The crisp, buttery marshmallow blend with that hint of vanilla—there’s just something so festive and fun about this *Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe*. It’s perfect for making with kids, gifting at parties, or simply enjoying a playful holiday snack that brings a little joy to the kitchen.

The image shows several triangular-shaped treats designed to look like Christmas trees. Each tree has a bright green base with a textured, crispy look. White drizzle runs diagonally across each tree, resembling garlands. Colorful sprinkles in red, green, and gold, including small stars and round shapes, decorate the trees like ornaments. Each tree has a pretzel stick at the bottom that looks like a tree trunk. The treats are placed on a white plate with a slightly wavy edge, set on a white marbled surface. 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 Krispies Treats Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made these Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats more times than I can count, mostly because they hit that sweet spot between nostalgia and holiday whimsy. They’re simple, quick, and everyone loves how cute they look with their pretzel trunk and sprinkle “ornaments.” You’re going to feel like a holiday baking pro in no time.

Super Easy: No fancy ingredients or complicated steps—perfect if you want a festive treat without fuss.
Fun to Decorate: Add your own personal touch with colorful sprinkles and melted white chocolate.
Great for Kids: My niece finds assembling these little trees just as fun as eating them.
Yields Soft, Chewy Treats: With the right pressure during pressing, you get that perfectly soft texture that makes them irresistible.

The image shows five Christmas tree-shaped treats on a white plate with a textured surface. Each treat is made of a green crispy rice base shaped like a triangle to form the tree. The trees are decorated with a drizzle of white icing running diagonally across each one. They are topped with small colorful sprinkles in red, green, gold, and silver, including shapes like stars and tree designs. Each tree has a pretzel stick at the bottom, acting as the trunk, sticking out from under the base. The background is a white marbled texture with small bowls and holiday decorations nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients are simple but when combined, create that magical Rice Krispies treat texture we all love. Using fresh marshmallows and buttery richness gives you a treat that’s soft, chewy, and holds shape beautifully after cutting.

Flat lay of fresh unsalted butter slab, a pile of white marshmallows, a few drops of vibrant green gel food coloring on a small white ceramic bowl, a small white bowl with clear vanilla extract, a heaping mound of puffed rice cereal, a neat bundle of whole pretzel sticks, a small white bowl filled with colorful Christmas sprinkles, melted white chocolate in a small white ceramic bowl placed elegantly, all arranged with perfect symmetry and balanced proportions 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: Adds richness and helps melt marshmallows evenly without extra salt.
Marshmallows: The binder that makes everything sticky and soft—fresh ones are key for best results.
Green Gel Food Coloring: Just a few drops turn the marshmallow mix into festive green, making the treat look like a Christmas tree.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances flavor with warm undertones that pair perfectly with marshmallow sweetness.
Rice Krispies Cereal: For that irresistible crunch and structure.
Pretzel Sticks: These create the "tree trunk" with a nice salty crunch and look adorable.
Christmas Sprinkles: Adds colorful, festive decoration that makes these treats pop.
White Chocolate (melted): Acts as “glue” for sprinkles and adds an extra layer of dessert delight.

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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

I love tweaking these treats with little extras depending on the mood—sometimes adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or swapping out the sprinkles for mini chocolate chips for a twist. Feel free to get creative; that’s part of the fun!

Variation: Once, I used peppermint extract instead of vanilla, and it gave the trees a cool minty hint—perfect for holiday parties!

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

Step 1: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows Gently

Start by lightly greasing your 13×9-inch dish or lining it with parchment—you want an easy non-stick release later. Melt the butter in a large pot on low heat, then add marshmallows. Stir constantly with a silicone spatula until the marshmallows are fully melted and smooth. Low heat is your friend here; too high and marshmallows might scorch or harden.

Step 2: Add Color, Flavor, and Cereal

Remove from heat before stirring in your green food coloring and vanilla extract. This keeps the color bright and flavor fresh. Next, fold in the Rice Krispies cereal gently until every piece is coated in that sticky marshmallow goodness. Don’t over-stir or you’ll mash them — you want light, fluffy treats.

Step 3: Press and Set

Pour the mixture into your prepared pan, then press gently with a buttered spatula or wax paper. Remember, pressing too hard makes the treats dense and hard, so go easy here. Let the treats sit at room temperature for at least an hour to set fully—it’s worth the wait!

Step 4: Cut and Decorate!

Once set, use a sharp knife to slice the treats horizontally in half (making two thinner layers), then cut each layer into triangles to mimic Christmas tree shapes. Melt the white chocolate and carefully dip the base of each triangle into it before sticking in a pretzel “trunk.” Use the melted chocolate to pipe and add sprinkles as ornaments. Let everything set again, and enjoy!

Top Tip

From my experience making these treats, it’s all about gentle handling and patience. It really pays off in the end to keep texture light and decorations neat.

Gentle Pressing: Avoid pressing the mixture too firmly into the pan to keep the treats soft and chewy.
Fresh Ingredients: Use fresh marshmallows and cereal for a fresh taste and better texture—stale ingredients yield stale treats.
Sharp Knife: Use a sharp, buttered knife to cut through treats cleanly without crumbling.
Allow Proper Setting Time: Don’t rush—waiting at least an hour helps treats hold their shape and makes decorating easier.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

Christmas Tree Rice Krispies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

Personally, I adore using classic red, white, and green Christmas sprinkles—they add a cheerful pop of color that’s perfect for holiday vibes. Sometimes I even throw on tiny edible stars or metallic sugar balls to make them extra special.

Side Dishes

These treats pair beautifully with a cup of hot cocoa, spiced apple cider, or even alongside a festive cheese board for a fun dessert balance. If you’re serving a party, I like to arrange them next to mini gingerbread cookies for a winter wonderland spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I place these treats on a platter lined with fresh pine sprigs or holly for that seasonal touch. Wrapping individual treats in cellophane with a tiny ribbon also makes them perfect homemade gifts. I once tied a set onto mugs for a cozy gift idea—everyone loved it!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store any leftover treats in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and chewy for about a week. Just keep them away from heat or humidity to avoid sticky messes.

Freezing

Yes, you can freeze these! I wrap each treat tightly in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container or freezer bag. When thawed at room temperature, they retain most of their texture and flavor. Perfect for prepping ahead of seasonal parties.

Reheating

I usually just let frozen treats thaw naturally at room temp. If you want a soft, warm bite, gently microwave for 10 seconds but watch carefully—they can melt too much. Warm marshmallow gooeyness is a real treat!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use mini marshmallows instead of regular ones?

Absolutely! Mini marshmallows work fine, just be sure to melt them fully and stir gently to achieve that smooth mixture.

How do I make sure my treats stay soft and don’t turn hard?

The key is to press the mixture gently into the pan—not too firmly—and don’t overbake or heat the marshmallows too high. Also, store them properly in an airtight container at room temperature.

Can I skip the green food coloring?

Yes, you can skip the food coloring if you prefer natural white treats, or swap in a different color to match your celebration theme.

What’s the best way to cut the treats into tree shapes?

Use a sharp knife and cut the treats first horizontally to make thinner layers, then slice triangles carefully. A buttered knife helps prevent sticking and crumbling. Taking your time here makes a big difference!

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Rice Krispies Treats Recipe holds a sweet spot in my holiday baking lineup—it’s nostalgic, versatile, and frankly, just plain fun. The smiles when you bring these to a gathering or share them with family make the effort so worth it. I hope you give this recipe a try; once you see how simple it is to go from pantry staples to adorable edible trees, it’ll become a holiday tradition in your home too.