Rice Krispies Treats are always a hit with kids. Make them more fun this Halloween by cutting into pumpkin shapes and adding silly faces!
Jump to RecipePreschool is such a fun time in a child’s life. They get to go to school for a few hours, play with friends, and have lots of parties! They aren’t ready for the responsibility of elementary school yet but are working their way towards it. And what preschooler wouldn’t enjoy fun desserts such as these Pumpkin Shaped Rice Krispies?!
Tyler did preschool for three years before starting kindergarten. Ryan did two years of preschool at the same school. It’s only 12 hours a week, but it’s enough time to get them out of the house and with other kids their age.
And, as I mentioned, there are class parties. Their preschool does four of them. The first is Halloween, then Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Easter. I was the parent in charge of the Halloween party in Ryan’s class for the two-year-olds. Of course, when you are planning a party for kids at that age, you have to think very easy, non-messy, kid-friendly foods, drinks, and snacks. But, I also wanted to keep it themed as much as I could.
When I was at the grocery store browsing through the Halloween section, I found an adorable little pumpkin cookie cutter. I grabbed it, not yet knowing what I wanted to do with it. As I started thinking further about the foods, Ryan was asking about Rice Krispie Treats. Those are easy to make, can be made the night before, and are good finger-food snacks for the kids.
When I thought about it further, I realized I could probably make the Rice Krispie Treats into pumpkins to use my cutter. Since I always make the boy’s birthday cakes, I have a lot of food coloring gels, including orange.

I am writing this recipe for making Halloween Pumpkin Shaped Rice Krispies Treats. You could use the same idea to make them for any holiday or occasion if you have the right cookie cutters.

Pumpkin Shaped Rice Krispies Step by Step
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 10 oz marshmallows
- 2-4 drops orange food coloring
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Preparation
Start by making the Rice Krispies in the traditional recipe. Melt 3 tbsp of butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted. Make sure to stir continuously so they don’t burn to the bottom of the pan.

At this point, I removed the pan from the heat and added a few drops of my orange food color gel and stirred that in really well.

Pour in the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until the cereal is well-coated with the marshmallows. Let it cool for a few minutes, then place the entire thing on a piece of wax paper.

Cover with another sheet of wax paper and use a rolling pin to flatten out the Rice Krispies.

Gently take the top sheet of wax paper off and use the cookie cutter to make as many pumpkins as you can fit.

Move those to a serving platter or storage container. Then roll up the rest of the treats and continue, similar to how you would when making sugar cookies.

Optional: Use green icing to draw a face on the pumpkins. Since these were for little kids, they really enjoyed the silly faces. The Rice Krispies treats will stay good if sealed in an airtight container for up to two days. They are best eaten on the day they are made, but Ryan’s school party was at 10 am so I wouldn’t have had time to make them that day.


Recipe
Originally Published On: September 26, 2018
Last Updated On: July 28, 2023

Pumpkin Shaped Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter
- 10 oz marshmallows
- 2-4 drops orange food coloring
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, over low heat, melt the butter
- Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until melted
- Drop in the orange food color and stir until it’s completely mixed in
- Remove from the heat and add the Rice Krispies cereal, stirring until coated well
- Lay a sheet of wax paper on the counter, place the Rice Krispies on top, then cover with another sheet of wax paper
- Use a rolling pin to flatten the treats
- Make shapes with the cookie cutter and set the finished ones on a serving tray
- Continue to roll up the remaining Rice Krispies and flatten out to make more pumpkins, similar to how you would make sugar cookies
- Optional: use a tipped green food gel to add silly faces
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
I would 1000000% be all over these if I could. Rice Crispy Treats are the BOMB!
I agree, such a great quick snack!
This rice krispy idea is so cute! I’ve never seen it done this way before! Yum!
It was kind of a last-minute decision the first time I made them like this and it worked out well this time!
IM already getting hungry just looking at this recipe! Which means that I would probably like it!
They are such a quick and easy recipe to have a Halloween-themed snack that everyone loves.
I am so making these. I love rice krispie treats. I use to make my mom make them for me all the time. Yup, I will get her to help me make these. And no I am not sharing. LOL
I don’t blame you for not sharing! With my family of four, we ate almost all of them on the first day!
I am going to make these. My husband and I both love rice krispie treats. My toddler does not care for them, but thats okay, its just less sharing we have to do!
Oh man, who doesn’t like Rice Krispies?! Maybe they will like them if they are colorful and fun pumpkin shapes 🙂 Or, if not, more for you!
This idea of Pumpkin Shaped Rice Krispies perfect for Halloween kid party. for sure your kids they would love it 🙂
Yes, these are always a hit with the kids!
I love rice krispy treats! These are so cute! What a great halloween idea!
It’s such an easy way to make the dessert festive and the kids love them!
I love rice krispies treats! It’s definitely one of my favorites but I hadn’t thought to use food color! Your treats turned out awesome!
It doesn’t take much food color. And if you have different shape cutters you can make them for any holiday!
I had no idea one could roll out Rice Krispie treats and then cut them with a cookie cutter! Makes total sense, but I had never thought to try that – now I will! 🙂
I didn’t either until I started doing it the first time and hoped it would work! 🙂 You just have to do it while they are still warm and more malleable.
What a fun way to make treats during the holidays! We’re hosting Christmas again this year and can’t wait to make these with the kids.
Yes! You can easily take this method and use any colors and shapes. Just make sure to work quickly as they roll out best when they are still warm.
They look so cute and tasty of course! Great idea for a Halloween party. I love seeing your little boy cooking with you, he seems to enjoy it.
Both of my boys enjoy cooking, but especially my older son. He is actually about to join the cooking club at his elementary school!
What a great idea for children’s snacks! This is fun and healthy I will definitely try it!
When I brought these to my youngest son’s Halloween party, the kids all loved them!
What a great idea! I looks like so much fun to spend some time with family! I will definitely give it a try! I don’t have a kid yet, but my nephew will surely enjoy this 🙂
This would be so fun to do with your nephew. Create something delicious together in the kitchen while also making memories!
oh myyyy!!! These krispies look so delicious and they’re so much fun to prepare with my kids. Thank you soooo much for sharing.
They are so yummy, and yes, the kids love to both make and eat them!
These are adorable! My little boy will love helping to make these.
Yes, I bet he would! My boys loved making (and eating) them with me.
I haven’t made rice krispies in ages! I love the idea of coloring them orange and putting them into pumpkins! Great idea!
Then I think it’s time to make some again 🙂 Adding the coloring and shapes is a simple addition to a regular Rice Krispie, but it makes them so festive.
I really have wanted to make Rice Krispie treats for the longest time but get discouraged when we don’t have Rice Krispies here in Japan. But recently, I found a substitute and will be making these pumpkin-shaped treats!
Oh man, I wouldn’t have thought of the cereal being hard to find. I hope the substitute works out in the recipe so you can enjoy them again!