Rice Krispie Treats Recipe (2024)

By Scott Loitsch

Updated Feb. 5, 2024

Rice Krispie Treats Recipe (1)

Total Time
20 minutes, plus cooling
Rating
5(1,252)
Notes
Read community notes

These classic treats are salty-sweet and the perfect balance of crispy, gooey, soft and chewy. This version, inspired by the one Julia Moskin adapted from the chef Colin Alevras for The Times in 2007, is also enhanced by deeply browned butter. But here, a good amount of salt balances out the sweetness and includes a secret to achieving the perfect texture: the marshmallows are cooked gently to prevent the sugars from caramelizing, which can turn your treats hard and dry. You can easily double this recipe, and use a 9-by-13 pan, but you’ll end up with slightly taller treats (which is not a bad thing). The rainbow sprinkles are optional, but highly recommended.

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Ingredients

Yield:16 servings

  • ½cup/113 grams unsalted butter, preferably European-style, plus extra for greasing
  • 1(12-ounce/340-gram) bag marshmallows (preferably standard size)
  • teaspoons/5 grams kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • 1teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6cups/180 grams Rice Krispies cereal
  • Rainbow sprinkles (optional, but highly recommended)
  • Flaky salt (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Butter a 9-inch square baking pan.

  2. Step

    2

    In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat until it starts to foam, about 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue to cook, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula, until the bubbling stops and the little specks of milk solids begin to turn golden, another 2 to 3 minutes. Watch carefully at this stage; you want the milk solids to go from golden to a medium-dark brown, but not black.

  3. Step

    3

    Immediately turn off the heat and add the marshmallows and salt to the pot to stop the butter from cooking any further. Stir to coat all the marshmallows in the hot, browned butter until they’re well coated and begin to soften, about 1 minute.

  4. Return heat to low and stir until the marshmallows are almost smooth (some small lumps are OK), 1 to 2 minutes more. Be patient at this stage; you want the marshmallows to melt evenly and gently, softening all the way through without reaching a boil. (If you apply too much heat, the sugars can caramelize and you could end up with harder Rice Krispies treats.) Turn off the heat.

  5. Step

    5

    Stir in the vanilla. Add the cereal and, using a large silicone spatula, fold the mixture until all the cereal is coated.

  6. Step

    6

    Pour into the prepared baking pan. Using the spatula, gently push and pull the cereal to spread out to fill the pan. (For the most delicate, fluffiest treats, avoid pressing down, as you don’t want to pack them in.)

  7. Step

    7

    While still warm, top the treats with rainbow sprinkles and a very light sprinkle of flaky salt, if using. Let cool for at least 30 minutes to set before cutting.

  8. Step

    8

    Once cool, remove from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut it into a 4-by-4 grid to get 16 squares. Treats keep best for up to 5 days, stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Enjoy!

Ratings

5

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1,252

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

pondblue

I have tears in my eyes. The years of being scoffed at for loving these treats was painful. I am a legitimatized connoisseur. Dear Scott, may Snap, Crackle, and Pop forever shine on you with great fortune and good health!

dimmerswitch

Rice Crispie Treats were the very first thing I made in my mom's kitchen. I was 9 years old. I made them again and again. She was patient as it started my love of being in, and making messes in, the kitchen to cook other things. She died last year. I miss her more this Christmas than my first one without her last year. I will think of her and the wonder of that first childhood experience of making something successful and delicious to eat as I use this new and improved recipe.

Ann

I do all of these things but have never added salt! Me and salt get along, so will need to try this version!Also, growing up my mother put chopped walnuts in almost every baked good... including Rice Krispie treats. I highly recommend.

patricia

I haven’t checked this against the recipe but you can make these in any portion size. Just do a 1:1 ratio for butter (tablespoons) plus marshmallows and cereal (cups). For example, 2 T butter 2 cups mini marshmallows 2 cups cereal. Just add the other things listed in the NYT recipe.

Allie

Warning, lots of marshmallow bags are currently 10oz and this recipe called for 12oz!

michaelangelopdx

If you want to take the brown butter flavor to the max, try adding ⅓ cup nonfat dry milk to the butter once it foams, and stir constantly for 5 minutes, breaking up clumps as best you can, until the mixture is a dark nut brown color.

Oh, Wow.

I only wish I had more mouths to eat all of this. These are insane.

DHR

I’ve always followed the classic recipe, cutting back a bit on the Rice Krispies to add in yummy Cocoa Puffs. (A never fail hit at bake sales!) I’m looking forward to trying these.

