Best Ever Rice Krispies Treats: A No-Bake Family Favorite Treat (2024)

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These Rice Krispies treats are a delicious childhood recipe much better than the packaged version. They are chewy marshmallow perfection in this no-bake dessert that anyone can make. Everyone will love them, no matter their age!

Best Ever Rice Krispies Treats: A No-Bake Family Favorite Treat (1)
Jump to:
  • No Bake Classic Rice Krispies Treats Recipe
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 How To Make Rice Krispies Treats
  • 🥄 Make Ahead Options
  • 🥡 Storing
  • ❓ Recipe FAQs
  • 🍴 What To Serve With
  • 📖 Recipe Card
  • 💬 Reviews

No Bake Classic Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

I think it's safe to say that almost everyone has enjoyed a Rice Krispies treat at some point in their life. I think it's a staple of back-to-school time and an easy beginner recipe for kids to try on their own.

People of all ages love these rice krispies squares and it is so easy to see why. Nothing beats the homemade version either (sorry, Kellogg's, pre-made treats taste super processed)!

This is my recipe for the best Rice Krispies treats, including my tips and tricks for a wonderfully chewy treat. It is the way I have been making my rice crispy treats for ages now, and my family's undisputed favorite version.

Try my rainbow Rice Krispies Treats for a colorful variation of this family favorite dessert! I also have recipes for chocolate-dipped Rice Krispies Treats, peanut butter Rice Krispies Treats, chocolate peanut butter Rice Krispies Treats, and candy corn Rice Krispies Treats!

🥘 Ingredients

Every version of the classic rice krispie treat includes the three core ingredients: butter, marshmallows, and crispy rice cereal. However, I have slightly tweaked the original recipe to make this extra delicious version.

  • Butter - ½ cup of salted butter. A higher ratio of butter makes these rice krispie bars extra rich and delicious.
  • Marshmallows - 15 ounces of marshmallows to hold your wonderful cereal bars together and give that super gooey, chewy texture. Using fresh marshmallows will yield the best results. Older marshmallows that are stale and hardened on the outside will be a gummy mess.
  • Vanilla - 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract. The extra hint of vanilla makes your favorite cereal dessert even better.
  • Rice Krispies cereal - 9 cups of Rice Krispies. Any brand of crisped or puffed rice cereal will work. The crispier, the better. Use fresh cereal for the best results!
  • Salt - I always use salted butter, so I don't add extra. However, if using unsalted butter, I would recommend a pinch of salt for the best flavor.

Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!

🔪 How To Make Rice Krispies Treats

These no-bake cereal bars are ridiculously easy to whip up, and you can do it either using your stovetop or microwave. All you need to get started is a bowl or saucepan, a 9x13 baking dish, and a silicone spatula.

One batch of these bars can be cut into 12 squares. Of course, you can make them as large or small as you like.

  1. Pan Preparation: Begin by readying a 9x13 baking pan. You can grease it with butter, use non-stick cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper for easy treat removal later.
  2. Marshmallow Melting: Melt ½ cup of butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over low heat. Add 15 ounces of mini marshmallows, keeping 1 cup aside for later. Stir the marshmallows into the butter until they're completely melted.
  3. Vanilla and Salt Addition: Once the marshmallows are smooth and fully melted, take the pan off the heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt (if using unsalted butter) to enhance the flavor.
  4. Fold In The Cereal: Gently fold in 9 cups of Rice Krispies cereal and the remaining 1 cup of mini marshmallows. Ensure each piece of cereal is well-coated with the marshmallow mixture for even flavor and texture.
  5. Transfer and Spread: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan. Use a piece of waxed paper, a buttered spatula, or your lightly buttered hands to press the mixture evenly across the pan. Remember, a gentle touch is key to keeping the treats light and airy.
  6. Setting the Treats: Allow the Rice Krispies treats to cool and set at room temperature for about an hour. Once they've firmed up, cut them into squares, and they're ready to enjoy!

Microwave Instructions to Melt Marshmallows

If you don't want to melt your marshmallows on the stovetop, you can use your microwave instead! To melt your marshmallows in the microwave, use a large microwave-safe mixing bowl.

