These homemade Rice Krispie Treats are perfectly soft and chewy every time, thanks to one secret ingredient. Ready in minutes with just 4 ingredients!
I’ve been making Rice Krispie Treats for more than 30 years. For school parties, holidays, bake sales, and plenty of “just because” cravings (usually mine). They seem like the easiest dessert ever, but I’ve learned that a few little details make the difference between soft, gooey treats and bars that turn out dry and hard. After more batches than I could ever count, I’ve found my winning combination: extra marshmallows, a splash of vanilla, and a simple trick for pressing them into the pan.
That’s really what I want to share here at Shugary Sweets: recipes you can count on. I test every recipe in my own kitchen, usually more than once, and when my family keeps asking me to make something again, I know it’s ready for you. Because I did all the work for you over the past 30 years, you know making these treats will turn out perfect the first time.
This recipe for homemade rice krispie treats was originally published in October 2016. It has been updated with new photos in February 2021 and updated recipe notes in July 2026.
Aimee’s Recipe Notes
If you’ve been searching for the best rice krispie treat recipe, you’ve landed in the right place. These are what I’m known for, buttery, gooey, and just the right amount of chewy. Everything the classic treat should be, with a little bit of a secret that makes them even tastier.
Taste: Sweet, buttery, and vanilla flavored.
Texture: Gooey, and chewy with a light crispiness from the cereal.
Ease to Make: Simple and quick, perfect for beginners or busy bakers.
Cooking Method: Stovetop, no-bake; just melt, mix, and set in a pan.
These are FANTASTIC and worth the time to refresh your rice Krispy teat skills.
-Sew
Homemade Rice Crispy Treats Ingredients
My recipes for rice crispy treats is so easy. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredient list and measurements.
- Butter – use salted butter for this recipe. Just trust me! Don’t have any on hand? Use unsalted butter and a pinch of salt while melting. DO NOT use margarine.
- Marshmallows – you’ll need 8-9 cups of mini marshmallows, keeping about 1 cup aside to add in at the end!
- Rice Krispies Cereal – any brand of crispy rice cereal will work, just make sure it’s FRESH.
Aimee’s Secret Ingredient to The Best Rice Krispie Treats
Adding my homemade vanilla extract or any pure vanilla extract takes this recipe over the top. Or make it lemon flavored using our easy lemon rice krispie treat recipe.
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats
Scroll down after the recipe card to see more tips and tricks as well as variations that I’ve created off this classic rice krispie treat recipe.
Tips on How to Make Rice Krispie Treats
- Use fresh marshmallows. Using stale marshmallows will result in stale treats. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way.
- Brown the butter. Learn how to brown butter and make a batch of my flavorful brown butter rice krispie treats next!
- 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.
- Kelloggs is wrong. DO NOT press these bars into your pan firmly. Using your fingertips and gentlypress 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!
- The trick to pressing them in your pan without sticking to your hands is to run your fingers in water. Dip in water, shake off the excess, and press. Voila. No sticking!
- Store in an airtight container for two days. If they last that long, I’d be shocked!
- Make these gluten free by choosing a crispy rice cereal labeled Gluten Free (and check your marshmallow labels too just in case).
How to Store Homemade Rice Krispie Treats
Rarely is this the case in my house, as we all know I can eat an entire pan of homemade rice krispie treats. But, should you find yourself with leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature. I usually just slide them into a ziploc bag.
Or you can freeze rice krispie treats. I was skeptical for a long time, and finally tried it out. I slide my leftovers into a ziploc freezer bag and placed them in the freezer.
Surprisingly, they thaw pretty quickly on the counter and they taste super fresh too!
Flavor Variations of The Best Rice Krispie Treats
Add in some flavored gelatin (or pudding mix) to the melted marshmallow for a unique twist! Cherry Krispie Treats!
Make Lucky Charms Treats for a St.Paddy’s Day dessert idea.
- For best results, name brand cereal stays fresher longer and can hold up to the melted butter and marshmallows better
- Always start with fresh marshmallows. If you use stale marshmallows in hopes that melting them will give you good results, you’ll be disappointed!
- More mix-ins: fold in some m&m’s or Reese’s peanut butter cups for a delicious dessert idea.
There are thousands of recipes for showing how to make rice crispy treats, and I’m putting it out there that my recipe is BEST. You may see some similar nowadays, but they all stem from my original add-ins.
- Only 4 ingredients
- Thick and chewy
- Vanilla flavor
- Perfect ratio of cereal to marshmallows
We love that this classic treat can be changed up using different cereals too!
- Chocolate– Cocoa Krispie Treats
- Fruity– Fruity Pebbles Treats
- S’mores– Golden Grahams Treats
- Cheerios– Cheerio Treats
Basic, original, homemade rice krispie treats that captures my taste buds.
