Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Pumpkin-shaped Halloween treat that kids can help make, no baking required. This easy pumpkin Rice Krispie treats recipe uses Rice Krispies, marshmallows, orange food coloring, pretzel rod stems, and green Airhead leaves and vines to create adorable pumpkin-shaped Halloween treats. Perfect for classroom Halloween parties, neighborhood trick-or-treat setups, homeschool Halloween units, or family Halloween baking afternoons. Ready in about 20 minutes and makes 8-12 pumpkins.
The Easy Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats That Turn Every Halloween Party Into a Success
Three things make this Halloween recipe worth the sticky-hands chaos. The pumpkin shape turns basic Rice Krispie treats into a decorative Halloween treat that photographs well and holds its shape on a party platter. The pretzel stem and Airhead vine details are what elevate this from cute to memorable, and both are surprisingly forgiving even when the kids’ vines don’t twist perfectly. And the whole recipe uses ingredients I can find at any grocery store, no specialty Halloween sprinkles or complicated fondant tools required.
A few practical notes that I have for you. I always make sure to coat my hands generously with cooking spray or oil before shaping because the marshmallow mixture is sticky and the oil makes the difference between clean round pumpkins and orange marshmallow disaster. Let the mixture cool for about two minutes before handling, so it’s workable but not too stiff. Use the END pieces of the pretzel rods, they’re the perfect shape and size for pumpkin stems. And for the Airhead vines, wrap a thin strip around a wooden skewer or plastic straw to get the twist shape, then slide it off gently. If you’re making these for a classroom party, make them the morning-of for best texture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These adorable 3D treats are a great treat to give out as a gift. Wrap in a fall-themed cellophane bag and some ribbon and you’ve got the perfect party favors or classroom gift.
- It will only take 25 minutes to make this fun and tasty fall recipe.
- This easy recipe is perfect for kids to make on their own or to help out with in the kitchen.
Key Ingredients
- Rice Krispies cereal – You can’t make Rice Krispie treats without the Rice Krispies! During the holiday season, I like to buy them in the giant family size boxes so I have them in my pantry whenever inspiration, or a sweet tooth, strikes!
- Mini marshmallows – Mini marshmallows melt much more easily than the large marshmallows.
- Butter – Use salted or unsalted butter in this recipe, either works just fine.
- Pretzel rods – Pretzel rods are the easiest way to make little stems for your pumpkins. If you have leftovers, use them to make Mummy Pretzel Rods. If you need a different option, use Tootsie Rolls, mini Twix, brown fondant or even Rolo candy. If you don’t have any of these on hand, a regular pretzel stick works, too.
- Orange food coloring – Gel food coloring tends to work a little better in this recipe. Use a combination of red and yellow if you don’t have orange on hand.
- Green Airheads – This malleable candy easily makes leaves for the stems of the pumpkins. You can also make leaves out of green fondant. If you have a steady hand with a piping bag, green frosting will also work in a pinch. Fruit by the Foot works for the vine or use green fondant, taffy, or green Starburst candies rolled thin.
Find the full ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.
Variations
- Different sizes. Make mini pumpkins for party favors or jumbo pumpkins for a centerpiece.
- Ghost. Skip the orange food coloring, shape into ghosts and add candy eyes.
- Frankenstein. Add green food coloring and set in a baking dish. Cut into rectangles and add candy eyes with black icing or shoestring licorice for hair.
- Spider. Add black food coloring, form into flat circles for the spider body and use pretzels for legs. Don’t forget the candy eyes!
- Bat. Use black food coloring, shape into small rectangles and use Airheads for wings.
- Candy-topped. Press M&Ms or candy corn into the tops for a little extra decoration and flavor.
- Pumpkin patch platter. Arrange multiple pumpkins on a green Airhead “grass” base.
Helpful Tools
- Large saucepan
- Silicone spatula
- Parchment paper
- Kitchen shears
- Nonstick spray
- Measuring cups and spoons
How to Make Pumpkin Rice Krispies
Combine butter and marshmallows. Melt butter in a large non stick saucepan. Add marshmallows and stir to combine.
Mix in food coloring. Add the orange food coloring until it reaches the shade of orange that you want. Keep stirring until the color is combined and all marshmallows are melted, you’ll want a smooth and creamy texture.
