Made with a simple base and a rich, thick American buttercream frosting, these Jack Skellington Rice Krispie Treats are a deliciously creepy (and somehow cute) Halloween treat for all to remember. Plus, they’re incredibly quick and easy to make.
If you’re into the nightmare before Christmas, or love Tim Burton movies, you need these treats as part of your spread. They’re instantly recognizable.
And if you’re looking for other treats that are spooky and creepy in a fun way, check out our Mini Halloween Cakes and our bat and ghost Halloween sugar cookies.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe…
- It’s perfect for Halloween parties, classroom parties, and themed dessert tables.
- The Nightmare Before Christmas is a classic everyone recognizes, so it’s sure to get attention.
- You can make them in about 30 minutes or have the kids help you and turn it into a fun little project.
- Instead of white chocolate or candy melts, we used frosting. It’s easier to make, less messy, and tastes a lot better (to me 😊).
Ingredients
- Rice Cereal – we’ve used both the national and generic brands. The results are similar.
- Marshmallows – use mini marshmallows because the melt faster.
- Butter – unsalted butter.
- Vanilla Extract – adds a professional baker-quality touch. We’ve tried them with and without vanilla and it definitely makes a difference.
- Salt – a pinch of salt makes them taste just a little sweeter. That’s a good thing!
- White Frosting – to frost the treats.
- Black Frosting – to make the details of the face.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Jack Skellington Rice Krispie Treats
Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
In a large pot over low heat, melt the butter and dissolve the salt.
Add the mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.
Stir in the vanilla extract. Then fold in the Rice Krispies until evenly coated.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Use lightly buttered or damp hands to gently press the treats into an even layer. Don’t compact them, or the bars will turn dense.
Let cool for 1 hour, then cut into circles.
Spread a smooth layer of white frosting over the top of each Rice Krispie treat.
Place a sheet of parchment paper over the treats, then use an offset spatula to smooth out the frosting.
Add black frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe two large oval eyes and two small nostrils.
Pipe a curved smile near the bottom of the face, then add short vertical lines across it to create Jack Skellington’s stitched mouth.
Refrigerate for 10–15 minutes, or until the frosting is set, before serving or packaging.
Top Tip
Spread the white frosting onto the treats, then place them in the fridge for 5-10 minutes. This will help the frosting set, making it easier to apply the black frosting.
When piping the face details, bring the piping tip as close to the surface as possible without touching it. This gets me the cleanest results.
Storage
You can store Jack Skellington Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Other No Bake Desserts You’ll Love
- No Bake Mixed Berry Cheesecake
- Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
- Lemon Mousse Recipe
- Strawberry Cheesecake Dip
- Easy Oreo Delight
FAQ
To prevent them from getting stale, place the treats in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also prepare them in advance to serve later.
For longer storage, you can freeze them. Wrap each treat individually before placing it in a storage bag. You can freeze them for up to two months.
Sure, that’s what most recipes do, actually. But we chose frosting because it’s MUCH easier to work with, cheaper, and tastes better.
Our trick is to apply the white frosting first and place it in the fridge for a few minutes. Then we place a piece of parchment paper over the treats and use an offset spatula to smooth the frosting.
Next, add the face details with black frosting using a small piping tip, bringing it very close to the surface of the treats.
Finally, remember they aren’t going to be perfect. 😊
Jack Skellington Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 16 Oz Mini Marshmallows
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- ¼ Tsp Kosher Salt
- 8 Cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 1 ½ Cups Vanilla Frosting Store-bought or homemade
- ¾ Cup Black Frosting
Instructions
- Lightly spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In a large pot over low heat, melt the butter and dissolve the salt.
- Add the mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.
- Stir in the vanilla extract. Then fold in the Rice Krispies until evenly coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Use lightly buttered or damp hands to gently press the treats into an even layer. Don’t compact them, or the bars will turn dense.
- Let cool for 1 hour, then cut into circles.
- Spread a smooth layer of white frosting over the top of each Rice Krispie treat.
- Add black frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe two large oval eyes and two small nostrils.
- Pipe a curved smile near the bottom of the face, then add short vertical lines across it to create Jack Skellington's stitched mouth.
- Refrigerate for 10–15 minutes, or until the frosting is set, before serving or packaging.
Notes
- The number of treats you make will vary depending on the size of your cookie cutter.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
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