So my kid’s teacher sent out an email asking parents to bring Halloween treats for the class party, and I immediately panicked because I remembered signing up for it like three weeks ago and completely forgetting. This was at 9 PM the night before. Classic me.
I Googled “easy Halloween treats” while simultaneously stress-eating leftover Halloween candy, and Frankenstein Rice Krispies treats popped up. I thought “okay, Rice Krispies treats I can do—I’ve been making those since I was like 10.” Adding green food coloring and some decorations? That seemed doable even in my panic mode.
Turns out these are legitimately the easiest Halloween thing I’ve ever made that actually looks intentional. And now I make them every year because people think I’m way more creative than I actually am.
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Why These Halloween Rice Krispie Treats Work
Look, I’m gonna be honest with you. Most Pinterest Halloween recipes look amazing but require skills I simply don’t have. Fondant? No. Royal icing that needs to dry overnight? Absolutely not. But these Frankenstein Rice Krispie treats recipe options? They’re basically just regular Rice Krispies treats with green food coloring and some candy stuck on top.
My 9-year-old helped me make them and she did most of the decorating. If a fourth grader can successfully make Frankenstein faces on Rice Krispies treats, literally anyone can. That’s not me being mean—that’s me saying these are genuinely foolproof.
The first time I made them, I was convinced they’d turn out looking like green blobs. Instead they actually looked like little Frankenstein heads and everyone at the party asked where I bought them. I didn’t have the heart to tell them I made them in 30 minutes while still in my pajamas.
What You Need for This Monster Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Here’s what you need for these easy Halloween Rice Krispies:
For the treats:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 (10 oz) bag mini marshmallows (I always use Kraft Jet-Puffed)
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Green gel food coloring (NOT the liquid kind, trust me)
For decorating:
- 1 cup chocolate chips or black candy melts
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Candy eyes (found in the baking aisle near sprinkles)
- Mini pretzels or mini marshmallows for neck bolts
- Black decorating icing (optional for mouths)
Shopping disaster story: The first time I made these, I bought liquid food coloring because it was cheaper. Big mistake. It made the mixture watery and the treats came out soggy and sad-looking. Gel food coloring is more concentrated so you need less, and it doesn’t mess with the texture. Worth the extra dollar.
Also, don’t buy the pre-made Rice Krispies treats thinking you’ll just decorate them. They’re too firm and dense. Making them from scratch takes like 10 minutes and they taste way better.
How to Make Frankenstein Rice Krispies Treats
Alright, let me walk you through this Frankenstein dessert Halloween creation step by step.
Step 1: Make the Green Rice Krispie Treats
Spray a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray. And I mean REALLY spray it. Like, more than you think you need. These are sticky little monsters (pun intended).
In a large pot, melt your butter over medium heat. Once it’s melted, dump in all those mini marshmallows. Stir constantly—and I mean constantly—until they’re completely smooth and melted. This takes about 3-4 minutes. Do not walk away. I walked away once to grab my phone and came back to partially burned marshmallows. Not fun.
Now add your green gel food coloring. I usually start with about 6-8 drops and stir to see the color. You want that classic Frankenstein green—kind of a bright lime green but not neon. Add more drops if needed. My first batch I didn’t add enough and they looked kind of sickly yellow-green instead of proper monster green.
The second the marshmallows are green and smooth, take the pot OFF the heat immediately. Pour in the Rice Krispies cereal and stir fast. Like, really fast. The mixture starts setting up within seconds and if you’re too slow, it gets hard to mix.
Once everything’s coated, dump it into your greased pan. Use a buttered spatula or wax paper to press it down flat. Press firmly but don’t squish the life out of them or they’ll be rock hard.
Let them cool for at least 20 minutes. I stick mine in the fridge because I’m impatient.
Step 2: Cut and Shape Your Halloween Party Rice Krispies
Once they’re cool and firm, lift the whole thing out of the pan (this is why that cooking spray was important) and cut them into squares. I cut mine into 12 pieces—3 rows by 4 rows. They end up being good Frankenstein head-sized pieces.
