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.
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 something quick and guaranteed crowd-friendly. 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!!
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.
- 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.
- Marshmallows: These krispie treats are extra marshmallow-y without falling apart. You need two 10-ounce bags (about 11 heaping cups) of mini marshmallows.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 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.
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!
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
- No-Bake Cookies
- No-Bake Cheesecake Jars
- Caramel Dipped Pretzels
Favorite Rice Krispie Treats
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
- Yield: 20 treats
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: American
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Lift the rice krispie treats as a whole out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper. Cut into squares.
- 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
- 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.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): 9×13-inch Baking Pan | Parchment Paper | Large Pot (such as a Dutch Oven) | Rubber Spatula | Flat Spatula
- If gluten free, check labels to ensure all products are certified gluten free.
- For the pinch of salt, I always add a little less than 1/8 teaspoon.
Adapted from Kellogg’s
I was wondering if it would be okay to make this in a stainless steel pot. Does it have to be nonstick so the marshmallow doesn’t stick to the bottom?
Hi Tina, a stainless steel pot should work just fine. You may want to lower the temperature a bit (and be sure to keep stirring) to prevent any sticking. Hope you enjoy them!
the best rice krispie treats ever!!!! i also have changed it by adding a heaping serving spoonfull of Jif peanut butter to the butter / marshmellow mixture and melt it in the rest is all the same delicious
I love rice krispie treats…I use Cocoa Krispies…the best!! Yummm!
This is the best rice crispy treat recipe I have found! I’ve made multiple times and they are always a hit. Make sure you are gentle when packing the rice crispies into the pan. It really does make a difference in the texture. I like to make them for special occasions and mix in different colored sprinkles.
I made half of your recipe. I used 6 tablespoons of butter a dash of salt like a quarter of a teaspoon of vanilla and 5 cups of rice crispies and 10 ounces of mini marshmallows. I do the marshmallows and the butter in the microwave. I melt the butter first, and then stir in the marshmallows, and then start melting the marshmallows. If it gets hard put the cereal in I stick it in the microwave for like 20 seconds, and it melts, gooeys up, the marshmallows again, and it’s easier to mix it
You took a good thing and made it great! Simple and delicious.