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Rice Krispie Pumpkins are cute, kid-friendly Halloween rice krispie treats stuffed with candy in the middle.


Rice Krispie Pumpkins on black Halloween fabric


Happy Halloween!

Ok not quite, but it IS October so I’m getting a head start on tricks and treats.

However, I’m not a big into the scary side.

I don’t like goriness. I don’t like the fright of a masked man chasing me with a chain saw. I don’t like vampires (especially sparkly ones) and even though I grew up in western PA, I don’t like zombies either.

I know, I’m such a party pooper.

BUT I do love the cute side of Halloween.

I love black and orange, pumpkin pie, and black cats.

I love peanut butter pumpkins and Cadbury scream eggs. I have a giant ceramic Halloween cupcake and a cupcake shirt.

So for your Halloween treat today, I decided to lean towards the cute and creative factor with these Rice Krispie Pumpkins stuffed with a hidden surprise inside.

It’s everyone’s favorite rice krispie treat in the shape of a pumpkin. There is some decorating involved, but it’s super easy.

I first saw this recipe for pumpkin rice krispie treats in the newspaper with all of the coupons. My dad likes to give them to me when he is done reading his Sunday paper.

In addition to being pumpkin shaped, you put candy in the middle. It’s not just a pumpkin. It’s a candy stuffed pumpkin!

I chose pumpkin spice kisses to go with the pumpkin theme, but you can use anything “fun-sized” – peanut butter cups, 3 Musketeers, Snickers, Milky Way, anything small.

And these pumpkin rice krispies are not just for Halloween! Make them as Thanksgiving rice krispie treats for a cute edible centerpiece.

Whether you make these rice krispie treat pumpkins for fun, as party favors, or a way to use up leftover Halloween candy, they’re anything but scary.


Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treat cut in half

Ingredients For Rice Krispie Pumpkins

Making Halloween rice krispies are super easy! You only need a few ingredients:

  • Butter: Butter both adds flavor and helps bind together the cereal treats.
  • Mini marshmallows:I recommend mini marshmallows so they can double up as the stem.
  • Rice cereal: Can’t have rice krispie treats without the rice krispies!
  • Food coloring: Use liquid food coloring, the kind you add by the drop. You can use gel or paste, but the amount will vary.
  • Fun-sized candy: Because you’re wrapping the cereal mixture around the candy, you want to use the smallest size you can find.
  • Buttercream frosting: Use my small batch buttercream frosting to decorate.

The original recipe called for green gumdrops as the stems, but I’m not a huge fan. Since I was using mini marshmallows for melting anyway, just save a couple to cover with frosting.

Don’t have time to shape pumpkins? Add orange food coloring to my Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats made in a loaf pan then decorate with green frosting.


Three Halloween Rice Krispie Treats

How To Make Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats

To make rice crispy treat pumpkins:

  1. Melt butter in a large, wide pot such as a Dutch oven (affiliate link).
  2. Add marshmallows and orange food coloring. Keep stirring until melted and don’t let them burn.
  3. Stir in the cereal until everything is coated.
  4. Shape 1/2 cup cereal mixture into a ball around a piece of candy. Repeat with remaining cereal.
  5. Cover mini marshmallows with green buttercream then stick into the top of each ball, forming a stem.
  6. Pipe vines onto each pumpkin with the remaining frosting.

Pumpkin rice krispies are best eaten the day they’re made, but you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.


Rice Crispy Treat Pumpkins

Rice Krispie Pumpkins FAQ

Why did my rice krispie treat pumpkins get hard?

The biggest reason your rice crispy treats got hard is you overcooked the marshmallows. Using low and slow heat, remove your pan from the heat as soon as the marshmallows are 90% melted. By the time you stir in your cereal, they’re fully melted.

Can you make Pumpkin Rice Krispies ahead of time?

Yes, you can make them 1 day ahead of time as they’re best enjoyed within a few days.

How do you keep rice krispie treats from sticking to your hands?

The best way to keep them from sticking to your hands is shaping them with a piece of greased parchment paper. Not only will it not stick, you’re less likely to burn your hands.


Halloween Rice Krispies cut in half

More Halloween Recipes

Enjoyed these Halloween rice krispie treats? Here are more cute Halloween treats for you to make:

Three Halloween Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie Pumpkins

Yield: 8 pumpkins
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Rice Krispie Pumpkins are cute, kid-friendly Halloween rice krispie treats stuffed with candy in the middle.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter (add 1/4 teaspoon salt if unsalted)
  • 5 ounces mini marshmallows (roughly 3 cups) + 8 mini marshmallows reserved for stems
  • 3 cups rice crispy cereal
  • Orange and green liquid food coloring
  • 8 fun-sized candy pieces such as chocolate kisses, peanut butter cups, Snickers, or Milky Way, unwrapped
  • 1 recipe Small Batch Buttercream Frosting

Instructions

  1. In a Dutch oven or large wide pot over low heat, melt the butter (add the salt if using).
  2. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir with a wooden spoon until 90% melted*. Don't overcook or you'll end up with hard treats.
  3. Turn off the heat and stir in orange food coloring and cereal until everything is coated.
  4. Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, scoop out the cereal mixture and shape around one piece of candy into a ball. If it's sticking to your hands, use a greased piece of parchment paper for handling. Repeat with remaining cereal.
  5. Add green food coloring to the buttercream then fold in the mini marshmallows until coated. Attach to the top of each pumpkin. Transfer the rest of the buttercream into a piping bag and pipe vines.

    Treats are best eaten the day they're made, but you can store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes

  • *It's very important you melt the marshmallows on low heat and pull when they're almost fully melted. The longer you cook the sugar, the harder the marshmallows get. Overcooked marshmallows = hard treats!
  • If your treats do get a bit hard, you can microwave them before eating.
  • Don't want to shape pumpkins? Add orange food coloring to my Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats then frost with green buttercream.
  • Enjoyed this recipe? Check out my Halloween Popcorn and Halloween Truffles.

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© Carla Cardello
Cuisine: American / Category: Halloween

First published October 28, 2012