The Best Rice Krispie Treats- Spaceships and Laser Beams

close up shot of Rice Krispie Treats stacked on top of each other

Rice Krispie treats are a childhood favorite full of ooey-gooey marshmallow goodness!

Table of Contents

Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients
Rice Krispie Treats Variations
How To Make The Best Rice Krispie Treats
How To Serve This Recipe For Rice Krispie Bars
How To Store Rice Krispie Treats
Why We Love This Recipe
The Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
More Recipes You’ll Love
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This classic homemade Rice Krispie treats recipe is a favorite with their buttery, gooey marshmallows mixed with crunchy cereal. They are perfect for lunchboxes, snacking, and dessert!

Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients

These delightful treats are irresistibly sweet, chewy, and crispy all at once, with a subtle but distinct vanilla flavor to round it off.

You’ll need:

1 bag of mini marshmallows
¼ cup of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal

PRO TIP:

Be sure to use fresh marshmallows for the best results!

Rice Krispie Treats Variations

CEREAL: Use other cereal flavors like Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Krispies instead of the crispy rice cereal.

Or, you could add chocolate chips and Golden Grahams cereal, then top with mini marshmallows for s’mores treats.

MARSHMALLOW: You can also substitute a 7-ounce jar of marshmallow fluff instead of the mini marshmallows for this great recipe.

ADD-ONS: Of course, the original recipe is perfect on its own, but you can also add mix-ins like peanut butter, M&M’s, sprinkles, or other candy.

Or add caramel or chocolate drizzle on top of your cereal treats.

THEME-SPECIFIC: Customize these buttery Rice Krispie treats for special occasions.

You could make these crispy treats pastel-colored for a special unicorn treat. You could mix pumpkin puree in with the butter and marshmallows for an autumn treat.

You could do food coloring or shapes galore to celebrate Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, or Halloween. Think Frankenstein and add green food coloring to the mix.

How To Make The Best Rice Krispie Treats

These treats are so easy to make. We’ve got all the tips and tricks for this perfect, nostalgic recipe.

STEP ONE: In a microwave-safe large bowl, melt marshmallows and butter for one minute.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

You can make this on the stovetop as well! In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat, then add in the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from the heat — it’s important not to overcook!

melt marshmallows and butter combined together

STEP TWO: Remove from the microwave and pour the vanilla into the melted marshmallow mixture. Stir until the mixture is completely smooth.

vanilla added to the marshmallows and stirred together

STEP THREE: Add six cups of Rice Krispie cereal and stir until the cereal is well coated.

PRO TIP:

You could add just a dash of salt to help enhance the sweet flavors even more.

Rice Krispies added to the vanilla mixture and stirred together

STEP FOUR: Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper and pour the cereal mixture into the pan.

Place a piece of parchment paper over the top and press the Krispies down gently into an even layer.

PRO TIP:

Don’t put too much pressure when pressing down, you don’t need to completely smoosh them!

If you’re using your fingers or rubber spatula to press the mixture down, run your hands/spatula under water and shake off the excess before starting. This will help prevent the sticky mixture from clinging to you! You can also spray your hands or spatula with a little bit of cooking spray.

STEP FIVE: Let sit on the counter for an hour or in the fridge for 30 minutes until set.

STEP SIX: Lift the treats from the pan and slice them into extra-thick, giant bars.

Or you can make more reasonably-sized marshmallow squares for a delicious snack after lunch, it’s your call!

How To Serve This Recipe For Rice Krispie Bars

This delicious treat is always welcome at snack time, lunchtime, or really anytime at all.

Add a glass of milk on the side or an Instant Pot hot chocolate to keep you cozy and warm.

Enjoy your afternoon coffee, vanilla latte, or a pumpkin spice latte with a side of Rice Krispie treat.

Looking for more irresistible no-bake treats? Our chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies and no-bake monster cookies are both delicious recipes!

MORE TREATS RECIPES

Snacks

Crockpot Applesauce

How To Store Rice Krispie Treats

How Long Do Rice Krispie Treats Last?

These sweet treats will last for two days in an airtight container at room temperature.

Can You Freeze Rice Krispie Treats?

You could also freeze Rice Krispie bars for four to six weeks in a freezer-safe container with wax paper in between each treat.

PRO TIP:

You can place a slice of bread in the container with your Rice Krispie treats to help soften them if they start to get too hard.

close up overhead shot of Rice Krispie Treats lined on top of parchment paper

Why We Love This Recipe

SIMPLE TO MAKE: This recipe is incredibly easy and quick to make, making it perfect for both novice and experienced cooks. With just a few basic ingredients and minimal preparation, you can whip up a batch of delicious treats in no time.

NOSTALGIC: Rice Krispie treats are a beloved childhood favorite, and this recipe captures that nostalgic comfort perfectly.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY: Rice Krispie treats are a crowd-pleaser at family gatherings, parties, or as a delightful surprise for kids after school.

The Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Four simple ingredients make this classic Rice Krispies treat one of the easiest things to make. It will certainly satisfy your sweet craving and are always a great choice to make and share.

Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe FAQs

Why are my Rice Krispie treats hard?

Getting the marshmallow and butter mixture too hot can lead to your Rice Krispie treats getting too hard. Also, if you don’t use fresh marshmallows or butter, it can impact your treats.

How do you keep Rice Krispies squares from sticking together?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container or bag in between sheets of wax paper to help keep each square from sticking to the others.

How do I mix the marshmallows and cereal without it sticking to everything?

You can dampen your hands and spatula with water or spray both with cooking spray to help avoid the mixture sticking to you.

How do you keep Rice Krispie treats crispy?

You can keep Rice Krispie treats fresh by storing them in an airtight container.

How do you keep Rice Krispie treats from getting soggy?

Adding too much marshmallow and butter to the Rice Krispies can result in soggy Rice Krispies.

Are Rice Krispie Treats gluten-free?

Rice Krispie treats are not gluten-free because Rice Krispies are made with malt syrup which contains gluten.

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Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

5 from 5 votes

Rice Krispie treats are a childhood favorite full of ooey-gooey marshmallow goodness!

Prep Time 5

Total Time 35

Servings

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Ingredients

¼ cup butter
1 bag mini marshmallows
1 tablespoon vanilla
6 cups Rice Krispies

Instructions

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt marshmallows and butter for 1 minute.
Remove from microwave and pour in vanilla. Stir until the mixture is completely smooth.
Add 6 cups of Rice Krispies and stir until the cereal is well coated.
Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper and pour the cereal mixture into the pan. Place a piece of parchment paper over the top and press the crispies down into an even layer.
Let sit on the counter for an hour or in the fridge for 30 minutes until set.
Lift the treats from the pan and slice into 12 pieces.

Notes

Be sure to use fresh marshmallows for the best results!
You can make this on the stovetop as well! In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat, then add in the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat — it’s important not to overcook!
You could add just a dash of salt to help enhance the sweet flavors even more.
Don’t put too much pressure when pressing down, you don’t need to completely smoosh them! If you’re using your fingers or rubber spatula to press the mixture down, run your hands/spatula under water and shake off the excess before starting. This will help prevent the sticky mixture from clinging to you! You can also spray your hands or spatula with a little bit of cooking spray.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant

This Is The Best Recipe For Rice Krispie Bars

Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients

Rice Krispie Treats Variations

How To Make The Best Rice Krispie Treats