There’s something magical about festive snacks that bring a smile with every bite. This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is a total crowd-pleaser — crunchy, sweet, and just so fun to make and decorate together. Perfect for holiday gatherings or a cozy night in, these treats capture all the joy of the season in a bite-sized Christmas tree.

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

I’ve made these Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats several times now, and honestly, they never fail to bring joy. It’s not just the nostalgic taste of marshmallows and crispy cereal — it’s the way they look all dressed up in sprinkles and white chocolate stars. Kids and adults alike get into the decorating, making it a great project to share.

Festive and Fun: The Christmas tree shape and colorful sprinkles instantly add holiday spirit to your dessert table.
Easy to Make: Just a few simple ingredients and some gentle pressing is all it takes — no fancy equipment needed.
Customizable: You can swap sprinkles or toppings to fit your family’s taste or dietary needs.
Great for Gifting: Wrapped up in cellophane, these treats make delightful homemade holiday gifts.

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

The magic of this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe lies in the harmony of a few simple ingredients. Each one brings something special to the texture, flavor, or festive look.

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: Adds richness and helps the marshmallows melt smoothly without overpowering sweetness.
Marshmallows: The glue that holds everything together — fresh ones melt best to create that perfect gooey texture.
Green gel food coloring: Just a few drops turn the treats into vibrant Christmas trees without watering down the flavor.
Vanilla extract: Lifts the flavor just a bit with a warm, sweet note.
Rice Krispies cereal: The classic crunchy base; make sure they're fresh for the best snap and flavor.
Pretzel sticks: These act as the tree trunks — salty contrast and sturdy enough to hold each tree upright.
Christmas sprinkles: Because holiday treats just aren't complete without a little sparkle and color.
White chocolate: For drizzling and decorating—it adds sweetness and helps anchor the sprinkles.

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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 things about this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I like to switch up the sprinkles sometimes or add a few mini chocolate chips in the mix for bursts of extra texture. Feel free to play around!

Variation: I’ve swapped green food coloring with natural matcha powder once—it gave a mild earthiness and beautiful color, though it changed the marshmallow softness a bit. So if you try this, add it gently.
Dietary Tip: For a gluten-free twist, double-check the Rice Krispies brand as some have malt flavoring. There are gluten-free crisp cereal alternatives that work just as well.
Texture Adjustment: Press the treats gently into the pan to keep them soft and chewy—overpacking makes them tough.
Decoration Fun: Mini M&Ms, edible glitter, or crushed candy canes make festive alternative toppings that kids love.

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

Step 1: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

Start by lightly greasing a 13×9-inch baking dish or lining it with parchment paper — this step is key so the treats come out without sticking. Over low heat, melt the butter in a large pot; then add the marshmallows. Keep stirring gently until they’re smooth and fully melted. Low heat is your friend here — rushing this can burn the marshmallows and give a grainy texture, which none of us want.

Step 2: Add the Flavor and Color

Once melted, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in your green gel food coloring and vanilla extract — I usually start with three drops of food coloring and add one or two more if the green isn’t bright enough. The gel colors are great because they don’t thin out the marshmallow mixture.

Step 3: Fold in the Rice Krispies

Next, gently fold in the Rice Krispies cereal until all the pieces are well coated with marshmallow goo. Be careful not to overmix or crush the cereal — you want those crispy bites in every treat. Once evenly combined, pour the mixture into your prepared dish and gently press down to an even layer. Remember, press gently — don’t pack it in hard, or your treats could end up dense and tough.

Step 4: Let Them Set and Cut Into Trees

Allow the treats to cool and set at room temperature for at least an hour — that’s when they firm up enough to hold shape but stay soft inside. Then slice the large slab horizontally in half, and cut each half into small triangles that look like Christmas trees.

Step 5: Decorate the Trees

Melt white chocolate according to the package directions (I usually do this gently in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds to avoid burning). Carefully insert one pretzel stick into the base of each triangle to act as the tree trunk. Use the melted white chocolate to decorate the trees: pipe lines, dots, or drizzle it on, then sprinkle with festive Christmas sprinkles before the chocolate sets. Let them firm up, and you’re ready to enjoy!

Top Tip

I’ve learned a few key tricks along the way to making perfect Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats, and these really make the difference to a joyful baking experience and great results.

Gentle Heat: Melt butter and marshmallows slowly on low to avoid scorch marks and grainy texture.
Press Gently: Don't compact the cereal mixture too tightly in the pan, or treats become harder than I prefer.
Food Coloring Tips: Use gel colors as they won’t water down the marshmallows; mix slowly to fully incorporate.
Decoration Timing: Add sprinkles while the white chocolate is still wet to ensure they stick well and avoid mess.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love adding a mix of colorful Christmas-themed sprinkles — stars, red and white pearls, and tiny snowflakes. Sometimes I add edible glitter or mini candy canes broken into little pieces to enhance festive charm. These little touches make the trees feel extra special and fun to nibble on.

Side Dishes

Because these treats are sweet and light, they pair nicely with a cup of hot cocoa or spiced apple cider. For a holiday dessert spread, they work well alongside gingerbread cookies or a cheese platter with seasonal fruits.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged the Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats recipe on a large platter lined with fresh pine branches and tiny fairy lights — it made the dessert table look enchanting. You can also wrap individual trees in cellophane with a little holiday ribbon for perfect party favors or gifts.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature, usually on the kitchen counter. They stay perfectly soft and delicious for up to a week, making them ideal for prepping ahead or enjoying over several days.

Freezing

I’ve frozen these treats wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed inside a freezer bag. When thawed at room temperature, they keep their texture surprisingly well, though the white chocolate decorations may lose a bit of their shine. Still a handy option for making big batches early.

Reheating

If you want to freshen them up after storage, a quick zap in the microwave for 5-7 seconds softens the treats nicely without melting the chocolate too much — just keep an eye to avoid overheating. This brings back some of that fresh-from-the-pan chewiness I love.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make this recipe without food coloring?

Absolutely! The green food coloring gives the Christmas tree look, but the recipe will taste just as good without it. You could also try natural options like matcha powder, but start with a very small amount to avoid altering texture and flavor.

How do I keep the treats soft and not hard?

Press the Rice Krispie mixture gently into the pan rather than packing it tightly. Over-pressing squeezes air and moisture out, leading to harder treats. Also, don’t overcook the marshmallows—melt them slowly over low heat.

Can kids help with making these treats?

Definitely! Kids can help stir the marshmallows (with supervision on heat), press the mixture into the pan, and especially decorate the trees with chocolate and sprinkles. It’s a fun, hands-on holiday activity.

How long do these treats last?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these Rice Krispie treats stay fresh and tasty for about a week. Beyond that, they might start to dry out. Freezing is a good option if you need to keep them longer.

Final Thoughts

Making this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe has become a little holiday tradition in my family — it’s simple, joyful, and tasty. I love how easy it is to bring people together over a shared kitchen project that ends with something delicious and festive on the table. Give it a try this season—you’ll love watching your own treat trees come to life!