Circus Animal Cookie Rice Krispie Treats

Make these fun rice krispie treats with sweet, crispy, and frosted Mother’s circus animal cookies! These classic treats are chewy, crispy, and infused with your favorite childhood frosted cookie.

You will love these homemade and easy-to-make rice Krispie treats. They’re so easy and quick to make, require no baking, and are ready in just 15 minutes.

Crushed circus animal cookies are folded in the rice Krispies with buttery melted marshmallows, then the treats are drizzled with melted white chocolate, colorful candy melts, and topped with rainbow sprinkles and circus animal cookies.

For more circus animal fun treats, check out my Frosted Circus Animal Cookies.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

1. Homemade. Homemade rice Krispie treats are so much tastier than store-bought ones! Plus, you can make them yours and add your favorite flavors including extracts, chocolate chips, crushed cookies, nuts, sprinkles, and more!
2. Easy. Seriously, a homemade dessert can’t get much simpler than this.
3. Colorful. Take these to potlucks, picnics, or any party! Kids love these.

Key Ingredients

• Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter in this recipe as that’s what I used when I tested these treats. Salted butter will make them too salty.
• White Marshmallows: Use mini or regular marshmallows, just make sure that they are fresh as they melt better. Dried marshmallows will clump up and turn into a gloopy mess.
• Rice Krispies: This is the most important ingredient in these treats, Kellog’s rice krispies breakfast cereal.
• Circus Animal Cookies.
• Candy Melts: Choose your favorite colors to drizzle over the rice Krispie treats. I went for white, pink, and hot pink colors.
• Sprinkles: I used rainbow sprinkles, but you can use your favorite! Or skip the sprinkles if you prefer.

How To Make Circus Animal Cookie Rice Krispie Treats

Before you start, line a 9×13 inch or 11×14 inch pan with parchment paper and set aside. Use a small piece of room-temperature butter and grease a large mixing bowl and rubber spatula, including a portion of the handle.

1. Melt the Butter and Marshmallows. In a large non-stick saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Set aside a cup and a half of marshmallows to use later. Add in the remaining marshmallows and stir to coat them with the butter. Continue heating over low heat, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows are almost completely melted.
2. Add Vanilla and Food Coloring. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract, salt, and food coloring and stir until you get the desired pink color.
3. Add Rice Krispies and Cookies. Fold in the Rice Krispies cereal, Circus Animal Cookies, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
4. Add Marshmallows. Add the remaining mini marshmallows and fold gently until combined.

5. Melt the Candy Melts in the microwave and be careful not to overheat them. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan into an even layer pressing with a rubber spatula, then with the help of a fork or disposable piping bags, drizzle the candy on top.
6. Top with Circus Animal Cookies, and Sprinkles. Allow it to cool on the counter for 40 minutes to 1 hour before slicing into squares.

Top Tips

• Use fresh marshmallows. It is important to use fresh marshmallows that were in a sealed bag. Dried out marshmallows do not melt well, and will melt into a blobb that is difficult to work with.
• Go slow and stir often. When melting marshmallows with butter, do not walk away from the stove! Make sure that you are melting on low heat (not high!) so nothing sticks to the bottom.
• Line the dish with parchment paper for easy bar removal!
• LIGHTLY press into the pan. Pressing too hard will result in a very hard rice krispie treat.
• Let these Peep Rice Krispie Treats cool! If you try and cut them while they’re still warm, they’re going to be a sticky mess. I usually wait for 40-60 minutes for them to set, and then cut into them using a sharp knife as firm bars are easier to cut. You can also butter or chill your knife for neater slices.

Storing Tips

Store Rice Krispies at room temperature for up to 5 days, and they’ll be just fine. If you want them chilled or to last longer, store them in the fridge.

You can also freeze these treats once they’re done. Just be sure to wrap them in saran wrap and then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Enjoy within 1 month of freezing.

FAQs

Enjoy making these cute Circus Animal Rice Krispie Treats! If you try the recipe, share your experience in the comments box below, I love hearing from you. Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later.