Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

I have to admit Rice Krispie Treats are my weakness. And this Rice Krispie Treats Recipe lives up to my childhood memories. That fact that they are so easy and quick to throw together make them a staple in my home.

With their irresistible combination of gooey marshmallows and crispy rice cereal, these homemade goodies are sure to bring back fond memories of childhood. Whether you’re looking for a quick and easy treat to whip up for a last-minute gathering or simply craving something sweet, this Rice Krispie treats recipe is the ultimate go-to.

It never fails that when I show up with this recipe to a gathering I am always asked how I made it. The secret to great rice krispie treats is not just in the recipe but also in the method.

Read on to learn the tips, tricks, and ingredients that make this Rice Krispie Treats Recipe simply one of the best.

My obsession with these delectable sweet treats started like most of yours I bet, as a child. I loved classroom parties, and family get togethers and I knew that these crunchy marshmallow treats would make an appearance.

Whether you write them as Rice Krispie Treats, crispy rice, or crispy treats they all are relatively made the same way.

I know that each family has their own variation and way of making this recipe, but mine is tried and true and always leaves people asking for the recipe.

Key Ingredients

Rice Krispie Cereal is the main staple in this dish but any generic puffed rice cereal will do. But I have to admit that I am a purest when it comes to my puffed rice cereal and I always go for the name brand. Maybe it is childhood nostalgia, but I do think that it tastes better.

It is impossible to make this recipe without Marshmallows. They are quit literally the glue that holds the Rice Krispies together.

Butter makes everything better, regardless of the dish butter is the holy grail of flavor. I prefer to use salted butter in most of my recipes. Salt is a great additive that brings out flavor when a smalt amount is added.

Pure Vanilla extract is the silent star of this recipe. Rice krispie treats are taken to a whole new level when vanilla is added at just the right moment in the cooking process.

A pinch of salt, and I mean just a pinch. Remember that salt in just the right quantity brings out the flavor of a dish. To much salt will ruin it, so just add a pinch.

How To Make Rice Krispie Treats

Measure out your ingredients. This is an important step to do prior to cooking this recipe. Once the butter and marshmallow mixture are melted you will need to move quickly so having items premeasured and ready to go will save you time and stress and help this recipe to turn out well.
In a large sauce pan or stock pot melt the butter on medium low heat.

Once the butter is melted add the 5 cups of marshmallows and continue to cook on medium low heat until they are melted completely. Stir continuously to ensure the marshmallows do not burn. I like to use a wooden spoon to do this.
Once they mixture is melted together turn off the stove and remove from the heat.
Add the pure vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to the marshmallow mixture and stir.

Pour in the 6 cups of rice krispie cereal and stir.
Add the last one cup of marshmallows and stir into the mixture.
Once all of the ingredients are mixed use a spatula to help pour the mixture into your pyrex dish. Press mixture into the dish.
*To keep the treats from sticking to your hands when pressing them into the dish get them wet under cold water.*Remember not to press too firmly.
Let the rice krispie treats rest for at least 30 minutes before you cut them. They can take a full 3 hours to set completely. If you want to cut them sooner pop them into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my homemade Rice Krispie Treats hard?

In all fairness I have a dear friend who loves her rice krispie treats to be really crunchy. However I for one love them to be soft and chewy. If your treats turn out hard it could be for a few reasons.

You may be cooking the marshmallows at too high of a heat. One of the best pieces of advice I received on cooking was to be patient as a cook. When you cook marshmallows at too high of a heat it crystalizes it instead of melting it into gooey goodness. Think of roasting marshmallows over a campfire. When they get too hot or too close to the heat they burn, they same can happen here. So be patient and cook the butter and marshmallow mixture on a medium low heat to melt them.

Pressing your treats to hard into the pan can also make them harder. It is tempting to press down really firmly to try to make these stick together, avoid the temptation. They do need to be patted together to assure that they combine and form together, but pressing too hard in the pan can make them hard.

How long should I wait to cut rice krispie treats?

It is so tempting to dive right into these gooey treats isn’t it?

I have to admit that I do love them warm and have a hard time not indulging in them right away. At the very least you should wait for 30 minutes before cutting them.

And even then they will be a bit stringy and gooey, but that is not necessarily a bad thing right?

However if you do like your rice krispie treats to be more firm or you need to box them up right away try popping them into the refrigerator.

