Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats

These Peppermint Bark Rice Krispie Treats combine chocolate cereal, gooey marshmallows, and peppermint bark for an easy, festive Christmas treat.

Prep Time20

Cooling Time1

Total Time1 20

Servings:

Calories: 322kcal

Prepare our homemade Costco peppermint bark, if using.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add the peppermint extract and mini marshmallows. Stir slowly until the marshmallows are completely melted and the mixture is smooth.
Fold in the chocolate rice cereal until evenly coated with the melted marshmallow mixture. Transfer it to a 9x13-inch baking dish and gently spread it into an even layer.
Sprinkle the chopped peppermint bark evenly over the top. Let the treats cool at room temperature for 1 hour before slicing and serving.

Don't overwork the mixture: I've found that the best texture comes from folding the cereal just until coated and gently spreading it into the pan. Packing it down firmly makes the finished bars noticeably harder and denser.
Use two layers of peppermint flavor: Peppermint extract flavors the marshmallow mixture from the inside, while peppermint bark adds chocolate, peppermint, and texture on top. This gives the bars a more balanced peppermint flavor than relying on the topping alone.
Use chocolate cereal: I prefer chocolate rice cereal here because it carries the chocolate flavor throughout every bite rather than leaving all of the chocolate on top.
Add the bark while warm: Don't wait until the bars have cooled. Adding the chopped peppermint bark while the marshmallow mixture is still warm and sticky helps the pieces stay attached when you cut and serve the bars
Let them cool naturally: Give the treats the full hour at room temperature. This allows them to set enough for clean slices without refrigerating them, which can make cereal treats unnecessarily firm.