Don’t stress about making them perfectly square. Frankenstein’s head isn’t perfectly symmetrical anyway. Uneven edges just make them look more authentic. (This is what I tell myself when my cutting is messy.)
Step 3: Add the Chocolate “Hair”
Melt your chocolate chips with the vegetable oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, then do another 30 seconds, stir again. Keep doing this until it’s smooth. The vegetable oil makes the chocolate thinner and easier to dip.
Dip the top third of each Rice Krispie square into the chocolate. Let the excess drip off, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. The chocolate will harden pretty quickly, but if you’re in a hurry, pop them in the fridge for 5 minutes.
Some people use black candy melts instead of chocolate. That works too and looks more like actual black hair, but chocolate tastes better in my opinion. Your call.
Step 4: Decorate These Halloween Cereal Treats
This is where it gets fun. Use a tiny bit of leftover melted chocolate to “glue” two candy eyes onto each Frankenstein face. Press gently so they stick but don’t sink into the treat.
For the neck bolts, I use mini pretzels broken in half—they actually look like bolts! Stick one on each side of the head using a dab of chocolate. Some people use mini marshmallows which also works and is probably easier for little kids to eat, but the pretzels look more realistic.
If you want to add a mouth, use black decorating icing to draw a little stitched line or zigzag. I’ve also drawn scars across the face. Sometimes I skip this step entirely because honestly they look cute without it and I’m lazy.
Let everything set for about 15-20 minutes before serving.
My Tips for These Frankenstein Treats for Kids
After making these way too many times (seriously, I think I’ve made them for every Halloween party invitation we’ve gotten for the past three years), here’s what I know:
Work FAST when mixing. Once those marshmallows come off the heat, you’ve got maybe 2 minutes tops before they start hardening. I learned to have my Rice Krispies already measured and waiting right next to the stove.
Don’t overheat the chocolate. Chocolate can seize up if it gets too hot or comes in contact with water. Microwave in short bursts and stir between each one. If it does seize up, you can sometimes save it by stirring in a little bit of shortening.
Let kids help with the face decorating. Yeah, some will have crooked eyes and bolts in weird spots, but that honestly makes them look more monster-like. My daughter made one with three eyes once and called it a “mutation Frankenstein.” Creative interpretation.
Store them loosely covered. Don’t seal them in an airtight container immediately or they can get sticky. I leave them on a plate covered with foil for the first day.
Make them the day of if possible. They’re best within 24 hours of making them. They won’t go bad or anything, but the chocolate can sometimes get a weird white film if they sit for days.
Why These Quick Halloween Desserts Always Win
The best part about these monster treats easy recipes is that they look way harder than they are. I’ve had multiple people ask me how long they took and when I say “30 minutes start to finish,” they don’t believe me.
They’re also customizable. Want to make Frankenstein’s bride? Use pink or purple food coloring instead of green. Want to make Frankenstein Jr.? Cut them into smaller squares. The possibilities are kind of endless.
And unlike cookies that need to bake and cool, or cakes that take forever, these are legitimately quick. I’ve made them on a weeknight after work and still had time to help with homework. That’s my kind of Halloween treat.
Final Thoughts on These Halloween Rice Krispie Treats Easy Recipe
These Frankenstein Rice Krispies treats have saved me so many times when I needed to bring something to a party or event. They’re easy, they’re cute, and most importantly, kids actually eat them. I’ve seen kids refuse elaborate themed cupcakes but devour these in seconds.
Are they Pinterest-perfect? Not when I make them. But they’re perfectly imperfect in a way that actually makes them look more like Frankenstein, so I’ll take it.
Give them a try for your next Halloween thing. And seriously, let me know in the comments if you make them—especially if you come up with any cool decoration ideas. I’m always looking for ways to make mine even better (or at least different from last year so people don’t realize I make the same thing every Halloween). 🎃👻
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