Description
These festive Santa Hat Rice Krispie Treats are a delightful holiday snack combining classic marshmallow cereal treats shaped into cute Santa hats. Colored with red gel food coloring, dipped in melted white chocolate, and coated with sparkling white sanding sugar, these treats are perfect for holiday parties or gifting. Easy to make and requiring no baking, they’re a fun project and a treat that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 10 oz mini marshmallows (plus a handful more for decorating the top of the hat)
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Red gel food color, to desired shade
- 1 cup white chocolate chips (melted)
- 1/2 cup white sanding sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the marshmallow mixture: In a microwave-safe bowl or medium saucepan, melt the butter and mini marshmallows together, stirring continuously until the mixture is completely smooth. Once melted, add red gel food color a little at a time until you reach the desired shade of red.
- Mix in the cereal and chill: Add the Rice Krispies cereal to the colored marshmallow mixture and stir well until every piece is coated. Transfer the mixture to the refrigerator and chill for 10-15 minutes until the mixture is cool and firm enough to handle.
- Shape the Santa hats: Take golf ball-sized amounts of the chilled mixture and shape each into a cone with a flat bottom to resemble a Santa hat. This shape will stand upright easily.
- Decorate with white chocolate and sanding sugar: Dip one small marshmallow into the melted white chocolate and attach it to the tip of each cone to form the hat’s pom-pom. Let this set for 5 minutes. Next, dip the bottom of each hat about 1/2″ to 3/4″ into the melted white chocolate, wipe off excess so hats sit flush, then immediately press the dipped edge into the white sanding sugar evenly.
- Set and serve: Allow the decorated hats to set for 15-20 minutes so the chocolate hardens before serving. Enjoy your festive treats fresh!
Notes
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant color without thinning the marshmallow mixture.
- You can substitute the Rice Krispies for other crispy rice cereals if desired.
- If marshmallows cool too much and become stiff, gently warm them again to soften before shaping.
- Store treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the Rice Krispies cereal is certified gluten-free.
