Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
Get the secret tips and tricks to making the most PERFECT Rice Krispie Treats. Kid and adult friendly!
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I spend days and days trying to come up with the perfect cake. Or the most beautiful cupcakes. Or to create the fudgiest brownies.
But, it’s no secret, Rice Krispie Treats have always been the key to my heart.
Years ago I shared a story about my favorite treat. How sometimes when I make a batch of krispie treats I have eaten the whole 13×9 before my kids even arrive home from school. I’ve made myself sick many times overeating this treat.
I have no willpower. The lure of marshmallow is too powerful. I am weak.
But, it’s not ANY rice krispie treat that has this effect on me. For instance, store bought individually wrapped treats? YUCK. Barf. So fake tasting.
Or I’m sure you’ve experienced the Rice Krispie Treat that has been pressed into a crunchy square of grossness. Too hard to enjoy, not the soft and chewy treat you’ve come to love over the years!
I love Rice Krispie Treats so much that I’ve created over a dozen flavors….from Fluffernutter, or Cherry, or Pistachio….to Peppermint, Cinnamon Roll, and PayDay. I’ve even got these adorable TURKEY Krispie Treats for Thanksgiving!
But, in the end, it’s the classic RICE KRISPIE TREAT that draws me in. The biggest question is how to spell it. Some people say Rice Crispy, Some say Crispy Rice, some say Rice Crispies. Either way, you get the point!
How to make PERFECT Rice Krispie Treats:
- Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. This way you don’t have to worry about extra butter on your fingertips, or the other extreme of your bars sticking to the pan!
- Use fresh marshmallows. Seriously, they make a difference. Don’t grab that bag that’s been in your pantry for months and months thinking it will be okay since you are melting them. It won’t be okay.
- Add my secret ingredient. VANILLA EXTRACT. Not imitation vanilla, but PURE VANILLA extract. It makes a difference in creating the illusion that you’re using homemade marshmallows.
- Toss in some extra marshmallows with your cereal. This adds a whole dimension of chewiness!
- DO NOT (I repeat) DO NOT press these bars into your pan firmly. Using your fingertips, GENTLY press them in just until they are spread out. The harder you pack them in, the harder they are when it’s time to eat them!
- Store in an airtight container for two days. If they last that long, I’d be shocked! ENJOY
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Perfect Rice Krispie Treats:
Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
Yield: 9 large bars
Prep Time: 10 minutes, plus 1 hour set time
Ingredients:
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 16 oz mini marshmallows, divided
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
Directions:
- Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Once melted, add in all but 1 cup of the marshmallows. Reduce heat to low and continue stirring until completely melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Add the cereal and the remaining 1 cup of marshmallows.
- Pour into the prepared baking dish. Press GENTLY with your fingertips just until completely spread out (the harder you pack them in, the harder they are to eat).
- Allow to set, about 1 hour. Cut and enjoy!
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**This recipe for Perfect Rice Krispie Treats was first published on Shugary Sweets on October 27, 2016 and has been republished in May 2018.
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Oh yes, vanilla adds so much to these. Yuck is right on the store bought ones. No comparison to the ones you can make.
Seriously I thought I was the only person on the planet that can not stay out of a pan of Rice Krispy treats. They are a trigger food. Yes, I have eaten enough until I am full and sick. I just can not stay out of them. These look wonderful. I like too that I would not need to eat the whole 9×13 just a 9×9.
Ha! It’s still the same amount just in a different pan. Good one though…
You’re not alone in your love of Rice Krispie Treats!!! Every time I make them for a party, the adults always demolish them ???? Yours look like the perfect ooey gooey treat!!
So much better if you add peanut butter better still make it crunchy peanut butter.
How much PB do you add? Is it a replacement for something else in the recipe?
LOVE these tips!!!! I’m totally due to make some rice krispie treats too!
Love these so would love to have recipes on this line. Or any good ones as I love sweets.
