We love marshmallow treats, and these holiday marshmallow treats have become our entry for this year’s local neighborhood cookie exchange!
Our history with marshmallow treats goes way back. My mom made rice krispie treats all the time when I was a kid, and we made them for Sarah and Kaitlin when they were young.
Kaitlin posted her Chocolate covered rice krispie nuggets a while back (also very delicious), and when we were traveling in China this time last year, I tasted a creative marshmallow treat recipe made with crackers instead of cereal.
That idea led me to do some experimenting, and I’m happy to say that after a few tries, I’ve come up with a tasty, salty-sweet version made with buttery crackers, dried cranberries, and toasted nuts, all held together with sticky melted marshmallows for a grown-up take on this classic treat.
With the festive red and green hue of the pistachios and cranberries, we think they’re a delicious Christmas cookie, and a different one at that!
Some of our other holiday cookie exchange contenders were: Cinnamon Sugar Palmiers, Homemade Brussels Cookies, and our Matcha Bacon Sugar Cookies. What are you baking for the holidays this year? Let us know in the comments!
Holiday Marshmallow Treats: Recipe Instructions
Lightly toast the walnuts and pecans in the oven for 4-5 minutes at 350 degrees F and set aside. Once cooled, use your hands to break up the nuts into rough pieces.
Break up the crackers into smaller pieces, but be careful not to crush them too fine.
Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium low heat. While we’re not a huge fan of non-stick cookware, it makes this recipe (and clean-up) much easier. Add the marshmallows, and stir until melted (about 3 to 4 minutes).
Once the marshmallows and butter are melted together…
Turn down the heat to low and immediately stir in the vanilla extract, toasted nuts…
And the pistachios (or pumpkin seeds) and cranberries.
Add the crackers, breaking any larger pieces as you stir them.
Use a folding motion to mix and stir the entire mixture until everything is uniformly coated. Do not compress the mixture together when stirring.
There are a few options for shaping and cutting your holiday marshmallow treats.
1). Lightly grease a non-stick square pan or spray it with non-stick baking spray and pour in the mixture. Use wax or parchment paper to shape the mixture into a rectangle.
2). Roll out a few crackers on a cutting board or counter to create crumbs (the crumbs will function as a “nonstick” surface to work on). You can also spray the counter-top or place a large piece of wax or parchment paper as your work surface. Pour mixture onto the surface and shape it into a rectangle.
Make a rectangle approximately 1 ½ inches thick (~4 cm) and about 4.5 x 7.5 inches (~11×19 cm). While they’re still warm, use a sharp knife to cut the treats into 1 ½ inch squares, to make a total of 15 squares. You can make your treats thinner if you like, and cut them into whatever size you prefer.
Use a sieve to dust with powdered sugar, and serve these with hot tea, coffee or a tall glass of milk!
Holiday Marshmallow Treats
Ingredients
- 50 g shelled walnuts (1.75 ounces)
- 50 g shelled pecans (1.75 ounces)
- 155 g crackers (5.5 ounces, we used multigrain crackers; can use regular snack crackers)
- 70 g butter (or margarine, 5 tablespoons)
- 280 g marshmallows (10 ounces)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 50 g shelled pistachios (1.75 ounces)
- 70 g dried cranberries (2.5 ounces, about 1/4 cup)
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Lightly toast the walnuts and pecans in the oven for 4-5 minutes at 350 degrees F and set aside. Once cooled, use your hands to break up the nuts into rough pieces. Break up the crackers into smaller pieces, but be careful not to crush them too fine.
- Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium low heat. While we’re not a huge fan of non-stick cookware, it makes this recipe (and clean-up) much easier.
- Add the marshmallows, and stir until melted (about 3 to 4 minutes).Once the marshmallows and butter are melted together, turn down the heat to low and immediately stir in the vanilla extract, toasted nuts, pistachios (or pumpkin seeds) and cranberries.
- Add the crackers, breaking any larger pieces as you stir them. Use a folding motion to mix and stir the entire mixture until everything is uniformly coated. Do not compress the mixture together when stirring.
- There are a couple options for shaping and cutting your holiday marshmallow treats: A. Lightly grease a non-stick square pan or spray it with non-stick baking spray and pour in the mixture. Use wax or parchment paper to shape the mixture into a rectangle.B. Roll out a few crackers on a cutting board or counter to create crumbs (the crumbs will function as a “nonstick” surface to work on). You can also spray the counter-top or place a large piece of wax or parchment paper as your work surface. Pour mixture onto the surface and shape it into a rectangle.
- Make a rectangle approximately 1 ½ inches thick (~4 cm) and about 4.5 x 7.5 inches (~11x19 cm). While they’re still warm, use a sharp knife to cut the treats into 1 ½ inch squares, to make a total of 15 squares. You can make your treats thinner if you like, and cut them into whatever size you prefer.
- Use a sieve to dust with powdered sugar, and serve these with hot tea, coffee or a tall glass of milk!
Eegulleye says
Delicious! I used Ritz crackers and did not make any adjustments. The sweet-salty balance is perfect.
Bill says
Hi Eegulleye, Yes, I love the salty ritz and nuts covered with the sweet melted marshmallows too!
Alan says
I would like to thank the four of you for all the recipes, great photos, and moments shared over the past several years. You have maintained a class blog with some of the best recipes to ever be shared. Thank you for all the moments of enjoyment you have brought to all of us.
Bill says
Hi Alan, you’re so welcome and thanks for such a kind comment :)
Gene says
Variations on the no-bake cookie concept:
Instead of marshmallows, use butterscotch morsels and peanut butter which you hear in the microwave to make liquid (15-20 seconds at a time, it burns easily).
Corn flakes instead of Rice Krispies. Crunchier. Or, LaChoy or Chun King chow mein noodles. Just about the only use for them in the world!
Bill says
Hi gene, thanks for your variations and tips!
Mindy says
We do a big party every year called “Porkstravaganza” in which all guests bring a dish to share. The only requirement is that it MUST contain pork of some variety. The winner takes home the Porkstravaganza Cup (seriously, it’s gotten so crazy that we have a trophy for “best in show” now). You have inspired me to experiment with some sort of bacon marshmallow treat. This is going to be fun!
Judy says
Sounds awesome, Mindy, please let us know when you win the prize :-)
Sarah says
Hahaha I love that idea, Mindy! Both the bacon marshmallow treats AND the epic idea of a “Porkstravaganza Party.”