These Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats are the perfect Halloween snacks for a party. This Halloween snack is a great way to bring some fun and festivity to any event.
Why You’ll Love These Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
A gooey marshmallow mixture and classic rice krispie treat recipe taken up a notch with peanut butter and decorations- what’s not to love!
- Fun treat – These easy treats are perfect for both Halloween parties, fall festivities or Thanksgiving dessert.
- No bake – This is the perfect sweet treat to get the kids involved in the kitchen! No oven required.
- Simple ingredients – You only need a handful of super easy to find ingredients to make these rice krispie treat pumpkins.
What You’ll Need
You can find these simple ingredients at any local grocery store!
- Rice Krispies – You can certainly use the name brand, but the generic brand will work just fine too.
- Unsalted butter – I have found that salted butter can be a little too salty, especially with the peanut butter.
- Mini marshmallows – If you only have regular marshmallows, check out my marshmallow conversion chart!
- Food coloring – You will either need red food coloring and yellow food coloring to make the orange color, or use orange food coloring if you have it.
- Tootsie Roll Midges – This is what er use to make the stems for this easy recipe.
- Frosting for decorating – I used black to make jackolantern faces, but you could also use green to make leaves and stems for Thanksgiving treats.
Variations
There are plenty of ways you can make these pumpkin rice krispies your own.
- Flavor – You could totally add some flavor to these cute little pumpkins. Pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract, nutmeg or even cinnamon would be a good idea to add.
- Stem – Instead of mini tootsie roll stems, try using something like a small pretzel stick or a green m&m in the top of each pumpkin.
- Fillings – Try filling the pumpkin shapes with fun treats like sprinkles or Halloween candies.
- Decorations – You could make the little faces with all kind of treats. Here are some suggestions:
- Spooky Halloween Sprinkles
- Red Hot Cinnamon Imperials
- Candy Gummy Worms (like the worm is coming out of the pumpkin)
- Tootsie Rolls (as pictured for a stem)
- Skittles, for a rainbow fun carved pumpkin
- Licorice rope
- Specialty Halloween Candies
- Drizzle of white chocolate
- Candy corns
How to Make Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
You are going to love how easy it is to make these pumpkin rice krispies treats!
- Melt butter and marshmallows. In a medium sauce pan melt butter over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add marshmallows and food coloring. Continue to stir until marshmallows are melted and sticky like glue.
- Stir in crispy rice cereal. Remove from heat and stir in Rice Krispie cereal. Blend well.
- Roll into shape of a pumpkin. Although I highly recommend wearing powder-free latex gloves, you can also use wax paper or parchment paper to mold the warm mixture into round balls.
- Add stem. Push a tootsie roll into the top for the stem. The heat from the pumpkin will create a malleable material so the tootsie roll can be gently bent. Ridges in the tootsie roll create a natural and woody effect.
- Cool and decorate. Allow pumpkins to cool completely, then decorate with frosting.
Storage and Freezing
I would suggest making these ahead of time just so they can cool a little. The frosting will melt off if you try to decorate them too warm.
How to Store Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Store these pumpkin rice krispie treats at room temperature in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for about three days.
Can I Freeze Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats?
I haven’t tried it myself, but I am going out on a limb to say these probably aren’t the best freezer friendly Halloween desserts.
More Easy Halloween Desserts
From cupcakes to cookies and everything in between, these fun Halloween desserts will be perfect for all of your Halloween parties!
And these Halloween Party Foods!
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Recipe
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins are perfect for any fall gathering or cute Halloween treat. Ready in only 20 minutes, everyone will love them!
Servings:
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- orange gel food coloring
- 6 cups Rice Krispie cereal
- 5 small tootsie rolls , cut in half to total 10
- green frosting , for leaves
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan melt the butter. Add the marshmallows and 5-6 drops of the orange food coloring. Continue to stir until the mixture is smooth and melted.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the Rice Krispie cereal until fully coated. Or pour the melted marshmallows over the cereal and large mixing bowl.
- Allow the mixture to cool for about 5 minutes, or until it is cool enough to handle while wearing gloves, but not so cool it has hardened. Although I highly recommend wearing powder-free latex gloves, you can also use wax paper to mold the warm mixture into round balls about the size of a baseball.
- While still warm and soft, push a half of a tootsie roll into the top for the stem. .
- Allow pumpkins to cool completely, then decorate with green frosting for leaves.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
This recipe used to include peanut butter, but has since been changed. If you wish to use the PB version, add 1/4 cup peanut butter and reduce marshmallows by 1/4 cup. Add it with the marshmallows, blending until smooth.
Nutrition
Calories: 224 kcal, Carbohydrates: 35 g, Protein: 4 g, Fat: 8 g, Saturated Fat: 3 g, Cholesterol: 7 mg, Sodium: 144 mg, Potassium: 87 mg, Sugar: 17 g, Vitamin A: 1020 IU, Vitamin C: 8.8 mg, Calcium: 5 mg, Iron: 4.5 mg
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to see your recipes – snap a picture and mention @savoryexperiments or tag #savoryexperiments!
Wait–I don’t see the peanut butter in the ingredients list! How much, please, and when did you add it?
Hi Tonya- this used to include peanut butter, I’m guessing you found it via an old pin? I just added the alternate directions in the notes.
I made these as squares instead of the pumpkins, but I loved the peanut butter flavors. Will be making them again for Halloween.
May I use salted butter?
Sure can!
These were fantastic fun for my kids. I gave them trays of colored sugar and icing tubes and let them go to town decorating. Perfect for a rainy day activity. And they were delicious, so added bonus! I didn’t have tootsie rolls, so I just used extra frosting on the tops for stems.
These were so good. I never thought to add flavor to rice krispie treats. Trying the caramel next.
How many does THis Recipe make??
It makes 12.
This is so cute, I will definitely be making it
These are just too stink in cute!