Alright, friends, if you’re on the hunt for a sweet, colorful, and downright delightful treat that will steal the show at any holiday gathering — you’ve got to try my Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe. These little bites are not just adorable; they’re bursting with that classic crispy-marshmallow goodness we all love. Plus, they’re easy to make, super fun to customize, and perfect for sharing (or sneaking a few when no one’s watching!). Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make these festive gems a holiday hit.

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Why This Recipe Works

Simple & Quick: Made in just about 25 minutes with minimal ingredients and fuss.
Perfectly Portionable: Rolling into bite-sized balls means no sticky fingers and mess-free snacking.
Visually Festive: The red, green, and white colors pop, making your treat table instantly merry.
Customizable Fun: Add sprinkles, swap colors, or throw in extras like chocolate chips to make it your own.

Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treats, holiday rice krispie bites, Christmas dessert recipes, easy holiday treats, colorful festive snacks - The image shows many small round rice treats in three colors: red, white, and green. They are arranged in three groups on a tray with a dark surface. Each treat looks shiny and has small sprinkles inside with tiny bits of red, green, and white colors mixed in. The shapes of the treats are almost perfect spheres and they fill the tray closely but not stacked. The red treats are on the left side, the white treats are in the middle, and the green treats are on the right side. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe comes down to its simple, classic ingredients that work perfectly together to create soft, crispy, and colorful bites. Plus, with these easy-to-find staples, shopping is a breeze!

Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treats, holiday rice krispie bites, Christmas dessert recipes, easy holiday treats, colorful festive snacks - Flat lay of a small mound of golden Rice Krispie cereal, a heap of white mini marshmallows, a few tablespoons of pale yellow butter sticks, three small white ceramic bowls each with bright red, deep green, and pure white dyes in liquid form, and a small white bowl filled with colorful nonpareils Christmas sprinkles, all arranged symmetrically and neatly, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Kellogg’s Rice Krispie Cereal: The foundation of the treat – light, crispy, and holds together well without being soggy.
Mini Marshmallows: They melt smoothly to bind the cereal and add that irresistible gooey texture.
Butter (Sweet Cream, Salted): Adds richness and helps the marshmallows melt evenly without burning.
Wilton Color Right Food Coloring – Red, Crimson, Yellow, Blue: Gives the treats their festive colors – a little goes a long way here!
Nonpareils Christmas Sprinkles: Optional but adds charm and that extra holiday sparkle everyone loves.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe is how flexible it is. I love experimenting with different colors and mix-ins to suit my mood and party theme – and you should totally do the same!

Variation: I once added crushed peppermint candies to the mix for a minty pop that brought the season’s spirit to a whole new level.
Dietary Modifications: For a dairy-free version, swap the butter for coconut oil – it changes the flavor slightly but is still delicious.
Seasonal Changes: Feel free to swap out the Christmas colors for any color combo that fits your celebration (think pastels for Easter!).
Texture Twist: If you like a chewier treat, add a bit of brown sugar when melting your marshmallows – it gives a caramel note that’s dreamy.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe

Step 1: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

Start by melting 3 tablespoons of butter in a medium pan over low heat. It’s key to keep the heat gentle so the butter doesn’t burn. Once melted, add in 3 cups of mini marshmallows and stir constantly until they’re melted smooth and gooey. This part smells amazing—make sure to give it a sniff!

Step 2: Add Color and Stir in Cereal

Take the pan off the heat and quickly add a few drops of your chosen food coloring—red or green work great for Christmas, but have fun with the hues! Mix well until the color is evenly blended. Then, fold in 3 cups of Rice Krispie cereal, coating every morsel with that marshmallow goodness.

Step 3: Sprinkle, Cool, and Roll Into Bites

If you’re feeling extra festive, toss in some Christmas sprinkles right now for that pop of texture and color. Let the mixture cool just enough so it’s comfortable to handle—about 5 minutes usually does it. Then measure about 0.6 ounces of the mixture and roll it gently into bite-sized balls. Don’t worry if they aren’t perfectly round; they’ll be delicious no matter what.

Step 4: Repeat for Each Color and Enjoy!

Repeat these steps for the other two colors to get red, green, and white batches. Once all the bites are rolled and cooled, arrange them on your festive platter and get ready for compliments. These little guys usually disappear fast in my house!

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Tips from My Kitchen

Use Low Heat: Melting marshmallows slowly keeps them smooth and prevents burning flavors.
Work Quickly with Coloring: The marshmallow mixture cools fast, so add color and cereal swiftly before it sets.
Grease Your Hands: For rolling bites without the stickiness, lightly butter your hands or use non-stick spray.
Don’t Skip Cooling: Letting the treats cool a bit before rolling ensures they hold shape without squishing.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe

Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treats, holiday rice krispie bites, Christmas dessert recipes, easy holiday treats, colorful festive snacks - A white bowl full of small, round rice cereal treats in three colors: creamy white, bright red, and bright green, each ball showing a bumpy, sticky texture with tiny colorful sprinkles throughout. The balls are piled high inside the bowl with a few placed outside on a red cloth, all set against a green pine needle background with a white marbled surface below. The image shows the rice cereal clusters close up, highlighting their shiny, textured surfaces. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually top mine with multicolored Christmas sprinkles or tiny edible glitter to make them sparkle under the holiday lights. Sometimes I even add a drizzle of white chocolate for an elegant touch – it’s a total crowd-pleaser!

