My Perfect Rice Krispie Treat Recipe is the absolute BEST for a reason! These simple crispy rice treats are loaded with just the right amount of Rice Krispies cereal and buttery, melty marshmallows, for the ultimate bakery-style, no-bake recipe!
Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
I’ve yet to meet a marshmallow cereal treat I didn’t like. I have snickerdoodle rice krispie treats, candy corn rice krispie treats, Halloween krispie treats, and even double marshmallow Fruity Pebbles rice krispie treats. Name an occasion, and I probably have a recipe for it.
It all started with this most perfect rice krispie treat recipe, though. While I have tons of fun variations (like peanut butter krispie treats), it always comes back to this one. And when I say it’s the best, I mean it’s the BEST. You’ll soon see why.
The secret is nailing the golden ratio of cereal to buttery, melty marshmallows. This no-bake recipe does exactly that – it’s chewy, sticky, soft, and crunchy all at the same time. Make these treats once, and you’ll be hooked!
Why You’ll Love This Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
Rice krispie treats aren’t just a sweet treat for the kiddos – us adults can love them, too! Here’s why you’re gonna want to get in on this goodness:
- PERFECT texture. These rice krispie treats are the perfect blend of soft, sticky marshmallows and crunchy Rice Krispies cereal. Who can resist any dessert where the star of the show is gooey marshmallow?
- Simple ingredients. You need exactly 4 ingredients to make this dessert – it doesn’t get much simpler!
- Crowd-pleaser. Kids and adults alike will devour these rice krispies. Plus, you can throw in some mix-ins like chocolate chips to customize the recipe according to what your family likes!
What You’ll Need
So, the ingredients for krispie treats are pretty basic and universal. It’s all about the proportions! Here’s an overview, with the exact amounts and full details available in the recipe card below:
- Butter: I use salted butter, though unsalted butter also works.
- Marshmallows: One thing I’ve learned in my many moons of krispie treat making, is that mini marshmallows melt quicker! Also, there’s some serious magic in tossing in extra mini marshmallows at the end, for delightful little mallow pockets throughout. Of course, you can absolutely use large-sized marshmallows. I recommend chopping them up, though.
- Crispy Rice Cereal: I like to use Rice Krispies Cereal, or any variation thereof. Use a generic brand or the real deal, it’s really the baker’s choice.
- Kosher Salt: Just a pinch, added when melting the marshmallows.
Can I Use Puffed Rice Instead of Rice Krispies?
Yes, you can. Bearing in mind that the texture and taste will be slightly different, the recipe will still work. Puffed rice is a great option for those with dietary restrictions.
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats
Perfecting this rice krispie treat recipe might not solve all the world’s problems, but it’s a start. If you’ve ever had a krispie treat that was too hard, too soft, or too soggy, this recipe is officially putting an end to that! It comes down to a bit of no-bake science:
- Prepare the baking pan. I recommend lining a square baking pan with foil for easy removal. Lightly grease the foil with some cooking spray, then get started on the marshmallow mixture.
- Melt the butter and marshmallows. In a large pot, melt down the butter along with the mini marshmallows. Make sure to continuously stir the marshmallows as they melt, to keep them from burning.
- Combine the marshmallow mixture with the cereal. Once melted, take the marshmallows off the heat. Gently fold in the crispy rice cereal. Toss in a pinch of salt. Lastly – and this is the best part – stir in an extra 2 cups of mini marshmallows until they’re evenly distributed throughout. Scrape the rice krispie treat mixture into your lined pan. Carefully press it into an even layer, then leave it to set.
- Serve and enjoy! Once your rice krispie treats are cool, cut them into squares and sink your teeth into a bite of soft, chewy perfection.
Watch This Rice Krispie Treat Recipe Come Together
This rice krispie treats recipe requires just a few basic steps! Watch the magic happen below:
Tips for Success
There are a few key tips to making these rice krispie treats actually perfect:
- If you’re using large marshmallows, adjust the amount added. I happen to have a handy Marshmallow Conversions Chart to help correctly measure different sizes.
