Best-Ever Rice Krispie Treats
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A few tweaks to the back-of-the-box recipe make these the best Rice Krispie Treats ever.
I’m always hesitant to say a recipe is the “best ever,” especially for a dessert like Rice Krispie Treats or chocolate chip cookies that everyone knows and loves. But once you’ve tinkered around with a recipe for weeks—asking your kids, their friends, and anyone who passes through your house to sample different versions—you can say it’s the best with some confidence. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the original back-of-the-box Rice Krispie treat recipe, but it can be made so much better with almost no effort. Here’s how:
- Use more butter (lots more) and brown it
- 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
What You’ll Need To Make The Best-Ever Rice Krispie Treats
- 12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- Two 10-oz bags mini marshmallows, divided
- ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8½ cups Rice Krispies or crispy rice cereal
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by melting the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Save the wrappers – you’ll use them later.
After the butter melts, it will begin to bubble, foam, and turn golden around the edges. Eventually it will turn a dark golden color and smell nutty – watch carefully, it will go from golden brown to burned quickly.
You’ll see little bits of golden brown sediment forming; that’s okay. But if they get too dark, go ahead and strain them out and then pour the brown butter back in the pot.
Add all but 2 cups of the marshmallows, the vanilla, and salt.
Place the pot over medium heat and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until the marshmallows are completely melted.
Remove the pan from the heat and add the cereal.
Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir until evenly combined.
Add the reserved 2 cups of marshmallows.
Stir until they are softened and partially melted. Don’t overmix – you want pockets of goo.
Transfer the mixture to a foil-lined 9×13-in baking dish.
Using the butter wrappers, press into an even layer.
Let cool for at least an hour, then use the foil overhang to lift the treats onto a cutting board.
Use a serrated knife to cut into squares. Store the treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Enjoy!
Video Tutorial
How To Freeze Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats freeze well. Place the treats in layers separated by wax paper in an airtight container; freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let the treats stand at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
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- Chewy, Gooey Golden Rice Krispie Treats
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies
- Luscious Lemon Bars
- Cheesecake Bars
- Supernatural Brownies
Best-Ever Rice Krispie Treats
A few tweaks to the back-of-the-box recipe make these the best Rice Krispie Treats ever.
Ingredients
- 12 tablespoons (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- Two 10-oz bags mini marshmallows, divided
- ¾ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 8½ cups Rice Krispies or crispy rice cereal (see note)
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 13-in pan with heavy duty aluminum foil and lightly grease with softened butter. Set aside 2 cups of the marshmallows.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, preferably with a light bottom so you can monitor the color, melt the butter over medium heat (save the butter wrappers; you'll use them later for pressing the mixture into the pan). Swirl the pan occasionally to be sure the butter is cooking evenly.
- As the butter melts, it will begin to bubble and foam, and the color will progress from bright yellow to golden to, finally, a toasty-brown. Once you smell that nutty brown butter aroma, take the pan off the heat. (You'll see little bits of golden brown sediment forming; that's okay. However, if the sediment looks almost black, go ahead and pass the butter through a fine sieve to strain it out, then return the brown butter to the pan.)
- Off the heat, add the remaining marshmallows, vanilla, and salt.
- Place the pot back over medium heat and stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until the marshmallows are completely melted. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cereal. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir until evenly combined.
- Add the reserved marshmallows and stir until they are softened and partially melted. Don't overmix; you want pockets of goo. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and, using the butter wrapper or damp fingers, press the mixture gently into an even layer in the prepared baking pan. Let cool at room temperature for at least an hour.
- Use the foil overhang to lift the treats onto a cutting board, then use a serrated bread knife to cut into squares. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Note: Kellogg's no longer makes a gluten-free version of Rice Krispies, so if you have a gluten-sensitivity, make sure the cereal you purchase is certified gluten-free.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (24 servings)
- Calories: 162
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Sugar: 15 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Sodium: 93 mg
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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I hate it
Is straining the sediment only for aesthetics sake? Or will it affect the way the treats taste?
Hi L, the sediment can taste a little bitter.
Holy smokes! Idk how and why I’m so late to the brown butter party but here I am! Making these for a second time and I’m already drooling.
I have made these dozens of times for the nursing staff at the hospital where I work. I get a ton of requests for both the treats and the recipe and I have no idea how this recipe could ever get less than the 5 stars that it deserves. I wonder if people are using off brand rice krispies and/or salted butter or if they are burning their butter. Beats me, bc these are nurse tested and approved and LOVED!!!
Whoa! Browning the butter made a huge impact on flavor. This is delicious! My bf who loves rice krispies couldn’t stop raving about it.
Btw, I’ve made this the first time today. I followed the recipe exactly (all except I used parchment paper vs foil) next time I will try mixing other cereals like corn flakes or chex. Would be nice to change up texture. Anyone tried mixing some peanut butter in marshmallows yet? Might try that myself next time.
Yes! I add about 3/4 cup (you could definitely do 1/2 cup) when the marshmallows are melting and they’re fantastic.
This recipe does not work I tried it and it’s absolutely disgusting.
