Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats for Christmas

Transform classic rice krispie treats into Santa’s Reindeer Christmas rice krispie treats! These easy, delicious treats are a favorite for the holiday season.

Spruce up the Christmas dessert table with this easy holiday treat recipe. Adorable reindeer rice krispie treats are a favorite for kids of all ages. They are such a surprise and so delicious. They make a cute Christmas dessert or decorative treat for school events.

The hardest part? Not eating them all before Santa arrives. Rumor has it they are a favorite of his for the holiday cheer factor.

Pair these with our Christmas Tree rice krispies treats and some Christmas cookies (definitely some sugar cookies) for a festive desserts tray for Christmas parties.

Jump to:

• Recipe Ingredient Notes
• How to Make Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats – Step-by-Step
• Pro Tips
• How to Store
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• Recipe

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Rice Krispies cereal. Any crispy rice cereal works, actual Rice Krispies brand or another brand. If gluten-free note rice krispies cereal (upon publishing this recipe) is NOT gluten-free. We use Barbara’s Brown Rice crisped rice cereal but there are other gluten-free brands too.

Mini marshmallows. You’ll need 6 cups which should be a 10 ounce bag (check the package serving amounts as they can change over time).

Butter. You’ll use salted butter for this holiday treats recipe.

White vanilla candy melts. Also called melting wafers. These can be found in craft store baking departments, with baking aisle of the grocery store or online. Any brand will work but we love Ghirardelli brand melting wafers. They melt and harden well, and have a great vanilla flavor. These work better than white chocolate chips in terms of melting and hardening.

Red and Brown M&Ms candies. M&M’s brand or a generic brand can be used. You’ll need these two colors (enjoy the other colors!). You’ll need 24 brown for eyes and either brown OR red for the nose (or a mix): 12 total.

Chocolate covered mini pretzels. These create the antlers. Regular or gluten-free pretzels can be used (for gluten-free we like Glutino brand). Flipz is a popular brand for regular chocolate covered pretzels.

Candy eyes. These can be found at craft stores with a baking section, in the baking aisle of the grocery store (depending on the store) or online. They are edible candy eyes.

I can’t find candy eyes. Is there something else I can use?

If you can find candy eyes in your local store and don’t want to purchase online you can create an eye using white chocolate and a mini chocolate chip. The chocolate chip will be the pupil of the eye. That should give you an idea of how big to make the white chocolate portion of the eye. Place a small dab of melted white chocolate where you want to position each eye. Take a mini chocolate chip and place it, point side down, into the center of the white chocolate.

Other supplies you’ll need:

• 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish
• Nonstick cooking spray

How to Make Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats – Step-by-Step

STEP 1. Preparation

Spray a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

STEP 2. Make treat mixture

In a large heavy Dutch oven or large saucepan melt butter over low heat (photo 1). Stir in the vanilla extract (photo 2).

Add in the marshmallows and stir continuously until they have melted (photo 3).

Stir the rice krispies cereal into the melted marshmallow mixture until coated with the marshmallow cream (photos 4-5).

STEP 3. Add to baking dish

Using a large spoon sprayed with nonstick spray or a buttered spatula, spoon the coated rice krispies into the prepared baking dish and gently press down with firm pressure to spread the mixture (photos 6-7). Refer to Pro Tips section.

Allow the rice krispie mixture to cool for 30 minutes.

STEP 4. Cutting the reindeer

Using a spatula gently loosen the edges of the treats. Turn the dish over onto a clean cutting board or lift and move to cutting board. Use a large knife to trim the edges so they are straight (photo 8). Set aside the trimmed pieces.

Using a sharp knife, cut the block of treats down the middle the long way. This will split the treats into two pieces (photo 9).

Cut each section on an angle to form triangle shaped pieces (6 per section for 12 reindeer total)(photos 10-11).

STEP 5. Melt the candy wafers

Place the white chocolate melts into a microwave safe container. Follow the directions for your brand of white chocolate melts.

If they do not have directions, then microwave for 1 minute at 50% power or on the defrost setting. Stir well. If not melted place in microwave for 30 seconds and stir again.

STEP 6. Decorate rice krispies reindeer

Place a small amount of melted chocolate on the back of one corner of a mini pretzel and stick it to a corner of the treat (opposite from the point of the triangle) to be an antler. Repeat for the other side (photos 12-14).

Using a spoon or a toothpick, place a small amount of melted white chocolate on the back of each eye and position on the reindeer (photo 15).

Using a spoon or a toothpick place a small amount of the melted white chocolate on the side of the M&M that has the printed logo. Press the red or brown M&M on the tip of the triangle to make the nose. Some will be Rudolph Reindeers (red nose) and other will be one of the other 8 Reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh (brown nose)(photo 16).

STEP 7. Chill to set

Place the decorated treats on a baking sheet and put in the refrigerator or 5 to 10 minutes to harden the chocolate.

Pro Tips

How to keep the rice krispies mixture from sticking. The marshmallow coated rice krispies are very sticky. To help keep them from sticking to the spoon when moving them to the baking dish and to your hands when pressing them into the baking dish, coat the spoon and your fingers with a small amount of nonstick cooking spray, oil, or butter. We personally use cooking spray. Works like a charm!

Use fresh marshmallows. For the best results buy a fresh bag of marshmallows. That bag that’s been sitting in your pantry? Add those to a cup of hot chocolate instead.

How to Store

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Note they are best in the first three days and will become gradually harder after that. Do not refrigerate.

Layer wax paper or parchment paper between single layers of rice krispy treats.

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