Sometimes the best holiday desserts don’t even require baking. These Chocolater Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats are festive, quick, and perfect for Christmas gatherings. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have fun Christmas desserts that look impressive but take less than 30 minutes to make. They’re the kind of no-bake Christmas treats that always disappear first, and they’re guaranteed to become one of your favorite easy Christmas desserts for the season.
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Ingredients for Brown Butter Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 8 oz semisweet or dark chocolate, chopped (or chocolate chips)
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil (for melting the chocolate)
- ½ cup crushed peppermint candies or candy canes
How to Make Chocolate Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
1, Brown the butter: In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will start to foam and froth; as the foam dies down, you’ll see brown specks forming at the bottom and smell a nutty aroma. That’s when it’s ready.
2. Melt the marshmallows: Add the marshmallows to the browned butter, stirring until completely smooth. Mix in vanilla and salt.
3. Add the cereal: Remove from the heat (or keep on low heat) and pour in the Rice Krispies and stir until evenly coated.
4. Press into pan: Transfer the mixture into a greased 9×9-inch baking dish. Use a lightly greased piece of parchment paper to gently press the mixture down into an even layer. Let cool completely before cutting into squares
5. Prepare for dipping: While the bars cool, crush the peppermint candies (if you haven’t already) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to set the dipped treats on.
6. Dip in chocolate: Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Dip each Rice Krispie square halfway into the chocolate.
7. Add peppermint: Immediately sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies over the chocolate. Place the dipped treats on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet until the chocolate hardens.
Pro Tips for Perfect Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
- Don’t skip browning the butter. It only takes a few minutes and really elevates the flavor.
- Work quickly when mixing the cereal into the marshmallows so the mixture doesn’t stiffen before you press it into the pan. If things start hardening too fast, you can keep the pot over low heat to make it easier to stir.
- Choose your peppermint carefully. Softer peppermint candies or candy canes are easiest to crush. The really hard, round peppermints can be tough to break apart (I actually had to use a hammer!).
- Leave a few larger peppermint shards. They make the treats sparkle in photos and add that satisfying crunch.
- Be careful with the coconut oil. A little helps the chocolate melt smoothly, but if you add too much, the chocolate won’t set firmly at room temperature. That’s fine if you prefer softer chocolate; just plan to store the treats in the fridge.
FAQs about Brown Butter Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
How should I store these Rice Krispie treats?
Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If you added extra coconut oil and the chocolate stays soft, keep them in the fridge so the chocolate holds up better.
What kind of chocolate works best for dipping?
Semisweet or dark chocolate is a great choice because it balances the sweetness of the marshmallows and peppermint. White chocolate also works and looks extra festive with the red-and-white peppermint pieces.
How finely should I crush the peppermint?
A mix is best. Some finely crushed pieces give good coverage, while a few larger shards add crunch and look pretty. Too fine, and it turns into red dust; too large, and it’s harder to bite into.
What’s the best way to crush peppermint candies?
The easiest method is to place candy canes or softer peppermint candies in a zip-top bag and crush them with a rolling pin. The really hard, round peppermints can be difficult to break and often need something heavier, like a meat mallet or even a hammer.
Brown Butter Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats are festive, simple, and so delicious. With their chewy, buttery base, chocolate dip, and peppermint sparkle, they’re one of those fun Christmas desserts that always stand out on a holiday table. Keep this recipe handy whenever you need no-bake Christmas treats or other easy Christmas desserts that look impressive without taking much time. Don’t forget to save this recipe so you can come back to it all season long!
Chocolate Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 10 oz bag mini marshmallows
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 8 oz semisweet chocolate chips approximately. Dark chocolate or white chocolate also work
- 1-2 tsp coconut oil approximately
- 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies or crushed candy canes
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. The butter will start to foam and froth; as the foam dies down, you’ll see brown specks forming at the bottom and smell a nutty aroma. That’s when it’s good and browned.
- Add the marshmallows to the browned butter, stirring until completely smooth. Mix in vanilla and salt.
- Remove from the heat (or keep on low) and pour in the Rice Krispies and stir until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture into a greased 9x9-inch baking dish. Use a lightly greased piece of parchment paper to gently press the mixture down into an even layer. Let cool completely before cutting into squares
- While the bars cool, crush the peppermint candies (if you haven’t already) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to set the dipped treats on.
- Melt the chocolate and coconut oil together in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth.
- Dip each Rice Krispie square halfway into the chocolate.
- Immediately sprinkle the crushed peppermint candies over the chocolate. Place the dipped treats on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet until the chocolate hardens. You can place them in the fridge to help speed things up.
