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Looking for Thanksgiving rice krispie treats that the kiddos will love? Whip up these Rice Krispie turkey legs as a special sweet treat for Thanksgiving. You don’t need many ingredients to make them and they’re a kitchen fun project for the holiday season – the kids will definitely want to help make these Thanksgiving snacks. With marshmallows, pretzels, vanilla wafers, and Cocoa Krispies, they offer so much sweet appeal in every bite! They make a totally fun addition to your holiday dessert table that will have everyone talking.
These super-cute Rice Krispie turkey legs are a breeze to prepare and they look adorable. Everyone will want to try these on Thanksgiving.
You might also like this super-sweet caramel apple dip, adorable Nutter Butter turkey treats, or some Thanksgiving turkey cookies.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: Anyone will find these simple to prepare and the kids can help out too.
They taste delicious: Vanilla, marshmallows, Cocoa Krispies, pretzels – what’s not to love?
A make-ahead sweet treat: These will keep for a few days and you can make them in advance and just keep them until you’re ready to serve them up.
Rice Krispie Turkey Drumstick Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Pretzel rods: These work great for the turkey leg bones.
Vanilla melting wafers: These melt smoothly and easily and have a gorgeous vanilla flavor. You can use any brand you want.
Vanilla extract: For a stronger vanilla flavor, you can use vanilla paste.
Salt: A touch of salt helps bring out the sweet flavors.
Mini marshmallows: Some for shaping the bones and the rest to melt and coat the turkey legs.
Unsalted butter: You can use salted if you halve the amount of salt in the recipe.
Cocoa Krispies cereal: Gives the turkey legs a golden brown, turkeylicious look!
How to Make Cocoa Krispie Turkey Legs
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Melt the candy wafers: Melt them in the microwave.
Dip the pretzel rods: Dip each pretzel rod in the melted wafers and arrange on a parchment paper or wax paper lined baking sheet.
Add marshmallows: Press two marshmallows on to each one so it looks like the end of a bone. Dip them again in the candy wafers to coat the marshmallows too this time. Chill them in the fridge.
Melt the rest of the marshmallows: Melt them in a pot on the stove with the butter.
Add the remaining ingredients: Take the pot off the stove and stir in the vanilla extract and salt, and then the cereal. Let the mixture cool for several minutes.
The finishing touches: Shape the Cocoa Krispies mixture around the pretzel bones to resemble turkey legs, then let them set on the parchment paper until set and holding together. Serve now or keep refrigerated and serve later.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pretzel rods (I use these ones!) and use gluten-free cereal (I love this one) instead of Cocoa Krispies.
A different flavor: You can use another flavor of melting wafers and also swap the vanilla extract for a different extract.
Serving Suggestions
As a sweet treat: These make a cute Thanksgiving snack on their own or paired with pumpkin s’mores cookies.
For dessert: Serve them up with homemade pumpkin spice latte ice cream or apricot apple cinnamon dumplings.
With a cocktail: Festive cranberry margaritas or apple pie jello shots would be great!
How to Store Turkey Leg Rice Krispie Treats
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature and eat within 2 or 3 days. They would probably keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator but get a bit hard. They’re best served the day you make them.
Freeze: These don’t freeze well (they’d thaw out soggy) so I don’t recommend freezing these.
Top Tips
Melting the candy wafers: Either follow the directions on the package or microwave them in a bowl or cup on a low or defrost setting, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
Stop them sticking: You can spritz nonstick cooking spray on your hands or use food-safe gloves to stop the Rice Krispies sticking to them.
Let the cereal mixture cool: If you don’t let the Rice Krispie mixture cool enough first, the marshmallow mixture will be too gooey to hold to the pretzel rods.
Turkey Rice Krispie Treats FAQs
You could try making some sweet gravy by melting white chocolate chips or melting candies combined with Biscoff spread or peanut butter. Serve this on the side.
No, you can omit these if you prefer the standard Rice Krispies treat recipe.
Sure! Or you can use another cereal altogether if you want.
Thanksgiving Rice Krispie Turkey Leg Recipe
Rice Krispie Turkey Legs
Ingredients
- 6 pretzel rods, cut in half
- 10 Ounces vanilla melting wafers, Ghirardelli
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ Teaspoon salt
- 12 Ounces mini marshmallows
- 1/2 Cup unsalted butter
- 8 Cups cereal, Cocoa Krispies
Instructions
- Melt the candy wafers in a cup on low, following the package instructions, stirring every 30 seconds.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dip the pretzel rods into the white melts about halfway and shake off any excess.
- Arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Press 2 marshmallows onto the dipped end to form a bone shape and repeat to make the remaining bones.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes or until set.
- Give the candy wafers a few seconds on a low power in the microwave if they’ve hardened again.
- Dip the pretzel bones again, this time coating the marshmallows.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 5 minutes or until set.
- Melt the butter in a pot over a low heat and then add the rest of the marshmallows, stirring until smooth.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the salt and vanilla extract.
- Fold in the cereal gently until evenly coated.
- Set aside and allow the Cocoa Krispies mixture to cool for 5 or 10 minutes.
- Take about ⅔ cup of the cereal mixture and shape it around each of the prepared pretzel bones to get a drumstick shape.
- Put them back on the parchment paper and repeat to make the remaining turkey legs.
- Let them set for 10 to 20 minutes or until fully set, then serve.
Notes
Stop them sticking: You can spritz nonstick cooking spray on your hands or use food-safe gloves to stop the Rice Krispies sticking to them.
Let the cereal mixture cool: If you don’t let the Rice Krispie mixture cool enough first, the marshmallow mixture will be too gooey to hold to the pretzel rods.
Nutrition
Rice Krispie turkey legs are a fun dessert for Thanksgiving. They are quick and simple to make and the kids can even help out. The pretzel rod and mini marshmallow bones are enclosed in the “meat” of the turkey leg which is made with cereal and melted marshmallows, and flavored with vanilla. These sweet treats are perfect for the holiday season!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The kids loved making these Rice Krispie turkey legs—so easy and a fun holiday treat!
These are so adorable. So darn clever! Can’t wait to try them out.