This week's frugal foodie friday falls on Christmas, and we will be taking the day off here at Go Dairy Free ... so I thought I would bring you a quick and easy treat recipe a bit earlier in the week. This spin on the classic rice crispy treat is a welcome addition to parties, Santa's cookie plate, Christmas day snacks, or simply a rewarding little dessert after a long day of holiday shopping (this seems to be how ours are quickly disappearing!).

Since I made this recipe for Chocolate Peppermint “Oreo” Rice Crispy Treats numerous times, I have included several variations and substitutes, from using Marshmallow Creme or Ricemellow Creme (to make them vegan), to subbing in dark chocolate and using coconut oil in place of the margarine. The main wild card I found was the amount of crispy rice cereal. So I recommend starting with 4 cups, and adding in more (up to 5 or 6 cups as needed) until the mixture is not too gooey, but not too loaded with add-ins either (which could make for crumbly treats). On average, I used 5 cups ... but no matter how much cereal you add, these minty, chocolate treats are delicious!