Next Time You Make Rice Krispies Treats, Stir In 1/2 Cup of This (It’s So Delicious!)

Nothing says “Merry Christmas” quite like the widespread plastering of red and green accents and lots (and lots) of sugar. There’s always room at my table for a new festive sweet treat to try, whether it’s a holiday classic like Yule Log Cake  or a more experimental dessert (hi, Citrus-Cranberry Tart!).

So, when I came across this video of someone combining two of my favorite desserts of all time — sugar cookies and Rice Krispies treats — I was immediately intrigued to try it out myself. I mean what is more Christmas than sugar cookies? And what reminds you of childhood quite like Rice Krispies? Put them together and what do you get: a bibbidi bobbidi banging dessert. 

Get the recipe: Sugar Cookie Rice Krispies

I haven’t made Rice Krispies in a few years (err, since I was a kid), so I definitely needed a refresher. Start by melting down a stick of butter and then add in a whole bag of large marshmallows. Watch as the fluffy sugar melts down and turns into a smooth, thick mixture (always mesmerizing IMO). Then, you’re going to add the star ingredient of the show: sugar cookie mix. 

All you need is about 1/2 cup; stir it in until combined. Continue to heat and stir the mixture for 3-5 minutes on the stove, to ensure the raw flour in the sugar cookie mix is safe to eat. Next, turn off the heat and add a few cups of rice krispies. Add in some mini marshmallows and festive holiday sprinkles, for texture and color. 

Transfer the mixture into a well-greased baking dish and press down on any areas that may need smoothing out. Then, feel free to add a couple more handfuls of mini marshmallows and sprinkles; the more the merrier here. Remember to let them cool completely before cutting (or else things get a little sticky), but then you’ll be all set to enjoy.

I really didn’t think adding half a cup of sugar cookie mix into a Rice Krispies recipe would make that big of a difference, but boy did it. The treats take on an added rich, buttery, almost creamy element. It’s not like they now taste exactly like sugar cookies, but the added mix definitely makes the treats a bit sweeter than your typical Rice Krispies.

This recipe couldn’t be easier to make. It only took like 10 minutes to pull together the mixture, and then you leave out the treats to set for a few hours before slicing. They’d be the perfect no-bake dessert to bring to any holiday gathering on the calendar when you want to impress a few folks. And I have to say, my inner (sugar cookie and Rice Krispies loving) child was delighted to try out this new dessert.

• Sprinkle choice matters: Make sure to pick up nonpareils sprinkles for the ones you mix into the Rice Krispies. I accidentally used decorating sugar the first time I made this recipe and it turned the Rice Krispies’ base pink — not something that was visually enticing! If you want that old-school Rice Krispies vibe, make sure to only use dusting sugar to garnish the top.
• Grease your baking dish well: Like I mentioned, I did have to make this recipe twice. And the first time I prepared the Rice Krispies I did not grease the baking dish well enough. This made the Rice Krispies extremely difficult to remove from the pan and hard to cut into even squares. 

Get the recipe: Sugar Cookie Rice Krispies

This post originally appeared on The Kitchn. See it there: Next Time You Make Rice Krispies Treats, Stir In 1/2 Cup of This (It’s So Delicious!)