Dorothy Kern
These are the absolute BEST Rice Krispie Treats because they’re soft and THICK, extra gooey, and start with brown butter! Everyone needs a Rice Krispie Treats recipe, and this is the only one you’ll need!
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BEST EVER Rice Krispie Treats
For me, there’s nothing more classic than a batch of homemade rice krispies treats! I loved a pan of these cereal treats when I was a kid, and I’ve lost count on how many I’ve made with my kid over the years.
They’re easy, made with simple ingredients, and I never get tired of all the ooey-gooey marshmallows and crispy rice cereal. They really are the best no bake dessert in my book.
These have a BONUS that makes them even BETTER: Brown Butter!
Brown butter takes these crispy treats to a whole new flavor later. I absolutely love the stuff – it tastes nutty (without nuts!) with a deep flavor that reminds me of caramel. It really makes the best recipe.
The great news is that it’s easy to do – there aren’t any extra steps; it just takes a few minutes of cook time. And, believe me, those additional minutes are so worth it when you taste brown butter rice Krispie treats. Of course, if you’re in a real hurry, you can skip this step.
I’m also sharing how to make the best ooey-gooey rice krispies marshmallow treats. You know, the kind when you pull them apart, you get those gooey strings of marshmallow? Yes, I know. It’s so, so good.
Bring a batch of these gooey easy treats to your next BBQ, block party, potluck, or kid’s soccer game, and everyone will agree – this is simply the BEST rice Krispie treats recipe! But don’t forget to save a couple of rice krispies treats for you because they will disappear quickly!
Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients
Rice Krispies Cereal: Use regular or generic or any flavor.
Mini Marshmallows: I prefer using mini because not only are we melting them but we’re stirring them in at the end too. Be sure to use FRESH marshmallows!
Unsalted Butter: You don’t want to brown salted butter.
Vanilla: Always buy PURE extract.
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Stir while it cooks until it turns golden brown.
- Open the plastic bag of marshmallows, add 15 ounces to the melted butter, and stir until they melt.
- Stir in the vanilla.
- Add the cereal to the melted marshmallows and stir, so it’s evenly coated in the melted marshmallow mixture.
- Add the rest of the marshmallows and stir gently so they don’t fully melt.
- Press the mixture into a prepared 9×13” baking pan or casserole pan. Press firmly to ensure the mixture is compact.
- Leave the pan at room temperature so the rice krispy treats can set for easy cutting. It’s a short time to wait – they don’t need to sit long.
How to Store Rice Krispies Treats
If you’re not serving them right away, cover them with plastic wrap or saran wrap, and then slice them with a large knife when you are ready to serve them. You can cut them into large squares or smaller squares – it’s up to you!
Store your rice Krispie squares in an airtight container on your kitchen counter at room temperature. They should keep well for up three to four days.
Expert Tips for Gooey Rice Krispies Treats
- The secret to the best gooey rice Krispies treats recipe is the marshmallows. First, make sure they are really fresh for the best results – even slightly stale marshmallows won’t be as ooey-gooey. The quality of the ingredients matters, so always double-check the expiration date!
- You can skip the brown butter step and just use melted butter if you prefer.
- Be sure your cereal is fresh too – not stale!
- Fully melt some of the marshmallows, and then once you mix in the cereal, add the rest. The second batch of marshmallows won’t fully melt but will soften into amazing marshmallow pockets! That’s how you get those fantastic marshmallow pulls when you pull a treat in half – it’s the best way to do it.
- Be sure to line your pan with parchment paper or foil and spray it with cooking spray, so the treats don’t stick.
- When you press the mixture into the pan, use a piece of wax paper coated with cooking spray. This will keep the mixture from sticking to your hands for less mess. It works better than a spatula or a wooden spoon, too. You can also use the butter wrapper, or spray your hands with cooking spray.
FAQ
Be sure to use fresh marshmallows. Stale marshmallows will harden after they are melted and cooled, making hard rice Krispie treats with a stale texture instead of soft and gooey ones. If you’re not sure about your marshmallows, your best bet is to buy a new bag.
Not necessarily – it depends on the kind of cereal and marshmallows you use. The original rice Krispie treats recipe made with Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal (the back of the box recipe) is not gluten-free. So, to make gluten-free treats, you would need to use gluten-free rice cereal. Some brands of marshmallows are gluten-free, and others are not, so double-check the package for the best options.
When you melt the marshmallows, don’t do it over too high of heat. I recommend medium-low heat or low heat and stir while they melt. Medium heat and high heat are too high, and the marshmallows could harden after cooling.
These have ingredients that may not be good for dogs.
You can store the individual squares in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. For best results, separate them with a sheet of wax paper so the small squares don’t stick to each other. Allow them to warm to room temperature before serving them.
Room temperature: They will keep well for up to three to four days. Refrigerator: They should keep for up to a week. Freezer: Properly stored, they should keep for up to a month.
Yes, you can freeze them. I recommend placing the individual pieces in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag with wax paper separating the layers. Freeze them for up to a month and let them thaw at room temperature before eating.
Yes, you can use big marshmallows for this rice Krispie treat recipe. You’ll need to cut them for the second mix in or omit them.
Rice Krispie Treats Variations
- Fruity Pebble Cereal Treats using Fruity Pebbles!
- Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats using Cocoa Pebbles or Cocoa Rice Krispies
- Banana Cream Pie Krispie Treats – add pudding mix to the marshmallow mixture to flavor.
- Hot Chocolate Krispie Treats are made with hot cocoa mix!
- Halloween Rice Krispie Treats with sprinkles and M&Ms!
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BEST Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 9 cups (237g) Rice Krispies Cereal
- 20 ounces (566g) mini marshmallows, divided
- 8 tablespoons (113g) unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon (15ml) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch pan with foil or parchment and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
- Measure out cereal and place in a large bowl.
- Measure out 15 ounces (1 ½ packages) mini marshmallows and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium low heat. Continue cooking the butter, stirring occasionally, until the butter browns. This will take 3-7 minutes depending on the size of your pan, but just watch it – it’ll foam then reduce and little brown flecks will form in the bottom of the pan.
- Once the butter is browned, add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Add cereal and stir to coat with the marshmallow mixture. Stir in remaining marshmallows and immediately pour into prepared pan. Press firmly to compact. Tip: spray wax paper with nonstick cooking spray so you can press without it sticking to your hands.
- Let set until firm then slice into bars. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To freeze, let cool completely then cut into bars and wrap each individual bar in wax paper and freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- Use any flavor Rice Krispies cereal.
- You can use any size marshmallows, just make sure you’re only using 15 ounces in the actual mixture – you’ll want mini ones to mix in or you’ll have to slice large ones to fold in at the end.
- You can skip browning the butter but it adds SO much amazing flavor.
- These stay extra gooey but will get stale if not stored properly.
- Only use FRESH marshmallows and not-stale cereal for best results.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Make a batch of these homemade rice Krispie treats soon, and I know they’ll be a hit! Make a pan of treats to share the next time you have an event, or keep them all to yourself – either way, every bite of these sweet treats will not disappoint. Enjoy!
Last Updated on May 20, 2022
All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Published on: May 8, 2022