Are you looking for the best Rice Krispy Treats recipe ever?! This recipe couldn’t be easier, and our two extra tips will take your Rice Krispy treats from yum to AMAZING.
Recipes Rice Krispy Treats
Originally written in 2016; updated in 2019 Every kid’s favorite dessert (at least at my house) has to be Rice Krispie treats!
The ingredients for this family favorite are easy to keep on hand, and I have found generic crisp rice cereal and marshmallows work just as well as the name brands. I’ve developed a couple of tweaks to the original recipe that I feel make the whole process a little simpler and the finished product yummier.
Tip #1:
My first tip is to use real butter (not margarine) and more of it and extra marshmallows– the more buttery the better in my opinion.
Tip #2
The second tip is to spread the mixture into a greased jelly roll pan using wax paper. Be sure and use cooking spray on the wax paper first. For years I would try different methods to best get that gooey mixture into the pan but whether I was using a wooden spoon, rubber spatula or just greasing my hands with baking spray I was always discouraged by the messiness and slowness of the process. It’s surprising how much faster and easier good old fashioned wax paper is! If you want another option, silicone baking mats produce equally great results.
FAQ
How can I make these dairy free? I have not personally made these dairy free. However, my friend Megan has a great recipe for Allergy-Friendly Rice Krispies (Top 8 Free!), which means they are dairy free. Are these gluten-free? This will depend entirely on the crispy rice cereal that you pay. Name brand Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free due to the malt that is in them. However, there are gluten-free versions of crispy rice cereal. Make sure you read the label! Can I use less butter? You can, but I wouldn’t recommend cutting down too much. Can I use regular sized marshmallows? Don’t tell anyone, but we have! Mini marshmallows are a little easier to melt and work with, but you can definitely use regular sized ones. Variation ideas? The sky is the limit! You can add all sorts of mixins – butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, pecans, fruit…or you could even use a different kind of cereal like Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, or Cocoa Pebbles!Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Printable version available below
Equipment Needed:
Large, microwave-safe bowl
Rubber spatula
Jelly Rolly Pan
Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mat
Ingredients:
- 16-ounce bag mini marshmallows
- 3/4 stick butter – softened to room temperature and cut into three pieces
- 8 cups crisp rice cereal
Combine marshmallows and butter in large, microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for two minutes.
Stir, heat at 50 percent power in one-minute increments, stirring after each time until fully melted.
Add rice cereal and mix thoroughly with a greased wooden spoon.
Dump onto greased cookie sheet, or if your prefer, use parchment paper. Tear off a piece of wax paper, spray it with cooking spray, and use it to spread mixture over entire cookie sheet.
Your bars will be ready to eat in no time. But if you are going to stack them on a plate, you will need to wait a couple of hours before you cut them.
The Best Rice Krispies Recipe
Yield:
0
Ingredients
- 1 16 oz bag mini marshmallows
- ¾ stick butter—softened to room temp and cut into three pieces
- 8 C crisp rice cereal
Instructions
- Combine marshmallows and butter in large microwave safe bowl. Cook on high for two mins. Stir, Heat at 50 percent power in one min increments, stirring after each time, until fully melted.
- Add rice cereal and mix thoroughly with a greased wooden spoon
- Dump onto greased cookie sheet, or if you prefer, use parchment paper. Tear off a piece of wax paper, spray it with cooking spray, and use it to spread mixture over entire cookie sheet.
- Your bars will be ready to eat in no time, but if you are going to stack them on a plate you will need to wait a couple of hours before you cut them.
- **Optional Add-Ins: ½ bag chocolate or butterscotch chips, or food coloring, may be added after cereal
- is fully mixed in.
M J BRIDGMAN says
This recipe is marked gluten free, but regular Kellogg’s Rice Krispies ARE NOT gluten free. They have malt in them. So you need to make sure to get cereal that is truly gluten free. Read the labels!
Jules says
I also have dampened my hand to spread the mixture, have for years. Mama always added peanut butter to the marshmallow mixture.. no measurement,
Just a big ol’ spoonful ?
Tina says
I agree with you on the butter, but your recipe still does not have enough! 1 and 1/2 sticks of butter and two 10 ounce bags of marshmallows with 8 cups of rice crispies plus a splash of vanilla extract is my go-to recipe. If you want to ramp up the flavor, brown the butter instead of just melting it. I just spray a glass 9×13 with cooking spray and wet my hands with water to press it in and it works like a charm and no need to use wax paper.
Linda Sjogren says
I Love, Love rice krispie bars made with the cocoa krispies……….They’re out of this world and oh so yummy!
Deb says
If I may add another tip – take the cooked marshmallow off of the heat as soon as the mixture is melted and stir in the rice crispies elsewhere! I couldn’t figure out why mine were turning rock hard after a day. (yes some was left) and learned that marshmallows, being made of sugar, will get to the candy “hardball stage” if cooked to long. I was adding the rice crispies to the melted marshmallows while still on the heat thinking this would keep the marshmallow mixture soft and would coat better – wrong!
Katie says
Great tip, Deb! Thanks so much for sharing!
Liz says
And add a teaspoon of vanilla.
KA says
I always add vanilla too, vanilla is good in most any thing sweet.
Katie says
Agreed!
carmen says
I like to use the butter wrapper to spread them out, or I dip my hands in water so the marshmallows don’t stick. This works surprisingly well and doesn’t make them soggy. Yum.
Katie says
Those are some great tips! I am going to try the water thing!
Mary Ensz says
I’m with you on the more marshmallows and butter. In the fall I like to add a little brown sugar, butter and cinnamon to the mix as well. For a summer citrus-y bar, I grate some orange zest in. Then of course there’s chocolate…! I have so much fun with rice krispy bars!
Katie says
Oh boy! Orange zest sounds fantastic. I’m going to have to try a few of your tricks!