  1. Add. Place marshmallows and tablespoon-size butter pats in the bowl together.
  2. Heat. Microwave for 2 minutes on high, then stir. Return to the microwave and heat in 30-second increments until the marshmallows are fully melted. Stir until smooth.
  3. Continue. Fold in the cereal and mini marshmallows and continue as directed above.
Best Ever Rice Krispies Treats: A No-Bake Family Favorite Treat (2)

💭 Tips & Notes

  • Parchment Paper for Easy Removal: Line your baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some overhang on the sides. This trick prevents sticking and lets you easily lift the entire batch out for effortless slicing, especially handy for party servings!
  • Freshness Counts: Always use fresh cereal and marshmallows for the best-tasting bars. Stale ingredients can lead to hard or less flavorful treats.
  • Gentle Pressing: When transferring the mixture to the baking dish, press it down gently. Overpacking can lead to dense and hard Rice Krispie treats, so a light touch is key.
  • Marshmallow Mix-In: For an added chewiness and flavor, stir in some whole marshmallows with the mixture. This simple addition elevates the texture and taste of your treats.

🥄 Make Ahead Options

Rice Krispies treats can easily be frozen for later. Make your entire batch, and then let them set completely. Slice them into individual servings and then wrap each bar separately using plastic wrap.

Then, you can place all of the wrapped bars into a large food storage bag or container and freeze them for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, you will need to let the bars sit at room temperature for a couple of hours so that they thaw completely and soften up.

🥡 Storing

These are best when enjoyed fresh or at least within 2-3 days (if they even last that long!) To store them, keep them in a sealed, airtight container at room temperature.

Do not refrigerate them, as they will become much too hard. Instead, make a fresh batch (up to a day in advance, if needed) when you want them.

❓ Recipe FAQs

Do Rice Krispie Treats Need To Be Refrigerated?

Nope! Actually, I highly recommend you don't store them in the fridge! The cold temperatures will cause the marshmallows to become very hard. Instead, only store them at room temperature.

Why Are My Krispies Treats Hard?

There are 2 reasons why your cereal bars came out overly hard. The first is that you packed them down too tightly into your pan. You should press them firmly enough that everything sticks together and there are no gaps, but not so hard that they become too dense. The second reason would be if you used old marshmallows or stale cereal.

Can You Make Rice Krispies Treats In Advance?

If needed, you can easily make these bars the day before you plan on serving them. However, I wouldn't prepare them any earlier than that. Just make sure to keep them stored in an airtight container at room temperature so that they stay soft!

🍴 What To Serve With

These cereal bars are a delicious treat all on their own for a quiet night with the kids, or you can serve them at a party or other event. They would go great with any of my easy party desserts, such as my sprinkle cookies or sopapilla cheesecake bars. Enjoy!

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Best Ever Rice Krispies Treats: A No-Bake Family Favorite Treat (4)

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4.99 from 61 reviews

Rice Krispies Treats

These Rice Krispies treats are a delicious childhood recipe much better than the packaged version. They are chewy marshmallow perfection in this no-bake dessert that anyone can make. Everyone will love them, no matter their age!

Author | Angela Latimer

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 262kcal

Prep 5 minutes minutes

Cooking 5 minutes minutes

Cooling & Setting Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter (salted)
  • 15 oz mini marshmallows (1 ½ 10 oz bags, reserve 1 cup of marshmallows)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 9 cups Rice Krispies

Help Us Out!If you love a recipe, be sure to come back and share your ratings. This helps future users, and allows me to continue sharing free recipes! Angela

Instructions

  • Butter your 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking pan, or line with parchment paper.

  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows (minus 1 cup for later) and stir to coat well. Continue stirring until all of the marshmallows are melted, then remove from heat.

  • Stir in the vanilla, then add the rice krispies cereal and the remaining 1 cup portion of marshmallows. Gently fold in and stir until all of the cereal is coated with the melted marshmallow.

  • Transfer the coated cereal to your prepared pan, then use a buttered spatula, waxed paper, or dip your fingers in water or butter to gently press the rice krispies cereal down into an even layer. *Do not pack the cereal in firmly, as it will make for hard rice krispies treats.

  • Set the treats out and let them cool for at least an hour before slicing and serving.

Notes

Adapted from Kellogg's original rice krispies treats recipe:

  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 10 oz bag of marshmallows (about 40 marshmallows, or 4 cups mini-marshmallows, or 7 oz jar of marshmallow fluff)
  • 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

*Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

Nutrition

Calories: 262kcal (13%) | Carbohydrates: 47g (16%) | Protein: 2g (4%) | Fat: 8g (12%) | Saturated Fat: 5g (31%) | Cholesterol: 20mg (7%) | Sodium: 207mg (9%) | Potassium: 26mg (1%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 23g (26%) | Vitamin A: 1633IU (33%) | Vitamin C: 13mg (16%) | Calcium: 4mg | Iron: 6mg (33%)

Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I can’t wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!

