Homemade Rice Krispie Treats: Best Recipe Ever - On Sutton Place (2024)

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ByAnn Drake

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This classic recipe for homemade rice krispie treats makes a 9 x 13 pan of rich and creamy squares. This no bake dessert is easy to make, and substituting marshmallow fluff for regular marshmallows is the secret!

Rice Krispie treats are an American classic…a tried and true favorite of millions of people. Normally, it wouldn’t be a good idea to make changes to such an iconic recipe, but that’s exactly what I did! Many, many years ago I made a few tweaks to the original recipe, and I’ve been making that version ever since.

The original Rice Krispie recipe on the box of Rice Krispies calls for three simple ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • a bag of marshmallows
  • 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal

I changed those ingredients to:

  • 4 tablespoons of butter
  • 13 oz. jar of marshmallow creme
  • 8 cups of Rice Krispies.

Not huge changes, but they have a big impact on the taste and texture of the treats. The game changer is the marshmallow creme.

Ingredient Notes

Rice Krispies: I always use original Rice Krispies, but any crispy rice cereal will work. For a fun twist on this recipe, substitute Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Krispies for the Rice Krispies.

Marshmallow Creme: also known as fluff. My favorite brand is Jet-Puffed, but any kind of fluff can be used. The original recipe calls for 5 1/2 cups of mini marshmallows, but I like the creamy texture you get with the fluff. You can also use large marshmallows, but they take a little longer to melt.

Butter: the original recipe doesn’t specify salted or unsalted butter, and since I always have salted butter on hand, that’s what I use. If you use unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the warmed fluff/butter mixture.

Variations

Experiment with variations. Rice Krispie treats are versatile, and you can add different ingredients to create unique treats. Consider mixing in mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruit, or even adding food coloring to the marshmallow mixture for a fun twist. It’s also tasty to add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract to the butter/fluff mixture before adding the crispy cereal.

How To Make

  • In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter.
  • Add marshmallow cream and stir until combined. All the lumps have to be gone and it will be smooth.
  • Remove the marshmallow mixture from heat.
  • Add Rice Krispies 2 c. at a time. Mix well.
  • Put the cereal mixture into a 9 x 13 inch pan and smooth it into an even layer with a large spoon.
  • Let sit for one hour.
  • Cut and enjoy!

Tips for Amazing Rice Krispie Treats

  • It takes patience, but make sure to get all the marshmallow fluff out of the jar. A rubber spatula works best. It’s sticky, but totally worth the effort!
  • When heating the butter and fluff, for best results, stir the mixture constantly. When it smooths out, and begins to pull away from the bottom of the pan, it’s ready. Do not overcook…it doesn’t need to be piping hot.
  • Measure accurately, and melt the marshmallow/butter mixture gently.
  • It’s important to firmly smooth the warm cereal/fluff combination after pouring it into the 9 x 13 pan. Press it firmly evenly into the pan using a spatula or a large stainless steel spoon. Applying even pressure will help create well-formed treats.
  • Allow the treats to cool and set at room temperature for at least an hour. This will ensure they hold their shape, and are easy to slice.
  • Store this classic dessert in an airtight container at room temperature for no more than 2-3 days. It works great to simply cover the 9 x 13 pan with plastic wrap.

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A Back Story

When my son was in high school, he was a 4-year member of the golf team. When he was a freshman, for his very first away match, he asked me to make cookies for the road trip. I made a batch ofchocolate chip cookiesand a batch of these Rice Krispie treats. The boys loved them so much that I was nominated for snack duty for the rest of his high school career! I was working full time at the school then, and believe me there were times when I was in the kitchen until 10 P.M. I loved it though, and disappointing those boys was never an option. I’ve said this before, but I so wish I could go back, and have just one of those nights when I was up until 10 p.m. making snacks.

My family loves these, so I make them for special occasions and family gatherings. This is a no bake recipe that kids can make with just a little adult supervision. It’s a fun snack, with perfect texture. You really can’t get more classic than Rice Krispie Treats…or more delicious. You certainly can’t get much easier. I really hope you give these a try. Your family will think you’re wonderful!

More No Bake Treats

  • Lemonade Icebox Cake
  • Homemade Lemon Ice Cream Recipe
  • Citrus Banana Cream Popsicles

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Homemade Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

This classic recipe for homemade rice krispie treats makes a 9 x 13 pan of rich and creamy squares. This no bake dessert is easy to make, and substituting marshmallow fluff for regular marshmallows is the secret!

Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe

4.81 from 51 votes

Servings: 12 squares

Author: Ann Drake

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

resting time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

  • 1 13 oz. jar/container marshmallow cream
  • 4 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 8 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Instructions

  • In a large pan over medium heat, melt the butter.

