• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Your Home, Made Healthy
  • About
    • About Me
    • My Food Philosophy
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dressings, Dips, & Sauces
    • Drinks
    • Instant Pot
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Vegetarian
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cooking Tips
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Cooking Tips
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Desserts

    Snowman Rice Krispie Treats

    Published: Dec 13, 2021 by Alana Lieberman · As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Save for Later!
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pin graphic for snowman rice krispie treats.

    Add some holiday cheer to your winter parties this year with these no-bake Snowman Rice Krispie Treats! They're the perfect winter dessert to bring to school events, gift exchanges, and a kid-friendly snow day activity. All you need is 6 simple ingredients, plus candies for decorating!

    Snowman rice krispie treats with an orange candy nose and candy string earmuffs.
    Jump to:
    • 📋 About the Recipe
    • 🛒 Ingredients
    • 📓 Instructions
    • ⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
    • ❄️ How to Store
    • 🔍 FAQs
    • 💭 One More Tip
    • 🍴 Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    📋 About the Recipe

    • These snowmen are a great wintertime treat - not just for Christmas!
    • A great make-ahead dessert! The addition of extra butter and marshmallows allows these snowman treats to stay fresh for up to 5 days.
    • Very kid-friendly - a great edible craft to involve the kids in! Allow them to get creative and decorate their own snowman.
    • Minimal dishes required - All you need to make this no-bake holiday dessert is a spatula, 1 large pot, and a 4 inch round cookie cutter, which means easy clean up, too!
    • No wasted scraps! I recommend pressing the rice Krispie treats into the 4 inch round cookie cutter directly from the pot instead of cutting circles out of a tray of rice krispie treats and being left with wasted scraps.
    • These treats go perfectly with my other festive winter-time snacks. Try them along with santa rice krispie treats, reindeer rice krispie treats, and peppermint candy cane treats!

    🛒 Ingredients

    Labelled ingredients for snowman rice krispie treats (see recipe for details).

    A few notes about the ingredients:

    1. Rice cereal - A crucial component in any rice Krispie treat! 8 cups is the perfect amount of rice cereal in this recipe.
    2. Marshmallows - Fresh marshmallows are another essential ingredient. This is what makes them soft and gooey!
    3. Butter - Gives these treats the best rich, creamy flavor while keeping them both moist and chewy for up to 5 days.
    4. Chocolate chips - Melted chocolate is used as the glue that keeps the earmuffs, eyes, nose and smile on! I use semi-sweet chocolate chips, however any melted chocolate will do. Chocolate is neutral in flavor and compliments the butteriness of the treats well. If you're making my Candy Cane Rice Krispie Treats or my Santa Rice Krispie Treats, feel free to repurpose any leftover white chocolate as the glue in this recipe.
    5. Chocolate candies - To create the snowman's nose, I used half of an orange M&M. To create the snowman's eyes and smile, I used brown mini M&Ms. To create his ear muffs, I used various bright colored M&Ms. Use any similar chocolate candies you can find!
    6. Candy "ropes" or candy "strings" - Used to connect the snowman's ear muffs! Use the remaining strings leftover to make my Candy Cane Rice Krispie Treats!

    📓 Instructions

    1. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is almost completely melted, add the marshmallows.

    • Butter in a large pot.
    • Melted marshmallows in a large pot.

    2. Stir to coat the marshmallows fully in the butter. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring intermittently until the marshmallows melt completely. Don't overcook, as this will cause the mixture to burn and the marshmallows to harden.

    3. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.

    Rice cereal on top of melted marshmallows in a large pot.

    4. Pour in the cereal. Stir to fully combine, making sure to scrape any additional marshmallows from the bottom of the pot.

    5. Place a 4-inch round cookie cutter on a plate or parchment paper. Carefully scoop some of the marshmallow and cereal mixture into the cookie cutter until it's full and the mixture takes the form of the circle.

    6. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then remove the treat and set it aside. Continue with the rest of the mixture until all of it is shaped into 12 equal-sized circles.

    7. Add chocolate chips to a plastic zip-top bag. Melt in 30 second intervals in the microwave until smooth. Snip a small corner off the bag. Use the melted chocolate as the glue to hold on the other decorations.