After pressing them into the pan pop them into the refrigerator for 30 minutes and that will help them to cool and harden up. I do this when I am in a rush and it helps to make them easier to cut.

How long will homemade rice krispie treats stay fresh?

Whether you’re making them for a party, as an after-school snack, or simply to indulge your sweet tooth, knowing how long Rice Krispie Treats will stay fresh is essential.

I have to admit that most of the time these do not last very long in my house. And truthfully I would be very surprised if they lasted very long in anyone’s house.

So Lets dive into the factors that influence the shelf life of homemade Rice Krispie Treats and provide some useful tips to keep them fresh for longer.

Proper Storage:
To ensure the longevity of your homemade Rice Krispie treats, proper storage is crucial. Here’s what you need to do:

a) Airtight Container: Store the treats in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag, removing any excess air inside.

b) Cool and Dry Place: Keep the container in a cool and dry place like your pantry or cupboard away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

Shelf Life:
The average shelf life of homemade Rice Krispie treats depends on various factors, such as ingredients used and storage conditions. Here’s a general guideline:

a) Freshness within 2-3 Days: If stored properly at room temperature (around 70°F/21°C), homemade Rice Krispie treats can remain fresh for up to 2-3 days from the day they were made.

b) Extended Shelf Life in Fridge: Refrigerating your Rice Krispie treats can help prolong their freshness. When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, they can last up to 5-7 days without significant quality loss

Tips and Tricks

To cut my rice krispie treats neatly I spray the knife with Pam cooking spray prior to use.

If you have left overs store them in an air tight container to keep them from drying out.

I always use fresh marshmallows for this rice krispie treats recipe. When they are old they become hard and stale and will not melt like they need to. So do yourself a favor and use fresh marshmallows.

When I want to be creative or have a special event I put them into shaped individual molds. I have made them in the shape of Christmas trees and hearts. This is a fun way to present them and keep them in individual portion size.

I love to be creative and add candies to the top while they cool. Chocolate chips, sprinkles, or even crushed candy canes.

To keep the gooey mixture from sticking to my pan I like to line it with aluminum foil. Once the treats are cooled and I remove it from the pan I can just easily lift out the aluminum foil. It also saves me from cleaning a dirty pan and that is always a plus.

Other Recipes to Try

Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

The gooey, buttery, crunchy snack that fills me with childhood nostalgia this Rice Krispie Treats recipe will be the best you ever had.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Course Appetizer, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Equipment

1 Stock Pot
1 9×13 Pyrex
1 Roll of Aluminum Foil

Ingredients

6 Cups Rice Krispies Cereal Generic puffed rice cereal can be used
6 Cups Mini Marshmallows
6 Tbsp Salted Butter
1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 Pinch Salt

Instructions

Measure out your ingredients. This is an important step to do prior to cooking this recipe. Once the butter and marshmallow mixture are melted you will need to move quickly so having items premeasured and ready to go will save you time and stress and help this recipe to turn out well.
Measure out 5 cups of marshmallows, these will be added to the butter once it is melted. Then measure out a cup of marshmallows, these will be added at the last moment. Set them aside separately as they will be added to the recipe at different times. If you have a 10 ounce bag of mini marshmallows it is roughly equal to 6 cups.
Measure out your vanilla and set aside in a small bowl.
If you want an easy clean up add the aluminum foil to your pyrex and press it in. Spray it with original pan cooking spray to help prevent the rice krispie treats from sticking.
*If you want thick rice krispie treats use a 9×9 inch pyrex. If you like them thinner then use a 9×13 inch pyrex.
In a large sauce pan or stock pot melt the butter on medium low heat.
Once the butter is melted add the 5 cups of marshmallows and continue to cook on medium low heat until they are melted completely. Stir continuously to ensure the marshmallows do not burn. Once they mixture is melted together turn off the stove and remove from the heat.
Add the pure vanilla extract and a pinch of salt to the marshmallow mixture and stir.
Pour in the 6 cups of rice krispie cereal and stir.
Add the last one cup of marshmallows and stir into the mixture.
Once all of the ingredients are mixed use a spatula to help pour the mixture into your pyrex dish. Press mixture into the dish.
*To keep the treats from sticking to your hands when pressing them into the dish get them wet under cold water.
*Remember not to press too firmly
Let the rice krispie treats rest for at least 30 minutes before you cut them. They can take a full 3 hours to set completely. If you want to cut them sooner pop them into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
Enjoy!