Pumpkin-Shaped Rice Krispie Treats

Published October 2, 2016. Updated October 17, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

Such a fun easy treat the whole family will love, especially the kids! Traditional rice krispies treats are tinted orange, shaped into rounds, and topped with a pretzel stick and shaped green candy, such as airheads (or green fondant). The perfect pumpkin rice krispie treats are the best for Halloween and Thanksgiving parties, or a weekend edible craft.

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats | Cooking Classy

Rice Krispie Treats in Fun Pumpkin Shapes

No matter how old you are rice krispie treats never get old! I still make them all the time for a quick treat and I’ll never get sick of them.

Here I’ve made them into a fall-inspired treat that both young and old alike will love! Whenever I take them to a Halloween party or Thanksgiving dinner they disappear in no time (ugh and I can never stop at just one).

I’ve mentioned in the recipe if you are making them for adults I’d use the marshmallow fondant, then for kids use the green airheads as pictured.

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats | Cooking Classy

These Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats have no pumpkin flavoring—they taste just like the classic Rice Krispie Treats you know and love!

I’m assuming if you did mix pumpkin into rice krispie treats they’d probably almost immediately go stale and the consistency and everything would just be off. You could add a little pumpkin pie spice though.

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats | Cooking Classy

I bought a few different ingredients trying to figure out which would be best for the stem. I got mini Twix, red vines black licorice, and pretzel rods (I’ve also seen tootsie rolls used).

I decided the pretzel looked the best plus it was a nice balance to have a little salty to balance out all the sweet.

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats | Cooking Classy

If you want to make mini pumpkin rice krispie treats, just make them about golf ball size and use mini pretzel sticks instead of the pretzel rods.

I’m not sure how many minis you’d get but probably about 3 or 4 times what you get from the baseball-sized ones. You should make these with your kids at least once this fall. It’s such a fun treat to make together!

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats | Cooking Classy

More Easy Fall Treat Recipes

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats | Cooking Classy

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

4.91 from 11 votes

Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats

Such a fun easy treat the whole family will love, especially the kids! Traditional rice krispies treats are tinted orange, shaped into rounds and topped with a pretzel stick and shaped green candy, such as airheads (or green fondant). Perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving parties, or a weekend edible craft.
Servings: 6
Prep20 minutes
Cook5 minutes
Ready in: 25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 cups rice krispies cereal
  • 3 Tbsp salted butter
  • 1 (10 oz) pkg. mini marshmallows
  • Orange gel food coloring
  • 3 pretzel rods, end portions broken off into 2-inch pieces (so you'll have 6 pieces)
  • 6 mini green airheads or green fondant*
  • Non-stick cooking spray

Instructions

  • Measure out rice krispies cereal and pour into a bowl. Melt butter in a 4 quart non-stick saucepan or pot over medium-low heat. 
  • Add marshmallows and stir and as they begin to melt start adding in the gel food coloring until desired color is achieved. Stir constantly until marshmallows have melted. 
  • Remove from heat then immediately pour in rice krispies cereal and gently stir and fold with a spatula until cereal is evenly coated. Let mixture cool slightly (until it's cool enough to handle with your hands).
  • Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray then shape rice krispie treat mixture into balls about the size of a baseball, then insert 1 piece of the pretzel rod into the top center and reshape the pumpkin as needed. Transfer to a plate or dish sprayed lightly with cooking spray.
  • Beginning on one side of the airhead candy cut out a leaf shape with clean scissors then use the remaining portion of the piece of candy to roll and shape into a thin rope shape then twist into a vine shape (or just shape the fondant accordingly, no cutting required). 
  • Place candy on the sides of each pretzel on the pumpkin (as pictured). Repeat with remaining candy. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

  • *If making this for kids I'd just use the airheads because they usually like the taste of them, if making it for adults I'd recommend making 1/4 a batch of this fondant recipe (it's the only fondant recipe I like) and tinting it green - it tastes better than the airheads.
Nutrition Facts
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Amount Per Serving
Calories 365 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 306mg13%
Potassium 41mg1%
Carbohydrates 69g23%
Sugar 33g37%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 2040IU41%
Vitamin C 17.7mg21%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 8.9mg49%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.