Kayla I’ve had nothing but requests for more! I wonder what you don’t like. Do you like store bought Rice Krispie treats?
Thank you thank you for this. My niece has finally discovered Rice Krispie treats and I made them the other day and I felt like they needed something and I kept thinking “what if I browned the butter?” This recipe is outstanding!
They taste great but 30 minutes after letting them cool they turned to rock. It’s great if you stick it in the microwave though.
This usually happens, in my experience, if you melt down everything too quickly.
Yup, these are delicious. I love the little pockets of goo from the 2C of marshmallows.
Well i made another batch & like you said add a little bit of your own ingredients so i a sprinkled a light bit of icing sugar at the end as it was cooking off in the dish wow what a difference a little more sweetness does & it even looks better lol.
I used this recipe to make RKT and Fruity Pebbles treats for a coworkers birthday. I had just purchased some fancy RKT from a local bakery the week prior and shared them with the same group of folks. They all raved over the ones I made. It was my first time making them. So good! I didn’t follow the recipe exactly because my store had 16 oz bags instead of 10, so I just used one 16 oz bag and and 10-11 tbs of butter and they were perfect.
Hi Jenn.
Thank you so much for this fabulous recipe! I wanted to make some special treats for our 14 kids at our Kids Club! I followed your exact recipe, but added mini chocolate chips with the last 2 cups of marshmallows and it turned out Awesome!
Each child received a very large piece and just loved it!!! This is a keeper and I will make it again for my 2 granddaughters!!! So gooey and delicious!!!
Delicious!! I made these before my kids came home from school today and they were excited to see Rice Kripie treats when they walked in the door. They loved your recipe and we’ll never go back to making them the old boring way. Thanks Jenn!
WORST. RECIPE. EVER.
I’m sorry I wanted to like it but no, just no.
I honestly don’t see how someone could mess this up.. It was super yummy! I actually formed mine into little “birds nests”for Easter using a cupcake tin and pushing it down in the center. I have mini Cadbury eggs I’m putting in them too! I like store bought rice Krispy treats, but nothing beats homemade!
I love butter also, but 12 tablespoons??? That’s crazy. Way more than needed. I’d say about 6 should do it. But thanks for your version, I may try it
The recipe was ok it might be because I used off brand ingredients because it looked like the picture but the rice krispies where a little tough (not like rubery but not normal) it tasted good but I needed it to be perfect because I was using this recipe for my demonstration speech about how to make homemade rice krispies treats for my first thing I have made that didn’t get burnt it turned out ok
These are over the top! The BEST! So full of gooey goodness! Thanks, Jenn, for another outstanding recipe!
These are the absolute best rice krispie treats ever! Your tweaks to the traditional recipe are spot on Jenn. I have made this recipe several times and they are always a hit. My husband even won the Paul Bunyan trophy at work with your recipe for rice krispies. So thank you Jenn! That said, my husband wants me to make them with cocoa krispies. What do you think? Would it work? Would you make any other adjustments to the recipe?
~Cathy
Hi Kathy, so glad you like these and that they were award-winning in your husband‘s office! 🙂
I’ve never made these with Cocoa Krispies so I can’t say for sure how they would turn out but I think you could substitute some of the traditional Rice Krispies with Cocoa Krispies without any other modifications. You may want to start out using half regular Rice Krispies and half Cocoa Krispies just to test it out. Please LMK what you think if you try them this way!
I’ve made several different types of cereals to make my crispy treats Edibles and ALL have been loved. Fruity pebbles, cocoa pebbles, Pb and chocolate pebbles etc., and I didn’t mix w rice crispes, also different flavored marshmallows and fluff as well. Sky is the limit of ur taste buds and imagination 👍
I’m actually about to make Pumpkin spice ones for the 1st time right now. Happy Making 😀
I added a handful of semi sweet chocolate chips. Added even more sinful goodness.
I made these for the first time last night, super easy and delicious! I used 7 1/2 cups of crispy cereal because I like my treats gooier. I also used vegan marshmallows and vegan butter, so they’re tasty and vegan! I couldn’t find vegan mini marshmallows so I just tore up the regular ones into mini pieces. 5/5 will definitely make again.
Very good recipe! So gooey and soft! We loved it and will definitely use this as our go to Rice Krispy Square recipe! Adding the extra marshmallows at the end put it over the top!
This recipe is super dry and crumbly. Too many rice crispies not enough marshmallow. And using foil is a horribly messy snd sticky situation.
I have used this recipe four times in the last two weeks; recently discovered Cinnamon Rice Krispies and substituted two cups in lieu of the regular. Very good.
Thanks for sharing!
These are insanely good! I used big marshmallows instead for extra “goo.” Thank you so much for your recipes.
Oh my goodness the butter becoming nutty just makes the Rice Krispie square complete. Thank you. I love it!
Hi, Jenn! Thank you for this great recipe! I made two batches not too long ago and loved every square I got to eat! It was a hit at a staff potluck. This recipe brings back wonderful childhood memories. Not to mention the treats stay tasty and chewy left in the fridge for a few days after!
The best recipe I’ve found so far… and I make a LOT of treats!
Literally the best rice krispy treats! So much flavor and a little salty. Love these!
