Santa Rice Krispie Treats (Christmas Recipe)

These adorable Santa Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect no-bake holiday snack! Festive, fun, and easy to make, they’ll be the star of any Christmas party.

Alright, holiday bakers—move over cookies, because Santa Rice Krispie Treats are here to sleigh your dessert game this Christmas! 

These adorable treats are not only cute enough to make Santa’s nice list, but they’re also ridiculously easy to whip up. It’s exactly what we need when we’ve got a million other holiday things to do. 

No baking? Check. Maximum festive vibes? Check. 

Plus, they’re loaded with marshmallows, and who’s gonna say no to that?!

Whether you’re throwing a holiday party, making treats for the kiddos, or just trying to win over the big guy in red himself, these Santa Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect combination of adorable and delicious. 

And yes, they’ll totally look Insta-worthy on your dessert table. Let’s get festive!

If you love santa themed desserts you may also like to try my Gluten-Free Santa Hat Brownies or my Santa Hat Mini Cheesecakes.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE SANTA RICE KRISPIE TREATS

• Ridiculously Easy: This recipe is so simple, you can make it while rocking out to your favorite Christmas playlist. It’s no-bake, super quick, and requires minimal effort (which is exactly what we need during the holiday hustle).
• Adorably Festive: These treats bring all the festive vibes to your holiday spread. Santa’s hat, eyes, nose, and fluffy beard? I mean, come on, it doesn’t get more adorable than that.
• Perfect for the Whole Family: Whether you’re making these for the kids or just channeling your own inner child (because, hello, they’re fun to eat), these treats are guaranteed to bring joy to everyone who takes a bite.
• A Great Party Treat: Need something cute for a Christmas party or cookie exchange? These Santa Rice Krispie Treats are your new go-to! They’re fun, festive, and guaranteed to be a crowd favorite.

SIMPLE INGREDIENTS YOU NEED FOR THE CHRISTMAS RICE KRISPIE TREATS

You will need the following ingredients listed below to make these crispy treats (the exact measurements, nutritional information and full recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Unsalted butter
• Rice Krispie cereal (the OG crispy treat ingredient)
• Pure vanilla extract (for a little extra flavor magic)
• Regular-sized marshmallows – can also use mini marshmallows if preferred.
• Melted white chocolate
• Red sprinkles – or red sanding sugar.
• Candy eyes
• Coconut shreds
• Red M&Ms – for the red candy nose.

HOW TO MAKE THE SANTA HAT RICE KRISPIE TREATS

1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add in the marshmallows and stir until they’re melted and gooey. Remove from heat and add in vanilla extract for a little extra flavor kick, and keep stirring until everything is smooth.
2. Immediately stir in the Rice Krispie cereal. Mix it all up until the cereal is fully coated in marshmallow deliciousness.
3. Press the mixture down slightly into a greased 9×9 pan with a buttered spatula to create your base layer.
4. Allow the rice krispies to sit at room temperature until set (approx 20 minutes). Cut into 12 rectangular pieces.
5. In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt white chocolate chips.

6. Grab one piece at a time and dip the top third into melted white chocolate. Then dip straight into some red sprinkles to create Santa’s iconic hat. 

7. If you don’t have a perfect white line under the red sugar for the hat trim, no worries! Use a spoon to add a little extra white chocolate, then press in some coconut flakes with your fingers to get that fluffy hat . 

8. Next, use your spoon to add another strip of white chocolate to the bottom quarter of the treat for Santa’s beard. Press more coconut in to complete the look.

9. Now for the face: Dab a tiny bit of white chocolate on the backs of two candy eyes and stick ‘em right in the middle of your treat. Add a little more white chocolate to a red candy and place it below the eyes for his jolly nose. Voilà—Santa is ready to sleigh!

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR BEST RESULTS

• Work Quickly with the Chocolate: Melted chocolate sets fast, so have all your decorations ready before you start dipping. This way, you can press in the coconut and candy before the chocolate hardens.
• Grease Those Hands: Lightly grease your hands with butter or oil before shaping the Rice Krispie treats to keep them from sticking to your fingers. Sticky hands = not so fun.
• Use High-Quality Chocolate: For the best texture and flavor, go for high-quality white chocolate. It melts smoother and makes the decorating process a breeze.
• Thin Chocolate Layer for the Hat: Dip the top third of the treat lightly into the white chocolate for a cleaner, more precise “hat” line before dipping into the red sugar.

STORING THE LEFTOVER SANTA CLAUS RICE KRISPIE TREATS

To store your leftover Santa Claus Rice Krispie Treats, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. 

If you want to keep them fresh for a little longer, store them in the fridge for up to a week. Just make sure to layer them with parchment paper or wax paper to prevent sticking. 

Avoid freezing, as it can mess with the texture of the marshmallow and chocolate!

FAQS

CAN I MAKE THESE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE OR A HOLIDAY EVENT?

Absolutely! These Santa Rice Krispie Treats are a fun treat and the perfect option to whip up for Christmas Eve. They’re easy to make and bring all the holiday cheer to your celebration.

CAN I USE PRE-MADE RICE CEREAL TREATS?

Yes, if you’re short on time, pre-made rice cereal treats are a great option! Just decorate them with the Santa features like the red candy melts and shredded coconut for quick, festive holiday treats.

CAN I MAKE THESE DELICIOUS TREATS INTO RICE KRISPIE POPS?

Yes! Insert a wooden popsicle stick into each Santa treat to turn them into rice krispie pops—a perfect handheld option for Christmas parties or school events.

HOW DO I ENSURE THE MARSHMALLOW MIXTURE DOESN’T STICK?

Use cooking spray or butter on your spatula and hands to prevent the melted marshmallow mixture from sticking while shaping the treats.

CAN I TURN THESE INTO REINDEER TREATS INSTEAD?

Of course! You can easily make adorable reindeer rice krispie treats by adding pretzel antlers, chocolate antlers, and candy eyes to the krispy treats. Use red candy melts or M&Ms for the iconic red nose to complete the cute little reindeers.

CAN I MAKE A DOUBLE BATCH FOR A LARGE HOLIDAY CELEBRATION?

Absolutely! Just double all the ingredients to make a larger batch of rice krispie treats for your holiday celebration. Spread it out in a larger pan or make extra treats for a crowd.

Other Christmas Treats You May Enjoy Over The Holiday Season!

• No Bake Peanut Butter Balls (5 Ingredients)
• 30 Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes With Few Ingredients
• Christmas Chocolate Peppermint Truffles
• Heart Shaped Jam Thumbprint Cookies
• Gluten Free Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Sugar Free Sugar Cookies
• Brown Butter Homemade Rice Krispie Treats
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Easy Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares
• Christmas Trees Gluten-Free Brownies
• Chocolate Covered Pretzel Wreaths
• Oreo Cookie Christmas Ornaments
• Chocolate Caramel Shortbread Bars

IF YOU TRIED THESE DELIGHTFUL SANTA RICE KRISPIE TREATS PLEASE LEAVE IT A COMMENT AND STAR RATING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN PIN THESE YUMMY TREATS ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING @basicswithbails and #basicswithbails