With a few tweaks, this best rice krispies treats recipe turns out a pan of delicious bars that are perfect for an after-school snack or dessert!
These really are the best Rice Krispies treats. Take a look. All I did was substitute marshmallow cream for the marshmallows and adjust the other two ingredients.
I know that messing with an American classic might not always be a good idea. That’s what Rice Krispies Treats are. A tried and true favorite of just about every kid in the country. However…many years ago I made a few tweaks to the original recipe and wanted to include it as part of my Bars and Cakes collection.
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 3-4 minutes |
| Passive Time | 1 hour |
| Servings | 12 squares |
- 1 large jar/container marshmallow cream 13 oz.
- 4 Tablespoons butter or margarine
- 8 cups Rice Krispies
Ingredients
| |
- In a large pan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add marshmallow cream and stir until combined. All the lumps have to be gone and it will be smooth.
- Remove from heat.
- Add Rice Krispies 2 c. at a time. Mix well.
- Put out into 9 x 13 pyrex pan and smash down with a large spoon.
- Let sit for one hour.
- Cut and enjoy!
My family loves these. Whenever I take them anywhere, people want to know how I got them so thick and yummy. Seriously, they are good! This is a no-fail rice krispies treats recipe. Kids could do this with just a bit of supervision. They might need help getting all the marshmallow cream out of the container!
The Best Rice Krispies Treats Recipe Video
When my son was younger, he played on his high school golf team for 4 years. When he was a freshman, for their first away match, he asked me to make cookies for the road trip. I made a batch of chocolate chip cookies and a batch of these rice krispies treats. The boys loved them so much that I was nominated for snack duty for all the away matches…for the rest of his high school career! I was working full time then and believe me there were some days I was making cookies at 10 P.M. I loved it though and there was no way I was going to disappoint those boys. I’ve said this before, but I so wish I could go back and have just one of those nights when I was up until 10 p.m. making snacks.
You really can’t get more basic than Rice Krispies Treats. You certainly can’t get much easier. Hope you give these a try!
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I love Rice Krispie Treats and I haven’t been a kid for 60 years! I’ll have to try your recipe. Certainly seems easy enough. Yum!
I made these yesterday and they are hard and crispy. I am wondering what could have went wrong. Do you think I melted the marshmallow cream at too high heat or I even thought of using less rice krispies. I am going to try again.
Hi Sara…honestly, I’m not sure. I have made these dozens of times and they turn out every time. The marshmallow cream only needs to be melted…it doesn’t have to be very hot to still mix up well. Once they set up, they are definitely firm but still sort of chewy.
I only had one small jar of marshmallow fluff so I halved the recipe and it turned out well. Also you should try it with the chocolate Rice Krispies… amazing!
Thanks for the recipes, Ann
Pink Hugs,
Dee
My 4 year old and I just watched the video and decided that’s what we are going to be making for our treat tomorrow. She figured out what the steps and the ingredients are. Can’t wait to get started!
Thank you so much, your site is awesome, so many great ideas. I belong to a ladies homemaker group and we are always looking for inspiration.
Quick question, about how many servings does this recipe provide??
It fills a 9 x 13 pan so it depends on how big you cut the squares. At least 12 but if you made the squares smaller there would be more. I usually cut mine into 12. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much for this recipe! Our 3 year old daughter is allergic to beef (aka gelatin, aka marshmallows) as a result she has never had rice krispy treats. I am super excited to make these for her. Thankfully marshmallow cream doesn’t have gelatin.
This makes me so happy Stacy…thank you for taking the time to tell me. I never in a million years thought about it being an answer to an allergy issue. Have fun making them for your daughter!
I make my husband Rice Kripsy treats every year for Valentine’s day and we have been together 23 years. I really don’t like to make Rice Kripsy treat with the marshmallows because if they are old the treats get hard the next day and it is hard to get all of the treats out of the pan. I was excited to see this recipe because I didn’t want to go buy marshmallows and I had to jars of marshmallow cream. They turned out excellent and so much easier and I think quicker. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Hi Stacey! I’m so glad you liked my version of RKT. They really are so much creamier and I agree they are easier too. Thanks for taking the time to let me know! ~Ann
I’m back after making these last night and tasted them this morning. WOW! They are the best ever!! Will never make them any other way. Thanks so much for this recipe!!! The basketball players are gonna love them!
Just made these and they look wonderful! My daughter is a cheerleader and each week we make treats for the basketball players. I spotted this recipe with the marshmallow fluff and decided to try. I also made a batch for us. Big difference with how much nicer it was to work with and the appearance is just great! This will be the only way I will make them from now on. Thank you!! I know they will be hit!
These look great! How long do they stay soft/fresh?
Hi Kerri! Honestly, my family always ate them so quickly they never had time to get stale! If you keep them in an air tight container they should stay fresh for several days. At least 3 and probably more. Thanks for stopping by!
