Our family’s favorite Rice Krispie Treats for thick, gooey dessert bars filled with sweet and buttery marshmallows and crispy cereal crunch. A “secret” add-in makes these the best Rice Krispie treats ever.
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If you love easy party-favorite desserts like Lemon Bars, Pecan Pie Bars or Strawberry Pretzel Salad, these homemade Krispie Treats are a must-try. Watch the easy video below, and you’ll be known for these treats!
Rice Krispie Treats Video
Helpful Reader Review
“I made these for Super Bowl and they were gone fast. I have made Rice Krispy treats for 40 years for my four daughters and this recipe was by far the best. The extra marshmallows were great.” – Cheryl ★★★★★
Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
If you love big and gooey Rice Krispie treats, you will love this recipe! Who doesn’t have at least one fond memory of these classic rice treats growing up? Our Rice Krispie squares have the perfect texture – soft, and chewy, with a satisfying crunch. This is our family’s go-to recipe, and it’s a keeper. Easy and done in minutes!
In addition to adding vanilla and salt to balance the sweetness, adding whole marshmallows at the end is the “secret sauce” that makes these the most irresistible. These no-bake crispy rice treats are perfect for a bake sale, potluck, or birthday party – always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients for Marshmallow Rice Krispie Treasts
- Butter – I prefer to use unsalted butter so I can control the salt but if you use salted butter, just omit the salt in the recipe. You’ll need additional butter for greasing the pan, too.
- Marshmallows – Miniature marshmallows are my favorite to use when making Rice Krispie treats. Be sure to reserve 2 cups for adding in at the end – it’s a game changer! If you only have large-sized marshmallows, chop them into smaller pieces so they are easier to melt.
- Vanilla and salt – vanilla extract for flavor and salt to balance the sweetness.
- Crispy Rice Cereal – I prefer the original Rice Krispies cereal but a generic version will work.
Pro Tip:
A 16 oz bag of mini marshmallows equals about 8 cups. You can also use 1½ 10 oz bags. Also, 7 cups of crispy rice cereal equals roughly 7 oz. Feel free to scale the recipe up or down as needed.
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats
- Prep – Begin by greasing a 9×9 baking dish and lining it with parchment paper. You can also make this recipe in a 9×13 pan, though your Rice Krispie treats will be on the thinner side. These bars come together in just a few quick steps:
- Melt Butter & Marshmallows – In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter then and 6 cups of mini marshmallows. Gently stir until the marshmallows are melted. Be careful not to overcook the marshmallows, as the sugar will harden.
- Combine – Take the pot off the heat, then stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt. Fold in the crispy rice cereal, then fold in an additional 2 cups of mini marshmallows. You’ll need to work quickly here, stirring until the added marshmallows are just beginning to melt.
- Press into the Pan – Finally, scoop and spread the mixture into your prepared baking dish with a spatula, or lay a piece of parchment paper or plastic wrap over the top while you press the marshmallow mixture into an even layer (see photo below).
- Set – Allow the Krispie treats to cool to room temperature before you cut them into squares.
Can I use a different cereal?
They may not technically be Rice Krispie treats, but you can make this recipe with any cereal you’d like. Fruity Pebbles, Corn Pops (see our Caramel Corn Pops), Cocoa Puffs, Froot Loops, you name it.
Are Rice Krispies Treats gluten-free?
You can make gluten-free Rice Krispie treats, just be sure that the marshmallows and brand of crispy rice cereal you’re using are labeled gluten-free.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, and it’s easy to do. You can even freeze batches of Krispie treats for later. See below for make-ahead details.
Can I use a different-sized pan?
Absolutely! Instead of a 9×9, you can also use a 10×10 or even a 13×9 pan for Rice Krispie Treats. Keep in mind they won’t be quite as thick and tall in the larger-sized pans unless you scale up the recipe proportionally.
Flavor Variations
When it comes to customizing your crispy rice treats, there are so many ways you can change up this recipe. Here are some ideas:
- Cocoa Krispies – Trade out regular Rice Krispie cereal for chocolate Rice Krispies.
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats – Melt creamy peanut butter into the marshmallows for an easy peanut butter-flavored version.
- Chocolate – Drizzle the squares with melted milk chocolate or white chocolate or top them with chocolate chips.
