Christmas Rice Krispies® Trees

Try these Rice Krispies® Christmas trees filled with festive orange and spice flavor and decorated with white chocolate and dried fruit.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 194 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 small orange, zested and juiced
• 1 (10 ounce) package large marshmallows
• 6 cups crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies®)
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.33333334326744 cup chopped dried cranberries
• 0.33333334326744 cup chopped dried apricots
• 0.33333334326744 cup dried apricots, or as needed
• 0.33333334326744 cup dried cranberries, or as needed
• 0.5 cup chopped white chocolate

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Mix crispy rice cereal, cranberries, and apricots together in a large bowl. Toss gently to combine and set aside.

Step 2

Combine orange zest and juice, butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in a large saucepan over low heat. Cook until butter is melted and stir to combine. Add marshmallows all at once; cook, stirring constantly, until fully melted, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3

Quickly pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal mixture and toss to combine, making sure cereal is thoroughly coated.

Step 4

Lightly butter or oil clean hands and a 1/3 cup measure. Scoop out 1/3 cup of the cereal mixture and press firmly into a tree shape. Flatten the bottom of the tree and set aside. Continue making trees, re-buttering your hands as needed, until all the mixture is used up. Allow trees to cool and harden for 15 to 30 minutes.

Step 5

Cut whole apricots into star shapes, using a sharp paring knife or small cookie cutter. Set the scraps aside for extra decoration. Chop dried cranberries for extra decoration.

Step 6

Combine white chocolate and butter in a small heat-proof bowl. Microwave until chocolate is melted, about 30 seconds. Stir to combine. Pour white chocolate into a piping bag.

Step 7

Pipe white chocolate into decorative patterns all over the trees, covering the very tops to adhere the apricot stars. Use remaining white chocolate to adhere extra chopped apricots and cranberries as desired. Reheat chocolate in the microwave for 10 seconds if it begins to harden. Allow chocolate to fully harden on the trees before serving.