Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats combine chewy marshmallow cereal bars with crunchy pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and red candy noses for an easy Christmas dessert.
They’re a fun addition to holiday party trays, Christmas movie nights, or an afternoon of decorating with the kids.
You don’t need a cookie cutter or special decorating tools to make these reindeer. Simply prepare the cereal mixture, let it cool, and cut it into triangles before adding the faces.
The sweet marshmallow base and salty pretzels make a delicious combination, while the simple decorations give each little reindeer its own playful holiday personality.
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Why You’ll Love These Reindeer Treats
- No baking required: Keep the oven free while you make a festive dessert with a simple marshmallow cereal base.
- Sweet and salty: Crunchy pretzel antlers balance the sweetness of the chewy treats and candy decorations.
- Fun to make with kids: Once the treats have cooled and been cut, little helpers can add eyes, noses, and antlers.
- No special tools needed: Cut the treats into triangles with a knife—there’s no need for cookie cutters or piping bags.
- Easy to serve: Individual portions make these Rice Krispie reindeer a convenient addition to Christmas parties, dessert trays, and holiday movie nights.
Ingredients to Make Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
- Rice Krispies cereal: Gives the treats their light, crispy texture. Use fresh cereal for the best results.
- Butter: Adds buttery flavor and helps melt the marshmallows into a smooth mixture.
- Mini marshmallows: Hold the cereal together and give the treats their chewy texture. Fresh marshmallows melt more easily than older ones.
- Mini pretzels: Create the reindeer antlers and add a salty crunch.
- Red M&M’s: Make a red nose for each Rudolph. You can also use brown M&M’s for the other reindeer.
- Candy eyes: Give each reindeer its face without any detailed decorating.
- White chocolate or candy melts: A small dab helps attach the eyes, noses, and pretzel antlers securely.
How to Make Rice Krispie Reindeer
- Start by melting butter and marshmallows, then stir in Rice Krispies.
- Press the mixture firmly into a greased pan to set for 30–60 minutes.
- Once firm, cut the block into triangle shapes.
- Melt white chocolate and use it as “glue” to attach pretzel antlers, candy eyes, and M&M noses (red for Rudolph, brown for the others).
- Chill the decorated treats briefly so the chocolate hardens before serving.
Don’t Forget To…
- Scroll down to print the full recipe with step-by-step instructions and exact measurements.
- Check out my Kitchen Essentials for the pans, mixing bowls, and baking tools I use to make this recipe a breeze.
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Planning more holiday treats? My Christmas Baking Planner helps you organize your recipes, shopping list, and make-ahead schedule so you can enjoy decorating days with the kids.
Tips for Soft Treats and Decorations That Stay Put
- Keep the heat low. Remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat as soon as it’s melted to help prevent hard treats.
- Press gently. Packing the cereal mixture tightly into the pan can make the finished treats dense.
- Cool before decorating. Warm treats are harder to cut and may not hold the decorations securely.
- Use a little chocolate at a time. A small dab behind each decoration helps it stick without spreading across the reindeer’s face.
- Let the chocolate harden completely. Keep the treats flat before stacking, packaging, or moving them to a serving platter.
- Attach pretzels close to serving. If you’re preparing the treats ahead, adding the antlers later helps preserve their crunch.
Yes! Keep them rectangular and add the reindeer faces, or carefully trim them into triangles. This shortcut lets you skip preparing and cooling the cereal mixture.
Use fresh marshmallows, melt them over low heat, and remove the pot from the heat once they’re melted. Gently press the mixture into the pan rather than packing it down tightly.
Make sure the treats are completely cool, then use melted chocolate or candy melts to attach the decorations. Let the chocolate harden while the treats lie flat before moving them.
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For another decorating project, try these Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats, or browse more Christmas Rice Krispie treat ideas for your holiday tray.
For more playful holiday sweets, explore these cute Christmas desserts to make with the kids.
Reindeer Rice Krispie treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cups mini marshmallows
- 30 pretzels
- 15 Red M&M’s
- 30 Candy Eyes
Instructions
- Spray a 9 x 13 inch pan with cooking spray.
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add marshmallows and stir until melted.
- Remove from heat and pour in rice krispies cereal, mix well.
- Pour krispie mixture into 9 x 13 inch pan.
- Using parchment paper, smush your rice krispies mixture into pan.
- Let cool & cut into 15 squares.
- To make your reindeer rice krispies treats, add 2 pretzels for reindeer antlers, a red M&M for the nose and two candy eyes. Enjoy!
This is so darn cute! I can barely get the krispies into the pan before they’re gone!
so simple and cute!! I’m hosting my son’s preschool Christmas party so this may have to be an option for snack!
These are cute and simple to make, my favorite kind of holiday treat. It is usually so busy and there is so much to do, these would be perfect to bring some cheer without losing your mind in an overly complicated treat.
Adorable!! Would make a super cute trat to bring to school!! No nuts here!! Love it!
These are so cute! They’ll be perfect for my daughter’s preschool ChristmasBelinda party.
These are too adorable I can’t wait to make them.
Its so simple but it really is cute……….. I have not made in years but I just may make a batch and make them reindeers
Very cute! I like the rice crispie treats recipes. For these, kids can get in the kitchen and for me that is part of tradition. Plus they taste so good!
To make look more like a reindeer, use the cocoa rice crispies for this recipe.