch the video to see how to make these cute Halloween rice crispy treats.
how to make monster Rice Krispie Treats for Halloween
You will need:
Marshmallows
- You will need 16 ounces of marshmallows.
- We found in our taste testing that the best marshmallows to use are Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows.
- You can use other brands of marshmallows, but just know that the texture of some store-brand marshmallows makes stickier treats. You can add a bit more cereal if your marshmallow cereal mixture feels too sticky.
- Be sure to check out our marshmallow conversion chart. We share weights and measurements for most brands of marshmallows.
Butter
- We always recommend using a good quality, European-style, salted butter, like Kerrygold or President brands to make your treats. It seriously makes a huge difference in flavor!
- European-style butter has a higher butterfat content (less water) than an American brand of butter, making your cereal treats extra creamy!
Cereal
- We always recommend using Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal because the crisp rice has just the right texture and flavor, but you can use any brand you like.
Modeling Chocolate (or fondant)
- I suggest you make a batch of modeling chocolate using Bright White Candy Melts so your monster's googly eyes are bright white. Traditional white candy melts and white chocolate have a yellowish tint to them.
- SEE THE MODELING CHOCOLATE RECIPE, HERE.
- You can color your modeling chocolate using any food coloring you have on hand. I used neon green, orange, and purple.
Supplies
- 9 x 13-inch baking pan
- large mixing bowl
- medium-large saucepan
- set of round plunger cutters with a large 1-inch round cutter
- pastry wheel or pizza cutter
- silicone mat
- silicone rolling pin
- black food coloring marker (optional)
let's make cereal treats!
For tips on making the best, softest, most amazing rice crispy treats ever, be sure to check out our FAQ page.
step one: make your Rice Krispie Treats
- Grease your baking pan, bowls, and spatulas with butter or cooking spray.
- Place 7 cups of Rice Krispies cereal in a large, greased bowl.
- Begin to melt 6 tablespoons European salted butter (cut in pieces) in a medium-large saucepan set over low heat.
- Stir in 16 ounces of marshmallows.
- Continue to melt over low heat, stirring often, until about 75% of the marshmallows have melted.
- Remove from heat and stir well, using the residual heat to fully melt the marshmallows.
- Alternatively, you can melt the butter and marshmallows in the microwave for 1 minute, and stir well to fully melt the marshmallows.
- Pour the marshmallows over the cereal and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread the treats into the greased baking pan and gently press into an even layer.
- Set aside to cool at room temperature for at least an hour.
- Cut about ¼ - ½ inches off around the edge of the treats in order to straighten the sides.
- Then cut the treats into 2 ½-inch by 2-inch rectangles. (You should have about 18.)
step two: top rice Krispie treats with modeling chocolate
- Roll out purple, orange, and neon green-colored white modeling chocolate to about 1/16-inch thickness.
- Cut into 2-inch by 2 ½-inch rectangles (large enough to cover your treats) using a scalloped-edge pastry wheel or a straight-edge pizza cutter or knife.
- Turn the Rice Krispie treats upside down so the marshmallowy underside is facing up.
- The marshmallows settle to the bottom of the pan so the underside of the treats are typically a bit stickier.
- Press the modeling chocolate onto the treat.
- If they won't stick, you can brush a thin layer of corn syrup, frosting, or even peanut butter over the treat to act as glue.
step three: decorate your rice crispy treat monsters
- Roll out white, black, and purple modeling chocolate to about 1/16-inch thickness.
- Cut out white circles using a large round plunger cutter or ¾ or 1-inch cookie cutter.
- Cut small ¼ circles out of black modeling chocolate using a medium plunger cutter.
- Brush a tiny bit of water on the back of the black circles and press the wet side onto the white circles to create the monster's eyes.
- Attach the eyes to the modeling chocolate on the treats using more water.
- Draw mouths onto the modeling chocolate treats using a food coloring marker or make a mouth out of black modeling chocolate by cutting a circle then cutting it in half.
- Cut fangs or teeth out of white modeling chocolate using a pizza cutter or knife.
- Make polka dots using a small plunger cutter.
- Attach the fangs, teeth, mouths, and polka dots to the treats using more water.
I lightly brush my modeling chocolate decorations with water using a Wilton water brush. The handle holds water so I don't have to have a small bowl of water on my table (which I'm liable to spill).
