Nothing says festive quite like a sparkly, sweet treat shaped like a tree! This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is your go-to for an easy, nostalgic holiday dessert that’s fun for the whole family to make and even more fun to eat.

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’m always surprised by how a few simple ingredients turn into these magically chewy and colorful Christmas trees. It’s one of those recipes that brings back joyful memories and makes your kitchen smell like holiday cheer — plus, it’s so easy, you can make a batch in under 20 minutes!

Festive Fun: Shaping Rice Krispie treats into Christmas trees instantly elevates a classic treat to holiday magic.
Kid-Friendly: Kids love helping out, especially when it involves dipping pretzels and adding sprinkles.
Simple Yet Impressive: It looks gorgeous with minimal effort—perfect for last-minute parties or school events.
Customizable: Easily customize colors, toppings, or make it your own with your favorite add-ins.

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

Each ingredient here plays an important role, blending classic marshmallow gooeyness with crispy cereal crunch and fun festive decoration. Use fresh marshmallows and cereal for the best, soft texture.

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: Creates a smooth base and prevents sticking while adding richness.
Marshmallows: Melt down for that classic chewy texture we all crave.
Green Gel Food Coloring: Turns the mix into vibrant Christmas tree green without changing texture.
Vanilla Extract: Adds warmth and depth to the flavor.
Rice Krispies Cereal: The essential crispy element—fresh cereal keeps treats light and crunchy.
Pretzel Sticks: Work as sturdy tree trunks and add a fun salty twist.
Christmas Sprinkles: Bring extra whimsy and sparkle to your trees.
White Chocolate: Perfect for piping on decorations and securing sprinkles, adds a creamy sweetness.

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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 mixing it up by adding a hint of peppermint extract instead of vanilla for a nice holiday punch. You can also swap traditional sprinkles for tiny edible pearls or star-shaped sugar bits to match your party vibe.

Variation: Try using mini chocolate chips folded into the mix for a chocolate twist that my family can’t get enough of.
Dietary Modification: Use gluten-free rice cereal for gluten sensitivities — it works just as well and everyone still cheers these on.
Seasonal Change: Swap green food coloring for orange and use pumpkin-shaped sprinkles for Thanksgiving variations.

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

Step 1: Melt Butter and Marshmallows to Perfection

I start by melting 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a large pot on low heat. Once the butter is melted, I add the whole bag of marshmallows and stir gently but continuously. It’s important to keep the temperature low so the marshmallows melt evenly and don’t burn or stick to the bottom — patience here really pays off!

Step 2: Add Color and Flavor Before Folding In Cereal

Once the marshmallows are smooth and melted, I remove the pot from heat and immediately add 3 drops of green gel food coloring along with 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Stir that up until the color blends evenly. Then gently fold in 5 ½ cups of Rice Krispies cereal, making sure every bit gets coated but avoiding crushing the cereal.

Step 3: Press and Set the Base

I pour the mixture into a lightly greased or parchment-lined 13×9-inch dish. Here’s a little tip: press the mixture gently — don’t pack it in. Pressing too hard makes the treats dense and harder. Let them rest at room temperature for about an hour until firm but still soft enough to cut cleanly.

Step 4: Shape and Decorate Your Trees

Once set, I slice the treats horizontally in half to create two thinner layers, then cut each into triangles to mimic Christmas tree shapes. I melt 4 ounces of white chocolate according to package directions and carefully insert a pretzel stick into the base of each triangle — this acts as the tree trunk. Then, I pipe melted chocolate on top and decorate with Christmas sprinkles before letting them set again briefly. This step really adds that festive flair!

Top Tip

Having made these treats many times, I’ve learned a few little things that make the process smoother and the results tastier. These tips will help you avoid common pitfalls and get that perfect balance of chewy and crispy every time.

Use Fresh Ingredients: Marshmallows and cereal lose their texture when stale, so always use fresh packs to get the soft chew and crisp bite.
Low and Slow Melting: Melting marshmallows over low heat prevents burning and helps achieve that ideal smooth consistency.
Gentle Pressing: Don’t over-press the cereal mixture in the pan; it keeps your treats from turning hard and crumbly.
Color Drops Over Liquid Coloring: Gel food coloring is your best bet so it won’t thin out the marshmallow mixture and affect texture.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep the garnishes simple but festive: classic Christmas sprinkles in red, white, and green are my go-to, but sometimes I scatter tiny edible silver balls or sugar stars. Adding a drizzle of white chocolate on top just makes the trees feel extra special and fancy.

Side Dishes

These treats pair wonderfully with warm drinks—think hot cocoa topped with whipped cream or a peppermint mocha. They also make a great addition alongside cheesecake bites or spiced cookies for a holiday dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I’ve arranged the Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe on serving trays lined with pine branches and fairy lights—it looks magical. Wrapping individual trees in clear bags tied with festive ribbon also makes for adorable take-home gifts that everyone asks about.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature. I usually keep mine wrapped tightly with plastic wrap inside the container to maintain softness and freshness—they typically last about a week this way.

Freezing

I’ve successfully frozen these treats, wrapped individually in plastic wrap and placed in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready, thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours—it keeps their texture surprisingly well.

Reheating

Since they’re best enjoyed as is, I rarely reheat these treats. But if you want to soften them a bit after refrigeration, you can microwave for about 10 seconds—just don’t overdo it or they’ll get gummy!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use different cereal instead of Rice Krispies?

Rice Krispies cereal is ideal because of its light, crispy texture that holds up well with marshmallows. Other cereals often become too soggy or too dense, but you can experiment with similar puffed rice cereals. Just note the texture might vary.

What’s the best way to cut the treats into perfect triangles?

I suggest slicing the Rice Krispie treats horizontally first to create thinner layers, then use a sharp knife to cut into triangles. Using a warm, damp knife helps make cleaner cuts without cracking or crumbling the treats.

Can these treats be made ahead of time for a party?

Absolutely! You can prepare them a day or two in advance, store in an airtight container at room temperature, and decorate close to serving time. Just keep decorations dry and sprinkles fresh by piping chocolate to adhere them right before guests arrive.

How do I prevent the treats from becoming hard?

The key is gentle pressing while setting and making sure you don’t pack the mixture too tightly into the pan. Also, store them properly in an airtight container to keep moisture in. Avoid exposing them to air for long periods.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe has become one of my holiday favorites because it brings such simple joy and a festive spirit to the kitchen. It’s the kind of recipe I love sharing with friends when I want to add a bit of easy, homemade magic to the celebration. Give it a try—you’ll probably find yourself making these again and again every holiday season!