Homemade Rice Crispy Treats FAQs
The biggest question is how to spell it. Some people say Rice Crispy treat, Some say Crispy Rice, some say Rice Crispies. Either way, you get the point! This rice crispy treats recipe is the best you’ll find.
Packing the cereal mixture too firmly into the prepared pan pushes the air out and makes them dense and dry.
Keep treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one week.
Obviously it was marshmallow’s plan all along to create a cereal for the perfect dessert. In my professional opinion, the treat always comes before the cereal.
Along the way, package sizes change, and here in the US, they are measured by weight. When I first created the recipe, 16 ounces of mini marshmallows were used. Which is roughly 8-9 cups, or about 70 regular-size marshmallows.
More No Bake Treats
- Puppy Chow Recipe (muddy buddies)
- Pistachio Fluff Salad
- Chunky Candy Bar
- Paula Deen banana pudding
- How to Make Fudge
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Easy Rice Krispie Treat Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter
- 16 ounce bag mini marshmallows divided
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
Instructions
- 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 and gently stir until combined.
- 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!
Notes
- How many marshmallows do I need? One 16 ounce bag of marshmallows is about 8-9 cups. You’ll melt all but one cup of the marshmallows in the butter, reserving the last cup for adding with the cereal.
- 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 binder clips to help the parchment paper stay in place.
- 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.
- 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!
- The trick to pressing them in your pan without sticking to your hands is to run your fingers in water, shake off the excess, and press. Voila. No sticking!
- Store in an airtight container for two days. If they last that long, I’d be shocked!
- Make these gluten free by choosing a crispy rice cereal labeled Gluten Free (and check your marshmallow labels too just in case).
- Can you freeze rice krispie treats? YES! I slide them on a parchment paper lined sheet into a ziploc freezer bag. Thaw on counter until soft again!
Video
Nutrition
Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Original Rice Krispie Treats recipe with all the tips and tricks for making them thick and chewy!
I use a little extra butter that gives them a softer texture. I spray wax paper after putting the cereal into the 13×9 pan and flatten them so my hands don’t get the sticky cereal on them and I can really flatten them
I PLAN ON MAKING THE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE RICE KRISPIE TREATS WHEN MY FAMILY COMES TO VISIT AT MEMORIAL DAY
Holy moly are these good! I made these on a whim since I had not had a rice krispie treat (homemade) since I was a kid. I knew they were good, but when I made them for some kids visiting, and the adults devoured them and hid the rest from the kids, I knew they were a hit! I now get requests for these on a regular basis, and I will never make them any other way!
I’m so glad you love this recipe. Truly one of my favorites too!
Thanks Aimee
Making Halloween “mummies” for snacks. Great recipe!!!!
Barb
How much do I need to increase this to fit a 9 x 13 and a half sheet pan?
You can double it, if you still want thick krispie treats.
I’m making your marshmallow fluff for another recipe. I’d like to just make extra so I can use it in the rice crispy treats.
How much fluff would I use for this and would this change the butter amount?
My husband said these were the best Rice Krispie recipe he’d ever tasted. It’s so easy and so perfect!!
I agree with your husband! Enjoy,
I’ve made several different variations of rice krispie treats but my family loves these ones the best so finally I can stop searching! Thanks for a great version of this classic treat.
Yes! Your family is so smart 🙂
Been making these for years they are delicious!!!!
My family loves these rice crispy treats! They are a crowd pleaser at potluck too. They are so easy to make, I whip up a batch whenever we need a quick dessert. We have also put M&M’s and chocolate chips on top. 10/10 recipe
I’m working my way through Aimee’s cookbook and this was the first. Absolutely the best Rice Krispie treats ever…. Packaged up a batch for my daughter and her family. When she texted to say they were fabulous I asked for details. “Light, not too sweet and just plain awesome. The kids loved them and Greg and I did, too.” They’re a Rise Krispie treats ever game changer, guys! Try them. Now. 😊
Awww so sweet. Thank you Kathy for the comment! so glad your family loved them as much as I do.
I only have the regular size marshmallows, how much of these do I use?
The best recipe for these treats – LOVE THEM
I love the simplicity of this recipe and the pure vanilla extract takes it to a new level of deliciousness!
Thank you so much 🙂
Perfect Rice Krispies, borh flavor and texture! And I love the helpful tips!
Thank you Dawn 🙂
Been making krispie treats for over 50 years and this recipe is the bomb!!! By far the BEST ones I’ve ever made!!!
So good
This was the best rice crispies I have ever made
Tasty and Delicious treats! Perfect flavor and style.
Tasty and delicious!