Make these easy and fun Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats for your next holiday celebration! There is nothing better than Christmas-themed treats to have on your table during the holidays and everyone will love these goodies.
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Key Ingredients For This Recipe
- Puffed rice cereal: The base of the treat, is light and crispy, perfect for binding with melted marshmallows.
- Mini marshmallows: Melted with butter to create the sweet, sticky mixture that holds everything together.
- Brown gel food coloring: Gives the treats their reindeer color; use sparingly for the right shade (or mix red, green, and blue for DIY brown).
- Small pretzels: Used as the reindeer antlers; the classic shape works best.
- Candy eyeballs: Add fun personality and turn the treats into reindeer faces.
- Red chocolate-covered candies: Used for the noses—Rudolph-style!
*See the recipe card for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make These Festive Treats
- Make some classic rice cereal treats and press them into a 9x13 pan so they are nice and compact. Once cool, cut into triangles.
- Make the brown buttercream frosting and frost each triangle with a thick layer.
- Add cut pretzels, candy eyeballs, and a red candy nose!
How to Make Thick Brown Frosting
The easiest way to make brown frosting is to use brown gel frosting. The brown I had was too light so I added some water-based color to make it darker.
You can also create brown using just red, green, and blue. A good starting point is 10 drops red, 10 drops green, and 1 drop blue.
From there, add more as needed using the ratio as a guide. You can also try these from Wilton, they always work well.
How to Cut Pretzels for Antlers
Cutting small pretzels is actually harder than it looks because the pretzels are so fragile. I definitely had a few pretzels that didn't make the cut so they became a snack.
If you don't want to cut the pretzels at all, you could always just put the whole pretzel on top of the treats and they will still look cute!
Expert Tips on Making Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
- The most important part is to have fun! These don't have to be perfect and they will still be delicious.
- To get a nice pressed rice cereal treat, spray your hands with non-stick spray before pressing them into the pan.
- The thick buttercream frosting is the easiest to work with when cold.
- You can also use cinnamon imperials or another round red candy for the nose.
- Candy eyes make decorating easy but you can also use frosting or other candy if you don't have them.
If you get a chance to make these Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats, tag me on Instagram or Facebook and show me, or leave a review below! You can also follow me on Pinterest and sign up for my e-mail list to receive more fun and delicious recipes in your inbox.
Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- large pot
- large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl
Ingredients
Rice Cereal Treats
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 6 cups rice cereal
- 4 cups marshmallows
Thick Buttercream Frosting
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, room temp
- ¾ cup shortening
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 4 cups confectioners powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoon water, room temp
- brown gel food coloring (or see notes for how to make brown)
Decorations
- 1 cup small pretzels in classic pretzel shape
- candy eyeballs
- red chocolate-covered candies
Instructions
Rice Cereal Treats
- Prepare a 9/13 pan with non-stick spray. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the marshmallows and stir until fully melted in the butter.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the rice cereal. Add to the prepared dish and press into the pan as much as you can. Allow the treats to cool in the pan.
Thick Buttercream Frosting
- Place the butter and shortening in a stand mixer or mixing bowl and cream together on medium speed. Add the vanilla and salt and continue mixing.
- Begin to add confectioners sugar one cup at a time, mixing on low speed until combined then med-high speed for a minute or so each time. After each cup addition, add a tablespoon of water to get your desired consistency. Add the gel food coloring and fully incorporate it.
Reindeer Assembly
- Turn the pan with the pressed rice cereal treats over onto a cutting board. Cut off the edges with a sharp knife and then cut into equal triangles.
- Frost each triangle with a thick layer of buttercream frosting. Place the frosted triangles in the fridge for 10 minutes to the set frosting.
- Cut a pretzel in half to make the antlers and place them on top of the triangle (see post for detailed instructions).
- Add the candy eyes and nose.
Notes
- Buttercream frosting can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days before using.
- If you have leftover frosting, you can freeze it in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Any nutrition calculations are only estimates using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/ says
Aww, so cute and easy to make! There are so many new things I want to try this Christmas; I will need to buy a bigger table to fit all!:))
Emily says
It's so true, there are always fun and delicious treats during Christmas! The good thing about these Reindeer is that it only makes about 10-12.
Casey the College Celiac says
These are too cute! Love the pretzel antlers!
Emily says
Thanks, Casey!
Alyssa Hixenbaugh says
These look so cute and festive! They would be a great treat for kiddos. 🙂
Emily says
Thanks, Alyssa, they are perfect for kiddos...but I will say I enjoyed them as well!
Taffy says
wow what a great idea . My toddler would love making this with me!
Emily says
Thank you...I can confidently say toddlers LOVE these treats!
Sue says
Super cute! I need to make these with my granddaughter!
Emily says
Yes! You guys will have so much fin making these!
Linda Egeler says
How adorable are these! I had no idea it was possible to purchase candy eyeballs. Thanks for the tip.
Emily says
Thanks, Linda! I use the candy eyeballs for so many fun treats, you will love them.
Marita says
Great recipe,
I think my kids will love this. So much fun xx
Emily says
They will love it, I know my son did!