Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
These festive pumpkin-shaped rice Krispie treats are made by melting marshmallows and butter, then mixing in crispy rice cereal and orange food coloring to create a vibrant, sticky base. Shaped into tiny pumpkins and decorated with chocolate chips or icing, they offer a gooey, crunchy texture with a fun seasonal appearance.
Equipment
- Large saucepan
- Spatula
- 9x13 inch pan
- Parchment paper
- Small cookie cutters or hands
- Decorating tools (optional)
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter for melting and mixing
- 10 oz mini marshmallows for a fluffy, sticky texture
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal classic crispy rice cereal
- few drops orange gel food coloring to achieve a vibrant pumpkin hue
- optional chocolate chips or icing for decoration and pumpkin stems
Instructions
- Lightly grease your pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat, listening for a gentle bubbling as the butter melts completely and begins to smell warm and buttery.
- Add the mini marshmallows to the melted butter, stirring constantly with a spatula. Continue until the marshmallows are fully melted and the mixture is smooth, bubbling softly and smelling sweet.
- Remove the pan from heat and add a few drops of orange gel food coloring. Stir quickly to evenly tint the mixture to a bright, pumpkin orange—this will make your treats cheerful and festive.
- Immediately fold in the rice cereal, stirring gently until each piece is coated in the sticky orange mixture. The mixture should be thick and gooey, with a vibrant hue.
- Pour the mixture into your prepared pan. Use a spatula or buttered hands to press it down evenly, smoothing the surface. Let it sit for about 10 minutes to set and firm up.
- Once cooled, gently lift the block of treats from the pan using the parchment paper or by flipping it onto a cutting board. Cut into small squares or use cookie cutters to shape mini pumpkins.
- Shape each square into a tiny pumpkin by pinching the top to create a small bump or stem. Decorate with chocolate chips for eyes and a nose, or add a tiny green icing stem for extra charm.
- Let the shaped treats sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, allowing them to firm up and making them easier to handle. Add a small green candy stem or dots of icing to mimic pumpkin stems.
- Enjoy your adorable and festive pumpkin rice Krispie treats—perfect for Halloween parties or a seasonal snack that’s both fun and delicious!