Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats

These Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats are the cutest no-bake dessert you'll make all Christmas season!

When it comes to holiday desserts, Rice Krispie treats are one of the easiest! It's also a great basic recipe that's easy to change up with added ingredients. These Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats are packed with fluffy, gooey marshmallows for a chewy texture, and topped with a chocolatey reindeer face that is too cute to pass up. This is a fun and simple Christmas treat that will make all of the kids shout with glee - yippee! 

Melt the marshmallows and butter together, and then combine all of the ingredients in a large saucepan. Don't forget to toss in a generous amount of holiday sprinkles and extra mini marshmallows! These make the treats extra chewy.

Pour the mixture into a 9x13 baking dish lined with parchment paper. For best results, lightly grease the parchment paper with cooking spray. Gently flatten the treats with a rubber spatula, or grease your hands first and then use your fingers.

Let the treats sit on the counter to cool completely, which takes about an hour. Remove the treats from the baking dish, and cut them into 12 equal-sized bars.

Melt* chocolate candy melts in the microwave or a double boiler until smooth. Dip just the tops of the treat bars into the chocolate and place on a lined baking sheet.

Immediately decorate the reindeer faces before the chocolate cools. Add a mini pretzel in both upper corners for antlers, and then add candy eyes. Lastly, add a red or brown M&Ms candy for the reindeer noses.

Fill a piping bag with red candy melts. Microwave the melts in 30 second increments on a low or defrost setting until completely melted. Squish or massage the bag in between increments to make sure it's melting evenly. Allow the melts to cool for a few minutes. If it’s too hot, it will come out too quickly.

Pipe a simple scarf along the bottom of each reindeer treat bar. Allow to cool completely. 

These treats are chewy and delicious. You can add in all kinds of other ingredients to the Rice Krispie treat mixture like sprinkles, M&Ms, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or pretzels. Just make sure to flatten the tops of the treats well so that you have a smoother surface to work with.

Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats

Servings: 12 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes

Setting Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 16 ounces mini marshmallows, divided
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 8 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• ¼ cup nonpareils sprinkles
• 10 ounce package milk chocolate melting wafers
• 24 mini pretzel twists, for the antlers
• 24 candy eyes
• 12 red and/or brown M&Ms, for the nose
• ⅓ cup red candy melts, for the scarves

Directions:

1. Line a 9x13 baking dish with lightly greased parchment paper and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.
3. Separate 2 cups of marshmallows and set aside for later. Pour the rest of the marshmallows into the saucepan and stir continuously until melted. Do not overheat.
4. Remove the mixture from heat and stir in the vanilla and salt.
5. Fold in the cereal, holiday sprinkles, and extra mini marshmallows until all are covered in the melted marshmallow mixture.
6. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and lightly flatten into an even, loosely-packed layer.
7. Allow the treats to cool for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
8. Remove the treats from the baking dish, and slice into 12 evenly-sized bars.
9. Melt the milk chocolate wafers in a double boiler or microwave in 30 second increments until smooth.
10. Dip one Rice Krispie treat bar into the chocolate to coat just the top. Place the bar onto the lined baking tray with the chocolate side facing up.
11. Immediately add two pretzels on the upper corners for the antlers, two candy eyes, and an M&M for the nose. Repeat with the rest of the bars.
12. Melt ⅓ cup of red candy melts in a piping bag by microwaving in 30 second increments on a low or defrost setting until melted. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
13. Cut the tip off the piping bag and pipe the scarves on the bottom of the bars.
14. Let the reindeer treats set for an additional 15 minutes before serving.

Tips: 

• Storage: These treats are best when enjoyed the same day, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Do NOT refrigerate.

Variations:

• Use Cocoa Krispies instead for a more chocolatey flavor.
• Use additional add-ins to the treat mixture like sprinkles, M&Ms, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips or pretzels.
• Instead of pretzel antlers, use mini candy canes or chocolate-covered pretzels.
• Pipe reindeer eyes using gel icing or black candy melts instead of using candy eyes.
• Use Red Hots or other similar candies for the reindeer noses instead of M&Ms.

Not only are these Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats SO easy to make, but they are such a fun and festive Christmas dessert. If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear all about it! Please share your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment/photo on the project pin on Pinterest!

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