Course Dessert Recipes, No Bake Desserts

Cuisine American

Best Ever Rice Krispies Treats: A No-Bake Family Favorite Treat (2024)

FAQs

Why don t they sell Rice Krispies anymore? ›

That's largely due to the supply chain crisis affecting the food industry as a whole, Market Realist shares. But the way it's affecting Rice Krispies specifically has to do with the supply of barley malt extract, one of the main ingredients in the cereal.

What is the difference between original and homestyle Rice Krispies treats? ›

The Homestyle treats are also 50 percent bigger than the normal ones you get at the store so you can enjoy more sweet and crunchy goodness in every package.

Can I use old marshmallows for rice crispy 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 homemade rice krispie treats soggy? ›

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.

Why is Rice Krispies banned in some countries? ›

Frosted Flakes are banned in the entire European Union and Japan. Their reasoning is not because of the added sugar but the added preservatives. Frosted Flakes, as well as Rice Krispies and several other Kellogg brand cereals, contain a preservative called BHT.

Why are Rice Krispies so expensive? ›

In 2021, rice production in the U.S. fell well below the year prior, dropping 16 percent from 2020 and driving up the cost of the 2021 rice crop. This year's price tag for medium grain rice, the variety used in Rice Krispies, “is projected to exceed last year's [price] by about 15 percent,” said T.

What happened to the original Rice Krispies? ›

Despite the public's obvious and vocal disgust with the product, Kellogg's decided to stay firm in their decision on replacing the original Rice Krispies with the new Rice Krispies Vanilla, until 2020 when Kellogg's returned the original product to shelves.

What was Rice Krispie treats originally called? ›

Kellogg's decided to test what it initially called “marshmallow squares” developed by Mildred and Malitta. Day took a train to Kansas City where she set up a temporary kitchen. For two weeks, working daily from 6:30 AM to 10 PM, she made batch after batch of the treats.

What is a good substitute for Rice Krispies? ›

Creative and yummy Rice Krispie swap-outs
  • Fried chow mein noodles.
  • Fried wonton strips.
  • Pretzel sticks.
  • Potato sticks.
  • Popcorn (you'll end up with an amazing flavor halfway between kettle corn and caramel corn)
  • Homemade Chex Mix (avoid overly intense flavors like garlic or onion)
Jul 15, 2021

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 do my rice crispy treats taste stale? ›

Either you have added too much cereal, or you did not pack it down firmly. The marshmallow is the glue, so make sure everything is mixed together well, and it's pressed firmly into the pan. Why do my rice crispy treats taste stale? Make sure that before you start, test out your cereal to make sure it isn't stale.

Do you refrigerate rice crispy treats after you make them? ›

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.

What are three tips for making better rice krispies treats? ›

For Even Better Rice Krispies Treats, Do One More Thing
  1. Toast the cereal. The rice crisp cereal is toasted to coax out a nutty flavor and aroma. ...
  2. Brown the butter: Buy the best butter you're willing to use. ...
  3. Use mini marshmallows. ...
  4. Don't skimp on the salt. ...
  5. Add vanilla.

How far in advance should I make rice krispie treats? ›

You can make these treats in advance! Rice Krispie treats can sit at room temperature for up to 5 days if stored in an airtight container.

How do you keep homemade rice crispy treats from getting hard? ›

Thankfully, I found a tip on how to keep homemade Rice Krispie treats soft using an ingredient that's already in my pantry: sweetened condensed milk. It turns out this staple helps prevent the treat from hardening too fast once prepared.

Why did Rice Krispies change? ›

The move to the new multi-grain formula in Rice Krispies Vanilla presumably saved Kellogg's money; it could use local grains instead of more expensive imported rice. South Africa is the ninth biggest importer of rice in the world, due to a shortage of local rice crops.

What happened to brown rice Rice Krispies? ›

The company said in a statement, “We have stopped production of Kellogg's Rice Krispies Gluten-Free cereal due to disappointing sales.

Who makes Rice Krispies now? ›

Rice Krispies® Cereal - WK Kellogg Co.

What happened to Coco Krispies? ›

In February 1998, the British arm of Kellogg's renamed the brand in the country Choco Krispies, but sales quickly declined, and in the spring of 1999, telephone and internet poll with over one million voters found that 92% of voters wanted the name changed back to Coco Pops.

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