Written by SAMY SMITH
Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats are popping up all over Pinterest and—let’s be real—sometimes you just want a treat that’s more fun than fiddly. Halloween sneaks up fast, you blink once and, boom, party at your kid’s school tomorrow. Or maybe you just need a break from making something elaborate like crispy rice salad or chicken broccoli rice casserole. If you want something creative but not crazy complicated, you’re in the right spot.
Today, I’m showing you my favorite way to whip up spooky-sweet snacks that’ll have every ghoul and goblin grinning. Grab those marshmallows and let’s get weird. By the way, if you need lunch ideas for after, check out my chicken broccoli rice casserole here, or maybe even this chicken broccoli rice casserole for a dinner reboot.
How to make Halloween Rice Krispies
Okay, I’ll spare you the long-winded speech about childhood nostalgia—let’s get to the good stuff. Making Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats is honestly one of the easiest Halloween hacks in my kitchen. You’ll melt butter and marshmallows together in a big ol’ pot. Stir in your Rice Krispies (I never measure exactly, but try to keep it kinda sticky so they hold their shape).
Here’s where it gets fun: Slap in some green food coloring—go wild with it, nobody wants a pale Frankenstein. Mix, mix, mix. Then you press the gooey goodness into a lined pan and let it cool for maybe twenty minutes (no patience? Stick it in the fridge for ten).
Once they’re set, slice them into rectangles. Flip those pieces out, and boom, you’ve got something vaguely Frankenstein head-shaped. Melt a bit of chocolate, dip one end of each treat for “hair,” then plop on candy eyes (extra wonky eyes are highly encouraged). Draw on a wiggly smile and scars with black gel icing. Done. Kids are obsessed, adults pretend it’s for the children, but please—no one’s fooling anybody.
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Use Fresh Marshmallows | Old marshmallows won’t melt properly, making a gooey mess. |
| Add Plenty of Food Coloring | Don’t hold back! A vibrant color makes all the difference. |
| Grease Your Hands | A little oil prevents the sticky mixture from sticking to you. |
| Keep Extra Candy Eyes | Kids love munching on them while decorating. It’s a win-win! |
| Use Parchment Paper | Line your pan to easily lift out the treats once set. |
Expert tips
You might hit a hilarious snag (or six) trying to get those Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats ready for the goblin horde at your door. From my own kitchen chaos, here’s what I’ve learned the hard way.
First, use fresh marshmallows. None of those year-old, sticky stones from last October. Old marshmallows never melt right. Second, don’t be stingy with the food coloring. If you worry about neon green snacks, trust me—a little color gets pale real fast after mixing, so go bolder than you think. Also, oil your hands before shaping and slicing to keep things from turning into marshmallow glue. Lastly, if your chocolate for “hair” seizes up (ugh, humidity!), try microwaving in 10-second bursts and stirring between each. It rescues a lot of disasters.
Oh, and one last tip: keep a few extra candy eyes on hand for…uh…snacking. Not judging. Actually, totally judging, those are delicious.
Easy Halloween Treat
I’ve tried fancy dessert recipes, but my kids still beg for Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats every year. They just keep it simple. No need for pastry school skills here. Honestly, nothing wrong with taking shortcuts—store-bought icing tubes, pre-made candy eyes, that sort of thing. You can even buy pre-colored green candy melts if the food dye thing scares you (no shame).
What makes these perfect is you can finish a batch in under an hour—even counting cleanup. That’s faster than baking cookies or assembling a soup, and almost as quick as tossing together a crispy rice salad (which I also highly recommend, especially for potlucks).
Grab any extras left over? Just toss them in the freezer. If you want a treat that brings big “wow” without big effort, it really doesn’t get easier.
Halloween Dessert Idea for Kids
These treats are basically tailor-made for kids’ parties. Remember the year I tried to do “spooky” fruit cups? Yeah, the bananas with chocolate chips for eyes ended up looking like…well, confusion. With Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats, the results are always cute, even if someone gets creative and gives Frankenstein three eyes and a wonky smile. That’s the fun part.
Kids love helping too, especially with the decorating. You’ll probably end up with more candy eyes on the table (or, let’s be honest, in tiny bellies) than on the treats. And if you’re dealing with a crowd, say, after soccer practice or a classroom party, it’s so easy to double or triple the recipe without breaking a sweat.
Oh—and if you’re really into themed food, pair these with something totally opposite for balance, like this crispy rice salad, just for a bit of grown-up satisfaction amid all the candy.
Storage
Storing these little monsters is super straightforward. After making Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats, let them set and cool at room temp. I usually plop them on a parchment-lined tray, then cover with plastic wrap or dump into a big airtight container.
If you want to keep them extra fresh, stick a piece of wax paper between layers to stop them from sticking. On the counter, they’ll stay chewy for two or three days—any longer and they’ll get hard. To freeze, just pop in a zip-top baggie, squeeze out most of the air, and freeze. Thaw at room temp for about an hour before serving. No fussing needed.
For official advice on storing homemade desserts, consult the USDA FoodKeeper App.
Common Questions
Q: Can I make these ahead of time?
Yep, they hold up well for two days in an airtight container. Make them the night before a Halloween party for extra chill.
Q: How do I stop them from sticking to the pan?
Line your pan with parchment paper or wax paper first. Or grease it with butter if you’re old-school.
Q: Can I use different cereals?
Totally—Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats work with any puffed rice cereal, even off-brand. Cocoa ones for some wild chocolate monsters? Why not.
Q: Are these gluten-free?
If you’re using gluten-free puffed rice cereal and double-check they haven’t snuck in barley malt extract, you’re golden.
Q: Can I use natural food coloring?
Yes, but you’ll get a softer green. Try matcha powder or a few drops of spinach juice if you wanna keep it kinda healthy-ish.
Ready for Spooky-Sweet Fun?
If you love fun Halloween snacks but hate spending hours in the kitchen, Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats are a total lifesaver. Kids go wild for them every year and honestly, so do the adults. If you want even more decorating inspiration, check out these Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats by The Simple, Sweet Life or these classic Frankenstein Rice Krispie Treats on 365 Days of Baking and More. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll be making them a yearly tradition—fussy bakers and fun-lovers alike.
Frankenstein Halloween Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter Use salted or unsalted based on preference.
- 10 ounces marshmallows Use fresh marshmallows for best melting results.
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal Do not pack too tightly; keep mix kind of sticky.
- 1 bottle green food coloring Add plenty for vibrant color.
- 1 cup chocolate chips For dipping to create ‘hair’.
- 1 package candy eyes For decoration.
- 1 tube black gel icing To draw mouths and scars.
Instructions
Preparation
- Melt butter and marshmallows together in a large pot over low heat.
- Stir in the Rice Krispies and mix until evenly coated.
- Add green food coloring to the mixture, mixing well until you achieve desired color.
- Press the mixture into a lined pan and let it cool for about 20 minutes, or refrigerate for 10 minutes to speed up the process.
Decorating
- Slice the cooled treats into rectangles, resembling Frankenstein’s head.
- Melt chocolate chips and dip one end of each treat to create ‘hair’.
- Attach candy eyes to the top of each treat and use black gel icing to draw mouths and scars.