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
Have you tried browning the butter before you put the marshmallows in? I bet that toffee, nutty flavor would be amazing with this recipe.
Hi Jennifer, I haven’t tested that yet but thank you for sharing. I’ll keep that in mind the next time I try this recipe.
I feel so annoying saying this, but these are tagged under vegetarian and marshmallows unfortunately contain animal parts, BUT, they make Dandies marshmallows now that are vegan and would be awesome in this! Thank you! I appreciate you!
Thank you so much for the heads-up! I removed that category. I did not realize that was the case.
Delicious 😋 They are so beautiful with sprinkles! The Best Christmas treat of 2022!
I bet the sprinkles make it extra special! I’m so glad you loved them, Lindsey!
These are delicious. So easy to make. Ill try some of the suggested add-ins next time.
I’m so happy you loved them, Vickie! Aren’t they fun to make?
Hello there, just started to prepare ingredients for this wonderful recipe.Very unclear how much the amount of Butter is though, could you give me an alternative to TBSpoons ……
Ps, tried quite a few of your recipes I’m over the moon with all of them.. Thank You and Happy Christmas to you and your lovely family xxxx
Hi Rhonda, If you scroll down to our printable recipe card, most of our recipes have a metric conversion option on the printable recipe card. We are currently working on adding metric measurements to all of our recipes, but it is taking some time to add them one at a time. Thank you so much for being patient! In the meantime, check out our post on measuring which should help.
Thank You so much for coming back to me, I really appreciate it.I found a conversation site on line, but not easy to find appropriate one……4oz of butter in the end! The end result was a Big Success 🤗
Happy Christmas xx
I’m not sure how much peanut butter to add ? I’m going to go with 1/2 cup ?
Hi Nicole, I havne’t tried it with peanut butter to know how much. I also asked one of my readers that question who has tried it in the comments.
Would it be ok to sub table salt for sea salt? If so, would it be the same amount?
Hi Amira, we prefer this recipe with table salt, but sea salt will work if it is as fine as table salt.
Hi there, your video and recipe call for sea salt but your comment here says table salt. Which is best?
That was my mistake! I meant we prefer it with sea salt over table salt, but it may still work with table salt.
Thanks! This is my GO TO recipe now! The addiition of vanilla, sea salt, and semi-melted marshmallows are perfection!
You’re welcome, Rachel! I’m so glad to hear that.
Hi Natasha! I want to “Christmas” these up by adding red & green M&Ms – but I’m worried about the colour on the candy running. I’d like to keep the bars white with bright pops of red & green M&Ms. Any tips to prevent the candy coating from running & staining the bars? Thank you!
Hi! If the Rice Krispie treats are too warm, the M&M’s will melt and color bleed. You can experiment with it. I add sprinkles to these but I add them to the top.
I followed your advice & waited a minute or two to add the M&Ms. I also mixed in many of the Rice Krispies first to “temper” the mixture. Lastly, I used M&Ms I kept in the freezer. All of the above resulted in white squares with the Christmasy pops of colour I wanted! They were sooo delicious & gooey! This will replace my old Rice Krispies recipe for sure!
That’s wonderful! So glad to hear that they turned out great. Thank you for giving me an update. Merry Christmas!
These Rice Krispies were probably the tastiest ones I have ever made. My kids couldn’t get enough of them!
So glad to hear that, Olivia! Thank you for the feedback!
Your kids are ADORABLE! and the little girl is exactly like you, same face and same expressions. Natasha, you have a beautiful family.
I’m going to try the recipe tomorrow and let you know how it came out.
Thank you! I hope you love this recipe. I would love to know how it turns out. 🙂
Hi Natasha,
Love your recipes and videos especially with the children. Beautiful family! I love this recipe adding g the peanut butter and either chocolate morsels or a drizzle of. Keep up the good work and can’t wait till your cookbook comes out. Merry Christmas to to and your family and all with many blessings!
Merry Christmas, Karen! Thank you for your love and support. Be blessed!
I haven’t made this yet- but Natasha you’re a genius!! Adding vanilla and salt and having the marshmallows not melt as much that like…..wow!
Thank you, Rebecca! I hope you love this recipe. 🙂
The shark is ion Dianna hand just when she starts pressing the Rice Krispies down into the pan.
I do not have a cell phone so cannot text you. Love your videos.
Great eye spotting sharky!!
Made the rice Krispy treats with the peanut butter, much better than without. Thank you.
Oh yum! That is a delicious idea to make peanut butter rice krispie treats. How much peanut butter do you add and at what point are you blending it in? Thanks for sharing your great review!
How much peanut butter should I add to the Rice Krispie Squares?
Hi Brenda, I haven’t tested it. I’m asking the same question above. 🙂
I’ve always added peanut butter, don’t measure but I’m guessing it’s about 1/2 cup. I stir it in once the marshmallows have melted.
I made these last week for family!! They were a hit! Love adding the marshmallows inside. They are super gooey!
I’m so glad they were a hit, Kristyn! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I saw Sharky take a bite of the rice krispie treat of your son’s. That is so adorable and your kids are sooo CUTE!!!!!
Sharky couldn’t resist! Great eye, Melinda!
Hey Natasha , sorry I don’t like marshmallows , I’m not going to be making these. Next.
I love the simplicity of this treat, and your version is especially lovely because of the vanilla and salt, making it taste “designer.” For the holidays, a thick drizzle of white icing with edible silver glitter, red icing with gold, or green with both makes an unexpected but very festive presentation. Thanks for another great one, Natasha!
Hi Judith, it’s a small addition with the vanilla and salt but it really does make it taste like ‘designer’ Rice Krispie Treats! I love that you called them ‘designer’. That made me smile big.
My kids love these so much. The best part is they are easy enough for them to make on their own!
Isn’t that the best?! This is the perfect recipe to try with kiddos this Christmas season!
I have never tried them with vanilla and salt, but I may have to give them a try. I love the marshmallows added again. We had those at a restaurant recently and that added a nice touch.
I will double the recipe for a 9×13. These never last in our family!!
I love your recipes and have made a lot of them♥️. Rice Krispie treats are definitely one of my favorites since I was a lil girl. I have such fond memories of making them with my grandmother and then with my children and for all their school functions. I’ve made them so many different ways like regular Krispies mixed with coco Krispies or regular Krispies with mini chocolate chip or even different colored sprinkles for whatever holiday it is. I run a small in home daycare and one of our fun projects is we make the Rice Krispies and we separate them into bowls and they can make the own to eat with whatever topping the want to put on them♥️🥳☺️ so much fun!
Keep posting your wonderful recipes
That is so sweet that Rice Krispie treats hold so many great food memories for you! I love your add-in ideas and that would be such a fun project for kiddos.
I scrolled down to this comment to see the printable card but can’t find it! Merry Christmas!
Hi Linda! If you’re at the top of the page, click on “jump to recipe” and you will find the print option there.