Elevate your holiday party with these adorable reindeer Rice Krispies cereal treats, perfect for snacking on Christmas day or as a special treat at your gathering. Building upon the classic recipe, this festive twist adds whimsical touches like candy eyes, an M&M nose, and pretzel stick antlers. If you’re a fan of traditional Rice Krispie squares, you’ll adore these bite-sized bites.These charming treats are not only visually appealing but also simple to prepare, making them ideal for Christmas Eve or as a snack on the holiday itself. Additionally, they’d be an excellent choice for your holiday cookie swap. To take your festive spread to the next level, pair these treats with Italian canestrelli cookies, Grinch Crumbl Christmas sugar cookies, or indulge in white chocolate cranberry cupcakes.
Why You’ll Love Them
Indulge in these adorable Christmas cookies that require minimal effort and no cooking! With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a batch of reindeer Rice Krispies treats that are almost too cute to eat – almost. The best part? You’ll save money by making them yourself compared to buying individual ones from the bakery. These treats offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures, featuring crunchy cereal, soft marshmallows, chewy M&Ms, and crunchy pretzels. A perfect treat for everyone to enjoy.
How to Make Rice Krispie Reindeer
To bring your holiday treats to life, start by melting some of the key ingredients. Begin by heating the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth, then set it aside. Next, combine butter and marshmallows in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture is fully melted. Remove the pan from the heat and quickly add in the Rice Krispies or Cocoa Pebbles, folding gently to distribute evenly. Press the mixture into a prepared 13×9-inch baking dish greased with cookie spray. Once your treats are set, it’s time to add some festive flair. Dip the backs of candy eyes into melted chocolate chips and attach them to your treats, followed by M&M’s and pretzels for added personality. Allow the treats to cool completely before cutting them into squares and serving.
Substitutions and Variations
If you’re looking to customize your chocolate Cocoa Pebbles Krispie reindeer, there are several tweaks you can make. For starters, feel free to swap out the chocolate Cocoa Pebbles for Rice Krispies cereal if you prefer a different flavor profile, and adjust the amount of melted chocolate in the mixture to achieve your desired shade of brown. Additionally, consider adding a hint of vanilla extract when mixing the cereal with marshmallows or substituting coconut oil for butter to give your treats an extra boost of flavor. When it comes to preparing the baking dish, you can opt for wax paper or parchment paper instead of greasing it, and experiment with cutting out the squares before decorating them with eyes, antlers, and noses, rather than doing so after they’re set.
How to Store Holiday Rice Krispie Treats
For optimal freshness and texture preservation, it’s recommended to store these Christmas Rice Krispie treats in an airtight container or airtight Ziploc bag at room temperature for up to a week. After three days, you may notice a slight loss of crunchiness, but they should still remain edible. If you prefer to extend their shelf life, consider freezing them for up to six weeks. However, keep in mind that frozen treats may not retain the same crispy texture when thawed.
Rice Krispies Christmas Treats FAQs
When crafting Rice Krispie treats, one of the most important decisions is choosing the right type of M&M’s. While peanut M&M’s are a popular choice for reindeer noses due to their slightly larger size, there are alternative options available for those who prefer or require something else. For instance, you can opt for any other variety of M&M’s or explore other types of candy altogether.In terms of the chocolate used in the treats, you have the option to substitute milk chocolate with white chocolate if that’s your preference. This change will result in a lighter-colored treat. Ultimately, the choice between milk and white chocolate comes down to personal taste.For those looking for a convenient way to acquire candy eyes, Amazon is an excellent resource. I personally recommend using these particular candy eyes (link) and have found them suitable for use in both Halloween and Christmas-themed Rice Krispie treats.
Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Bella Bucchiotti shares her delightful recipe for Christmas reindeer rice krispie treats, perfect for a fun and festive food gift or kid-friendly holiday project. With only 15 minutes of prep time and total time, these adorable treats are easy to make and sure to bring joy to those who receive them. Each serving yields 12 delicious pieces.
Instructions
Combine the warmth of melted chocolate with the gooey goodness of marshmallows to create a sweet treat for the holiday season. Start by microwaving 3/4 cup of chocolate chips in 30-second intervals until smooth and creamy. Meanwhile, melt 1/2 cup of marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of butter together in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently to avoid any lumps forming. Once the mixture is smooth, remove it from the heat and stir in 1 cup of Cocoa Pebbles cereal until the cereal is evenly coated. Press the mixture into a 9×13 inch pan, making sure to spread it out evenly. If desired, lightly butter the pan to ensure easy removal later. While the treats are still warm, dip the back half of M&M’s, pretzels, and candy eyes in the melted chocolate to create a secure bond with the cereal. Arrange the add-ins into reindeer faces, spacing them evenly across four rows for a total of 12 treats. Once the bars have cooled, use a sharp knife or cookie cutter to cut out the shapes, leaving space around each pretzel to ensure easy removal.