Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (2024)

The ratio of cereal to marshmallow makes or breaks a rice krispie treat… literally! For extra gooey and buttery rice krispie treats, use this recipe. The addition of a little extra butter and marshmallow, plus a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, makes all the difference.

Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (1)

I wasn’t going to publish this recipe because, really, how many ways can one make a rice krispie treat? (Hello, cake batter rice krispie treats, pumpkin pie rice krispie treats, and s’mores rice krispie treats from forever ago!) The internet is flooded with these classic marshmallow-cereal squares, but I figured you might like to know how I’ve been making them over the years…? Maybe? Hopefully?

This is, without question, the best way to make rice krispie treats and I have a few tricks up my sleeve to guarantee that the treats are extra marshmallow-y, extra gooey, extra buttery, extra flavorful, and extra AWESOME. I make these whenever I need a quick and guaranteed crowd-friendly dessert. In fact, I just served a double batch at a big cookout over the weekend. Not a single square left. They are also the perfect treat to include in our list of back to school recipes.

Crispy rice treats are a totally retro dessert and once you take that first bite, you’re instantly reminded why they’re a staple. So good!!

Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (2)

Video Tutorial: How to Make Rice Krispie Treats

5 Ingredients in These Rice Krispie Treats

You only need 5 simple ingredients for these no-bake squares.

  1. Butter:Like all good desserts, the base of great rice krispie treats is butter! You need 3/4 cup, which is 170g, or 12 Tablespoons.
  2. Marshmallows:These krispie treats are extra marshmallow-y without falling apart. You need two 10-ounce bags (about 11 heaping cups) of mini marshmallows.
  3. Vanilla Extract: This is an easy addition that turns a good rice krispie treat into a great rice krispie treat. You only need 1/2 teaspoon, but what a difference it makes! Homemade vanilla extract is excellent here.
  4. Salt: Salt is another little flavor enhancer I add to my rice krispie treats. Like vanilla extract, salt is a super convenient ingredient you already have in your kitchen, and you don’t need much of it. Just a pinch adds a depth of flavor otherwise absent from crispy rice treats.
  5. Rice Krispies Cereal: What’s a crispy treat without rice krispies cereal? The best!

Melt the butter and marshmallows in a big pot on the stove, then remove from heat and gently stir in the remaining ingredients. I just use my handy 5.5-quart Dutch oven. Any similar size works great!

Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (3)
Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (4)

Best Ratio of Marshmallow to Cereal

An important factor in a rice krispie treat recipe is the ratio of marshmallow to cereal. Too much cereal and the squares will taste dry, crunchy, and bland. Too much marshmallow and the squares will be too sticky and fall apart. The best ratio for a 9×13-inch baking pan is two 10-ounce bags of mini marshmallows (566g, or about 11 heaping cups) and 9 cups of cereal (270g).

To prevent any kind of sticking, line your baking pan with greased parchment paper. I just lightly spray the parchment paper with a little nonstick spray.

Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (5)

The #1 Trick for Rice Krispie Treats

Do you want an extra buttery melt-in-your-mouth marshmallow square? Of course you do. In order to achieve this, do NOT pack the rice krispie treats down into the baking pan. Use greased fingers or a greased spatula to softly spread and stretch the mixture into the pan, then use a flat spatula to very gently press the mixture down. Do not compact it with force, otherwise your treats will be thin and hard. Instead, just lightly press the treats down into the pan. Butter the back of a flat spatula or spray with a little nonstick spray to prevent sticking. Your treats will be soft yet crisp and not overly crunchy. 🙂

I recommend doing this with my scotcheroos and white chocolate Lucky Charms treats, too!

Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (6)
Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (7)

That’s basically it! I don’t need to convince you that rice krispie treats are delicious, but I hope you try these little extras (the vanilla, salt, ratio of marshmallow to cereal) the next time you need a recipe for these marshmallow squares.

More No-Bake Desserts

  • No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars
  • Peanut Butter Fudge
  • Scotcheroos
  • Ice Cream Cake
  • No-Bake Cookies
  • No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
  • Caramel Dipped Pretzels

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Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (8)

Favorite Rice Krispie Treats

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star4.8 from 131 reviews

  • Author: Sally
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
  • Yield: 20 treats
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Cooking
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This is our favorite recipe for classic rice krispie treats. Adding a little extra butter and marshmallow, plus a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt makes all the difference! Let them set for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares.

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup (170g; 1.5 sticks) unsalted butter
  • two 10-ounce bags (566g; 11 heaping cups) mini marshmallows
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • pinch salt
  • 9 cups (270g) crispy rice cereal

Instructions

  1. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment. I always use a very light mist of nonstick spray. Set aside.
  2. Melt the butter over medium heat in a very large pot. Once melted, add the marshmallows. Stir the mixture until the marshmallows are completely melted.
  3. Remove from heat, then immediately stir in the vanilla extract and salt. Finally, fold in the cereal. Make sure each piece of cereal is coated with the marshmallow mixture.
  4. Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Using a rubber spatula (greasing it lightly helps), gently spread mixture to fit the pan. Lightly grease the back of a flat spatula and very gently press the mixture down into the pan. Do not pack it down with force, just lightly press down until it is secure in the pan.
  5. Allow treats to set for at least 1 hour at room temperature, and up to 1 day. Cover tightly if leaving out for more than a few hours.
  6. Lift the rice krispie treats as a whole out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper. Cut into squares.
  7. Cover and store leftover treats at room temperature for up to 3 days. To store, place in an airtight container, with sheets of parchment or wax paper between layers.