Kalani

These are delicious! The browning of the butter and the addition of salt make them much better than the standard treats I was used to. My four year old make these and he did almost the whole recipe himself, but he got bored waiting for the butter to brown. We used a Dutch oven and it took maybe 10 minutes on low heat to brown, not 2 as the recipe suggests. My husband suggested we add M&Ms so we mixed those in at the last step and the result is delicious! Salty, sweet, crunchy, gooey heaven :)

Yvonne King

With more than twice the butter of the OG recipe and added salt and vanilla, it’s no surprise that these are irresistible and delicious, but the real secret sauce in this recipe is the low and slow temp to melt the marshmallows. I have always cranked up the heat (because I’m an impatient baker and an eager Rice Krispie Treat eater) and have even microwaved the marshmallows (sacrilege, I know) but after making this recipe I am a believer. Never again will I scorch my mallows. Low and slow forever

BKNY Baker

The detailed instructions are so helpful for those of us who didn’t grow up with this. The browned butter and salt make these SO delicious! My only note is that depending on the pot and heat level you use to brown the butter, the timing may vary.

billie

Absolutely delicious. Do not omit the salt and be aware the the box that used to be 12 oz. is now 9 oz.

Josie

The vanilla extract is what makes this dish pop!

Alex

These were awesome. I only used 1/2 the salt called for. My family said these were the best RK treats I’ve ever made.

Patrick Gibson

Using salted butter (North American, so mildly so), I found 1tsp is plenty. The first batch I did with the 1 1/4tsp were a little too salty, even for me who likes things on the saltier side. But very delicious, and I would never make a standard recipe again.

nora

Delicious. I added about a Tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds to amp up the nuttiness of the browned butter. It could have used way more, so next time I’ll try 2:1 butter to sesame seeds. PS: the 10 oz bag of regular size marshmallows is about 5 1/2 cups, so I used the same amount of krispies and 5 1/2 T butter. Thanks to Patricia for sharing the ratio !

Sara

My son wanted to make these for a party, and RKTs aren’t typically the type of treat that I like, but brown butter and salt absolutely elevates this. I was a bit sad to have to leave them behind at the party. Luckily they are so easy to make!

Juju

I make Rice Krispies like it’s my job, and honestly it should be. How do you even make it better? It’s butter, marshmallows and Krispies?? ALAS. This recipe came along. Absolutely elevated my Krispie game like crazy. I always add a few more marshmallows or do a little less Krispies because I like mine more mallow-y, but you can’t go wrong with this recipe.

CB

The first time I made these, my brown butter was a tad under browned, and they were delicious. I’ve taken my butter to the fully brown stage since, and they are transcendent. Do not fear the browning! These are the perfect easy sweet bite at the end of a dinner party or to bring as a treat for the office. They’re simultaneously childish and sophisticated, and everybody loves them.

chbbrooklyn

Delicious! Made as is with less salt. Some nice tricks here like not pressing down the mixture - this recipe is a keeper for a nice quick treat.

browning chicken

added some cardamom to the browning butter and a splash of sesame oil in homage to eric kim’s recent black sesame RKTs.

shannon

I made these with vegan marshmallows (Dandies) and they came out great

hpowell

This recipe got rave reviews from the extended family - even my husband who doesn’t usually like these kinds of treats was a fan. After making, we prefer slightly less salt in the recipe for just the right balance - cut the overall amount of kosher salt in half.

Quinn

OMG. These were so good. Browning the butter, cooking the marshmallows slowly and a sprinkle of flaky salt on top made such a delicious difference. I can’t keep these in the house or I’ll eat the entire pan. And they tasted great on day 2.

GJH

The added salt did not work for us.

Me

Reduce salt to 1tsp and don’t add any extra.

PJ

NO! Don't add salt-add peanut butter! I regularly make Rice Krispie Treats. My favorite recipe includes white chocolate chips (about 1/4 C.) and chunky peanut butter (about 1/2 C.). I also use a full stick of butter--I'll try browned butter next time but usually just melt it before adding the marshmallows. Add peanut butter after butter-marshmallow mixture has melted. Add white chocolate chips after the cereal has been stirred in a time or two to make sure there is plenty of "hot" to melt them.

paul.m

i added a few tablespoons of dry milk to the butter while browning, then instead of vanilla used pandan extract. the result was the favorite of my holiday guests - by a wide margin.

Debbie

I am 64 and for most of those years I have hated Rice Krispie treats. Even as a child, I found them sickeningly sweet. But I was looking for a quick dessert that would appeal to young and old and this popped up. At last, I see the point of a Rice Krispie treat. These are excellent. The browned butter and the touch of salt save them from being super sweet. I followed the recipe and directions precisely.