You can use clear piping gel or corn syrup instead of water.
storing your monster treats
You can make these treats up to 3 days ahead. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature. DO NOT refrigerate! Modeling chocolate will get moist and sticky in the refrigerator and your cereal treats will get soft and stale.
printable rice crispy treat recipe
Rice Krispie Treat Monsters
Equipment
- large mixing bowl
- 9 x 13-inch pan
- medium-large saucepan
- silicone mat
- silicone rolling pin
- round plunger cutter set
- pastry wheel or pizza cutter or knife
- water brush (or small brush and small bowl of water)
Ingredients
- 18 ounces bright white modeling chocolate or fondant
- food coloring
- 7 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- 6 tablespoons salted butter, cut into small pieces
- 16 ounces marshmallows
Instructions
- Color about 4 ounces of the white modeling chocolate neon green, 4 ounces orange, 4 ounces purple, and 1 ounce black using food coloring. Leave the rest white.
- Wrap the colored modeling chocolate in plastic wrap or place it in a zip-top bag and set aside for about an hour to firm up.
- Grease the large mixing bowl and 9"x13" pan with butter or cooking spray.
- Pour the cereal into the bowl and set aside.
- Begin melting the butter in the saucepan over low heat.
- Stir in the marshmallows and continue to cook on low.
- Stir occasionally until 75% of the marshmallows melt.
- Remove from the heat and continue to stir until melted and smooth.
- Pour the marshmallows over the cereal and stir until blended.
- Gently spread the cereal treat mixture into the 9"x13" pan.
- Set aside to cool at room temperature for an hour.
- Remove from the pan and cut about ½ inch off around the edges of the pan to straighten the sides, then cut into 2-inch by 2 ½-inch rectangles.
- Roll the green, orange, and purple modeling cholate out to ⅙-inch thickness.
- Cut into 2 ½ by 2-inch rectangles.
- Turn the crispy treats upside down so the marshmallowy side is facing up.
- Gently press a modeling chocolate rectangle over the top of each treat.
- Roll out the black and white modeling chocolate.
- Use a large round plunger or ¾ or 1-inch round cookie cutter, to cut out white eyes.
- Use a medium plunger cutter or ¼-inch metal cutter to cut out black pupils.
- Brush the backside of the black pupils lightly with water and press the wet side onto the white modeling chocolate circles to create the monster's eyes.
- Attach the eyes to the modeling chocolate topped treats using a small amount of water.
- Draw on a smile using a black food coloring marker or cut one out of black modeling chocolate and attach it to the cereal treat using water.
- Cut fangs or teeth out of white modeling chocolate and attach them using water.
- If desired, cut tiny circles out of colored modeling chocolate using a small round plunger cutter and attach them to the modeling chocolate-covered treats using water to create polka dots.
Notes
Storage:
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Do not refrigerate!
Modeling Chocolate Recipe:
- To make modeling chocolate, melt 16 ounces of bright white candy melts.
- Let the candy melts cool to 91 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Stir in ⅓ cup light corn syrup.
- Knead on a cool surface like marble, granite, or metal (cookie sheet) until smooth and pliable.
- See a detailed tutorial and recipe - https://hungryhappenings.com/chocolate-making-tips/modeling-chocolate-recipe-candy-clay/
Tips:
- Roll modeling chocolate out on a dry silicone mat or a countertop dusted lightly with corn starch using a silicone rolling pin.
- If you use corn starch, be sure to brush it off the modeling chocolate before attaching it to your cereal treats.
- You can use clear piping gel or corn syrup instead of water to attach your modeling chocolate decorations together.
Alternative Decorating Method:
- Dip the treats in colorful melted candy melts then decorate them with modeling chocolate or fondant.
- Or decorate by piping eyes and fangs onto the treats using more candy melts.
more monster ideas
Looking for more monster-themed Halloween foods and crafts for your party?
- Use store-bought treats and orange and black frosting to make Fuzzy Monster Treats.
- Make matching monster cupcakes decorated with brightly colored modeling chocolate.
- Kids will love these cute and colorful chocolate caramel pretzel monsters.
- Serve something savory! Make Mini Monster Cheese Balls.
- It's so easy to make fuzzy monster cookies with googly eyes for a Halloween party.
More Halloween Rice Krispie Treats
Jack O' Lantern Rice Krispie Treats
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