Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings

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Looking for a festive treat that's easy to make and great for serving a crowd? These Rice Krispie Christmas Puddings are just the thing! They're a fun twist on traditional chocolate Rice Krispie cakes, and they're sure to be a hit with kids.

stack of mini rice krispie christmas puddings

If you love the idea of Christmas pudding but don't really love the taste, these Rice Krispie Christmas puddings are a great alternative. They're essentially just chocolate marshmallow crispy treats but they're shaped into balls and decorated with white chocolate and holly sprinkles. No dried fruit or alcohol required!

They're perfect for getting the kids involved in some festive baking and they'd make an adorable edible gift or delicious last-minute dessert. I just know you're going to love them!

If you're ready to get started, you'll find my step-by-step instructions below with process images, ingredient and equipment notes, top tips and more. Enjoy!

Ingredients

You'll need just 6 simple ingredients to make this recipe:

Milk chocolate: This gives these treats that classic Christmas pudding colour. Any type of milk chocolate will work fine so don't worry if you're using the cheap stuff as that's what I do!
Butter: This helps the chocolate melt more smoothly and helps everything bind together nicely. You can use margarine instead if that's all you have but I'd recommend a block margarine over a spread.
Golden syrup: This will prevent the butter and chocolate from separating as it melts.
Mini marshmallows: A must for any good Rice Krispie treat! You can use white ones or colourful ones, it doesn't really matter as the chocolate will make the mixture brown anyway. These can be swapped out for gelatine-free ones if you prefer a veggie version, although it's important to note that they don't become fully smooth when melted. Don't worry though, they'll work fine once you add the Krispies.
Rice Krispies: The star of the show! Any type of crispy rice cereal will work here, so don't stress if you can't find the branded stuff.
White chocolate: This is for the decorative topping, mimicking the look of custard/icing on a traditional Christmas pudding. Again, any type is fine.
Holly sprinkles: I used Asda 'holly & berry sprinkles' but there are plenty of other options available out there. Alternatively, you can make your own by rolling small pieces of red fondant into balls and cutting out small leaves from green fondant.

Equipment Notes

All the kitchen tools and gadgets you'll need for your Rice Krispie Christmas puds:

Saucepan: For melting the base ingredients. If you absolutely can't use the stove method then you can pop the ingredients into a heatproof bowl and use the microwave instead. You'll need to take it out and stir it every 20-30 seconds to prevent the mixture from seizing.
Wooden spoon: Or a strong spatula, for mixing the ingredients together.
Tray and baking paper: To set your Christmas puddings on. You can also line a large plate with baking paper or use a silicone mat.
Heatproof bowl: For melting the white chocolate topping. White chocolate burns quite easily so again, melt it over low heat or in short bursts in the microwave.
Piping bag or teaspoon: For drizzling the white chocolate on top. A piping bag will give you more control but a teaspoon works great too.

How to make Chocolate Rice Krispie Christmas puddings

Step 1: Cut 60g butter into cubes and break 180g of milk chocolate into segments. Add them to a saucepan along with 1 tablespoon of golden syrup 100g of mini marshmallows.

Step 2: Place the pan over low heat on the stove and gently stir until everything has melted and there are no lumps of marshmallows left. This can take a while so be patient!

Step 3: Remove the pan from the heat and pour in 120g of Rice Krispies. Mix well (and work quickly) until all of the Krispies are coated.

sticky chocolate krispie mixture in a saucepan

Step 4: Take about 1 tablespoon of the mixture and roll it into a ball using your hands. If it's too sticky, you can slightly dampen your hands with water or lightly spray them with cooking spray.

Step 5: Repeat for the rest of the mixture and place the Christmas puddings onto a lined baking tray or plate. You should end up with roughly 18 in total.

Step 6: Melt 100g of white chocolate in a heatproof bowl, let it cool for a minute or two then transfer it to a piping bag. Pipe a small blob onto each pudding.

piping white chocolate onto the crispy balls

Step 7: While the white chocolate is still wet, add some holly sprinkles on top for decoration.

Step 8: Put the puddings into the fridge (carefully so they don't roll around) for about 1 hour to set then enjoy!

Top Tips

For a smoother finish, dip your hands in cold water or spray them lightly with cooking spray before rolling the mixture into balls. This helps prevent sticking.
Use natural white candy melts instead of white chocolate for a true 'Christmas pudding icing' look. This will get rid of the slight yellow tinge that comes with white chocolate.
If you can't find holly sprinkles, use green and red fondant to make your own mini version or use any other festive sprinkles you like.
For a quick set, pop the puddings in the freezer for about 15 minutes instead of the fridge for an hour. Just don't forget about them!

FAQs

Can I use dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate?

No, the mixture will likely split due to the extra fat. If you want a darker flavour, you can coat the balls in dark chocolate before adding the white chocolate topping, or you can add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder when melting the chocolate, butter and marshmallows.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes, these can be prepped up to 5 days in advance, as long as you keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. This is ideal for making ahead for parties and Christmas gatherings!

Can I use Coco Pops instead?

Yes, Coco Pops or any off-brand version will work well, and give your puddings a more chocolatey flavour/look.

hand holding up a single rice krispie christmas puds

More no-bake Christmas treats:

I hope you like my Rice Krispie Christmas puddings! If you try them at home, please leave a comment and rating below to let me know what you think. Enjoy!