- Holidays – Adding colored sprinkles is an easy way to make Krispie treats more festive. Add red and green for Christmas, red and pink for Valentine’s Day, rainbow sprinkles for a Birthday theme, or make Harvest treats with black and orange sprinkles.
To Store Rice Krispie Treats
It’s hard to beat a fresh batch of Rice Krispies treats; however, they do keep well and stay gooey for several days. Whether you’re making them ahead for a special occasion or simply saving leftovers, Rice Krispie squares are easy to store:
- At Room Temperature: Keep the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend refrigerating Rice Krispie treats as they tend to harden.
- Freezing: For longer storage, transfer your krispy rice treats in a freezer-safe bag or container, remove extra air, and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw the bars at room temperature before serving.
Rice Krispie Treats are a classic dessert that everyone loves. We can’t wait for you to try this recipe packed with extra gooey marshmallows.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Check out these other easy desserts that are perfect for parties and potlucks:
- Date Snickers (tastes like Snickers bars!)
- Banana Pudding
- Fudgy Brownies
- Toffee Recipe
- No Bake Cheesecake
- Apple Crisp
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, plus more to grease pan
- 16 oz mini marshmallows, divided into 6 cups and 2 cups*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
- 7 cups crispy rice cereal, *
Instructions
- Butter and line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper (you can use a 9×13 but the squares won’t be as thick).
- In a large pot or dutch oven, melt butter over medium/low heat. Add 6 cups marshmallows and stir just until completely melted (don’t overcook or the mixture will harden).
- Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in vanilla and salt. Working quickly stir in the cereal then fold in the remaining 2 cups marshmallows until well coated and the added marshmallows just start to melt but are still chunky.
- Immediately transfer the mixture to the prepared pan, place a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper over the top to prevent sticking and lightly pressing it evenly into the pan.
- Set aside to cool completely to room temperature (about 1 hour), then slice into squares and enjoy.
Notes
*For gluten free rice krispies treats, make sure the marshmallows and cereal you use are marked gluten-free.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
Wow! These are incredible. They’re a perfect balance between salty, sweet, and chewy but not soggy. Instead of using parchment paper or cling wrap to pat down the top, I used a rubber spatula to do so (the same one I used to mix the mixture of cereal and marshmallows) made for one less step and easier clean up. Thank you for an irresistible recipe!
You are so welcome, Holly Ann! So glad you loved the recipe.
A bit too salty for our taste, had to throw out the batch. Will try less salt next time.
Hi Sarah! This only uses 1/2 tsp of salt, which is a small amount for the recipe as a whole. Did you use salted butter? I recommended using unsalted butter.
At what point would you recommend to add food coloring?
Hi there! I think the best time is after the marshmallows have melted but before you mix in the Rice Krispies cereal. Hope it becomes a huge success!
Just made these and absolutely love them! The addition of the salt really makes these stand out. They are perfect!
Delicious and so easy to make. Thank you.
This is my go-to recipe. I really appreciate the exact measurements of the marshmallows. This recipe can easily be cut in half or quarter for a small batch. My only issue is mine are always very sticky. Are they supposed to be sticky or am I doing something wrong? Thank you.❤️
Best rice krispie treats recipe I’ve ever made. Received rave reviews from everyone at the party! Thank you!
You’re very welcome, Tara!
These turned out perfectly! In fact, this is the best recipe for rice crispy treats and I’ve made a lot of different recipes. I love the addition of the salt and extra marshmallows! My 11 year old son requested rice crispy treats and he made sure I saved this recipe. So good! Thank you for sharing!
Very quick and easy I recommend putting in more marshmallows and if you don’t have parchment paper to shape your rice crispies to simply wet your hands, and it won’t stick
These are amazing. I think I’ve used this recipe before but don’t remember adding salt. My daughter and I made them tonight for valentine treats …. I don’t know if it’s the love or the salt but these are the best I’ve ever made and my husband and nephew said the best they have ever had.
This is the best Rice Krispie treat recipe!!
Oh my goodness Natasha!! I am 53 years old and have really only had these treats homemade a few times. I know… awful. I watched your video with your kids I received in messenger and since I have been making treats to send to my grandbabies, I thought this would be a great addition. These are the absolute best simple krispie treat have ever sank my teeth into! The added chunky marshmallows put this over the top! I KNOW I will be making these more often with your recipe! Thank you!!