Sometimes I put a small box of strawberry jello in the marshmallow and stir until it dissolves. That tastes really good too. Use different flavors of jello. Yummy
I always add a teaspoon of Madagascar Vanilla to mine – yum!
Do you spray the 13×9 pan?
Hi Dawn! No I don’t. Once the cereal set up the squares come right out. Thanks for stopping by!
sets up. sorry!
Funny, I add a heaping tablespoon of marshmallow cream to mine but never thought to use only marshmallow cream. Now I will. Thanks and happy Saturday!
Hi there. How many cups of marshmallow cream do you think would be in the container you use. Where I’m from we only have one sizethat looks to be about one and a half to two cups of marshmallow cream.do you think that would be enough? I really want to try your version – it sounds delicious! Thank you so much!
The container I use is 13 oz. A little more or a little less won’t make a difference. Enjoy!
I have made the rice krispie treat like on the box. Then put half of the Krispie mixture in the pan then spread the marshmallow Creme on top of the krispies and then spoon the rest of the Krispie mixture on top of that. That also makes a fun creame sandwich.
You say margarine, but the picture shows butter. Which do you use?
The recipe says butter or margarine. It really doesn’t matter. I use butter because that’s all I buy. Thanks!
My 16 year old loves these…they’re her favorite treat, so you’re her favorite blogger of the moment. ;P
Thanks, Ann!
xo,
RJ
Oh I love Rice Krispies treats! Now I really wish I had some to snack on!
Making these for my grandkids tomorrow since they have the holiday off. Water heater died yesterday. Thank goodness my daughter lives nearby.
I haven’t made rice krispie treats in so long! I love them. My youngest son isn’t a fan of them if you can believe that. That’s probably why I haven’t made them in so long. You’re right though, they are such a classic. I love eating them warm right after they’ve been spread in the pan. Yummy!
Ann, I am drooling on my laptop! These look so good. Would you believe that I have never made these! I’ve eaten plenty, though, and substituting the marshmallow creme sounds like such a good idea. I’ll have to make these for the grandgirls when they visit so I’m pinning the recipe!
Oh those girls will eat the whole pan! They could probably make them on their own if you are there to supervise. lol. Thanks for stopping by!
Yum, I love these treats. I also add vanilla to mine – and usually add sprinkles on top to make them festive.
May have to make these soon, haven’t since waaaay before Christmas.
Have a nice weekend, Ann.
I will have to add the vanilla next time. Thanks for stopping by Michelle! Hope you are keeping warm…Ann
Isn’t that funny, but I never thought of using the marshmallow creme to make the squares. I can believe they are creamier. Thanks for the tip.
We are huge RKT fans here and I can’t wait to take your recipe for a spin. Yum!!
Yum, I’m going to try your recipe.
I sometimes make them this way!
I used to make fudge with the marshmallow cream. This sounds scrumptious. Making them for your son after a day of work does not surprise me. You sound like a loving mom. Have a nice weekend. Kathleen in Az
You too Kathleen…enjoy your weekend. I would bet that your weather is a whole lot better than mine!
That’s how I make them too :)
Thanks for sharing this interesting idea for adjusting this old standard. I will have to try this. I can certainly relate to you about the willingness to go back to those days when the house was full of teenagers and they all wanted homemade cookies. It warms me a little bit inside when my son who is all grown up and lives in New York City tells me he would really like some of my homemade snickerdoodles. I am more than happy to oblige and send them off in the mail.
Oh my son loves snickerdoodles too. Thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment!
Hi, THIS is the recipe my Mom made as I was growing up in the 50s & 60s…I didn’t even know some people used marshmallows!! Glad I didn’t or I would have wasted a lot of time & energy.
Have you tried versions using peanut butter, or chocolate chips. Easy and the kids love them.
I have never used choc. chips but have made the peanut butter ones with the chocolate layer on top. My kids, given the choice, would always choose the plain old basic ones!
Oh boy these look delish!! Thanks for sharing the recipe, I am FOR SURE trying it. All of my kids go gaga for rice krispie treats, and they are super easy. That’s a neat story about your son! My oldest is a freshman, and maybe I can make these for some of his games!☺
Enjoy the high school years with your son. Be careful though. Blink and they will be over!
My family loves Rice Krispies Treats, including myself and I will definitely try your version. I made egg salad yesterday and followed your method for boiling the eggs, and they turned out perfectly. Thanks so much!
Hope your family likes these as much as mine. Egg salad sounds wonderful. I am getting pretty bored with my same old lunches so I may make some to switch things up a bit! Have a good weekend Deni!
Thanks for sharing your cooking secrets. I know what you mean about going back to those fun memories with our children. On to making more memories …
Yes that’s what I keep telling myself. Don’t look back. Look ahead. Have a lovely weekend Janice!
This is a nice switch on the recipe and sounds good. I have a bag of marshmallows that need to be used up soon so guess I could make the original recipe if I buy a box of the cereal. We just don’t eat too many of these treats and I haven’t made them in years! Enjoy the weekend.
We LOVE making Rice Krispies treats at the Hines’ house!!