Fun, festive tree-shaped crunchy snacks with a sweet, colorful coating ideal for holiday celebrations.
# What You Need:
→ Main Mixture
01 - 4 cups Rice Krispies cereal
02 - 3 cups mini marshmallows
03 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
04 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - Green food coloring, as needed
→ Decorations
06 - 1/3 cup mini M&Ms or colored sprinkles
07 - 12 small star-shaped candies or yellow M&Ms
→ Optional
08 - 12 pretzel sticks (for tree trunks)
09 - Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper for shaping
# Directions:
01 - In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the mini marshmallows, stirring continuously until completely melted and smooth.
02 - Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in vanilla extract along with several drops of green food coloring until the mixture achieves the desired shade.
03 - Quickly add the Rice Krispies cereal to the marshmallow mixture and fold gently until all cereal is fully coated.
04 - Allow the mixture to cool for 1 to 2 minutes so it remains pliable but is no longer too hot to handle.
05 - Lightly grease your hands with nonstick spray or butter, then shape the mixture into 12 cone-shaped Christmas trees.
06 - If using, gently insert one pretzel stick into the base of each tree to form the trunk.
07 - Embellish the trees with mini M&Ms or colored sprinkles as ornaments, pressing a star-shaped candy or yellow M&M atop each tree.
08 - Place the shaped and decorated trees on parchment paper and let them set at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes until firm.
