These Christmas Rice Krispie Treats make the perfect festive treat, and they are so much fun to make with kids. Crispy rice cereal mixed with chocolatey goodness, cranberries, ground ginger and cinnamon - these just scream Christmas and will have you Ho-Ho-Hoing all the way through December.
Who doesn't have fond memories of making Rice Krispie treats when they were a kid? They are the ideal kitchen task for a kid as there is no cutting involved and once an adult does the heating and adds it to the bowl, the kids get to do all the stirring, and of course licking the bowl.
These are the nostalgic Rice Krispie treats we know and love, but with a Christmas twist on them. They have ginger and cinnamon in them, and dried cranberries too. Plus chocolate of course. Christmas is all about chocolate!
Looking for some more chocolate recipes to try? Why not try our Avocado Chocolate Pudding, Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate or Chocolate Bread Pudding.
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Why you will love them
- A nostalgic treat - I think we all grew up eating Rice Krispie treats and this is a Christmas twist on them.
- Quick -Just 10 minutes prep time goes into making these and no baking needed.
- A lighter version - We have just used a little bit of maple syrup to sweeten these Christmas Rice Krispie treats to keep it lighter. They are just 94 calories a bar
- Christmas kitchen fun - We love getting the kids involved in the kitchen, especially at Christmas time and these are an easy recipe for kids to help with.
Ingredients needed
- Coconut oil - We used this instead of butter, however you could swap it for butter. Don't worry, there isn't an overwhelming coconut flavour when using coconut oil, but it does add a lovely richness.
- Cocoa powder - Try to use the best quality unsweetened cocoa powder you can, as you will be able to taste the difference.
- Maple syrup - This is how we have sweetened the Christmas Rice Krispie treats. You could swap them for honey, but they would no longer be vegan.
- Vanilla - Use vanilla extract rather than essence, for a natural flavour.
- Rice cereal - You can use real Rice Krispies, or the cheap supermarket own brand. Once you have everything else mixed into it, you won't be able to taste the difference.
- Cranberries - It's not Christmas without cranberries, right? Dried cranberries add sweetness and festive flavour.
- Ginger and cinnamon - Use ground ginger and cinnamon to give these Rice Krispie treats a festive twist.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How to make Christmas Rice Krispie Treats - Step by step
One: Put the coconut oil, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and maple syrup in a pan and gently heat until melted.
Two: In a large bowl add the rice cereal and then stir in the dried cranberries, ginger and cinnamon. Add the melted mixture.
Four: Mix well
Five: Layer some baking paper in a dish and pour in the mixture, pressing it down so it goes all the way to the sides.
Six: Put it in the fridge for at least an hour before cutting.
Variations
These Christmas Rice Krispie treats are really easy to adapt. You could add chunks of white chocolate or some dried cherries or raisins. Let kids throw in their favourite ingredients and you can customise it every time.
Every Christmas in the baking section of the supermarket, there are favourite festive sprinkles on sale. Grab some of those and let the kids go wild. What would make these really special is a spray of edible glitter.
If you want to make these into a different shape, then you can form them into circles and then top them with some melted white chocolate the make Christmas puddings. Use marzipan to make leaves and berries to make them look really authentic.
What to serve with Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
This is pretty indulgent as it is, so it really doesn't need anything else. But it goes really well with a nice hot drink. Why not try one of the ones we have on the blog:
- Cinnamon Coffee
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
- Pumpkin Spiced Latte
- Snowman Hot Chocolate
- Cinnamon Mocha
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Chai Tea Latte
FAQs
Thy are best stored in an air-tight container at room temperature, and they will last for 5 days. You can keep them in the fridge, but let them come up to room temperature before eating.
Yes, and that's one of the best things about them. We don't often make chocolate treats in our house, as we eat them too quickly. But these can be kept in the freezer, so they aren't staring at your from the kitchen counter. They would keep in the freezer for a couple of weeks.
This recipe makes 24 slices. You could have bigger slices, and less portions, but we think that portion control is key with these, as they are quite indulgent.
Yes, they make the perfect Christmas gift. Stack them up (with a square of baking paper between each one) and then wrap them in a clear present wrap with some ribbon.
More Christmas dessert recipes
If you’ve tried these Christmas Bars, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 200 g (1 cups) Coconut oil
- 110 g (1.25 cups) Cocoa powder
- 8 tablespoon Maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon Vanilla extract
- 90 g (1 cups) Rice cereal
- 50 g (0.5 cups) Dried cranberries
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground ginger
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Put 200 g Coconut oil, 110 g Cocoa powder, 2 tablespoon Vanilla extract and 8 tablespoon Maple syrup into a pan and gently heated until melted.
- Add to a large bowl with 90 g Rice cereal and add 50 g Dried cranberries, 0.5 teaspoon Ground ginger and 0.5 teaspoon Ground cinnamon and stir well.
- Layer some baking paper in a dish and pour in the mixture, pressing down so it goes to the sides. Put in the freezer for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
Notes
- Keep these in the freezer and cut off a slice as and when you want some. This is great for portion control.
- Not a fan of cranberries? You can use dried cherries instead.
- Kids love making these, so get them involved and let them stir everything together.
- Add a little extra flavour to these by stirring in some orange or peppermint extract.
Bridget
Sounds lovely will try making these healthier versions for my grandson:)
Taylor Kiser
These are a must make for the holidays! They look so tasty!
Kelly Anthony
These festive chocolate crunch bars will be perfect for giving to teachers, neighbors and friends for Christmas. Such a yummy treat!
Sarah Newman
I haven't made rice krispy treats in a LONG time! And never have I made Christmas ones... these sound so crispy and chewy and flavorful!
kallee
They look absolutely scrumptious!
Emily
I love how detailed these instructions are. Thanks for posting!
Jessi Joachim
These are so cute and i bet they are super delicious! I love finding new recipes and new sweets... I will totally have to try this one out and make these crunch bars with my daughter!
Caroline
Oh yes, definitely have memories of making rice krispie treats. Like the idea of both the chocolate and spices in there instead of the more traditional sticky version.
Edyta at Eating European
This reminds me of a treat that I used to make with my mom when I was a kid. We used rice crispy too with some caramel sauce and it was super delicious. I need to try your version this season :)