Make Halloween Rice Krispie Squares with gooey marshmallows, crushed festive M&Ms, and candy eyes for a spooky, fun treat perfect for the season.

There’s something inherently nostalgic about marshmallow Rice Krispie treats. The chewy, sticky marshmallow combined with the crisp, airy cereal takes many of us straight back to childhood kitchens, bake sales, and after-school snacks. However, you can avoid those plastic packets by easily making them at home. For Halloween, I’ve taken this classic comfort treat and given it a playful, spooky twist, making the familiar into something darkly festive and fun.

These Halloween Rice Krispie Squares aren’t just about their colour. They’re about creating a treat that’s as playful to eat as it is to make. Having crushed Halloween-themed M&Ms throughout the mixture add bursts of sweetness and pops of colour. While adding a few extra candies and edible eyes on top turn each square into a little spooky masterpiece. It’s a simple tweak that transforms a beloved childhood snack into a seasonal showstopper.

Not only are these squares nostalgic and fun, but they’re also a perfect quick Halloween bake. Ideal for making with kids over the school holidays, they require minimal equipment, melt together fast, and produce a batch that’s easy to portion and serve. Whether you’re prepping for a party, a classroom treat, or a cosy family afternoon, these spooky squares are approachable, festive, and irresistibly chewy.

How to Purchase Ingredients to be Conscious to the Planet

If you’d like to make these Halloween Rice Krispie Squares a little kinder to the planet, there are a few small switches that make a big difference. Many refill and zero waste shops now stock marshmallows, both mini and standard. You can either pick them up in paper bags or fill up your own container. Choosing these helps reduce single-use plastic. If you follow a plant-based diet, vegan marshmallows are also easy to find in refill shops. And if you want to go the extra mile, you could even make your own marshmallows at home for a truly low-waste option.

Look for puffed rice in refill zero-waste shops to avoid the plastic packaging. These work just as well as branded Rice Krispies. Buying loose allows you to get exactly the amount you need, reducing waste and saving money. If you can’t find it, standard cereal still works. Try to buy larger bags or bulk options to cut down on packaging.

Black cocoa can be trickier to source without packaging, but buying it in bulk helps balance things out. Purchasing a larger bag reduces the packaging-to-product ratio and usually works out more economical, too. Once home, store it in a sealed jar to keep it fresh for future bakes, its deep flavour is well worth it.

When it comes to M&Ms or other sugar-coated chocolates, try reusing packaging where possible. If you already have a refillable bag from M&M World, fill it again on your next visit rather than grabbing another one. They have a specific Halloween mix containing purple, green and orange ones. This helps cut down on unnecessary plastic while keeping that playful burst of colour in each square. You can also use any sugar-coated chocolates available in refill or pick-and-mix shops as an easy, waste-free alternative.

And if you want to add a little extra fun, edible candy eyes can also be made at home using icing sugar and a touch of black cocoa for the pupils.

Equipment You Will Need

• Medium Size Saucepan
• Spatula
• Measuring Spoon
• 9 ½ by 12 Inch Baking Tin
• Compostable Parchment Paper
• Sharp Knife
• Ruler
• Rolling Pin
• Silicone Food Pouch or Food Bag

Tips and Tricks when Making Halloween Rice Krispie Squares

Type of Marshmallows to Use

When it comes to melting marshmallows, mini ones are generally easier and quicker. However, any size will work. If you have standard or bigger ones, you can cut them into smaller pieces to help with the process. Cutting them with scissors is the way I find them easier to do. For standard size marshmallows I would cut them into at least quarters.

Using a mix of the pink and white marshmallows also work. The black cocoa will take and turn darker even if it looks a bit grey initially when it goes into the mix.

Crushing M&Ms

You do not want your M&Ms to turn to powder, so bash them slightly. You could even just press the end of a rolling pin into each one to crush them without making them too small a piece. I pop mind into a silicone food pouch to do this.  

Working Quickly

Once the marshmallows have melted, work quickly with adding everything in. The black cocoa powder I add in just before the marshmallows are fully melted so you can stir it in whilst it finishes melting. Stir through the rice Krispies and then follow with the M&Ms as some of these will start to melt themselves with the temperature. Tip into the line tin and swiftly press it into the corners.

Portioning up your Halloween Rice Krispie Squares

In the recipe I suggest cutting them into 12 2 ½” by 3” squares. This will be that you end up with a thinner strip that you can split into sections to enjoy. If these squares feel too big especially if make for little ones, you could half them to double your yield. Alternatively, you can eyeball your pieces and cut them into 12 having them slightly bigger pieces and avoid the thin strip.

Repurposing Cereal Bags

Now if you have purchased your rice Krispies in the supermarket. Do just bin the waxed bag that they come in, inside the cardboard box. You can repurpose these in a few ways. You can use these to pop food items into the freezer to store them. Use a clip on them to keep them airtight. You can cut them into strips and use them to line tart tins to aid with lifting out your baked tarts.

Other Recipes you may be Interested in

• Chocolate Halloween Brownies
• Mini Halloween Monster Cookies
• Homemade Halloween Chocolates

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