- Don’t over-stir. Add the crispy rice cereal to the marshmallows, and then gently fold to combine. Over-stirring will crush the cereal and break those perfect little air pockets.
- Don’t over-pack. Be mindful not to press the mixture too hard into the pan. We’re going for gooey and light rice krispie treats, friends, not dense and compact!
- Rinse your hands to keep them from sticking to the rice krispie treats. If you rinse your hands and then shake off the excess water, you can press the rice krispie treats into the pan without having to deal with stickiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Overcooked marshmallows = hard krispie treats! Remove the marshmallows from the heat as soon as they’re just melted. Like most candy, the longer you cook the sugar the harder the marshmallows get.
I recommend using the freshest marshmallows possible. Old marshmallows dry out and don’t melt very well, so make sure to use a fresh bag if you can.
You want the krispie treats to be completely cool before you cut into them. This generally takes 1-2 hours – make sure to let them cool at room temperature.
Substitutions & Recipe Variations
This is where you can get creative if you’re looking to switch up a classic dessert! Here are some of my favorite rice krispie treats variations:
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats: Satisfy a peanut butter craving with peanut butter cup krispie treats (linked above) or Butterfinger krispie treats.
- Chopped Candy: Use 1 cup of chopped candy to stir in with the extra marshmallows! Note that if you add chocolate candy (like in my malted milk ball krispie treats), the chocolate may melt a little. It’s still delicious, though!
- Cookie Dough: For a fun twist, try cookie dough krispie treats topped with edible chocolate chip cookie dough.
- Different Cereal: You can use pretty much any cereal in place of Rice Krispies to make these no-bake dessert bars. Try Froot Loops, Cocoa Krispies, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or Fruity Pebble krispie treats (also linked above). So many possibilities!
- Vanilla Extract: A teaspoon of vanilla in the melted marshmallows adds a little something extra.
- Cinnamon and Browned Butter: Brown the butter first, and stir a little cinnamon into the melted marshmallows, as I do in my snickerdoodle rice krispie treats recipe (also linked above).
- Planning a Party? Turn these into krispie treat party bites!
How to Store Rice Krispie Treats
These homemade treats are at their best the day they’re made! However, these can be enjoyed for up to 2-3 days if stored properly. Here are some helpful storage notes:
- Store rice krispie treats at room temperature. Keep them in a container or bag that seals airtight. This will keep them at their freshest!
- Never store krispie treats in the fridge. This turns them to stone. Kidding. But they do get very, very hard and dry.
- When making krispie treats ahead, don’t cut them into bars right away. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap, making sure it’s 100% airtight. Then, cut the treats into squares on the day you’re serving them.
Can I Freeze This Rice Krispie Treat Recipe?
While I don’t usually recommend it, if you’re desperate, you can store rice krispie treats in the freezer. Wrap them up tightly in plastic wrap, or seal them in freezer bags or in an airtight container to store. Thaw the treats at room temperature before serving.
More Marshmallow Recipes
If you’re a marshmallow lover like me, you’re not going to want to miss out on these other easy dessert ideas!
- Fluffy Homemade Marshmallows Recipe
- Creamy Marshmallow Chocolate Pie
- Marshmallow Brownies
- Marshmallow Fluff Krispie Treats
- Cookies and Cream Marshmallow Bars
Perfect Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
- Category: Krispie Treats
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: Dessert
Description
The Perfect Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is loaded with just the right amount of Rice Krispies cereal and gooey, melty marshmallows, for perfect, bakery-style crispy treats!
Ingredients
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 8 cups, plus 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 6 cups Krispie Cereal
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 pan with foil and spray lightly with cooking spray, set aside.
- In a large pot over low heat melt butter. Once butter s melted add in 8 cups of mini marshmallows, stirring constantly.
- Once the marshmallows are just melted remove from heat and stir in your cereal and salt until just coated in the marshmallow mixture. Now stir in the remaining 2 cups of mini marshmallows.
- Pour mixture into prepared pan and press in evenly.
- Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Notes
- To store. You can store your rice krispie treats airtight at room temperature for up to 3 days, but I always prefer krispie treats the same day they were made!
