BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (2024)

Jump to RecipeRate Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This truly is the ONLY Rice Krispie Treat Recipe you need! All done quickly in the microwave, plus a secret to making pressing the treats into the pan easy, with NO STICKING to your hands! You are 5 minutes away from the best Rice Krispie Treats of your LIFE!

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (1)

What makes this the Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe?

Finding the absolute perfect ratio of marshmallows to cereal was quite the quest. I 100% ate way too many Rice Krispie Treats on the way and I am not ashamed about it at all.

Rice Krispie Treats are Dan’s absolute favorite dessert aaaaand I was really really horrible at making them for a long time. (I know, how can someone be horrible at Rice Krispie Treats.. but I was.)

I’ve been testing this recipe all week. I made an entire cookie sheet worth of Rice Krispie Treats on Tuesday, I left for about an hour after the kids went to bed to go to a church meeting and came back to literally half of the Rice Krispie Treats. That right there is when I knew I had found the perfect combination. 😉

This truly is the BEST Rice Krispie Treat Recipe out there! All done easily and quickly in the microwave, plus a secret to making pressing the treats into the pan easy, with NO STICKING to your hands! You are 5 minutes away from the best Rice Krispie Treats of your LIFE!

PLUS – I have a trick that my friend Anna (pronounced like AH-nuh) over on instagram at @annaistheworst taught me to keep your hands all clean! Get ready for it!! Let’s go!

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (2)

Rice Krispies Treat Recipe Ingredients

No crazy ingredients here! Just a handful of ingredients and your microwave is all you need! You can find specific measurements below in the printable recipe card.

butter
mini marshmallows
vanilla
Rice Krispie Cereal

How to make the Best Rice Krispie Treats (without it sticking to your hands!)

You are not going to believe how easy this is.. are you ready??

In a large bowl, melt your butter in the microwave.
Then, toss your marshmallows in the melted butter, then microwave for 1 minute, stirring at the 30 second mark.
Add in some vanilla and stir really well.

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (3)

The melted marshmallow mixture, Rice Krispie Cereal and whole, unmelted marshmallows go into a extra large bowl.
Using a silicone spatula, stir stir stir!!
Grease a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray, pour the Rice Krispie Treat mixture into the pan.

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (4)

…Here comes the magic!!…

Now, go over to your sink and run your hands under water, and gently shake them until they are damp.
Use yourwet hands to gently press the Rice Krispie Treats into the pan.

*MIND BLOWN*

I know, I know. Anna is a genius.

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (5)

Tips for this Easy Rice Krispie Treat Recipe

Use new marshmallows. Just trust me on this one.. If they are stale now, your Rice Krispie Treats will be stale later. 😉
Melt the butter first, then the marshmallows, exactly as written. This really does make a difference in the outcome!
Gently, gently press the Rice Krispie Treats into the pan. If you pack them, no matter what, they will be hard later.
Wet your hands in the sink before pressing down the Rice Krispie Treats.
Store in an air tight container for up to 2 days, but really, they are the very best about 30 seconds after pressing them into the pan. 😉

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (6)

Storing this Recipe for Rice Krispie Treats

Rice Krispie treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator. If you live in a hot or humid climate, it is best to store the treats in the refrigerator to prevent them from becoming too soft or sticky. Rice Krispie treats will stay fresh for several days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If you store them in the refrigerator, they will last for up to a week.

How To Keep Rice Krispie Treats Soft

There are a few things you can do to keep Rice Krispie treats soft. First, store the treats in an airtight container to prevent them from drying out. You can also add a slice of bread to the container with the treats, as the bread will absorb any excess moisture and help to keep the treats soft. Storing the treats in the refrigerator can also help to keep them soft and moist, but be sure to wrap them well or place them in an airtight container to prevent them from picking up any unwanted odors.

Rice Krispie Treat Recipe FAQs

How long do Rice Krispie treats take to cool?

Rice Krispie treats typically take about 30 minutes to an hour to cool completely. Once the treats are cooled, you can cut them into squares or other desired shapes using a sharp knife. You can also use cookie cutters to cut the treats into fun shapes.

Can I melt marshmallows in microwave?

Yes, melting marshmallows in the microwave is quick and easy. To melt marshmallows in the microwave, you will need a microwave-safe bowl and a silicone spatula or wooden spoon.

Why are my homemade Rice Krispie treats hard?

There are a few reasons why your homemade Rice Krispie treats may be hard. The most common reasons for hard Rice Krispie treats is overtaking them or not storing them correctly.

How far in advance can you make rice crispy treats?

You can make Rice Krispie treats in advance. Rice Krispie treats will stay fresh for several days when stored at room temperature in an airtight container. Storing them in the refrigerator will increase their shelf life to one week.

If you loved what you saw here, get more of it on Facebook, Instagram & Pinterest! I’d love to connect! Sign up for my weekly newsletter below to never miss a new recipe again!

BEST Rice Krispies Treat Recipe - Cooking With Karli (7)

If you love Rice Krispies, try out some of my favorite desserts below!