Combine with Rice Krispies. Turn off the heat and add the Rice Krispies cereal into the marshmallow mixture, one cup at a time. Stir well after each cup. Allow the mixture cool slightly until you are able to handle it.
Create pumpkin shapes. Lay a sheet of parchment paper onto a clean surface, then coat your hands in non stick cooking spray or butter. Scoop large portions of the Rice Krispies mixture out of the pan and form into balls. Press down on the top and bottom of each ball to form a pumpkin shape. Use your finger to make a large enough dent for the pretzel rod. Set each of the pumpkin shaped rice Krispie treats onto the sheet of parchment paper.
Add stem. Take a pretzel rod and place a small piece into the middle of the top of the pumpkin and press down.
Add greenery. Cut leaf shapes out of a green Air Head using scissors. To make some vines, cut a thin piece of Air Head and then roll it out into a rope-like shape. Wrap the candy rope around a skewer stick or something else thin to make a twisted vine. Gently pull it off of the skewer and then stick the vine on one side of the pretzel stick stem and the leaf on the other side.
Repeat. Continue this process for all pumpkin Rice Krispie treats.
For the complete directions and ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Storage
Place any leftover Rice Krispie treats into an air tight container and store at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Fridge: To extend the life of these sweet treats, store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Leave on the counter for about 10-15 minutes to come to room temperature before enjoying.
Freezer: I do not recommend freezing these pumpkin Rice Krispie treats.
Pro Tips
- Make different sizes of pumpkins for a cute variety! Some large pumpkins, small pumpkins, and medium pumpkins all together will look like a fun little pumpkin patch.
- Press the pretzel rod, vines, and leaves into the pumpkin before the marshmallows and cereal completely set. The tacky marshmallow will help everything adhere to the pumpkin.
- If you have problems with the Rice Krispie mixture sticking to your hands, stop during the process and rinse your hands and then re-grease them and keep going!
- Overworking the marshmallow and Rice Krispie mix can lead to hard treats.
- Mix in some pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract for a little extra burst of flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to add a little bit of pumpkin puree for flavor, add 1 or 2 Tablespoons but that’s all. Too much liquid will make it difficult for the treats to set.
I recommend making these the day you want to serve them, or a day in advance at the most because the Rice Krispies will start to soften.
If the marshmallow mixture was too warm when it was shaped into pumpkins, it is likely that the shapes can flatten. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before shaping.
This is why it is important to heat the marshmallows on low heat. Using a heat setting that is too high, will cause the finished product to turn hard.
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows (1 package)
- food coloring orange
- 5-6 pretzel rods the end pieces only
- 8 green Airheads
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large non stick pan on low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir to combine. Once slightly melted begin adding orange food coloring until you reach the desired shade.
- Keep stirring until marshmallows are completely melted. Turn off heat and add Rice Krispies, one cup at a time. Stir after each addition. Let cool slightly until you are able to handle the mixture.
- Lay down a sheet of parchment paper and coat your hands with cooking spray. Take large portions of the Rice Krispie mixture and form into balls. Keep them uniform in size or make different sizes.
- Press down on the top and bottom of each ball to form into a pumpkin shape. Use your finger to make a dent in the top for the pretzel rod. Set on parchment paper.
- Place pretzel into the middle of the top of the pumpkin and press down slightly so it sticks.
- Use scissors to cut little leaf shapes out of the Airheads.
- To form the vine, cut along the long part of the Airhead very thinly, roll out into a small rope. Wrap it around something thin like a skewer stick to make a twisty vine.
- Gently pull off the skewer and stick to one side of the pretzel and stick the leaf on the other side, repeat for all the pumpkins.
Notes
Nutrition
More Fall Recipes and Activities
- Savory and sweet flavors come together thanks to the best Halloween Snack Mix. Chex cereal, Bugles, pretzels, candy corn, Reese’s Pieces and of course, candy eyeballs, make every handful delicious.
- Homemade Halloween decorations like Yarn Ghosts are a great DIY project for the kids to work on this season. Make a lot and you are on your way to an inexpensive garland!
- Elevate a box chocolate cake and make Turkey Cupcakes for your family’s Thanksgiving get together. The kids will love decorating these, too!
- Print off our template for Turkey Suncatchers and set the kids up for a nice quiet activity while they wait for their Thanksgiving meal. Hang them in the window while you eat to catch the sun on the colored tissue paper.
