When the holidays roll around, few things are more delightful than creating fun, festive treats with family and friends. These Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are bite-sized chocolate delights that are irresistibly chewy, charmingly decorated, and easy enough for kids to help make. With no baking required, these little puddings come together in under 15 minutes, making them the perfect last-minute holiday treat or edible gift. Packed with melted marshmallows, smooth chocolate, and crispy cereal, they’re the ultimate combination of texture, taste, and seasonal cheer.
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Why These Festive Treats Are a Must-Make
These Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are more than just cute—they’re incredibly practical and absolutely delicious. Whether you’re prepping for a party, entertaining the kids, or whipping up gifts for neighbors, here’s why you’ll fall in love with this no-bake recipe:
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just 40 minutes including chilling time.
- Kid-Friendly Fun: Great for little hands to shape and decorate.
- Minimal Clean-Up: One bowl and one spoon are practically all you need.
- Perfect for Gifting: Package them up in festive boxes or tins for homemade holiday gifts.
- Deliciously Chewy: Thanks to melted marshmallows and butter, the texture is soft and satisfying.
What You’ll Need for Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings
Ingredients and Their Purpose
- Milk Chocolate: Adds sweetness, smooth texture, and festive brown color.
- Mini Marshmallows: The gooey binder that holds everything together and adds chewiness.
- Butter: Softens the texture and helps melt the chocolate smoothly.
- Rice Krispies Cereal: Light, crispy base that gives the puddings their signature crunch.
- White Chocolate: Used for the decorative “icing” drizzle.
- Sugarpaste Decorations: Red and green holly leaves and berries add the classic Christmas pudding look.
- Food Coloring Gel: Optional for coloring plain sugarpaste.
Equipment You’ll Need
- Mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Saucepan or microwave-safe bowl
- Baking tray with parchment
- Piping bag or zip-top bag for drizzling
- Holly leaf cutter (optional)
Ingredient Substitutions and Dietary Variations
- Cereal Options: Swap Rice Krispies with Coco Pops for extra chocolate flavor, or use gluten-free rice cereal.
- Chocolate Choices: Dark chocolate adds richness; white chocolate creates a snowy effect.
- Vegan-Friendly: Use vegan marshmallows, plant-based butter, and dairy-free chocolate.
- No Fondant? Use Christmas sprinkles or colored chocolate chips as alternative decorations.
How to Make Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings
- Melt the Base: In a saucepan (or microwave-safe bowl), gently melt the milk chocolate and butter. Stir often to avoid burning.
- Add Marshmallows: Add mini marshmallows and stir over low heat until melted and fully combined into a smooth, sticky mixture.
- Combine with Cereal: Pour the chocolate-marshmallow mixture over the Rice Krispies in a large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly until all cereal is coated.
- Shape into Puddings: Let the mixture cool slightly. With dampened hands, roll tablespoons of the mixture into small, bite-sized balls.
- Chill: Place pudding balls onto a parchment-lined tray and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
- Decorate: Melt white chocolate and transfer it to a piping bag. Drizzle it over the tops of each chilled pudding.
- Add Festive Touches: Use green and red sugarpaste to shape holly leaves and berries, or use pre-made decorations. Place them on top of the white chocolate drizzle.
Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Puddings
- Dampen Your Hands: Water or a light spritz of cooking spray will prevent sticking when rolling.
- Soften Stiff Mixture: Reduce chocolate slightly or add a bit more butter if the mix feels hard to shape.
- Low Heat Is Best: Gently melt chocolate and marshmallows to avoid seizing or burning.
- Don’t Rush Cooling: Let the puddings chill fully to hold their shape before decorating.
- Make It a Party Activity: Set up a decorating station for kids and guests to design their own.
Serving, Storing, and Variations
- Pair With: Hot cocoa, eggnog, or festive punch.
- Flavor Variations: Add a few drops of peppermint extract, orange zest, or cinnamon for seasonal twists.
- Storage Tips: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or refrigerate and bring to room temp before serving.
- Make-Ahead Option: Freeze undecorated pudding balls for up to 6 weeks; decorate after thawing.
- Gift Idea: Place in festive mini cupcake liners and wrap in cellophane for homemade edible gifts.
Make the Holidays Sweeter with Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings
These Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are more than a recipe—they’re an experience. Whether you’re creating them with kids, serving them at parties, or handing them out as heartfelt holiday gifts, they bring joy in every bite. The chewy, crispy texture, the creamy chocolate coating, and the festive holly leaf toppings combine for a Christmas treat that’s as memorable as it is tasty.