Made them this afternoon and they turned out just like you said. Thank you. Love this recipe.
These are soooo good! I only had 6 cups of Rice Krispies so I used lucky charms to make up the rest, they are delicious!
Very easy to make as well.
Browning the butter makes them taste very gourmet.
P.S, Kelloggs does make gluten free Rice Krispies. I found them at Walmart! Also, lucky charms are gluten free too 🙂
score for my fellow celiacs/ gluten sensitive peeps.
Wow, this recipe looks so good that I even bookmarked it on my computer before I even had baked it.
This is the ONLY rice crispie treat recipe I use!!! Wonderful!!! Now my newly married daughter makes these as well. Family favorite!
This is the first rice crispy treat recipe I’ve tried, so I can’t really compare, but I don’t think I’ll be searching for another. These are AMAZING. They were a huge hit with all 5 of us, kids and parents alike. Adding some of the marshmallows at the end was genius. Will definitely be making again!
Best Rice Crispy treat recipe!!
** I did 1/2 cocoa crispies and 1/2 regular for added flavor. Thank you for the recipe!!
I love the smell of browned butter in my home. The change from u browned to browned took a long time, then happened in a second – BOOM!
Literally the best Rice Krispie Treats & the brown butter…. Genius!!
These are insanely easy and insanely delicious. I’m not even the biggest fan of rice krispy treats and I am completely hooked on these! What a genius idea to separate those two cups of marshmallows out to create gooey pockets of goodness!!
I’d like to make these for Christmas using the red and green rice treats however I’m wondering if I should adjust anything to ensure it’s not overly sweet. Thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Tobi, I don’t know if red and green rice krispies contain any additional sugar. (My guess is that they don’t; they probably just have coloring added to them. If they don’t, you won’t need to make any adjustments.) Hope you enjoy!
My husband (we are old people) bought the holiday ones for fun and I found her wonderful modified recipe and they are great! …just some extra food coloring as best as I can tell. Also, we got hooked on these treats and now can’t find rice krispies anywhere due to a strike? Or shortage issue. In midwest there are none to be found at any store still Jan 21, 22.
I recently found some at Amazon, it’s Happy Belly (their own brand) but they taste very good.
I bought the Happy Belly Rice Krispies also. They are very good!
Didn’t have mini marshmallows but worked perfectly with big ones. I just put them all in together and made sure some chunks didn’t melt. So good! Husband ate them all 🙁 Will be using the recipe again!
This recipe is so delicious. It does leave an oily residue sensation on the tongue. But they are tasty. I brought some to work I am surprised to see that at 5pm there are still 3 left. I got here at 12 noon.
These really are the best!
These krispy treats are excellent. My son, who is 6, and I made these tonight and we’re quite impressed. The steps are simple and a great way to spend some quality time with the kids. I’m a tech dad and surely not a cook, so the fact that they came out really well speaks volumes for the recipe itself. Thanks.
Dear Jean, I am 6 3/4 years old, and I just made these with my grandmother! They are the best Rice Krispie treats I have ever had. Yum yum!
!
💕
Fantastic Recipe! The absolute best I have ever made & eaten! Wow! Great ratios!
Great idea for the second addition of marshmallows!
Celiacs be ware though – Rice Krispies USED to be Gluten Free. They no longer are. They add barley/malt to the crispies for flavor and that ingredient is not GF. What I do is buy the “healthy” alternative rice crisps as some of them are certified GF as they don’t add barley/malt.
Otherwise, it’s a great recipe!
I’m sitting here with a stomachache because I have eaten so many of these rice crispy treats, I don’t even like rice crispy treats, but my daughter wanted to make them weeks ago, but we couldn’t find the marshmallows (I hid them so she wouldn’t eat them before making the recipe) but we found them, then I thought the cereal would be gone or stale by now, but it was unopened, and I had all the other ingredients, so we made them. At first, I thought there wasn’t going to be enough melted marshmallows to coat all the cereal, but I kept at it, then I added the remaining 2 cups and I could tell it was going to be just fine. After pressing into a greased dish, I happened to eat what was left on the spatula and OMG!!!! Between the brown butter, the salt, yes the salt and the vanilla ( both of which I didn’t even measure because who doesn’t like salt and vanilla, this recipe made them taste like they were made with homemade marshmallows vs. store bought and those pockets of partially melted marshmallows were the best. I couldn’t even wait for them to cool in the fridge, I kept eating and eating, hence the stomachache! Thank you, best recipe EVER!!!!
These turned out superb! Thank you for sharing your recipe!!!
Such a great tasty Rice Krispie, but I may have done something wrong because they had a filming taste at the end.
Hi Tahnee, Sorry you had a problem with this. Can you explain more what you mean by a filming taste? Thanks!
Hi Jenn
I made these for my sons office last week. They disappeared before the end of the day. Browned butter really adds flavor to the recipe. Great idea!
Your recipes are always to be trusted, and I have had great success with everything that I have tried.
Great! Kids helped. Love buttery. I added honey for healthy gooiness. Thank you.
Honestly the best. They’re gooey and the browned butter caramel notes are to die for.