Kelly N

These were great but I added an extra 2 cups of rice krispies. I think it's a better ratio of marshmallow to crunch.

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Rice Krispie Treats Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my homemade rice crispy treats so hard? ›

If you melt the marshmallows too fast, it might result in a Rice Kripsy treat that is harder and crunchy than chewy. Take your time and let the butter and marshmallows melt slowly. Use an 8×8 or slightly smaller pan. Use a small and deep pan if you want thick and chewy rice Krispy treats.

Why are my Rice Krispie Treats so sticky? ›

Too much marshmallow and butter can make a super sticky, wet or soggy slice, while too little makes a hard, dry or crumbly one. I recommend using a baking scale for my recipe to get the ratio JUST right, creating the perfect chewy but crispy Rice Krispie Squares. Melted marshmallow = sticky mess.

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispie Treats? ›

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies Treats? If you put too much butter in rice krispies treats they will become oily, the cereal will soak up the butter and the treats will become soggy, rather than crispy.

What are the ingredients in rice krispies? ›

INGREDIENTS: Rice, sugar, salt, barley malt extract, niacin, iron, vitamin B6, riboflavin, thiamin, folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin B12.

Can you use hard marshmallows for rice crispy treats? ›

* Make sure your marshmallows are fresh. Stale, hard marshmallows won't result in nice, chewy bars. ** Any brand is fine, but be sure the cereal you use is fresh. Stale cereal will make for stale-tasting Rice Crispy Treats.

What makes rice krispies taste better? ›

Use more butter (lots more) and brown it to deepen the flavor. Increase the marshmallows and stir in some at the end for extra gooeyness. Add vanilla extract for flavor. Add salt because a little salt makes anything sweet taste so much better.

How do you keep homemade Rice Krispies from getting hard? ›

Don't crank the heat on the stovetop too high.

High heat is the prime culprit for rock hard rice krispie treats. → Follow this tip: It will take a few more minutes of cook time, but melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat. You'll be rewarded with delicious, soft and chewy treats!

Can you use parchment paper when making rice krispie treats? ›

If you're into less mess, then line your baking pan with waxed paper or parchment paper. When the treats are cool, you can lift the ends of the liner out, place the entire bar on a cutting board, cut the treats, and discard the liner. You can wash the pan but the mess will be minimal.

Why did my Rice Krispie treats fall apart? ›

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.

Why can't Muslims eat Rice Krispie Treats? ›

What about Rice Crispy Treats that have marshmallows in them, are they Haram too? Yes, they also use gelatin from pork. All pig products like pork are Haram (forbidden) for Muslims to eat.

Why do lifters eat Rice Krispie Treats? ›

Medical News Today, an online health news platform, said that “Rice Krispies Treats make for a suitable pre-workout snack due to their simple carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source, so eating a high-carb snack before a training session can boost energy and performance.”

Can you leave homemade rice crispy treats out? ›

You can store the container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze the treats for up to 6 weeks.

What happened to the purple box of Rice Krispies? ›

Yes! Rice Krispies Treats Cereal has been discontinued. Yes it's sad. Yes it's unfair and YES YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Is there pork in Rice Krispie treats? ›

- Beef or pork gelatin may be used in all varieties of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® bars, including Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® made with Whole Grain bars. - Beef gelatin is used in Pop-Tarts® Toaster Pastries. Because the gelatin is used in the icing, our unfrosted varieties do not contain any gelatin.

Do Rice Krispies still have BHT? ›

Ingredients. Ingredients: Rice, sugar, contains 2% or less of malt flavor, iodized salt (salt, potassium iodate), cinnamon, natural flavor, BHT for freshness.

How to prevent Rice Krispies from getting hard? ›

Don't crank the heat on the stovetop too high.

High heat is the prime culprit for rock hard rice krispie treats.

Why won't my Rice Krispies set? ›

could be because you're trying to cut them when they're too warm. Let them cool to room temperature and try again. If they're still not setting, the mixture did not contain enough cereal. Rice Krispies are soft and gooey in the pan, but quickly set up the baking dish.

How do you fix dry rice krispie treats? ›

"My treats are hard instead of soft and chewy." How high was your heat when you were melting your marshmallows? If you crank up the heat and zoom through melting them, they will dry to a hard texture instead of a soft gooey one. So take the extra 5 minutes and melt them over low heat, stirring constantly.

How to keep melted marshmallows from getting hard? ›

To avoid this, it's important to melt them slowly over a low heat. Use a larger pan than you think you'll need, as the marshmallows will expand as they warm through.

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