Sugar Cookies
Brownie Mix Cookies
Blonde Brownie Recipe
No Bake Cheesecake
Cheesecake Fruit Dip
Sugar Cookie Frosting
Oreo Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
No Bake Cookie Dough
Sprinkle Cookies
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Twix Cookies
Fruit Pizza Cookies
All Dessert Recipes

Save

PinPrint

4.16 from 45 votes

Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

By: Karli Bitner

This truly is The BEST Rice Krispie Treat Recipe out there! All done easily and quickly in the microwave, plus a secret to making pressing the treats into the pan easy, with NO STICKING to your hands! You are 5 minutes away from the best Rice Krispie Treats of your LIFE!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 squares

Ingredients

▢ 1/3 cup (73g) salted butter
▢ 2 10.5 oz bags (768g) mini marshmallows, divided
▢ 1 tsp vanilla
▢ 8 cups (216g) Rice Krispie Cereal

Instructions

Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray. Set aside.
In an extra large bowl, measure out the 8 cups of Rice Krispie Cereal. Set aside.
In a separate large microwave safe bowl, microwave the butter until completely melted. (about 45 seconds)
Add one entire bag of marshmallows, plus 1/3 of the second bag of marshmallows to the bowl with melted butter. Stir to coat the marshmallows in the melted butter.
Microwave for 1 minute, stirring at the 30 seconds mark.
Add the vanilla to the bowl and stir until well combined and smooth.
Pour the melted marshmallow mixture into the bowl with the Rice Krispie Cereal. Stir until well combined.
Fold in the remaining 2/3 bag of marshmallows.
Pour the Rice Krispie treat mixture into the prepared 9×13 pan.
Wet your hands with water and then gentlypress the Rice Krispie Treats into the pan.
Enjoy!!

Video

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

FAQs

Why are my homemade rice crispy treats so hard? ›

If you melt the marshmallows too fast, it might result in a Rice Kripsy treat that is harder and crunchy than chewy. Take your time and let the butter and marshmallows melt slowly. Use an 8×8 or slightly smaller pan. Use a small and deep pan if you want thick and chewy rice Krispy treats.

Find Out More ›

Why won't my Rice Krispies treats stick together? ›

Why are my Rice Krispies Treats not sticking together? Usually, this means you have too much moisture in your recipe. This could be because the marshmallows were over-melted or because the brand of butter you used has higher water content.

Discover More ›

What happens if you put too much butter in rice krispie treats? ›

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies Treats? If you put too much butter in rice krispies treats they will become oily, the cereal will soak up the butter and the treats will become soggy, rather than crispy.

Learn More ›

Why are my rice krispie treats falling apart? ›

9 -Troubleshooting: do your rice krispie treats fall apart? You've either used too much butter or haven't pressed it down in the tin enough. 10 - Rice krispie treats will last for up to a week like this or freeze for up to 2 months. They do not need to be refrigerated.

Learn More Now ›

Why are my rice krispies not crispy? ›

There are a couple of reasons your treats might have come out soggy or too soft. First, your cereal might be too old. Check the expiration and make sure the crispy rice cereal is nice and fresh for the best texture! Second, you may have used too much butter.

Learn More ›

How long to wait before eating rice krispie treats? ›

- Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. - To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Get More Info Here ›

Are rice krispie treats a bad snack? ›

They are mostly high-glycemic carbs (meaning the type that spike energy quickly), Collingwood says. Other than some iron and B vitamins (thanks to the fortified cereal they're made with), they have little nutritional value. You'll still need to focus on a healthy diet throughout the rest of your day, Collingwood says.

What are rice krispie treats called in Australia? ›

Rice Krispies Treats (also called 'Rice Krispie Treats', 'Marshmallow Treats', 'Marshmallow Squares', or 'Rice Krispies Squares' in the United Kingdom & Canada, and 'LCMs' in Australia) are a confection commonly made through binding WK Kellogg Co's Rice Krispies or another crisp rice cereal together with butter or ...

See Details ›

Is there a trick to cutting Rice Krispie Treats? ›

To prevent rice crispy treats from sticking to the knife, it's important to grease the knife blade with cooking spray or butter before cutting. This will create a non-stick surface and allow for clean, easy cuts.

Know More ›

Do you put Rice Krispie Treats in the fridge to set? ›

You can put the rice krispie treats in the fridge, which will make the chocolate set faster.

Get More Info Here ›

How do you fix soggy rice crispy treats? ›

Check your brand for the oil/water %. If it is too high this makes your cereal turn out soggy. Either try switching to butter or a margarine brand with a lower % of liquids.

Get More Info ›

What happens if you add too much butter? ›

Too much butter will result in a very soft, sticky dough that's difficult to shape, and bakes up greasy and dense.

Read The Full Story ›

What happens if I put too much butter in biscuits? ›

in this case, it appears that the biscuit structure is just a lot more stable (structurally speaking) when there's less butter. When you get a lot of butter, you're kind of filling your biscuit with holes, which makes it unable to bear its own weight to rise very far.

Get More Info Here ›

What happens if you use too much butter in a cookie recipe? ›

But one unexpected error bakers can make is adding too much of a good thing, butter. Although butter generally makes it all better, bakers who go overboard with it are dooming their cookies to a greasy and crumbly texture.

Discover More Details ›

Does butter make things crispy? ›

Butter is made of mostly fat, which when separated out is called clarified butter or ghee and can take more heat that butter as a whole. The problem is butter also contains water, which we covered before keeps the temp too low for browning and crispiness, and proteins, which just burn under heat.