Christmas is steeped in tradition, yet it is equally a time that encourages greatness, with imagination, in the kitchen. No-bake Rice Krispie Christmas puddings are a fun, festive twist on this classic holiday dessert that requires but a spark of your imagination to bring it all together with no oven needed!
If you’re looking for an easy, kid-friendly treat that adds a touch of whimsy to your holiday spread, this recipe is perfect. These adorable little bites will steal the show with their charming presentation and delightful crunch on your Christmas party.
A Personal Christmas Memory
These individual serving Rice Krispie Christmas puddings have their origin in my Christmases of childhood. It would have been an annual ritualistic get-together in the kitchen, wrapped up in the sweet fragrance of sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and the faint hint of cinnamon spice. Of all these, Mom would proudly whip out the grand, colorful Christmas pudding-dense, rich, and oh-so-festive.
But, to be quite frank, I was never really into any sort of Christmas pudding-especially something that smelled so, well, Christmassy. It was loaded with fruits and spices that did little to tempt the juvenile palate.
These Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are one of the recipes you’ll find in my ‘24 Days of Christmas Desserts‘ eBook.
That’s when experiments with alternatives began-things lighter, more kid-friendly, yet still so festive and charming. That’s when Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings joined! Mini treats that can easily take on the form of an icon, replacing the thick texture with a crunchy, chocolatey bite.
They were a hit with kids and adults on their maiden cooking. Since then, they have sewn their way into my yearly holiday dessert tradition-a modern innovative twist on the classic.
Reasons to Love This Recipe
- No baking required: These little Christmas puddings come together without ever needing to turn on the oven, making them a stress-free dessert option during the hectic holiday season.
- Perfect for gifting: Wrapped up in festive bags or nestled into a gift box, these treats make the perfect homemade Christmas gift.
- Fun for kids: With the easy-to-handle mixture and decoration process, these Rice Krispie bites are an ideal recipe to make with the kids. Let them help with shaping the balls and decorating with fondant holly leaves!
- Adaptable: You can easily customize the decorations to suit different themes or color schemes for various occasions, not just Christmas.
How to Make No-Bake Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings
Course: Christmas Dessert Recipes, Cookies20-24
servings25
minutes45
minutes90
kcalIngredients
- For the Rice Krispie Base:
3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
200g milk chocolate, melted
3 tbsp golden syrup (or light corn syrup)
50g unsalted butter
- For the Decoration:
100g white chocolate, melted (for the “icing” drizzle)
Green fondant (for the holly leaves)
Red fondant or small red candies (for the holly berries)
Steps
- Prepare the Rice Krispie Mixture
- In a large heatproof bowl, combine the butter and golden syrup. Gently melt them together in the microwave in 20-second intervals, stirring in between until fully combined.
- Stir in the melted milk chocolate until smooth and creamy.
- Add the Rice Krispies cereal to the mixture and gently fold until the cereal is evenly coated with the chocolate mixture.
- Form Mini Bites
- Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop, scoop out small portions of the mixture and shape them into mini bite-sized balls using your hands. Each ball should be around the size of a golf ball or smaller.
- Place the balls on the tray and refrigerate for about 30 minutes until they set and hold their shape.
- Decorate the Bites
- Melt the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 20 seconds to avoid burning.
- Drizzle a small amount of white chocolate over each Rice Krispie bite to mimic the look of traditional Christmas pudding icing.
- Roll out the green fondant and cut small holly leaves (you can also shape them by hand if needed). Shape the red fondant into tiny berries or use small red candies.
- While the white chocolate drizzle is still soft, carefully place two fondant holly leaves and three red berries on top of each bite.
- Let Them Set
- Return the decorated bites to the fridge for another 15 minutes to let the white chocolate set completely.
Serving Information
- Servings: Makes approximately 20-24 mini pudding bites
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Chilling Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Calories: Approximately 90 calories per bite
How to Make the Perfect Rice Krispie Christmas Pudding
This recipe does have some tips and tricks of its own to make really superior creations, although it is easy.
- Work quickly when shaping the Rice Krispie balls: The chocolate mixture can begin to firm up, so try to form the balls while the mixture is still slightly warm and pliable.
- Keep hands lightly greased: If the mixture starts sticking to your hands, rub a little bit of butter or oil on them to make shaping the balls easier.
- Ensure even coverage with the white chocolate: When drizzling the melted white chocolate, use a spoon or piping bag for more control, so you can create the perfect “icing” effect. If you’re going for a smooth look, spread it gently with the back of the spoon.
- Fondant tip: If you don’t have fondant handy, colored candy can work just as well. You can also dye white fondant with food coloring if needed.
Creative Serving Suggestions
These cutlets of Rice Krispie Christmas puddings are so versatile in their nature, and ideal for:
- Holiday dessert platters: Pair these with traditional cookies, brownies, and holiday bark for a festive dessert spread that offers a little something for everyone.
- Festive centerpieces: Stack these Rice Krispie bites on a tiered dessert tray for an eye-catching centerpiece at your holiday table. You can even place a few around a gingerbread house for a complete winter scene.
- Gift boxes: These puddings make the perfect homemade holiday gift. Package them in small decorative boxes or clear cellophane bags tied with a festive ribbon.
A New Christmas Tradition
These no-bake Rice Krispie Christmas puddings find a place among my favorite Christmas desserts without having to try much for that. So easy to make, irresistibly cute-and that crunch bursting from it, well, it’s just priceless. Be the reason whatsoever-to begin some new traditions with kids, have fun holiday desserts with them, or even an interesting holiday dessert gift, Rice Krispie puddings can never go out of order.
I’d love to hear how they turn out! Give them a shot and leave a comment below; otherwise, share with me your favorite dessert tradition of the holiday season. Then tag me in all of your merry holiday masterpieces on social media!
