This easy recipe for Rice Krispie treats makes the perfect kid-approved snack!
I also have tips and tricks for making the best Rice Krispie treats you’ve ever had.
Rice Krispie treats are the perfect weeknight dessert or any-time sweet treat.
In my family, Rice Krispie treats counted as Christmas candy, birthday cake, and if we were lucky, an after-school snack.
These cereal pieces are held together by a marshmallow-butter slurry that tickles the tongues of all who sample them.
We would always sprinkle festive decorator’s sugar or sprinkles on top so they would match the occasion!
If you are short a sweet treat or need a last-minute potluck contribution, Rice Krispie treats are a sure bet for any occasion.
Read below for all sorts of tips and tricks to make the perfect pan of these treats!
Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are a simple, sweet dish that is perfect for any occasion. This dessert is quick to mix up and quick to disappear!
Crunchy Rice Krispies cereal is smothered in marshmallows and pressed into delightful squares.
This makes them easy to transport, so you can enjoy them wherever you are!
Baking Rice Krispie treats couldn’t be easier! Melt your ingredients in a pot and then stir in the cereal pieces.
The only hard part is waiting for them to cool!
One way to make Rice Krispie treats more festive is to use a cookie cutter to shape them. They will hold their shape just like a cut-out cookie.
Rice Krispie treats are not overly sweet or overly complicated. They are simple, light, and perfect for any occasion.
What are you waiting for? Grab your bowl and wooden spoon and get ready to whip up some delicious treats in minutes.
Ingredients
- Butter – Like any good recipe, this one starts with butter. Make sure your stick is unsalted. Salted butter can be too strong and detract from the ooey-gooey goodness of this recipe.
- Marshmallows – This recipe doesn’t even call for sugar because these guys do the trick! Pop open a bag of fluffy marshmallows and let their sticky, sugary magic do the work for you!
- Vanilla Extract – This is the cherry on top for these Rice Krispie treats! Not every recipe calls for flavoring, but one bite and you will see why this is the BEST Rice Krispie treats recipe. It’s because of the vanilla extract.
- Salt – This flavor enhancer takes good and makes it great! Sprinkle some into your Rice Krispie treats and take your dessert to the next level.
- Rice Krispies Cereal – This is the backbone for this recipe and where the dessert gets its name. A box of classic Rice Krispies cereal is all you need to turn a bland breakfast into an incredible dessert
Tips & Tricks
If you are embarking on your first Rice Krispie journey, there are a couple of tricks of the trade that can help ensure your success.
First, be sure to not overcook your marshmallows. It can be easy to do when you are striving for a completely smooth melted marshmallow mixture.
In reality, the marshmallows do not have to be completely melted to make a Rice Krispie treat.
Turn the heat off once the marshmallows begin to melt and leave a few marshmallow bits in your final dish.
It’s also important to make sure you are not stirring too much. Over-stirring can cause the marshmallows to harden.
Once all your wet ingredients are mostly combined, add in the cereal and transfer to a pan. It does not have to be perfect!
When pressing the dessert into the baking pan, be sure to not press too hard. If you add too much pressure, the cereal pieces will become crushed.
This dish is supposed to be light and airy. Leave room for all of that marshmallow goodness to shine!
If you find the treats are sticking to your hands, lightly grease your palms with baking spray.
Just as the baking spray keeps the treats from sticking to your dish, it will also help the treats to not stick to your hands.
Rice Krispie treats are the kind of dessert that offers some wiggle room to the baker. This is the perfect recipe to share with little ones!
Add-Ins for Rice Krispie Treats
Once you have mastered the traditional recipe, you may want to shake things up by mixing in some Rice Krispie add-ins.
Chopped candy is a great addition to a pan of Rice Krispies. Make sure you chop the candy small enough to not overpower the cereal pieces.
Any candy bar would be the perfect addition! Or consider smaller candy pieces such as M&Ms or Reeses Pieces.
Baking chips would also be delicious in your Rice Krispie treats. Consider fun flavors like butterscotch or white chocolate.
You can also add other cereal pieces. You could try some with a fun flavor like Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Or add color with Fruity Pebbles pieces.
These mix-ins keep your Rice Krispie treats interesting and help them stand out from the crowd!
How to Melt Marshmallows
There are a couple of ways you can go about melting the marshmallows for this recipe. Choose the method you are most comfortable with.
The first method is in the microwave. Microwave the marshmallows for 15 seconds at a time, stirring between each burst.
You can melt the butter and marshmallows simultaneously using this method.
The other option is to melt the marshmallows on the stove. Here, the marshmallows and butter must be melted separately.
Place the marshmallows in a pot on medium-low heat. Heat them until smooth and creamy, stirring occasionally.
Once the marshmallows are melted, you can then add the butter.
Rice Krispie Treats
24
servings10
minutes65
kcalIngredients
1/4 cup butter
4 cups 4 miniature marshmallows
5 cups 5 crisp rice cereal
Instructions
- Coat a baking pan with non-stick spray or butter.
- Using your preferred method, melt the marshmallows and butter.
- Add in the vanilla extract.
- Mix in the cereal pieces and stir until incorporated into the marshmallow butter mixture.
- Move the mixture to the greased baking dish.
- Lightly press the mixture into the shape of the dish.
- Allow to cool for fifteen minutes.
- Cut the treats into bars or fun shapes.
- Enjoy!
