Rice Krispie Basketball Treats

Made with puffed rice cereal, marshmallows, orange gel food coloring, and piped dark chocolate, these Rice Krispie basketball treats make the best basketball team treats or party favors!

Why Make These Rice Krispie Basketball Treats?

I’ll fully admit that I’m not the biggest sports fan, unless it’s a sport where costumes are involved. (Figure skating, gymnastics, and synchronized swimming? Right up my alley. Basketball and football? Not so much.) In high school, I famously signed up for the tennis team for the sole purpose of receiving a trendy varsity jacket. Couldn’t play tennis then, still can’t play it now, but at least I looked cool.

Just because I’m not big on playing or watching sports doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy making sports-themed treats. Case in point? These Rice Krispie basketball treats. Tinted orange, shaped into balls, and piped with melted chocolate to mimic the lines on a basketball, these sweet cereal treats are fun and easy to make. They’re ideal for Father’s Day or March Madness; as basketball party snacks; or as basketball birthday treats for a hoops-themed b-day celebration.

Ingredients for Making Rice Krispie Basketball Treats

To make these basketball-shaped Rice Krispie treats, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Unsalted Butter – I recommend starting with unsalted butter. No need to soften, since you’ll melt it in step one.
• Marshmallows – You’ll need 300 grams, or about 10 1/2 ounces, of marshmallows. I strongly encourage measuring the marshmallows by weight rather than volume, since marshmallow sizes vary depending on brand and country.
• Gel Food Coloring – You’ll need orange gel food coloring to tint the cereal mixture. I used Chefmaster’s Sunset Orange.
• Fine Sea Salt – A touch of fine sea salt cuts the sweetness of the marshmallows. Omit if using salted butter.

• Puffed Rice Cereal – Such as Rice Krispies. I usually use generic supermarket “puffed rice cereal” to make my krispie treat recipes, and it works just fine.
• Nonstick Spray – You’ll need nonstick spray for greasing your spatula and cookie cutter.
• Dark Chocolate – Any kind of dark chocolate (chocolate chips, callets, or chopped chocolate) will work. Melt it in short bursts in the microwave before transferring to a piping bag to create the decorations.

Special Tools for Making Rice Krispie Treat Basketballs

To cut my basketball treats, I used the 2 1/4-inch cutter from my set of round metal cutters. With this size, I produced 16 treats. You can go with a slightly smaller or bigger cutter (keep in mind that a bigger cutter will not yield as many treats) but definitely stick with metal rather than plastic—you’ll need the sharp metal edge to slice through the cereal slab.

I also recommend greasing your cutter with nonstick spray, and wiping it down periodically if the edge starts to feel sticky.

Tips and Tricks for Making the Best Rice Krispie Treats

To shape the cereal slab, you’ll use your hands to press the mixture onto a silicone mat. I find it helpful to periodically dip my fingertips in water to prevent them from sticking to the cereal. You can also spritz your hands with nonstick spray, or press the mixture into the pan with a well-oiled rubber spatula

You will have some bits and pieces of cereal left over after cutting the discs. Feel free to save these for snacking, but do not try to press the mixture back together to make more treats. I tested this and unfortunately it just doesn’t work.

Piping the Chocolate

To make the treats look like basketballs, start by piping a thin, slightly rounded line of melted chocolate horizontally across the top of each disc, about 1/2 inch from the top:

Next, pipe a slightly rounded vertical line down the middle of each treat:

Next, add a second horizontal line on the righthand side. It should resemble a slightly curved S:

Finally, add a third horizontal line on the lefthand side. This one should look like a backwards S:

Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions

These Rice Krispie basketball treats taste best on the day they are made.

Layer leftover basketball treats in an airtight container between sheets of parchment or wax paper. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Other Rice Krispie treat recipes you might enjoy:

Shamrock Rice Krispie Treats
Nutella Rice Krispie Treats
Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Rainbow Rocky Road Slice

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

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