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These Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats combine chewy, marshmallowy goodness with warm holiday spices, all cut into adorable gingerbread shapes and dressed up with spiced white chocolate! They’re the perfect no-bake holiday treat that gives a festive makeover to your favorite childhood treats!
These irresistibly chewy Gingerbread Rice Krispie treats capture the flavors of the holiday season in every gooey bite. Infused with cozy spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves and sweetened with rich molasses, these treats are the perfect festive twist on the classic recipe!
I absolutely love this Rice Krispie treats recipe since they’re sweet yet perfectly spiced with gingerbread goodness. Each gingerbread man-shaped treat is crowned with a drizzle of spiced white chocolate that adds an extra layer of cozy flavors, too!
If you love festive Rice Krispie treat recipes like this one, you have to try my snowman Rice Krispie treats and my reindeer Rice Krispie treats, too!
Nikki’s Recipe Rundown
- Taste: The warmth of gingerbread spices meets sweet marshmallows with a festive white chocolate finish!
- Texture: These rice crispy treats are soft and chewy, with the perfect amount of crispiness from the cereal and that signature gooey marshmallow stretch.
- Ease: This is a simple, no-bake recipe that comes together in about 15 minutes.
- Pros: Makes an impressive holiday treat with minimal effort, and offers a creative twist on two classics – gingerbread and Rice Krispie treats.
- Considerations: Takes just a bit of patience since you have to make sure to let the mixture cool completely before cutting shapes to avoid messy edges!
- Recipe Repeatability: This recipe is easy enough to make any time you need a quick holiday dessert, with consistent results!
Ingredients for Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
- Salted Butter: Butter helps to mix everything together and adds extra flavor!
- Mini Marshmallows: Mini marshmallows are easier to melt and combine gently with the cereal.
- Molasses: Molasses is what gives these the classic gingerbread snap flavor!
- Spices: You will need ground cinnamon, cloves, and ginger here.
- Vanilla Extract: For some added flavor!
- Rice Krispie Cereal: Classic crispy rice cereal works great.
- White Chocolate Chips: Melted white chocolate combined with some cinnamon and ginger creates a spiced white chocolate drizzle to top them off. You can also use it to help the sprinkles to stick if you want to decorate them!
How To Make Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Melt the Marshmallow Mixture
Spray a 9×13 baking dish or line with parchment paper and set aside.
In a large pot melt the butter over medium heat. Add the marshmallows, molasses, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon and stir continuously till completely melted. Add the vanilla extract and stir till combined.
Step 2 | Combine with Rice Krispie Cereal
Remove from heat and add the rice Krispie Cereal and gently fold till nicely combined.
Pour into the prepared baking dish. Lightly butter your fingers and press lightly to flatten and even out the mixture. Let come to room temperature before continuing.
Step 3 | Cut Out Gingerbread Shapes
Use a small (I used a 3-inch cutter) gingerbread man cutter and press firmly down into the set up Rice Krispie Treats. If it sticks at all, you can butter the sides or spray with non-stick spray. I did not have any problem with sticking. Pull the shape out and place the cut-out on a serving tray. Continue cutting till no more room for any more.
Step 4 | Make White Chocolate Drizzle & Decorate
In a heat-proof bowl combine the white chocolate chips, butter, cinnamon, and ginger and set over a double broiler. Use a rubber spatula and stir till the chocolate is melted.
Drizzle over the Rice Krispie Treats or decorate the men by putting the melted white chocolate in a Ziploc bag and cutting a small tip off. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
Recipe Tips for the Best Christmas Rice Krispie Treats
- If you don’t use salted butter, I’d recommend putting a pinch of salt in when you put the spices in. It helps them taste less sweet and more balanced for the best Rice Krispie treats!
- Don’t turn the heat above medium. If you do, your marshmallows are likely to burn. Be patient and keep stirring.
- Work quickly when mixing in the cereal! The marshmallow mixture starts setting fast, so try to mix gently but quickly so all the cereal gets coated with the marshmallow mixture.
- Don’t press the treats too firmly into the pan – this keeps them from becoming dense and hard! You want them to still be soft and fluffy. Also, let them cool completely before cutting shapes to ensure clean edges!
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Variations and Substitutions
- Molasses: Swap dark molasses for light molasses for a milder flavor if preferred.
- Chocolate: Try dark chocolate drizzle instead of white chocolate for a different flavor profile!
- Gluten-free: Make them gluten-free by using your favorite gluten free rice cereal.
- Sprinkles: Use holiday-themed sprinkles for an extra festive treat!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, but white chocolate is less forgiving than normal chocolate. If you do, I would melt at 50% in 10-second increments. If you can, I’d recommend double boiling for the best results!
Yes, you can. They take a lot longer to melt, though, so I may recommend turning your heat down to medium-low to make sure the marshmallows don’t burn before they’re fully melted.
Any holiday-themed cookie cutter works great, or cut them into squares for ease!
Storage
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Best if eaten within 2 days of being made.
To Freeze: Allow these gooey Rice Krispie Treats to cool completely and cut them into squares. Freeze in an airtight container, or wrap each one in a piece of plastic wrap and place them in a gallon freezer bag. Freeze them for up to 3 months. I would not freeze them iced.
What to Serve with Gingerbread Man Rice Krispie Treats
Serve these gingerbread rice krispie treats with a variety of holiday cookies like my Grinch Red Velvet Oreo Balls orPeppermint Meltaway Cookies. And don’t forget to serve it with a side of Peppermint Hot Cocoa, too!
Gingerbread Man Rice Krispies are perfect for serving at holiday parties, school parties, or any Christmas cookie exchanges!
Other Recipes to Try
- Cranberry Walnut Oatmeal Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookie Bars
- Grinch Cookies Recipe
- Peanut Butter Fudge Cookies
- Christmas Muddy Buddies
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Gingerbread Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 9 cups rice Krispie cereal
Spiced White Chocolate Drizzle
- ⅔ cup white chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- sprinkles, if desired
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish or line with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large pot melt the butter over medium heat. Add the marshmallows, molasses, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon and stir continuously till completely melted. Add the vanilla extract and stir till combined.
- Remove from heat and add the rice Krispie Cereal and gently fold till nicely combined.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish. Lightly butter your fingers and press lightly to flatten and even out the mixture. Let come to room temperature before continuing.
- Use a small (I used a 3-inch cutter) gingerbread man cutter and press firmly down into the set up Rice Krispie Treats. If it sticks at all, you can butter the sides or spray with non-stick spray. I did not have any problem with sticking. Pull the shape out and place the cut-out on a serving tray. Continue cutting till no more room for any more.
- In a heat-proof bowl combine the white chocolate chips, butter, cinnamon, and ginger and set over a double broiler. Use a rubber spatula and stir till the chocolate is melted.
- Drizzle over the Rice Krispie Treats or decorate the men by putting the melted white chocolate in a Ziploc bag and cutting a small tip off. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
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Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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