    • Circular rice krispie treats on a serving tray with candy decorations in small bowls around it.
    • Circular rice krispie treats on a serving tray with brown candy eyes and orange candy noses.

    8. Carefully cut the orange m&ms in half. Working with 1 treat at a time, add a dot of melted chocolate to the center of the rice krispie treat and gently press the halved m&m cut side down on the chocolate until it sticks.

    9. Place 2 small dots of melted chocolate above the orange m&m and quickly press 2 brown m&ms into the chocolate until they stick to create the snowman's eyes. (Make sure to place the m&ms upside down so the logo "m" does not show.)

    10. Place 5 small dots of melted chocolate below the orange m&m in the shape of a half circle for the snowman's smile. Press 5 brown m&ms into the chocolate until they stick.

    • Snowman rice krispie treats with brown candy eyes and smiley faces and orange candy noses.
    • Snowman rice krispie treats with colorful candy earmuffs.

    11. Cut the candy strings into 4½-inch pieces. Flatten the ends of the string by pressing it between your fingers. Place a small dot of chocolate on each flattened end and then stick the string to the top of the snowman's head.

    12. Using 2 of the same colored m&ms, place a chocolate dot on each before pressing one on both ends of the candy string to form the snowman's earmuffs.

    13. Repeat until you've finished decorating the rest of the snowmen. Allow all the chocolate to harden before moving, stacking, or serving.

    Snowman rice krispie treats colorfully decorated with candy on a serving tray.

    ⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations

    • If Twizzler Peel 'n' Pulls aren't an option, I'd recommend peeling apart a licorice rope or using Strawberry flavored red licorice strings.
    • Use any round colored chocolate candies you can find! Have fun with it and make the snowmen your own.
    • If you're out of semi-sweet chocolate chips, try melting some white chocolate or any chocolate you have on hand.
    • I used the classic Kellogg's Rice Krispies, however you can use any plain rice cereal. Just make sure it is not sweetened or at the least, very lightly sweetened.

    ❄️ How to Store

    To store: For optimal results, store the snowmen at room temperature in an airtight container. They will last for up to 5 days. Refrigeration is not recommended.

    To freeze: These treats freeze well for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes, or until treats are completely defrosted and soft again. You can help speed up the process by simply microwaving for 15 to 30 seconds until softened.

    🔍 FAQs

    Why do my rice krispie treats taste stale?

    If your treats taste stale, a few things could have happened. For starters, using stale marshmallows and stale cereal will yield stale treats.

    However, if those things are fresh and your treats still taste stale, it's likely too much butter was used. Too much butter will prevent the snowman treats from fully setting and will cause them to taste stale and soggy.

    Can you use salted butter for rice krispies?

    Yes! I typically make my rice krispie treats with unsalted butter and add my own kosher salt to control the sodium level, but you can make these treats with salted butter and leave out the added salt, if desired. The taste will still be fantastic!

    Can I use up hard marshmallows in rice krispie treats?

    No, this is not recommended. Hard marshmallows will yield hard treats because hard marshmallows have gone stale and lost the moisture that makes rice krispie treats fluffy and chewy!

    💭 One More Tip

    A 10 ounce sized bag of mini M&Ms should include enough brown ones for both the snowman's eyes and smiles.

    A snowman rice krispie treat with yellow candy earmuffs and an orange candy nose.

    🍴 Related Recipes

    • Peppermint Candy Cane Rice Krispie Treats
    • Reindeer Rice Krispie Treats
    • Santa Rice Krispie Treats
    • Holiday Rice Krispie Treats Dessert Board

    Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!

    📖 Recipe

    Snowman rice krispie treats decorated with colored candies and a candy string earmuffs.

