Fun Christmas treats combine two of the best things about Christmas: food and crafts. All it takes is a few easy-to-find ingredients and a short window of time to make these edible Christmas crafts.

Marshmallow Rudolph Treats

It wouldn’t be Christmas withoutRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. These marshmallow treats are great for class parties or stocking stuffers. The following recipe makes five treats.

Ingredients

• 5 jumbo marshmallows
• 4-ounce baking chocolate bar
• 10 mini pretzels, broken into halves to resemble antlers
• 5 sturdy straws, popsicle sticks, or lollipop sticks
• Small red and white candies for the eyes and nose

Directions

1. In the microwave or a double-boiler on the stove, melt the chocolate bar until smooth.
2. Push a straw into the center of a marshmallow, about 3/4 of the way through.
3. Holding the top end of the straw, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate; use a spoon to help you coat the entire marshmallow in chocolate.
4. Place the chocolate-coated marshmallow on a plate covered with wax paper; repeat the process for the remaining marshmallows.
5. While the chocolate is still soft, push a pretzel antler into the top of each side of each marshmallow. This step can be challenging. You may have to hold each antler for several seconds to set.
   
6. Using the candies, add a red nose and white eyes to each marshmallow, holding each candy for several seconds to set.
7. Place reindeer treats in the refrigerator until chocolate is completely set.

Once the reindeer are set you can put them in individual bags tied with a bow or serve them uncovered on a plate. The reindeer do not have to be stored in the refrigerator unless they are in a warm environment and at risk of melting.

Festive Rice Cereal Christmas Trees

Kids of all ages enjoy rice cereal treats, and they will love decorating these cut-out trees! Besides creating Christmas trees with this recipe, get creative with other holiday-themed cookie cutters to make other festive shapes.

This recipe will make about a dozen treats, depending on the size of your cookie cutter.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 10-ounce bag of marshmallows (mini or regular)
• Six cups crispy rice cereal
• Green food coloring
• Christmas tree cookie cutter
• Assorted candies (peppermints, mini M&Ms, candy sprinkles, etc.)

Directions

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat; add marshmallows and stir until smooth. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in five drops of the green food coloring, adding more if necessary to reach your desired shade.
3. Add rice cereal to marshmallow mixture and stir until completely coated.
4. Pour rice mixture onto wax paper and spread to 1/2″ thickness (use a buttered spatula for non-stick spreading).
   
5. Using a cookie cutter, cut out tree shapes from the rice mixture.
6. Decorate the trees with candies as desired.
7. Eat immediately, wrap in individual bags, or store in an airtight container.

Popcorn Christmas Wreath

This wreath is a fun take on the traditional popcorn ball. Kids will enjoy combining the popcorn with the marshmallow mixture and pressing it into the pan to mold. The wreath makes a beautiful centerpiece for any holiday table.

This recipe makes about ten servings.

Ingredients

• 15 – 16 cups air-popped popcorn
• 1/2 cup butter
• 10-ounce bag marshmallows (mini or regular)
• Green food coloring
• 1 cup gumdrops (red and green look great but you can use any colors you like)
• Red string licorice

Instructions

1. Spray a bundt pan with cooking spray; scatter several gumdrops along the bottom of the pan.
2. Place popcorn and remaining gumdrops onto a jelly roll pan or in a large roasting pan; combine well.
3. Melt butter and marshmallows over low heat in a large saucepan until melted and smooth; remove from heat.
4. Add green food coloring to the marshmallow mixture to desired color; stir until well combined.
5. Pour marshmallow mixture over popcorn and gumdrops; mix well.
6. Fill bundt pan with popcorn mixture; press mixture as you fill the pan using a buttered spatula to prevent sticking.
   
7. Let popcorn mixture set in the pan for 15-20 minutes.
8. Release popcorn wreath from the pan onto a serving plate, using a buttered knife around the edges to loosen it if necessary.
9. Create a bow out of string licorice and press it into the wreath to attach it.

To serve, slice the wreath like a cake or pull it apart.