I love it when a few simple ingredients can come together to create something truly delicious and I think rice krispie treats are one of those magical ingredient combinations. It’s literally four simple ingredients but together they become a new magical thing that is simultaneously melt-in-your-mouth, soft and chewy, and also light and crispy. They’re just *mwuah* perfection. I like to make mine a little extra soft so that sweet marshmallow melts away to the crispy rice cereal within. You won’t be cutting the roof of your mouth on these babies! Just soft, gooey, marshmallowy goodness!

How to Keep Rice Krispie Treats Soft

There’s nothing worse than a rice krispie treat that is rock hard. To make sure your rice krispie treats are marshmallowy soft and delicious, follow these tips:

Make sure to use enough marshmallows (if you follow the recipe below you should have no problem).
Use fresh marshmallows. If they’re kind of dry or stale, that will affect how soft your rice krispie treats turn out.
Don’t overcook the marshmallows and butter. Sugars become more hard the longer they cook. So to keep your treats soft, make sure to only cook the butter and marshmallow mixture just until the marshmallows have melted, and no longer.

How to Store Rice Krispie Treats

Rice krispie treats can be kept at room temperature for a couple of days, or in the refrigerator for about five days. OR, if you’re like me and want to make them last even longer, you can freeze them in an air-tight container for up to three months. I just take one out at a time and thaw at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before going to town. 🙂

What Else Can You Add?

Add-ins are my favorite part of any recipe. And with something as simple as rice krispie treats, there is so much room for customization! Here are some fun things to add to make new flavors:

Almond extract and rainbow sprinkles for birthday cake flavored treats
Replace some of the rice cereal with golden graham cereal and add chocolate chips and more mini-marshmallows (stir in with the cereal so they don’t melt) for smores flavored treats
Stir some peanut butter into the melted marshmallows and drizzle chocolate over top
Use cocoa pebbles in place of plain rice krispie cereal and stir cocoa powder into the melted marshmallows
Stir in crushed oreo cookies for a “cookies and cream” treat
Add peppermint extract to the melted marshmallows and stir in white chocolate chips with the cereal

A hand pulling apart a rice krispie treat

Rice Krispie Treats

Sweet and fluffy marshmallows, creamy butter, and crispy rice cereal make these homemade rice krispie treats melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Total Cost $2.30 recipe / $0.26 serving

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Cool time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings

Calories 221kcal

Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

6 Tbsp butter (salted) $0.60
6 cups mini marshmallows (10oz. package) $1.00
1/2 tsp vanilla extract $0.14
4 cups rice krispie cereal $0.56

Instructions

Line an 8×8 dish with waxed paper or foil and coat lightly in oil.
Add the butter to a pot and melt over medium heat.
Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows and continue to stir and cook until the marshmallows are melted and incorporated into the butter.
Once the marshmallows are melted and incorporated, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Add the rice krispie cereal and stir until everything is coated in the marshmallow mixture.
Press the rice krispie mixture into the prepared dish using a lightly oiled spatula. Avoid over compacting the treats.
Allow the treats to cool at room temperature or in the refrigerator until solid. Slice into 9 pieces and serve.

Nutrition

Rice krispie treats cut and lined up in a grid

How to Make Rice Krispie Treats – Step by Step Photos

Add 6 Tbsp of butter to a pot and melt over medium heat.

marshmallows added to the pot with the butter

Once the butter is melted, add 6 cups mini marshmallows (or one 10oz. package). Continue to stir and cook over medium heat.

Melted marshmallows and butter in the pot

When the marshmallows are fully melted and incorporated into the butter, remove the pot from the heat. Stir in ½ tsp vanilla extract.

Stir in 4 cups of rice krispies cereal.

Make sure to stir until all of the cereal is well coated in the melted marshmallow mixture.

Line an 8×8 dish with waxed paper or foil coated lightly with oil (I put a little oil on a paper towel and wipe the inside). Press the rice krispie mixture into the dish using a lightly oiled spatula. Avoid packing it down too firmly. Allow the treats to cool at room temperature or in the refrigerator until firm, then slice into nine pieces.