    Snowman Rice Krispie Treats

    Soft and chewy rice krispie treats with festive snowman decorations. The perfect winter activity for young helpers!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Decorating Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 12 treats
    Calories: 300kcal
    Author: Alana Lieberman
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • large pot
    • 4 inch round cookie cutter

    Ingredients

    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 15 ounces mini marshmallows (about 1 ½ bags)
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 8 cups rice cereal such as Rice Krispies
    • 2 tablespoons semi sweet chocolate chips
    • 6 regular sized orange m&ms for the nose
    • 84 mini brown m&ms for the eyes and mouth (see notes)
    • 12 4½-inch long candy strings such as Pull Apart Twizzlers, for the earmuffs
    • 24 regular sized m&ms, any color for the earmuffs

    Instructions

    • In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is almost completely melted, add the marshmallows.
    • Stir to coat the marshmallows fully in the butter. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring intermittently until the marshmallows melt completely. Don't overcook, as this will cause the mixture to burn and the marshmallows to harden.
    • Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
    • Pour in the cereal. Stir to fully combine, making sure to scrape any additional marshmallows from the bottom of the pot.
    • Place a 4-inch round cookie cutter on a plate or parchment paper. Carefully scoop some of the marshmallow and cereal mixture into the cutter until it's full and the mixture takes the form of the circle.
    • Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then remove the treat and set it aside. Continue with the rest of the mixture until all of it is shaped into 12 equal-sized circles.
    • Add chocolate chips to a plastic zip-top bag. Melt in 30 second intervals in the microwave until smooth. Snip a small corner off the bag. Use the melted chocolate as the glue to hold on the other decorations.
    • Carefully cut the orange m&ms in half. Working with 1 treat at a time, add a dot of melted chocolate to the center of the rice krispie treat and gently press the halved m&m cut side down on the chocolate until it sticks.
    • Place 2 small dots of melted chocolate above the orange m&m and quickly press 2 brown m&ms into the chocolate until they stick to create the snowman's eyes. (Make sure to place the m&ms upside down so the logo "m" does not show.)
    • Place 5 small dots of melted chocolate below the orange m&m in the shape of a half circle for the snowman's smile. Press 5 brown m&ms into the chocolate until they stick.
    • Cut the candy strings into 4½-inch pieces. Flatten the ends of the string by pressing it between your fingers. Place a small dot of chocolate on each flattened end and then stick the string to the top of the snowman's head.
    • Using 2 of the same colored m&ms, place a chocolate dot on each before pressing one on both ends of the candy string to form earmuffs.
    • Repeat until you've finished decorating the rest of the snowmen. Allow all the chocolate to harden before moving, stacking, or serving.

    Storage

    • To store: For optimal results, store the snowmen at room temperature in an airtight container. They will last for up to 5 days. Refrigeration is not recommended.
      To freeze: These treats freeze well for up to 6 months. Thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes, or until treats are completely defrosted and soft again. You can help speed up the process by simply microwaving for 15 to 30 seconds until softened.

    Notes

    1. A 10 ounce sized bag of mini m&ms should include enough brown ones for both the eyes and smiles.
    2. Use the photos provided in the above post to help you with assembling the decorations.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 232mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 1439IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 6mg
    Want to Save this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Make sure to follow @yourhomemadehealthy for more delicious recipes!

    Want more recipes like this delivered right to your inbox? Be sure to subscribe above and never miss a thing!

    More Healthy Dessert Recipes

    • Mini Easter Egg Cookies
    • Mini Easter Egg Brownies
    • Mandel Bread (Kosher for Passover)
    • Heart Shaped Rice Krispie Treats

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi There! I'm Alana.

    Headshot of Alana with a green background.

    I'm the recipe developer, photographer, and writer behind Your Home, Made Healthy! I hope to inspire you to create healthy meals for your family without spending tons of time in the kitchen. Although my recipes focus on healthy eating and fresh ingredients, there is no diet talk here. Click below to find out why!

    Learn more about me →

    Healthy Winter Recipes

    • Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    • Apple Turkey Burgers
    • Chicken Minestrone Soup
    • Greek Chicken Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce
    • Brown Sugar and Dill Roasted Carrots
    • Challah Rolls (Challah Buns)

    More Healthy Recipes →

    Popular Recipes

    • Skillet Roasted Corn Kernels
    • Chocolate Baked Oats
    • Mediterranean Sun-Dried Tomato Quiche
    • Healthy Ground Chicken Meatloaf with Vegetables

    Healthy Main Dish Recipes →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Read our Terms

    Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer

    Terms & Conditions

    Accessibility Statement

    Keep in Touch

    Follow me on Instagram

    Follow me on Facebook

    Follow me on Pinterest

    Sign up for emails, updates, tips, & tricks!

    About

    About Me

    My Food Philosophy

    Contact

    Copyright © 2023 Your Home, Made Healthy