Notes

  1. Freezing Instructions: Rice krispie treats aren’t the best dessert to freeze because the texture isn’t always completely the same after thawing. That being said, you can still freeze these squares. Freeze in layers between sheets of parchment or wax paper in a freezer-friendly container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
  2. Special Tools (affiliate links): 9×13-inch Baking Pan | Parchment Paper | Large Pot (such as a Dutch Oven) | Rubber Spatula | Flat Spatula
  3. If gluten free, check labels to ensure all products are certified gluten free.
  4. For the pinch of salt, I always add a little less than 1/8 teaspoon.

Adapted from Kellogg’s

Best Rice Krispie Treats (Recipe + Video) - Sally's Baking Addiction (2024)

FAQs

Why did my homemade rice crispy treats get hard? ›

If you melt the marshmallows too fast, it might result in a Rice Kripsy treat that is harder and crunchy than chewy. Take your time and let the butter and marshmallows melt slowly. Use an 8×8 or slightly smaller pan. Use a small and deep pan if you want thick and chewy rice Krispy treats.

Why do bodybuilders like Rice Krispie treats? ›

Users claim that the treats improve workouts and give them more power during training sessions. Rice Krispies treats are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates while remaining relatively low in fat and protein. Therefore, they give the body easily accessible energy without slowing digestion.

How to keep rice krispie treats from tasting stale? ›

How do you keep rice crispy treats fresh longer? Your best bet is to avoid sticking them in the fridge or freezer. Rice crispy treats will actually taste best if they're stored at room temperature. or quicker, easier access, go for smaller squares that you can just grab and eat.

Why are my Rice Krispie treats so sticky? ›

Butter: I use unsalted butter, then add salt later to control the sodium. It helps keep the crispy rice treats soft and less sticky. If using salted butter, omit the added salt.

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies 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.

How to fix rice krispie treats falling apart? ›

How do you make rice crispy treats not fall apart? If your final product is falling apart, it could be because you're trying to cut when the dessert is too warm. Or, you may have added too many marshmallows. Place them in the fridge to firm up and try to slice again.

Can I eat rice krispies before bed? ›

Cereal. As any cereal lover will tell you, it's not just for mornings. In fact, getting stuck in a bowl before bed can help you fall asleep at night. Cereals that are made from corn, oats, wheat, rice and barley all contain melatonin and tryptophan, which we've seen before, relax the body and aid the onset of sleep.

Why do rice krispies give you a pump? ›

“Rice Krispies are an awesome source right before a workout because they hit your stomach, they get digested really quickly, they enter your bloodstream, and boom, you have carbs to power your workout. This is why as sports dietitians, we recommend cereal as a pre-workout snack,” Klinger says in a video post.

Why are Rice Krispie treats a healthy snack? ›

Even though Rice Krispie Treats contain added sugar, they also contain carbohydrates that can provide you with the energy you need for your workout. American Heart Association. Food as fuel before, during, and after workouts.

What makes rice krispies taste better? ›

Use more butter (lots more) and brown it to deepen the flavor. Increase the marshmallows and stir in some at the end for extra gooeyness. Add vanilla extract for flavor. Add salt because a little salt makes anything sweet taste so much better.

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.

Do you have to refrigerate rice krispie 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.

How far in advance can you make rice crispy treats? ›

Allow to thaw at room temperature before serving. Make-ahead- I truly believe the best rice krispies are the ones fresh from the pan but if you want to make them in advance remember to make them no more than 3 days before you plan to serve them or freeze them right away.

How to make Rice Krispie Treats last longer? ›

Wrap the cereal treats in non-stick tin foil or Glad Press 'n Seal or wax paper then place them in an airtight container or place them in a zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

How do you fix hard rice krispie treats? ›

That said, if they're too hard one time, next time add slightly less cereal. Make sure you're adding the right amount of butter and marshmallows. If they come out too soft/falling apart, add slightly more cereal. I add a tablespoon of peanutbutter to mine, so I add slightly more cereal.

What to do if my Rice Krispie treats is too dry? ›

If the marshmallows cook too long, the texture of the sugar changes and your treats will turn out hard and dry. Cooking them in the microwave allows you to control the temperature better and cooks it at a low heat. Another tip for keeping your crispy rice treats soft and chewy is to use fresh bags of mini marshmallows.

Why are my homemade Rice Krispies 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.

How do you keep rice crispy treats from sticking to your hands? ›

Instead, you should use the inside of the wrapper to pat your marshmallow and butter-infused treat down into its pan. As crazyforcrust noted, this will allow you to even out your Rice Krispies Treats without covering your hands in marshmallows and crispy rice cereal.

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