  • Add marshmallow cream and stir until combined. All the lumps have to be gone and it will be smooth.

  • Remove from heat.

  • Add Rice Krispies 2 c. at a time. Mix well.

  • Put out into 9 x 13 inch baking pan and firmly press down into an even layer.

  • Let sit for one hour.

  • Cut and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1square | Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1358IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 6mg

Like this recipe?Follow me at @onsuttonplace

If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!

Homemade Rice Krispie Treats: Best Recipe Ever - On Sutton Place (12)
Homemade Rice Krispie Treats: Best Recipe Ever - On Sutton Place (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.

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.

Is it cheaper to buy or make rice krispie treats? ›

It's Cheaper – The ingredients in this recipe cost me $5.01 and made 16.1 ounces of rice krispies, roughly 30 cents per ounce. I bought an 8-piece box at the store for $4.43 cents, with each piece weighing 0.78 ounces. That's about 70 cents per ounce.

Why are my rice krispie treats falling apart? ›

9 -Troubleshooting: do your rice krispie treats fall apart? You've either used too much butter or haven't pressed it down in the tin enough. 10 - Rice krispie treats will last for up to a week like this or freeze for up to 2 months. They do not need to be refrigerated.

Why won t my rice krispies harden? ›

There are a couple of reasons your treats might have come out soggy or too soft. First, your cereal might be too old. Check the expiration and make sure the crispy rice cereal is nice and fresh for the best texture! Second, you may have used too much butter.

How do you fix soggy rice crispy treats? ›

Check your brand for the oil/water %. If it is too high this makes your cereal turn out soggy. Either try switching to butter or a margarine brand with a lower % of liquids.

Can you use old marshmallows for rice krispie treats? ›

Stale Marshmallows

You can but I would not recommend it. The marshmallows will clump instead of melting into a nice even goo. Stick to fresh marshmallows for your treats and save the stale ones for a cup of hot chocolate later.

Does butter make things crispy? ›

Cold butter: pastry and crispy cookies

Cold butter is ideal for baked goods that should be crisp — it also helps create those beautiful, flaky layers.

Is it bad to eat a lot of rice crispy treats? ›

They are mostly high-glycemic carbs (meaning the type that spike energy quickly), Collingwood says. Other than some iron and B vitamins (thanks to the fortified cereal they're made with), they have little nutritional value. You'll still need to focus on a healthy diet throughout the rest of your day, Collingwood says.

Why do bodybuilders like Rice Krispie Treats? ›

Rice Krispies treats are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates while remaining relatively low in fat and protein. Therefore, they give the body easily accessible energy without slowing digestion. This means someone can eat a portion shortly before a workout and not worry about getting an upset stomach or cramps.

How long do homemade Rice Krispie treats last? ›

Once you've cut up your extra rice crispy treats, stack them in an airtight container. Place a sheet of wax paper in between each layer to keep them from sticking, then seal the top. You can store the container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze the treats for up to 6 weeks. Enjoy!

How much does it cost to make a batch of Rice Krispie Treats? ›

So the total cost per batch was $0.64 (butter) + $1.69 (marshmallows) + $1.23 (cereal) = $3.56. The yield of our first homemade batch was 431 grams, giving a per gram cost of $0.00825 ... it would be even lower if not for the spillage allowance.

Do you refrigerate homemade rice crispy treats? ›

Rice krispie treats do not need to be refrigerated because they contain so much sugar, which acts as a preservative. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, but I doubt they will last that long!

What can you do with expired marshmallows? ›

Marshmallows don't really go “bad” that I am aware of. Personally, I would try to use them. You can soften hard marshmallows by dipping a sealed bag in a hot pot of water boiling for a couple of minutes. The expiration date is just a best by date.

How do you make rice crispy treats not sticky? ›

Want to know the secret? Grease your spoon or spatula before combining the melted ingredients with the cereal so the mixture doesn't stick. Then, use a piece of waxed paper to press the mixture into the pan evenly with your hand so it doesn't adhere to the wooden spoon or spatula.

How do you make rice crispy treats not stick to your hands? ›

Instead, you should use the inside of the wrapper to pat your marshmallow and butter-infused treat down into its pan. As crazyforcrust noted, this will allow you to even out your Rice Krispies Treats without covering your hands in marshmallows and crispy rice cereal.

How far in advance can you make rice krispie treats? ›

These Rice Krispie Treats can be stored for up to 4-5 days at room temperature, so you can make them ahead about 3-4 days. However, I would recommend making them the day of or the day before serving, because fresh Rice Krispies are the best Rice Krispies.

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