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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Dessert

    Christmas Rice Krispie Treats

    Published: Dec 3, 2018 · Modified: Sep 9, 2021 by Dannii · This post may contain affiliate links · 50 Comments

    1035 shares
    • 349
    Jump to Recipe
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Carb / Vegan
    Christmas rice krispie treats with a text title overlay.

    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.

    Rice Krispie bars tied with a red bow. A toy soldier stands next to them.

    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.

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love them
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make Christmas Rice Krispie Treats - Step by step
    • Variations
    • What to serve with Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More Christmas dessert recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    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

    All the ingredients needed to make this recipe with text overlay labels.
    • 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.

    A saucepan containing coconut oil, cocoa powder and maple syrup.

    Two: In a large bowl add the rice cereal and then stir in the dried cranberries, ginger and cinnamon. Add the melted mixture.

    Two shot collage of a mixing bowl with rice cereal, dried cranberries and spices, then with melted chocolate added.

    Four: Mix well

    All the ingredients mixed together.

    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.

    A lined baking tray with a chocolate rice cereal mix.

    Six: Put it in the fridge for at least an hour before cutting.

    Two shot collage of the chilled tray of mixture then it cut into nine bars.

    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
    The corner of a cut chocolate rice krispie bar.

    FAQs

    How to store Christmas Rice Krispie treats

    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.

    Can you freeze Christmas Rice Krispie treats?

    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.

    How many slices does it make?

    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.

    Do Christmas Rice Krispie treats make a nice Christmas gift?

    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.

    heart icon

    Extra tips

    • 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.

    More Christmas dessert recipes

    • Santa Pancakes
    • Healthy Christmas Cookies on a wooden serving board surrounded by festive decorations.
      Healthy Christmas Cookies
    • Cranberry bread cut into slices on a wooden board.
      Cranberry Bread
    • Five Christmas Tree Brownies on a wooden board.
      Christmas Tree Brownies

    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 next to a nutcracker soldier.

    Christmas Rice Krispie Treats

    By: Dannii
    These Christmas Rice Krispie Bars make the perfect festive treat, and they are so much fun to make with kids.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    The words low carb in a white circle.
    Low Carb
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant in a pot.
    Vegan
    5 from 40 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: British
    Prep: 10 mins
    Refrigeration time: 30 mins
    Total: 40 mins
    Servings: 24 servings
    Calories: 94kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1bar | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 4mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 150IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Iron: 1.6mg
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marisa

      December 03, 2018 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      I have been craving rice krispie treats since Halloween. Your recipe may finally get me to make a batch!

      Reply
    2. Chrissy

      December 03, 2018 at 2:58 pm

      5 stars
      Rice krispie treats are delish, but chocolate rice krispie treats with cranberries?! A whole other level of deliciousness!

      Reply
    3. Mindy Fewless

      December 03, 2018 at 2:54 pm

      5 stars
      I love that these have the cranberries! I'll be making asap!

      Reply
    4. Annie B

      December 21, 2017 at 5:49 pm

      5 stars
      Theses look so delicious - so much so I am making some myself for Christmas day treats!

      Reply
    5. Jill

      December 06, 2017 at 12:32 pm

      5 stars
      I like that these include dried cranberries. Looks like a terrific recipe!

      Reply
    6. Sarah

      December 06, 2017 at 11:59 am

      I bet the cranberry-ginger-cocoa combo is amazing! Can't wait to give these a try!

      Reply
    7. Mira Richard-Fioramore

      December 06, 2017 at 11:45 am

      5 stars
      Yuuuum, I know what I'll be making this Christmas! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    8. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      December 06, 2017 at 10:31 am

      5 stars
      My children would love these, they are a real treat! Love the inclusion of cranberries, they're one of my favourite ingredients especially at this time of year!

      Reply
    9. Emily

      December 06, 2017 at 9:08 am

      These look so yummy, they'd make a great foodie gift for family and friends too!

      Reply
    10. Annie B

      December 05, 2017 at 9:54 pm

      5 stars
      Can't beat a bit of chocolate Christmas can you?! These would be ideal for my sugar snack attacks!

      Reply
    11. Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious

      December 05, 2017 at 2:03 am

      5 stars
      Really like that you added cranberries! These looks great!

      Reply
    12. Jennifer

      December 04, 2017 at 10:56 pm

      5 stars
      I would have never thought to put cranberries in these but that sounds delicious!

      Reply
    13. Sues

      December 04, 2017 at 9:40 pm

      5 stars
      These are so gorgeous and I bet they're super tasty, too!! Also, I love your nutcracker :)

      Reply
    14. Julie

      December 04, 2017 at 9:33 pm

      5 stars
      Such a lovely idea for a gift for teachers and friends. Everyone will love it!

      Reply
    15. Helene

      December 04, 2017 at 8:33 pm

      I didn't realize it was that easy to make these crunch bars. They do look super tempting too! I like the crunch in chocolate.

      Reply
    16. Jazmin Williams

      December 04, 2017 at 4:08 pm

      Ah these look delicious, I'd love to make these over Christmas!

      Reply
    17. Tanya Brannan

      December 04, 2017 at 2:19 pm

      5 stars
      You can't beat a rice Krispy bar but these sound even better with the vanilla, cranberries and maple syrup! Super easy to make too

      Reply
    18. Anna @Annatheapple

      December 04, 2017 at 12:32 pm

      5 stars
      Omg these would be like crack around me. Love rice crispy bites!! Nice healthy makeover :)

      Reply
    19. Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine

      December 04, 2017 at 2:43 am

      5 stars
      Yum, these look delicious -- love that you added ginger. Great holiday flavor :)

      Reply
    20. Rebecca | Let's Eat Cake

      December 04, 2017 at 1:15 am

      5 stars
      OMG my friends and I made these the other day and they were incredible and totally got devoured at the party we brought them to!

      Reply
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    My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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