It’s my go to dessert because I can’t have gluten. And there is gluten in EVERYTHING!! Thanks! I surely will try this recipe!!
If you would like to bump it up a notch try the following:
When melting the butter, brown it. Till it gets the little brown bits.
After placing in your pan, sprinkle with sea salt.
I’m telling you one thing. You will never go back to the standard RK treat !
Yum!
I love adding a 1/4 tsp of almond extract, in place of the vanilla..I think it brings out the marshmallow flavor better. :)))
Great tip!
If you want to make a 9×13 would you just double the recipe?
Sure!
Oh my Goodness! I just made these and I can barely contain myself, they barely made it to the pan to spread it out. I see my son running back and fourth and figured out he keeps getting little pieces then he runs back! That you so much for sharing this fabulous recipe, it is the best! I will always be making these. I so recommend everyone to make them. My family and I thank you!
You’re quite welcome!!
How would I need to modify the recipe if I have a 9×13 pan? Thanks so much 🙂 I’m making a bunch of different baked goods for a charity bake sale and this recipe looks great but I just have the one pan. Appreciate you!
You can double the recipe 🙂 ENJOY!
Have never been a fan of RK treats, but that just changed! Thank you so much for the recipe and to everyone for the add in tips. I will try them all!
You’re welcome!
Totally agree! I have had some terrible rice crispy treats. I’m such a crispy snob that I will only eat mine now lol. Another tip is to never ever EVER sub real butter for anything else. Just because it’s in stick form does not mean it’s butter! Real butter people!
Is it ok to use large marshmallows for this recipe and if so do you know the amount? I’m really excited to try out this recipe for Christmas treats this year!
How many cups of mini marshmallows? All I can buy are ten oz bags. Thank you!
My bars fall apart, what did I do wrong?
I add marshmallow cream to mine!????
I always use real vanilla and add 1/3 cup of dry white cake mix to the marshmallow/ butter mixture. I add another tablespoon of butter and a handful of marshmallow as “extra” to compensate for the dry mix. People go crazy for them..every time!
Yummy idea!
I added some chopped pecans to the last batch I made, so good! Definitely added the vanilla
Oooh, never thought about adding pecans!
You should try substituting 1/2 of the rice krispies with cocoa krispies. They are simply amazing!
Hi There from Australia thank you for this recipe. I make these with a 3/4 cup of desicated coconut. I will try the PB version too. Love rice Krispy squares. Here the cereal is called Rice Bubbles 🙂
I was out of of mini marshmallows so cut up 1 cup of large ones, it worked perfectly. While growing up one of my brothers would buy the ingredients & BEG me to make ’em for him. Adding unmelted marshmallows & vanilla is an excellent idea, great recipe 🙂
Thank you 🙂
My mum used to make these when we were wee. II dont remember her putting marsh mallows.
What else do you think it could have been We loved them x
Seriously, I can not have Rice Krispie Treats in my house. They are my danger food. I can not eat just one. This recipe sounds wonderful. I think it is good that they are made in a smaller pan than a 9×13. Otherwise I would be eating the 9×13.
Amiee you make Perfect Rice Krispie Treats very hard to resist.
Super and fast to make Thanks for all your great recipes Great MOM and all.
For me, perfect is using browned butter!
You know if add a tablespoon of milk to your rice krispie treats they stay sort and taste amazing!!
I absolutely concur! Rice Krispy Treats are the most deliscious self-indulgent treat. However, I have always used marshmallow fluff to make them. The combination of soft ewes-gooey marshmallow thinned with warm butter mixed with the krispy rice is pure heaven! Cannot stop eating them until they are gone.
These look so good! I love Rice Krispie treats…I need to make these this weekend!
I haven’t had Rice Krispie Treats in forever! I think I may have to make a batch soon!
The vanilla extract really does make a difference – these are so yummy!
Nothing better than a rice krispy treat! I love all of these tips, I have never tried with the vanilla extract.
This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
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