Take Your Rice Krispies Treats to the Next LEVEL
If you love to indulge in a good old fashioned Rice Krispies treat, take your batch to the next level with my personal recipe and these simple tips! They’ll come out even better than the recipe on the cereal box- Promise!
1. Butter is your best friend.
Use more butter and even more marshmallows for a chewy, gooey, melt in your mouth treat.
2. Add this secret ingredient.
Add Vanilla Extract to the melted butter for fantastic flavor! It’s SO worth the extra step.
3. Use an 8×8 cake pan.
Who wants a puny thin square to bite into? Use a smaller pan for a yummy, extra-thick treat.
4. Butter your pan first.
This will prevent treats from sticking to the pan, and also don’t forget to butter your spatula or fingers before pressing them into the pan for ease and less mess.
5. Melt fresh marshmallows LOW and SLOW.
To avoid hard treats, melt marshmallows on the stove on LOW and take your time. Also, add the cereal while there are still lumps. Use soft and fresh marshmallows for best results. It will be like biting into a cloud of fluffy goodness. Yes, really.
Gooey & Soft Rice Krispies Treats
yield: 6 SERVINGS
prep time: 10 MINUTES
cook time: 15 MINUTES
total time: 25 MINUTES
Try our favorite rice krispie treat recipe! These are perfect for a kids event!
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal (I just dump in 1/2 box of the 12 oz. size)
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 16 oz. bag mini marshmallows
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
1
Grease 8×8 pan with butter and set aside.
2
In a large saucepan on the stove, melt butter and add vanilla extract. Stir in marshmallows and melt SLOW and on LOW heat.
3
Add cereal while marshmallows are still a little lumpy, yet melted, and remove from heat.
4
Stir until combined and press mixture into pan. Let cool and cut into squares. That’s it!
YUM-O! 😋 Try these for yourself, and you’ll be hooked, too!
I add vanilla bean into mine. Makes it so much better!
Yum!
How do you save this yummy recipes lol can’t wait to try them 🙂
you can pin it on Pinterest. )
Oh thank you! My grocery store, Giant Eagle, has rice krispie cereal on sale. Was planning on getting some tomorrow to make these. I cannot wait to try this version ☺
Oh sure- you’ll love it! 😀
I add vanilla to almost everything and I NEVER thought of doing it to this. I want to go make them now 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
They rock! Enjoy 😀
I add cocoa powder to mine while the marshmallows are melting. Chocolate rice Krispy treats!
Wow! Yum – thanks for sharing 😀
Yummy idea!
I add coconut oil and my family loves them!! Plus it lets me cut back on the butter
Great idea!
How much do you use of each then?
I love to make brown butter rice krispie treats. Going to try your tips when i make the regular ones.
https://allrecipes.com/recipe/239738/the-best-brown-butter-salted-rice-krispies-treats/
Yum!
Coconut oil instead if butter!!! You will never turn back!
I’m so trying that next time! 😀👍
How much coconut oil?
I’ve been making it that way for years & it is aaaammmmazing!!! Corn flakes are good too as long as you use the vanilla.
I just made them with Cheerios….sooo good
Oh yay! 😀
I add 2 large spoonfuls of peanut butter while melting the marshmallows and it’s delicious!
Wow yes! Sounds great Erin 😀
I like to spread peanut butter then layer some melted semi-sweet chocolate on top…mmmmm 😍
Yum! We have done that with corn flakes. So good 😀
Yummy!
I love to use pure vanilla to mine!!! I can’t wait to try coconut oil with the vanilla next time I make these.
What a timely post! I’m planning to make these on Wednesday. And I’m loving all the reader suggestions! Can’t wait to try them all 🙂
I agree our readers are so helpful! Thanks For stopping by Tera. 😀
Wet your hands with warm water then press the treats in the pan. They won’t stick to you, and much easier than butter!
I recently added a cup of crushed Oreos in place of a cup of cereal. They were a major hit at a family reunion!
Wow! Great idea Casey!
I just figured out why mine always came out hard as rocks! I was probably cooking them on high heat. I’m very impatient lol. The last time I tried making them was probably eight years ago! So far in the kitchen, that has been my only failure! I’m ready to give it another try! Wish me luck ladies! 💪😁
You can do it! Add a little more butter and marshmallows than the box recipe and it’ll be softer.
I put melt chocolate on top
Mmmm… I love the chocolate rice crispy cereal with peanut butter melted with the butter and marshmallows 😊
This is my very favorite recipe, it’s amazing! https://smittenkitchen.com/2009/11/salted-brown-butter-crispy-treats/
This lady online i follow made a huge 8 layer one.She had chocolate on hers.
Melt peanut butter with marshmallows. So yummy!
I skip the marshmallows all together. Melt 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 bag butterscotch chips. Add 1 c. creamy peanut butter and stir until smooth. Add Rice Krispies (generic brand is fine too) and mix well. Spread into a pan and chill. I’ve also made with a 20-ounce jar of salted peanuts (skip the Rice Krispies). Plop by the spoonful onto wax paper and let sit overnight. Teacher gift at the holidays.
I would add: Use quality ingredients! I’ve tasted so many bad Rice Krispies and its because they use margarine or some really cheap butter. If you have a three ingredient recipe don’t cut corners. I didn’t know about adding the Krispies before all the lumps are gone. I’ll try that next time!
Most people don’t know that marshmallows can be frozen. They do get stale if they sit in your pantry for a long time and even when you melt hard marshmallows your crispy treats won’t taste right. You don’t have to thaw them , just melt them even slower. Of course, now my kids have discovered that frozen marshmallows are yummy too, so I might grab them and only find half a bag in the freezer!!
Nice to know, thanks!
Oh that’s smart! Thanks Maggie 😀
2 more tips: Skip the pan and just spray some vegetable oil on wax paper and shape the treats with your hands (also sprayed with veg. oil) – basically no cleanup!
Also – the kids LOVE this one…do Rice Krispy treats – with Fruity Pebbles! Seriously – so good!
I love baking tips. this recipe is printed and ready to go. I always add a dash of salt to any sweet recipe. Just a tiny bit really amps up the flavor. I found a baker’s tip in an old recipe book of my Grandmother. Mix well 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp flour, 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, and 1/4 cup vegetable oil. Brush it on pans in any recipe that calls for greased and floured pans. Put it in a closed container and it will keep in the cabinet forever. So much neater and it works like a charm every time.
I love these tips! Thanks Cindy!
My coworker adds PB M&Ms to her krispy treats. Every time we need to bring a dish to pass, we request that she bring them.
Try fruity pebbles instead of Rice Krispies – it’s amazing!
Great comments! I make mine in the microwave. So easy! You can also use cocoa krispies or cocoa pebbles. Or one batch cocoa and one batch plain, then put one on top of the other before you cool them. School bake sales we’ve had some with sprinkles, some dipped in melted chocolate, and the browned butter version.
My favorite tip is lay down nonstick parchment paper, nonstick foil, or waxed paper in the pan and they come right out of the pan. No need to grease the pan.
use cap n crunch its the best!!!
We do half cocoa pebbles and half rice crispy and we think it looks and tastes better than full cocoa crispy. Same thing with half fruity pebbles and half rice crispy, it gives it a good balance and reduces the sweetness a bit. The rice crispy / fruity pebble combo makes cute Easter treats too
Just made this recipe, it looks so good I just wanted to eat it right out if the pan, looks better than the recipe off the back of the marshmello bags!
Oh yum! Enjoy!