Pencil Rice Cereal Treats Recipe: A Fun Back to School Snack for Kids

Looking for a playful and delicious treat to celebrate the start of a new school year? These Pencil Rice Cereal Treats are the perfect combination of sweet, simple, and creative. Whether you’re surprising your kids after their first day back or looking for a fun classroom snack idea, these pencil-shaped treats will definitely make the grade.

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This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from making the treats to decorating them like colorful pencils. Plus, there are helpful baking tips and info for those hunting for the best rice cereal treat ideas or back to school snack recipes.

Why You’ll Love This Easy No Bake Treat for Kids

Kid-friendly & classroom-approved:
These treats are practically made for school celebrations. Whether you’re sending them in your child’s lunchbox, sharing with classmates, or surprising a favorite teacher with a teacher appreciation gift, their adorable pencil shape makes them a standout.
No baking required:
You don’t need to preheat the oven or deal with complicated steps. This is an easy no-bake recipe that comes together quickly with just a stovetop and microwave. It’s perfect for busy parents or anyone short on time who still wants to create something special and memorable.
Creative twist on a classic treat:
Rice cereal treats are a timeless favorite, and this recipe gives them a clever upgrade. By transforming the simple cereal-and-marshmallow combo into school-themed pencils, you have a playful, eye-catching first day of school treat that’s guaranteed to impress both kids and adults.
Totally Customizable:
Switch up the eraser color, adjust the size, or even make mini pencils. There’s plenty of room to get creative with this back to school snack.

Ingredients You’ll Need For These Pencil Rice Cereal Treats

ingredients for these back to school treats

6 cups rice cereal
10 oz marshmallows
5 tbsp butter (plus more for greasing)
4 oz yellow melting chocolate
2 oz pink melting chocolate
1 oz white melting chocolate
1/4 cup chocolate chips

These are pantry staples for many families, and if you’re already a fan of this popular easy no bake treat for kids, you’ll likely have most of them on hand.

Kitchen Equipment

To keep things smooth and stress-free, gather the following ahead of time:

Saucepan
Spatula (butter it up to prevent sticking)
Microwave-safe bowls
Piping bags
9×13 inch baking dish
Parchment paper
Knife

Pro tip: Lining your baking dish with parchment paper (with extra on the edges) makes removal a breeze.

How to Make Pencil Rice Cereal Treats

1. Melt & Mix
Start by melting butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s fully melted, stir in the marshmallows. Use a buttered spatula to gently mix until smooth and creamy.

2. Combine with Rice Cereal
Immediately remove the pan from heat and stir in your rice cereal until evenly coated.

3. Spread & Cool
Press the mixture into your parchment-lined 9×13 baking dish and flatten it evenly with your spatula. Let cool completely.

4. Slice Into Strips
Remove the cooled slab using the parchment paper and lay it on a flat surface. Cut into four long strips (about 2 inches wide), then cut those in half for 8 total rectangles. Trim the ends to straighten them as needed.

5. Shape the Pencil Tip
On one end of each rectangle, slice off both corners diagonally to form a point, like a sharpened pencil.

Decorating the Back to School Treats

6. Color the Pencil Body
Melt your yellow chocolate in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between. Pour into a piping bag and pipe lines for the start and end of the pencil “body.” Fill in the space with yellow chocolate. Freeze for 5 minutes.

7. Add the Eraser & Metal Band
Melt your pink and white chocolates, then:

Pipe pink chocolate at the flat end to create the eraser.
Pipe a white band where the yellow ends and pink begins to represent the metal ferrule.

Freeze for 2–3 minutes.

8. Finish the Pencil Tip
Melt your chocolate chips and dip the pointed end of each treat to mimic the pencil lead. Freeze for 3 more minutes.

Serve and Enjoy this Back to School Snack

Let the treats come back to room temperature before serving so the chocolate decorations are soft enough to bite into but still hold their shape. These pencil rice cereal treats are a hit at any back to school celebration and perfect for surprising teachers, packing into lunchboxes, or bringing to classroom parties. No matter how you serve them, these sweet, creative snacks are guaranteed to bring smiles with every bite.

Storage Tips

Store in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days in a cool, dry place.
No parchment? Just grease your dish with a bit of butter to help with easy removal.
Leftover scraps? Roll them into mini bites or piece them together for bonus pencil snacks.

The Perfect Back to School Snack Idea

These back to school treats are the perfect DIY project for kicking off the school year with a smile. They’re whimsical, tasty, and totally Instagram-worthy. They are ideal for teacher appreciation snacks, school lunch treat ideas, or even a first day of school party.

If you love easy themed desserts, bookmark this recipe for every back to school season. It’s a sweet tradition in the making.