So put on your apron, cue the holiday playlist, and start shaping some sweet, chocolatey holiday cheer!
The Final Word on These Festive Treats
Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are the kind of recipe that combines creativity, ease, and flavor into one irresistibly charming holiday treat. Whether you’re a seasoned home baker or just looking for a fun kitchen activity with the kids, this no-bake dessert is guaranteed to deliver on all fronts. With minimal ingredients, mess-free preparation, and plenty of room for festive personalization, these puddings are more than just a sweet snack — they’re a joyful holiday tradition in the making.
Make a batch (or two), gift them to friends, or let them shine on your Christmas dessert table. Either way, you’re in for a celebration of chocolatey crunch and seasonal cheer that will become a yearly favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings last?
Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. If your kitchen is warm, refrigerate them and let them come to room temperature before serving. For longer storage, freeze the pudding balls (undecorated) for up to 6 weeks.
Can I use different cereal instead of Rice Krispies?
Yes! While Rice Krispies provide the perfect light crunch, you can easily swap them for Coco Pops for a richer chocolate flavor or use a gluten-free puffed rice cereal for a gluten-sensitive option. Just keep the cereal-to-marshmallow ratio balanced for best results.
Is it possible to make these in advance for a party or gift?
Absolutely. These treats are ideal for making ahead. You can shape the pudding balls up to two days in advance and store them in the fridge. Decorate the day of serving or gifting to keep the white chocolate drizzle and holly decorations looking fresh and vibrant.
More Relevant Recipes
- Marshmallow Rice Bubbles Halloween Brains: This spooky twist on Rice Krispie treats uses marshmallows and puffed rice to create brain-shaped delights. Perfectly chewy and fun to mold, it’s a no-bake treat that mirrors the texture and style of Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings.
- Rice Krispies Brains Halloween Recipe: A creepy-cute take on the classic Rice Krispies base, these no-bake Halloween treats feature gooey marshmallows and a chocolate drizzle, making them thematically and texturally similar to the festive puddings.
- Ghost Cookies No-Bake Recipe: Made with chocolate and decorated marshmallows, these ghost-shaped cookies are a no-bake holiday hit. Their ease of preparation and decorative flair align perfectly with the spirit of Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings.
Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings
- Total Time: 40 minutes (includes chilling)
- Yield: 24 puddings
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are festive, no-bake chocolate treats made with marshmallows, cereal, and a white chocolate drizzle. Perfect for kids, holiday parties, or edible gifting, they’re easy to make and fun to decorate with holly-shaped fondant for a festive finish.
Ingredients
- 200g Milk Chocolate: Adds a sweet, creamy base and festive brown color.
- 50g Butter (unsalted): Softens the texture and helps bind ingredients.
- 180g Mini Marshmallows: Provides the sticky, chewy binder.
- 100g Rice Krispies: Adds crunch and structure to the puddings.
- 50g White Chocolate: Used to drizzle over the top as faux icing.
- White Sugarpaste: For holly leaf decorations.
- Green Food Colour Gel: Colors the sugarpaste holly leaves.
- Red Food Colour Gel: Used to color sugarpaste berries.
Instructions
- In a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, gently melt the milk chocolate and butter together.
- Add the mini marshmallows and heat for 30 seconds, stirring until fully melted and combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the Rice Krispies. Pour the melted chocolate-marshmallow mixture over them and stir to coat evenly.
- Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes, then dampen your hands and roll into 1-inch balls.
- Place the balls on a baking tray lined with parchment and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Melt the white chocolate gently over simmering water or in short microwave bursts. Pour into a piping bag or zip-top bag.
- Color the sugarpaste with green and red gel to create holly leaves and berries using cutters or by hand.
- Once the puddings are chilled, drizzle white chocolate over the top and decorate with sugarpaste holly leaves and berries.
Notes
- Dampen your hands with water or cooking spray to prevent sticking while rolling the balls.
- For a softer mixture, reduce chocolate to 100g or add 15g more butter.
- Use low heat when melting to avoid burning or seizing the chocolate.
- Puddings can be frozen undecorated for up to 6 weeks; decorate after thawing.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Holiday, British-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pudding
- Calories: 108 kcal
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 46mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 5mg