Easy Rice Krispie Treats (Best Butter & Marshmallow Tips)

Learn how to make soft and chewy Rice Krispie treats from scratch with simple ingredients and foolproof tips for perfectly gooey results every time. Wondering whether butter or margarine works best? I’ll show you exactly what to use, and what to avoid. This easy no bake recipe is perfect for kids, parties, lunchboxes, or when you need a quick and easy sweet treat.

While original Rice Krispie treats are delicious all on their own, I love that you can dress them up too. I love making holiday Rice Krispie treats like a Rice Krispies snowman and Christmas tree Rice Krispie treats. You can also make Valentine Rice Krispie treats, and sometimes I use Fruity Pebbles instead of Rice Krispies to make my kids’ favorite Fruity Pebbles treats!

closeup shot showing gooey Rice Krispie square being pulled out of a pan full of Rice soft and chewy Krispie treats

My boys love it when I make any kind of Rice Krispie treats. Truth be told, I love making them. They’re something I can make in a pinch, and something we can easily carry with us if we’re headed out on the road or just going outside for a picnic.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is an easy, no bake dessert, requiring only a little bit of stove time.
I’ll show you how to get the best classic Rice Krispie treats that are soft and gooey, and perfectly chewy.
I’ll show you exactly what kind of butter to use, as well as the best marshmallows to use.
It’s made with simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your pantry.
This is a kid-friendly recipe, and it’s budget-friendly too!

easy Rice Krispie treats ingredients lined out on a white countertop

Ingredients You’ll Need

The best part is that this homemade Rice Krispie treats recipe uses only 5 ingredients. And quite likely, ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.

Rice Krispies Cereal – You can use any brand of crisp rice cereal. You can use the original Rice Krispies cereal, a generic brand, or a store brand. Personally, I love using Aldi’s version of crisp rice cereal because it’s completely gluten-free and labeled as such.
Butter – Sweet cream salted butter makes the best Rice Krispie treats.
Mini Marshmallows – I prefer mini marshmallows. We’ll talk more about mini marshmallows vs big marshmallows below…
Vanilla Extract – Vanilla extract adds nice flavor. As usual, I love using my Mexican Vanilla.
Salt – The key to making Rice Krispie treats with the best flavor is to balance the sweet with the salty. A touch of sea salt makes every bit of difference.

How to Make Easy Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie treats are so easy to make. You’ll need a large sauce pot or Dutch oven and a rubber spatula for stirring. Also, go ahead and grease up a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

How to Make Easy Rice Krispie Treats on the Stovetop

Melt the butter in a large sauce pot or Dutch oven over low heat on the stovetop. Then stir in the vanilla extract.
Then add in the mini marshmallows, stirring until the marshmallows have fully melted.
Remove the mixture from the heat, and quickly stir in the Rice Krispies.
And that’s it! Just spread the mixture into a greased baking dish and let them cool.

4 step photo collage showing how to make easy Rice Krispie treats

How to Serve Rice Krispie Treats

Slice into Rice Krispie squares and serve! They make a great addition to picnics, potlucks, holiday dinners, family get-togethers, or just a kid-friendly treat right at home. Rice Krispie treats are so versatile, and there are so many different flavor variations that you can make depending on what you’re in the mood for.

Rice Krispie squares laid out on a white countertop

Tips for Soft and Chewy Rice Krispie Treats

After years of testing, I’ve found that using fresh marshmallows and low heat makes the biggest difference when making Rice Krispie treats.

Most importantly, use a low heat. You want to be careful not to brown the butter or overcook the marshmallows. Don’t rush the process; good things come to those who wait.
Don’t press on them too hard as you spread them out into the baking dish. First, try to spread them into the pan as evenly as possible without pressing them out, and then press them out to fill the pan without compressing them.
Be sure to use plenty of marshmallows. If your rice crispy treats are turning out too hard, one solution might be to add even more marshmallows. Is it really possible for them to be too gooey?

Can You Use Large Marshmallows Instead of Mini?

While you can use big marshmallows or jumbo marshmallows, I definitely recommend using the minis. The problem with big marshmallows is that they take much longer to fully melt, and sometimes the outer part of the marshmallow that melts first will overcook by the time the core of the marshmallow has fully melted.

Again, use a low heat, and take it extra slow. If you have leftover mini marshmallows, you can put a handful in a cup of hot chocolate as a nice bonus.

stack of marshmallow Rice Krispie treats on a white countertop

Why Are My Rice Krispie Treats Hard?

Most likely you overcooked them. If you brown the butter or overcook the marshmallows, your crispy treats will turn out hard and way too chewy. If you did not overcook them, and they’re still turning out hard-as-nails, you might use a different bag of marshmallows.

One factor that’s often overlooked is that marshmallows can actually become stale, especially after about 2-4 months opened, or 6-8 months unopened. You can also look at the expiration date on the bag. I found out a lot time ago that the secret to making soft, gooey Rice Krispie treats that aren’t too hard– and that aren’t too dry– is to use fresh marshmallows.

Can I Use Margarine Instead of Butter?

Yes, you can use margarine to make them, but I don’t recommend it. Butter will give your Rice Krispie treats a richer flavor and a better texture.

While it’s true that you want soft and gooey, margarine can make them soggy. Margarine can often make them taste oily, and it doesn’t always set properly.

overhead shot showing a rice Krispie square with a bite taken out on a white countertop

Optional Add-Ins & Recipe Variations

There are a lot of different ways you can change up Rice Krispie treats to make them even more delicious, and sometimes more colorful too.

M&M’s or other chocolate candies – I love to add M&M’s. My Valentine Rice Krispie treats are just one example of this, and they are so yummy.
Use colorful marshmallows instead of plain old white marshmallows to add some color.
Or try adding food coloring for special occasions, like these pink Rice Krispie treats. Hosting a baby shower? Make pink or blue.
Add freeze-dried berries. Case in point, strawberry Rice Krispie treats are the absolute best!
Make s’mores Rice Krispie treats by adding in chocolate chips and crumbled Golden Grahams cereal.
Add peanut butter, and coat them with chocolate to make yummy chocolate peanut butter Rice Krispie treats.

Remember, you can add any color. Just be sure to add the coloring after your marshmallows have melted, and before you add the cereal to the melted marshmallows. It’s an easy way to dress up these treats for a special occasion like a wedding, baby shower, birthday party, or holiday.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s

How do you keep Rice Krispie treats soft?

As I said farther up in the post, the key to making them soft is to not overcook them, use fresh marshmallows, and don’t press them on them too hard. You’ll also want to store them properly to keep them soft for as long as possible.

Do Rice Krispie treats need to be refrigerated?

No, Rice Krispie treats do not need to be refrigerated. In fact, refrigeration can make them hard. They store best in an airtight container on your kitchen counter at room temperature.

Can you make Rice Krispie Treats in the microwave?

Yes, you can make Rice Krispie treats in the microwave. This recipe is for the stovetop, but Flour on My Fingers has a great recipe on how to make microwave Rice Krispie treats.

How long will Rice Krispie treats last?

Stored in an airtight container, they should keep on the counter for about 2-3 days.

Can you freeze Rice Krispie treats?

Yes, you can freeze them. Store them in an airtight container, or wrap each square individually in wax paper, and place them in a freezer bag. They should keep in the freezer for about 2-3 months.

fresh batch of gooey Rice crispy treats with melted marshmallows pulled apart on a white countertop

More Easy No Bake Desserts

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