Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 438 comments
Published: Sep 26, 2023 Last Updated: Mar 19, 2024

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Get the secret tips and tricks to making the most PERFECT Rice Krispies Treats recipe. From using fresh butter and marshmallows to adding vanilla extract, this is our favorite dessert.

Love easy cereal treats? Try our recipes for homemade puppy chow (muddy buddies)! Or make a savory snack like this Taco Chex mix!

Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (1)

Why My Rice Krispies Treat Recipe Is Best

There are thousands of recipes for making this classic treat, and I’m putting it out there that my recipe is BEST. You may see some similar nowadays, but they all stem from my original add-ins. Why?

  • Only 4 ingredients
  • Thick and chewy
  • Vanilla flavor
  • Perfect ratio of cereal to marshmallows

We love that this classic treat can be changed up using different cereals too!

  • ChocolateCocoa Krispie Treats
  • FruityFruity Pebbles Treats
  • S’moresGolden Grahams Treats
  • CheeriosCheerio Treats

The Original Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie Treats have always been the key to my heart. Knowing how to make rice krispie treats has gotten me far in life.

  • I love crispy treats so much that I’ve created over a dozen flavors….from Fluffernutter Krispie Treats to Cinnamon Roll Krispie Treats.
  • I’ve even got these adorable TURKEY Krispie Treats and this Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispie Treat for Thanksgiving!

But, in the end, it’s the classic, original, homemade RICE KRISPIE TREAT that draws me in.

The biggest question is how to spell it. Some people say Rice Crispy, Some say Crispy Rice, some say Rice Crispies. Either way, you get the point!

Ingredient Notes

Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (2)
  1. Butter- use salted butter for this recipe. Just trust me! Don’t have any on hand? Use unsalted butter and a pinch of salt while melting. DO NOT use margarine.
  2. Marshmallows- you’ll need 9 cups of mini marshmallows, keeping about 1 cup aside to add in at the end!
  3. Rice Krispies Cereal- any brand of crispy rice cereal will work, just make sure it’s FRESH.

Aimee’s Secret Ingredient

Adding my homemade vanilla extract or any pure vanilla extract takes this recipe over the top.

Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (3)

More Rice Krispie Treat Flavors

Add in some flavored gelatin (or pudding mix) to the melted marshmallow for a unique twist! Cherry Krispie Treats!

Make Lucky Charms Treats for a St.Paddy’s Day dessert idea.

  • For best results, name brand cereal stays fresher longer and can hold up to the melted butter and marshmallows better
  • Always start with fresh marshmallows. If you use stale marshmallows in hopes that melting them will give you good results, you’ll be disappointed!
  • More mix-ins: fold in some m&m’s or Reese’s peanut butter cups for a delicious dessert idea.
Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (4)

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Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (9)

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Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

By: Aimee

Get the secret tips and tricks to making the most PERFECT Rice Krispie Treats recipe. From using fresh butter and marshmallows to adding vanilla extract, this is our favorite dessert.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Additional Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 9 large bars

Ingredients

  • 6 Tablespoons salted butter
  • 16 ounce bag mini marshmallows divided
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 6 cups rice krispies cereal

Instructions

  • Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.

  • In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, add in all but 1 cup of the marshmallows. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring until completely melted.

  • Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Add the cereal and the remaining 1 cup of marshmallows and gently stir until combined.

  • Pour into the prepared baking dish. Press GENTLY with your fingertips just until completely spread out (the harder you pack them in, the harder they are to eat).

  • Allow to set, about 1 hour. Cut and enjoy!

Notes

  • How many marshmallows do I need? One 16 ounce bag of marshmallows is about 8-9 cups. You’ll melt all but one cup of the marshmallows in the butter, reserving the last cup for adding with the cereal.
  • Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. This way you don’t have to worry about extra butter on your fingertips, or the other extreme of your bars sticking to the pan! Use binder clips to help the parchment paper stay in place.
  • Use fresh marshmallows. Seriously, they make a difference. Don’t grab that bag that’s been in your pantry for months and months thinking it will be okay since you are melting them. It won’t be okay.
  • Add my secret ingredient. VANILLA EXTRACT. Not imitation vanilla, but PURE VANILLA extract. It makes a difference in creating the illusion that you’re using homemade marshmallows.
  • DO NOT (I repeat) DO NOT press these bars into your pan firmly. Using your fingertips, GENTLY press them in just until they are spread out. The harder you pack them in, the harder they are when it’s time to eat them!
  • The trick to pressing them in your pan without sticking to your hands is to run your fingers in water, shake off the excess, and press. Voila. No sticking!
  • Store in an airtight container for two days. If they last that long, I’d be shocked!
  • Make these gluten free by choosing a crispy rice cereal labeled Gluten Free (and check your marshmallow labels too just in case).
  • Can you freeze rice krispie treats? YES! I slide them on a parchment paper lined sheet into a ziploc freezer bag. Thaw on counter until soft again!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar, Calories: 300kcal, Carbohydrates: 57g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 20mg, Sodium: 139mg, Sugar: 31g

Course: Rice Krispie Treats

Cuisine: American

Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Original Rice Krispie Treats recipe with all the tips and tricks for making them thick and chewy!

Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispie Treats? ›

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies Treats? If you put too much butter in rice krispies treats they will become oily, the cereal will soak up the butter and the treats will become soggy, rather than crispy.

Why are my homemade Rice Krispie treats soggy? ›

Too much marshmallow and butter can make a super sticky, wet or soggy slice, while too little makes a hard, dry or crumbly one. I recommend using a baking scale for my recipe to get the ratio JUST right, creating the perfect chewy but crispy Rice Krispie Squares. Melted marshmallow = sticky mess.

Can you use old marshmallows for Rice Krispie Treats? ›

Don't use old marshmallows.

Most importantly, they don't melt nearly as well. Instead of becoming soft and gooey, they melt into a one giant blob. → Follow this tip: Save the older marshmallows for hot cocoa and s'mores, and pick up a fresh bag of marshmallows to ensure a really great batch of rice krispie treats.

Why are my Rice Krispie treats falling apart? ›

9 -Troubleshooting: do your rice krispie treats fall apart? You've either used too much butter or haven't pressed it down in the tin enough. 10 - Rice krispie treats will last for up to a week like this or freeze for up to 2 months. They do not need to be refrigerated.

Is it bad to eat a lot of rice crispy treats? ›

They are mostly high-glycemic carbs (meaning the type that spike energy quickly), Collingwood says. Other than some iron and B vitamins (thanks to the fortified cereal they're made with), they have little nutritional value. You'll still need to focus on a healthy diet throughout the rest of your day, Collingwood says.

What does too much butter do in baking? ›

The more you add, the more moist and fluffy it gets. However, at a certain point, you might increase the amount of butter so much that the cake starts becoming dense again and begin to fall into itself—eventually getting closer to the texture of a greasy brownie instead.

Do you refrigerate homemade rice crispy treats? ›

Do Rice Crispy Treats Need to be Refrigerated? No. I recommend keeping these Rice Crispy Treats in an airtight container at room temperature. Refrigerating will make the marshmallow in them super hard, so I advise to leave them at room temperature.

How long will homemade Rice Krispie treats stay fresh? ›

Store the treats at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Store the container on the counter, in a cupboard, or anywhere that will stay room temperature. Room temperature can fall anywhere between 64 to 73 °F (18 to 23 °C). After 3 days, you should throw away the old rice crispy treats and just whip up a new batch!

Why won t my rice krispies harden? ›

There are a couple of reasons your treats might have come out soggy or too soft. First, your cereal might be too old. Check the expiration and make sure the crispy rice cereal is nice and fresh for the best texture! Second, you may have used too much butter.

What can you use instead of marshmallows for Rice Krispie Treats? ›

The substitute breaks down like this: combine an inverted sugar (like syrup or honey) with a nut or seed butter to create a sweet adhesive for your Rice Krispy treats. Not only does this sticky mix work as a proper swap for marshmallows, but it also brings its own unique flavor to your crunchy bars.

How many large marshmallows equal a cup of mini marshmallows? ›

refrigeration is not necessary. - 8 large marshmallows equal 1 cup of miniature marshmallows. - 1 single large marshmallow equals 10 mini marshmallows.

What can you do with expired marshmallows? ›

Marshmallows don't really go “bad” that I am aware of. Personally, I would try to use them. You can soften hard marshmallows by dipping a sealed bag in a hot pot of water boiling for a couple of minutes. The expiration date is just a best by date.

How do you cleanly cut Rice Krispie Treats? ›

To prevent rice crispy treats from sticking to the knife, it's important to grease the knife blade with cooking spray or butter before cutting. This will create a non-stick surface and allow for clean, easy cuts.

How do you keep rice crispy treats from sticking to the pan? ›

Use a piece of waxed paper to press the mixture into the pan evenly with your hand so it doesn't adhere to the wooden spoon or spatula. Or use The Elf's favorite trick for pressing a sticky mixture into the pan: wet your fingers. Shake off excess moisture and then press the mixture into the pan.

What happens if you add too much butter? ›

Too much butter will result in a very soft, sticky dough that's difficult to shape, and bakes up greasy and dense.

What happens if you put too much butter in a cookie recipe? ›

Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges. They were yellow and slightly puffy in the middle, and brown and super thin around the perimeter.

Does butter make things crispy? ›

Cold butter: pastry and crispy cookies

Cold butter is ideal for baked goods that should be crisp — it also helps create those beautiful, flaky layers.

Why are my rice krispie treats not crispy? ›

There are a couple of reasons your treats might have come out soggy or too soft. First, your cereal might be too old. Check the expiration and make sure the crispy rice cereal is nice and fresh for the best texture! Second, you may have used too much butter.

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