Make Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins for a fun treat for Fall or a Halloween party. It is easy to transform classic Rice Krispie Treats into a fun Halloween dessert with a few easy steps.

Pumpkin Rice Krispy Treats on a wooden board.
Want to save this recipe?

I have been making Rice Krispie Treats for more years than I care to admit! If you are looking for a festive recipe, I am going to show you how simple it is to make these little pumpkins.

They are perfect to go alongside Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispy treats. It is so much fun making Thanksgiving Desserts and Halloween Desserts.

The options are endless for Rice Krispie Treats. Over the years I have made S’mores Rice Krispy Treats, Butterscotch Rice Krispie treats, Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats and many more variations.

Also try 45 Best Halloween Cookies recipes.

Pumpkin Rice Krispy Treats on a wooden board.

Why We Love This Recipe

These easy Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins are made with traditional rice krispy treats mixture. However, you form into balls to make pumpkin shaped rice krispy treats.

The mixture also has drops of orange food coloring for the pretty orange color of pumpkins. The look is complete with a chocolate stem and fruit roll up vine.

Our favorite part of this holiday treat is that everything can be eaten so no need to worry about removing anything. They are one of our favorite Thanksgiving Desserts for Kids.

Ingredients

Ingredients for rice krispy pumpkins - rice krispy cereal, butter, mini marshmallows, tootsie rolls, green fruit roll ups.
  • Rice Krispie Cereal. Make sure the cereal is fresh and not stale.
  • Unsalted Butter. Real butter is always best!
  • Mini Marshmallows. You can use regular size marshmallows if you prefer.
  • Tootsie Rolls. Cut in Half.
  • Green Fruit Roll Ups. Any brand of fruit rolls ups is fine to use.

You can find the entire ingredient list if you scroll down to the recipe card.

Additions and Substitutions

  • Pretzel Stick – Instead of using a tootsie roll for the steam, you can use a pretzel stick.
  • Chocolate Bar – You can use a mini chocolate bar for the stem. A Rolo Candy would work great.
  • Green M&M – Instead of using fruit roll-ups for the leaf, press a green M&M in the pumpkin.
  • Air Heads – You can cut out a green leaf from a air head. Really any green candy would work.
  • Use Fondant – You can create a stem and a leaf out of fondant.
  • Spice – If you want to flavor your marshmallow mixture, you can add in some pumpkin pie spice.
  • Use Icing – To get real fancy with these pumpkins, you can put icing in a piping bag and make leaves and vines going down the sides.

Step By Step Instructions

Melted butter in a saucepan.

Step 1. Melt Butter – First, melt the butter on low heat in a large saucepan or in the microwave.

Mini marshmallows in a pan.

Step 2. Next, add in Marshmallows.

Melted marshmallows and butter combined.

Step 3. Stir until completely melted. You can also melt in the microwave in 30 second increments.

Yellow and red food coloring added to mixture.

Step 4. Remove from heat and add the yellow food coloring and red food coloring. 

Mixture combined until orange.

Step 5. Stir until the marshmallow mixture is orange.

Cereal and orange mixture combined in a pan.

Step 6. Gradually add in the rice krispies cereal. Mix until completely coated.

Cereal mixture spread into baking dish.

Step 7. Spread the cereal mixture evenly into a large pan. Allow the mixture to cool for at least 30 minutes.  Do not refrigerate as it will cause the rice krispies treat mixture to be too hard. 

Mixture formed into pumpkins.

Step 8. Once cool, form the mixture into small balls.

Green fruit roll ups cut into triangles.

Step 9. Make the pumpkin leaves by cutting the green fruit roll ups.  I cut the fruit roll-ups into square and then cut them diagonally to form small triangles. 

Stems and leaves added to each pumpkin.

Step 10.  Press the tootsie roll pieces into the center of the balls at the top of each pumpkin. Then place the leaves on the pumpkin rice krispies next to the tootsie roll stems.

Pumpkins topped with stems and leaves.

Storage

These Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats are best kept at room temperature on the counter. Store the pumpkins in an airtight container for up to 7 to 10 days.

If you place in the refrigerator the pumpkins will get hard.

Pro Tips

  • Fresh cereal. Make sure the cereal is really fresh and not stale at all for best results.
  • Don’t refrigerate. The cereal mixture will harden if placed in the fridge.
  • Press gently. When pressing the mixture in the pan, press down gently. Pressing too hard will result in a harder texture.
  • Melt in intervals. Melt the butter and marshmallows in intervals, stirring in between, to prevent burning.
  • Gradually add the cereal. It is easier to combine if you slowly add the cereal into the melted marshmallows.
  • Spray your hands with cooking spray. The mixture is sticky, but you can use cooking spray to make it easier to form the balls.

More Easy Halloween Treats

More Rice Krispie Treats Recipes

I can’t wait for you to try this recipe. Once you make it, please leave a star rating and a comment. It is so exciting hearing from you all!

Pumpkin rice krispie treats

4.72 from 7 votes
Make Rice Krispie Treat Pumpkins for a fun treat for Fall or a Halloween party. It is easy to transform classic Rice Krispie Treats into a fun Halloween dessert with a few easy steps.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cool 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 24
Cuisine American
Course Dessert
Calories 91

Ingredients

  • 6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
  • 3 Tablespoon Butter
  • 10 oz package of Marshmallows
  • Red Food Coloring
  • Yellow Food Coloring
  • 12 Tootsie Rolls Cut in Half
  • 2 Green Fruit Roll Ups
Want to save this?
Just enter your email and I’ll send it right to you, plus great new recipes weekly!

Instructions

  • Melt the butter on low heat in a large saucepan or in the microwave.
  • Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted or you can melt in the microwave in 30 second increments.
  • Remove from heat and add 4 drops of the yellow food coloring and 2 drops of the red food coloring. Stir until the marshmallow mixture is the orange,
  • Gradually add in the rice krispies cereal. Mix until completely coated.
  • Spread evenly into a large pan to cool slightly. We poured ours onto a jelly roll pan.
  • Allow the mixture to cool for at least 30 minutes. Do not refrigerate as it will cause the rice krispies to be too hard.
  • After this cooling time, form the rice krispies into small balls that are approximately 2 inches in diameter.
  • Press the tootsie roll pieces into the center of the balls to form the pumpkin shape.
  • Create the pumpkin leaves by cutting the green fruit roll ups. I cut the fruit roll-ups into square and then cut them diagonally to form small triangles. Place them on the pumpkin rice krispies next to the tootsie roll stems.
  • Allow the pumpkins to cool completely and then enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Food Coloring – https://amzn.to/3iYMIS4
Jelly Roll Pans – https://amzn.to/2ZnTpp8

Nutrition Facts

Calories 91kcal, Carbohydrates 18g, Protein 1g, Fat 2g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 4mg, Sodium 64mg, Potassium 14mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 9g, Vitamin A 513IU, Vitamin C 4mg, Calcium 5mg, Iron 2mg

Pin This Now to Remember It Later

Pin Recipe

Try these other recipes

Share this recipe!

PinYummly

About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Desserts on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you create delicious desserts on a budget and do not require a ton of time. Together, we are going to make something sweet that the entire family will love!

4.72 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

Leave A Review

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating