Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats

These fun Pumpkin Rice Krispies Treats are an easy, festive fall treat that kids and adults will love making and eating!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword easy-rice-krispies-treats-recipe, pumpkin-rice-krispies-treats

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Cooling Time 20

Total Time 35

Servings servings

Calories 173kcal

Ingredients

3 Tbsp salted butter
1 10 oz package mini marshmallows
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp orange food gel coloring adjust amount to suit the color you desire
6 cups crispy rice cereal i.e. Rice Krispies or similar
10 (2 inch) pretzels sticks
1 7 oz tube green cookie icing
green fondant or green airheads to create leaves

Instructions

Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
In a large heavy bottomed pot melt butter over medium heat. Add marshmallows and vanilla and stirring constantly until completely smooth, about 2-4 minutes.
To the pot add the food coloring gel (or liquid) swirling the food coloring through the melted marshmallows and add the crispy rice cereal. Stir until the cereal is thoroughly coated adding more food coloring until it suits your color preference. Let cool slightly before handling.
Lightly grease hands with nonstick cooking spray or butter. Form the cereal mixture into roughly 3/4 cup balls, and then shape into a pumpkin. (Don't skip this step, greasing your hands is the trick that keeps them from sticking.)
Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cereal mixture. Press a pretzel stick into the top of each pumpkin to resemble a stem while warm.
Allow the pumpkins to cool completely, then pipe green icing around the base of the pretzels to create vines and use green fondant or airheads cut into leaf shapes for the leaves. Let pumpkins stand at room temperature until the icing is set.
Store pumpkins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Notes

Making Fondant Leafs - You can use premade fondant or green airheads for making the leaves for the pumpkins. Use the tip of a knife to create the leaf shape that you want. You can even create the veins of the leaves with the knife. If you have a leaf shaped cookie cutter by all means use it!
Marshmallows - If you want to make these treats using large marshmallows, you'll need 40 total to equal one package of mini marshmallows.
Food Coloring - You can use liquid food coloring or food coloring gel to tint the mixture. I prefer to gel as it doesn't add liquid to the equation. Add the amount that creates the level and intensity of orange that you desire.
Add Shape - You can make the indentations in the krispies treats using the dull side of a knife. After forming into the pumpkin shape press at even intervals to create grooves to mimic the look of a pumpkin.
Decorate - You can decorate these as jack-o-lanterns for Halloween using black icing and drawing faces onto the pumpkins.
Store-Bought Fondant - Premade fondant is available at any craft store or baking supply store as well as most places where cake decorating supplies are sold.
Cool Completely Before Adding Embellishments - Wait for the pumpkins to cool completely before using the icing, it could melt into the treat if they're still warm.
Add the Stem While Warm - Place the pretzel when the pumpkin is still warm and sticky. If you wait until the marshmallow is cooled, it is really difficult to get it in there. Marshmallow is like glue when it cools. You could also use mini tootsie rolls for the stems in a pinch.
Test the Icing - Using a tube of cookie icing is super convenient way to draw the vines on the pumpkins especially if you're not one to use a piping bag. I've found that the thickness of the icing can vary from brand to brand. Test it on a piece of wax paper and see if you'll need to retrace the vines more than once to make them appear thicker. Remember, they don't have to be perfect, this is a fun treat where the kids can help.

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