The BEST recipe for thick, chewy, gooey, rice krispie treats that put the old “box” recipe to shame! Make them the traditional way or try fun mix-ins like M&M’s, chocolate and sprinkles.

A dark board with cut rice krispie square treats on it.

Rice Krispie Treats check off every box you could hope for: they’re quick and easy to make, they’re inexpensive, there’s no baking required, and they beloved by just about everyone because, c’mon, they’re DELICIOUS.

If you’ve ever followed the recipe from the box of rice krispies cereal you probably ended up with mediocre rice krispies.  That recipe is fine, but the end result is very thin rice krispies treats that aren’t overly soft or gooey. You can do better!

That’s what sets this recipe apart. The end result is perfect THICK, chewy, gooey rice krispies treats! They’re not dry or thin, and there’s so much more of that amazing marshmallow flavor that everyone loves. They have the perfect texture and crunch, and they last well even after day 1 of making them (unlike the box recipe, where they get hard really fast).

These are the kind of rice krispie treats that have a marshmallow “pull” when you remove them from the pan. OHHH yeah!  They are, in my humble opinion ;-), the BEST!

How to make homemade Rice Krispie Treats:

The ingredients you need to make Rice Krispies treats are marshmallows, butter, and Rice Krispies cereal (or other generic store brand of crispy cereal).

Overhead photo of the ingredients needed to make rice krispie treats, including butter, rice krispies cereal and marshmallows, next to another photo of the gooey rice krispies mixture being poured into a glass pan.

To make homemade rice Krispies treats, first, pour the Rice Krispies in a large bowl.  Next, melt the butter in a sauce pan over medium heat.  Next, add the marshmallows to the butter and stir until they are melted.  Then pour the butter marshmallow mixture over the Rice Krispies cereal and stir until fully incorporated.  Pour the mixture in greased a 9×13 inch pan and press lightly with your hands until it is evenly spread throughout the pan.

A pan of cut rice krispie treats, next to another photo of one of the rice krispies square being removed from the pan with a spatula.

Are Rice Krispie Treats good for you?

Unfortunately, Rice Krispies treats are just that, a treat.  Even though there are only three simple ingredients, they don’t provide the nutrients that your body needs to keep properly fueled. If you’d like to use rice krispies cereal to make a healthier snack, try these healthy granola bites, or homemade granola bars.

How should Rice Krispie Treats be stored?

These rice krispies will stay soft and delicious for up to two days. I like to wrap each rice krispies square individually in plastic wrap, to make sure they stay soft. If you want to store them for longer than two days, try freezing them!

To freeze rice krispies, allow them to cool completely and cut them into squares.  Wrap each square in a piece of wax paper and place them in a gallon freezer bag.  Freeze them for up to 3 months.

Two rice krispies treat squares stacked on top of each other.

Consider trying these fast and easy treats:

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Recipe

A dark board with cut rice krispie square treats on it.
Prep 10 mins
Cook 5 mins
Total 15 mins
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Ingredients
  

  • 14 cups mini marshmallows divided
  • 12 Tablespoons butter
  • 12 cups crispy rice cereal
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Pour cereal into an extra large bowl. Grease a 9x13'' pan lightly with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
  • Add butter and 12 cups of marshmallows to a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the marshmallows have melted--don't over cook! Remove from heat as soon as the marshmallows have melted. Stir in vanilla.
  • Gradually pour mixture over the cereal, stirring the cereal as it's poured to even coat everything. Stir in remaining 2 cups of marshmallows.
  • At this point you could add other mix-ins like chocolate pieces, or m&m's (allow the rice krispies to cool for a minute or two before adding them, so they don't melt immediately).
  • Pour mixture into prepared pan and press the cereal down evenly. Allow to cool for a few minutes before cutting into squares.
  • For best results, store rice krispies wrapped individually in plastic wrap for up to 2 days, or freeze (instructions for freezing are in the post above).

Notes

To make a smaller batch of rice krispie treats cut this recipe in half and use an 8 or 9 inch square pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 214kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 1gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 88mgPotassium: 15mgSugar: 20gVitamin A: 210IUCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.4mg

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I absolutely love all of your recipes. I have referred your site to all of my friends. If I am looking for a recipe I ALWAYS check your site first!!!

  2. 5 stars
    You’re right…these were think, gooey, and delicious!! Soo much better than the average rice krispie. Now that I’ve made these, I don’t know if I can go back to the recipe on the box. 🙂