Description
Santa Hat Rice Krispie Treats are a festive and fun holiday dessert crafted by mixing gooey marshmallows with crispy Rice Krispies cereal, shaped into adorable cone-shaped hats. These treats are colored bright red with gel food coloring and trimmed with melted white chocolate and white sanding sugar to mimic the classic Santa hat’s fluffy trim and pom-pom, making them perfect for holiday parties and celebrations.
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 coloring (as needed for desired shade)
Decoration
- 1 cup white chocolate chips (melted)
- 1/2 cup white sanding sugar
Instructions
- Melting and Coloring: In a microwave-safe bowl or medium saucepan, melt the butter and mini marshmallows together, stirring continuously until the mixture is completely smooth. Add red gel food coloring and mix until the melted marshmallows reach your desired red shade.
- Mixing Rice Krispies: Stir in the Rice Krispies cereal into the colored marshmallow mixture until all the cereal is fully coated. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to cool and firm up.
- Shaping Hats: Once the mixture is firm, take a golf ball-sized amount and shape it into a cone with a flat bottom to resemble a Santa hat.
- Adding Decorations: Dip one small end of a mini marshmallow into the melted white chocolate and attach it to the top of the cone as the pom-pom, letting it set for 5 minutes. Then dip the bottom 1/2″ to 3/4″ of each hat into the melted white chocolate, wiping off excess so it sits flat. Immediately dip it into the white sanding sugar, pressing gently to evenly coat the trim.
- Setting the Treats: Allow the decorated Rice Krispie hats to set for 15-20 minutes before serving to ensure the chocolate hardens and decorations stay intact.
- Tips for White Chocolate: Work quickly with the white chocolate as it hardens fast. If you need more working time, stir in about 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable or tasteless oil at a time into the melted white chocolate until it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency similar to melted peanut butter. This adjustment will keep the chocolate melted longer, but note it may require an extra 15 minutes to set fully.
Notes
- Work fast when decorating with white chocolate because it hardens quickly.
- Adding a small amount of oil to melted white chocolate can keep it melted longer if needed.
- Chilling the marshmallow mixture before shaping helps make it easier to handle.
- The flat bottom on the cone-shaped treats helps them stand upright.
- Use gel food coloring for a vibrant red color without altering the texture of the marshmallow mixture.
