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Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats are the holiday version of a classic treat with an irresistible white chocolate peppermint candy cane topping. My Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats are equally easy, fun, and family-loved for Christmas treats.
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Why you'll love this recipe
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats are a festive twist on a classic! These holiday Rice Krispie Treats feature a luscious white chocolate peppermint topping. You'll love the no-bake recipe – melt marshmallows, melt white chocolate, crush up candy cane, and assemble the treats in minutes. They're fun to make and irresistible for kids and adults! They're the perfect sweet and salty snack for a Christmas charcuterie board.
Ingredients you'll need
- Peppermint candy - Use candy canes or mini peppermint candies.
- Butter - You can use salted or unsalted butter.
- Marshmallows - Any size of marshmallows works!
- Vanilla extract - This is optional but recommended for extra flavor.
- Sea salt - A little goes a long way to add flavor to this recipe.
- Rice Krispies cereal - Use plain Rice Krispies for this recipe.
- White chocolate chips - White candy melts can be used in place of these.
- Peppermint extract - This is optional but adds so much minty flavor. Also, this is not the same as mint/spearmint extract.
How To Make Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
Start by crushing the peppermint candy into a mix of fine and coarse textured pieces on a flat surface. Set aside.
Melt butter and marshmallows via microwave or stove in a large microwave-safe bowl. Add vanilla, salt, and cereal to the marshmallow mixture and stir to coat.
Transfer the mixture to a prepared baking sheet. Place wax paper over the mixture and use a firm spatula to press the surface flat and set aside. Melt the white chocolate chips in another heat-safe bowl. Spread the melted white chocolate over the surface of the bars.
Sprinkle the crushed peppermint over the white chocolate surface before it sets up. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow the chocolate to set up.
Once the chocolate sets, cut the sheet into bars and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- Prep Ahead: Measure all your ingredients before starting, since the marshmallow mixture sets quickly once melted.
- Avoid Sticky Hands: Lightly spray your hands or spatula with cooking spray when pressing the mixture into the pan to prevent sticking.
- Melting Chocolate: If your white chocolate starts to seize or get too thick, add ½ teaspoon of vegetable oil or butter and stir to smooth it out.
Variations
- Chocolate Swap: Use milk or dark chocolate instead of white chocolate for a richer flavor.
- Extra Crunch: Add crushed pretzels or chopped nuts to the Rice Krispies mixture for added texture.
- Festive Twist: Swap the candy canes for colorful sprinkles to match different holidays or occasions.
More Christmas recipes
- Magic Bars Recipe
- Peppermint White Chocolate Pretzels
- Chocolate Covered Nuts
- Cranberry Orange Sauce
- Cranberry Apple Crisp
📖 Recipe
Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
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Video
Note about scaling
When scaling, the light gray ingredient notes after the comma don’t change. Adjust as needed.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Peppermint Candy Canes
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- ½ teaspoon Vanilla
- ⅛ teaspoon Sea Salt
- 10 ounces Mini Marshmallows, same as 6 ½ cups
- 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- 1 cup White Chocolate Chips
- ½ teaspoon Peppermint Extract, (optional)
Instructions
- Crush the candy canes and set aside. Lightly spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, vanilla, salt, and marshmallows in 15-second intervals, stirring until smooth (or melt on the stove over low heat).
- Quickly stir in the Rice Krispies until coated, then press the mixture into the prepared pan and flatten with wax paper.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth (or melt in a bowl over simmering water).
- Spread the melted chocolate over the cereal mixture and sprinkle the crushed candy canes on top. Let cool completely before cutting.
- Transfer the firm sheet to a cutting board and use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut into squares. Store in an airtight container with wax paper between layers for up to a week.
Recipe Notes
Tips:
- Prep Ahead: Measure all your ingredients before starting since the marshmallow mixture sets quickly once melted.
- Avoid Sticky Hands: Lightly spray your hands or spatula with cooking spray when pressing the mixture into the pan to prevent sticking.
- Melting Chocolate: If your white chocolate starts to seize or get too thick, add ½ teaspoon of vegetable oil or butter and stir to smooth it out.
Variations:
- Chocolate Swap: Use milk or dark chocolate instead of white chocolate for a richer flavor.
- Extra Crunch: Add crushed pretzels or chopped nuts to the Rice Krispies mixture for added texture.
- Festive Twist: Add some colorful Christmas sprinkles to make these bars even more festive!
Equipment
- meat tenderizer to crush the candy canes
- large microwaveable mixing bowl
- wax paper
- bench scraper to cut the bars
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on brands, ingredients, and portions.
TJ says
Ok these Christmas Rice Krispies are as addictively delicious as peppermint bark pretzels. The fam devours them fast! Thanks for sharing the step-by-step photos too. So helpful! Will be making these every year. Merry Christmas!
Traci says
Yay! I'm so glad you love these as much as I do! Love it when the family loves it lol. Thanks for the feedback and Merry Christmas to you too!
J Allen says
These. are. addictive! Rice krispie treats are always good, but the white chocolate and candy cane make it next level. Another winner, Kitchen Girl!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks! I happen to 100% agree with you J 😉 These are probably my fav Christmas candy lol.
katie says
Made this for the family and it was a hit!
The Kitchen Girl says
Awesome, Katie! So glad to hear it! These are family-friendly indeed ... thanks!!!
Dannii says
We love rice krispie treats at this time of the year. These are so festive.
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Dannii! So glad you like these 🙂 Cheers!
Alisa Infanti says
I love the added crunch from the candy canes. So good!
The Kitchen Girl says
Yay, Alisa! I'm right there with you on that 🙂 Thanks so much!
Nathan says
WOW, these look delicious and so festive! I bet they would be delicious with some dark chocolate drizzled over top as well, can't wait to keep them a try!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Nathan! Glad you can enjoy these 🙂 And yes, dark chocolate always welcome
Cathy says
Hi, it’s my experience that microwaving marshmallows to melt them will leave you with concrete treats. Microwaves are fine to melt butter, but not marshmallows. I will make your recipe, but I’ll continue use to melt the marshmallows on the stove likely using a double boiler.
The Kitchen Girl says
Hi Cathy, thanks for the feedback but I've never had that experience from microwave melted marshmallows. They always turn out great, so much that I swore I'd never do stove again LOL. I wonder what's giving us different experiences.
Suzy says
Super fun and tasty treats! Love the peppermint in them!
The Kitchen Girl says
Thanks, Suzy! Love hearing that ... glad you enjoyed 🙂