Side Dishes

For a well-rounded holiday table, I pair these bites with hot cocoa or eggnog — perfect cozy companions. They also go great alongside fruit trays or cheese boards to balance that sweet crunch.

Creative Ways to Present

Try stacking the bites on a tiered serving platter to create a mini Christmas tree effect – it’s super festive and eye-catching. Wrapping a few in colorful cellophane bags tied with ribbon also makes for adorable gifts or party favors!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store any leftover rice krispie bites in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually keep great for up to 3 days — long enough for a weekend treat or surprise snack!

Freezing

Freezing works nicely for this recipe. I like wrapping each bite individually in wax paper and then placing them in a freezer bag. They thaw quickly on the counter and still taste fresh and chewy.

Reheating

If you want warm bites, just pop a few in the microwave for 10-15 seconds — be careful not to overheat or they’ll get too sticky. Warm and soft is pure bliss!

FAQs

Can I make the Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe without food coloring?

Absolutely! The food coloring is optional but adds fun festive colors. You can enjoy the classic white marshmallow bites or add natural colorings like beet powder or matcha if you want to avoid artificial dyes.
How do I keep the rice krispie bites from sticking to my hands?

Lightly butter your hands or spray them with non-stick spray before rolling. You can also use a piece of wax paper to press and shape the treats to keep things neat.
Can I add mix-ins like nuts or chocolate chips?

Definitely! Adding mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even dried fruit can make your Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe even more exciting and tailored to your taste.
What’s the best way to make the green color for the treats?

Mix blue and yellow food coloring to get your perfect green hue. Start with a few drops of yellow and a drop or two of blue, then adjust until you’re happy with the shade.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe holds a special place in my holiday heart because it’s simple, joyful, and brings out the kid in all of us. Whether you’re making these with little ones, for a party, or just to satisfy a festive craving, they’re sure to become a beloved tradition. So turn on your favorite holiday tunes, gather your ingredients, and dive into some delicious kitchen fun – I can’t wait for you to taste these colorful, crispy bites of happiness!

Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 10 reviews

Author: Caroline
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 36 pieces
Category: Snack
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

Festive Christmas Rice Krispie Treat Bites made in three colorful batches—red, green, and white—perfect for holiday celebrations and parties. These bite-sized treats combine crispy Kellogg’s Rice Krispie Cereal with melted marshmallows, butter, and vibrant food coloring, finished with cheerful Christmas sprinkles.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

9 cups Kellogg’s Rice Krispie Cereal
9 cups Mini Marshmallows
9 tablespoons Butter (Sweet Cream, Salted)

Coloring and Decoration

Wilton Color Right Food Coloring – Red, Crimson, Yellow, Blue
Nonpareils Christmas Sprinkles

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the Butter: Melt 3 tablespoons of salted sweet cream butter in a medium pan over medium heat until fully melted.
Melt Marshmallows: Add 3 cups of mini marshmallows to the melted butter and stir continuously until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth.
Add Food Coloring: Remove the pan from heat and immediately add the desired food coloring (red or crimson for red batch; yellow and blue combined for green batch; no coloring for white batch). Mix thoroughly to achieve an even color.
Incorporate Cereal: Add 3 cups of Rice Krispie cereal to the marshmallow mixture and gently stir until all cereal pieces are evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture.
Add Sprinkles (Optional): Mix in Christmas nonpareils sprinkles to add festive texture and decoration.
Cool Slightly: Allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes until it is safe to handle but still pliable.
Form Bites: Measure approximately 0.6 ounces of the mixture and roll into a small ball by hand. Place the formed Rice Krispie bite on a parchment-lined tray to set.
Repeat Batches: Repeat steps 1 through 7 separately for each of the three colors—red, green, and white—to create colorful batches of Rice Krispie Treat Bites.
Final Cooling: Allow all Rice Krispie bites to cool completely at room temperature until firm and set.

Notes

If you prefer a softer texture, reduce the amount of marshmallows slightly.
For the green color, mix yellow and blue food coloring in equal parts to achieve a vibrant green.
Use parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent the treats from sticking while cooling.
Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days for optimal freshness.
Gentle buttering of your hands can help prevent sticking when rolling the bites.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bite (approx. 0.6 oz)
Calories: 90 kcal
Sugar: 8 g
Sodium: 50 mg
Fat: 3 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Fiber: 0 g
Protein: 0.5 g
Cholesterol: 5 mg