- To freeze. While I don’t usually recommend it, if you’re desperate, you can store rice krispie treats in the freezer. Wrap them up tightly in plastic wrap, or seal them in freezer bags or in an airtight container to store. Thaw the treats at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 156
- Sugar: 16.4 g
- Sodium: 193.8 mg
- Fat: 3.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 30.3 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 9.5 mg
Hi there! I have made these and they are THE BEST I’ve ever eaten. I’ve shared with church group, ladies game night, etc. I’ve made more than a “few” times. LOL!
Anyway, my question is… how would I go about making these a peanut butter version so that I could dip in chocolate (reese’s type of taste)?
Thanks! And THANK YOU for sharing this amazing treat!
Great rice krispie treats! I love the extra marshmallows. It really adds an extra level of delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Hello, these look delicious! Do you use salted, unsalted, or sweet cream butter?
I used salted!
If I may, I’d like to stand on rooftop wearing a red flowy cape, and proclaim you, Miss Shelly, my newfound hero. I’m sad that you don’t live closer to me (Ohio), otherwise I’d pop over with a 5 lb. bag of sugar and an assorted grab bag of other lovely accoutrements (butter, marshmallows, sprinkles, and the like), and watch you work your magic. These are the bomb. There’s no other way to say it. I am now determined to make all your other tried and true varieties, and weep quiet tears of pure joy while stirring and patting. But before I begin, I am off to buy new Spanx…I’m gonna need ’em! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this dee-lightful recipe.
HAHAHAH! I love love love this!
I just made these for the second time and they are, once again, amazing!!! Definitely the perfect rice krispie treat, as the name states! The first time, I only had an 8×8 pan so they were really thick squares. This time, I added one more cup of rice krispies, one more cup of marshmallows (to the butter) and the last 1/3 cup extra at the end (using two full 10 oz bags of mini marshmallows total) and it filled up a 9×13 pan. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. It’s the only one I will make from now on:)
A friend made these for book club and they were spot on! What a home run! I make a really good rice krispie treat, but this nails it! While I will probably use this recipe as is most of the time, I sometimes can’t help replacing one cup of the rice cereal with chopped Oreos. That’s always a crowd pleaser. Thank you for sharing this!
These sound great. I’ll have to try them. My favorite is to use cocoa krispies then stir in peanut butter chips at the end. Some melt and some don’t. Yum.
Woohoo I’m a former dry and crunchy Rice Krispie Treat maker! I didn’t think it was possible.
I made these for a neighborhood firework viewing party and they were so chewy and yummy. Thank you!
I’m sooo excited to try the recipe! I bought ingredients yesterday. I didn’t know how many bags needed so bought 3, I should have read comments, but now I have enough for 2 batches! Wahoo! There’s a buffet we go to that has yummy rice Krispy treats and I always take home a few 😉 I say since I don’t eat that much I’m making sure I get my money’s worth! Lol! My hubby of course says make my own but last time I tried, I used the fluff and they weren’t good, I ended up throwing away half a pan of them! So while searching internet I found yours! I know they have to be better than my stolen rice Krispy treats lol I’m seriously debating making them right now after reading comments and it’s not even 5 am yet! I will comment back and let yall know how they turned out! I’m hoping they are just as awesome as they sound! I always make all the treats for my daughters class and I always see cute holiday Krispy treat ideas so I’m looking forward to these!! Thanks!
Hope you like them!!
I’m looking for a good rice krispies recipe and yours seems to be the best one on the internet according to the comments and reviews so I will be giving it a try tonight (and I cannot contain my excitement — I am considering leaving the office in the middle of the day to get the ingredients). Anyway, I was just wondering if I can put wooden sticks on it and if I do, will it be able to hold its shape (and stay on the stick)? How thick will it be if I use 9×9 pan as instructed? Also, if I intend to add food coloring to it, which would you recommend – liquid, gel or powder? Thanks so much and can’t wait to try this one!
I would use a gel and add it when you melt the marshmallows…
They will be thick enough to put on a stick, yes!