Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats are perfect for Fall or Halloween parties. Everyone will love these adorable pumpkin snacks and are sure to be a hit.
If you’re on the hunt for a festive addition to your Halloween party menu, consider these cute pumpkin-shaped treats crafted from Rice Krispies.
They’re a breeze to whip up, requiring just a handful of basic ingredients and can even be made ahead saving you some extra time the day of the party.
These treats are not just limited to parties, they also make a great after-school snack during the autumn season, especially for the little ones.
Whether you’re handing them out to trick-or-treaters, eating as a snack or hosting a festive get-together, these irresistible goodies are going to win the hearts of all ages.
Feel free to get creative with different flavors and colors; there are no boundaries to what you can achieve with this adaptable recipe.
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Rice Krispie Pumpkins Ingredients
- Rice Krispie cereal
- Salted butter
- Mini marshmallows
- Orange food coloring
- Pretzel rods (the end pieces only)
- Green airheads
Recipe Variations
- Add a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the marshmallow mixture to give it a fall flavor.
- Can use a tootsie roll or Rolo candy in place of a pretzel rod.
- Add a pumpkin face with icing.
- Double or triple the recipe if you need to make more.
- Make them peanut butter flavor by melting a ½ cup of creamy peanut butter in with the butter.
How to Make Pumpkin Shaped Rice Krispie Treats
Melt the Marshmallows
- In a large non-stick pan, melt the butter on low heat.
- Add the marshmallows and stir.
- Before it’s fully melted, as much food coloring as needed to achieve your desired color.
- Continuously stir until fully mixed and melted. Then, turn off the heat and remove from burner.
Mix with Rice Krispie Cereal
- Gradually add in the Rice Krispie cereal, one cup at a time, stirring after each cup.
- Mix until well coated and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Shape the Pumpkin Treats
- Lay down a sheet of parchment paper.
- Coat hands with plenty of cooking spray to prevent from sticking.
- Grab chunks of the Rice Krispie mixture and form into balls.
- Press down on the top and bottom of the formed balls to give them a pumpkin shape.
- Create a dent for the pretzel rod or insert it directly into the pumpkin.
- Place the shaped treats on the parchment paper.
Add Decorative Details
- Place a pretzel rod end piece into the top of each pumpkin.
- Using scissors, cut small leaf shapes out of the Airheads candy, focusing on the corners for best results.
- Cut thin strips along the length of the Airheads candy and roll them into small ropes.
- Wrap the ropes around something thin, like a skewer stick, to create a twisty vine.
- Gently remove the skewer and attach the vine to one side of the pretzel rod and the leaf on the other side.
- Repeat this process for all remaining pumpkins.
Recipe Tips
- Use Fresh Marshmallows: For the best texture and flavor, opt for fresh marshmallows rather than using stale ones. This will ensure that your pumpkin rice krispie treats turn out soft and chewy.
- Add Food Coloring Gradually: When adding food coloring to achieve that vibrant orange hue, start with a small amount and gradually add more until you reach the desired color. This way, you can avoid ending up with an overly artificial-looking shade.
- Shape Quickly: Rice krispie treats can become hard to shape as they cool down, so it’s important to work fast once you mix in the cereal with marshmallows. Prepare your workspace by greasing your hands or using cooking spray before shaping them into cute little pumpkins.
- Decorate Creatively: Get creative with how you decorate your pumpkin-shaped treats! You can use melted chocolate or icing to draw on faces or add other festive details like green frosting stems or candy accents. You can also use a knife to make a little indent on the middle of the leaf!
- Store Properly: To keep your pumpkin rice krispie treats fresh and maintain their texture, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If needed, layer parchment paper between each treat to prevent sticking.
FAQs
Absolutely! While orange is the traditional pumpkin color, you can mix it up with different colors such as brown, green or purple.
Yes, you can! These are great to make a day or two in advance before your Halloween party or even and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.
Place them in an airtight container or wrap individually with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight, and they will stay fresh for several days.
More Rice Krispie Treats
- Conversation Hearts Rice Krispie Treats
- Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
- Raw Meat Rice Krispie Treats
- Popsicle Rice Krispie Treats
- Apple Rice Krispie Treats
Recipe
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- 1 (10oz.) package of mini marshmallows
- Orange food coloring
- 5-6 pretzel rods the end pieces only
- 8 green airheads
Instructions
Melt the Marshmallows
- In a large non-stick pan, melt the butter on low heat.
- Add the marshmallows and stir.
- Before it’s fully melted, as much food coloring as needed to achieve your desired color.
- Continuously stir until fully mixed and melted. Then, turn off the heat and remove from burner.
Mix with Rice Krispie Cereal
- Gradually add in the Rice Krispie cereal, one cup at a time, stirring after each cup.
- Mix until well coated and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
Shape the Pumpkin Treats
- Lay down a sheet of parchment paper.
- Coat hands with plenty of cooking spray to prevent from sticking.
- Grab chunks of the Rice Krispie mixture and form into balls.
- Press down on the top and bottom of the formed balls to give them a pumpkin shape.
- Create a dent for the pretzel rod or insert it directly into the pumpkin.
- Place the shaped treats on the parchment paper.
Add Decorative Details
- Place a pretzel rod end piece into the top of each pumpkin.
- Using scissors, cut small leaf shapes out of the Airheads candy, focusing on the corners for best results.
- Cut thin strips along the length of the Airheads candy and roll them into small ropes.
- Wrap the ropes around something thin, like a skewer stick, to create a twisty vine.
- Gently remove the skewer and attach the vine to one side of the pretzel rod and the leaf on the other side.
- Repeat this process for all remaining pumpkins.
Nutrition Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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