Rice Krispies Treats

In addition to the classic back-of-the-box recipe, there are countless Rice Krispies treat recipes on the internet today. This easy dessert is so simple and classic to make, it might be hard to tell which one is a winner. We’ve found that most have you just dump and stir, then pack the cereal into a pan, creating tough and dense bars that leave you wondering if you ever liked them in the first place. Our recipe is still just as simple to make but includes our foolproof tips for the softest, chewiest, and most marshmallow-filled Rice Krispies treats every time. Fair warning: You may have trouble going back to the packaged stuff after trying these.

What People Are Saying:
“This recipe is absolutely the BEST way to make an ordinary batch of Rice Krispie Treats EXTRAordinary. Never make them any other way!” - osufan84

How To Make Rice Krispies Treats

INGREDIENTS

• Butter: Melted butter provides the base to our marshmallow mixture, making a rich, buttery ‘mallow mixture.
• Marshmallows: The key to chewy Rice Krispies treats? Use plenty of 'mallow. Using twice as much marshmallow gives you treats that are chewy instead of stiff—the kind you can pull apart instead of snapping in half.
• Salt: Adding a little salt will help cut through the sweetness and provide just a hint of savory. Your treats will by no means be salty, but all the flavors will play better together.
• Rice Krispies: Of course, Rice Krispies would not be the same without, well, Rice Krispies.
  

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

First, grease a baking pan well with butter to prevent any sticking. Then, in a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Then, add your marshmallows and salt and cook, stirring, until melted, smooth, and slightly golden. I continue to cook the marshmallows a little longer after they've melted—this gives your treats a beautiful caramelized flavor. Keep going until your marshmallows turn a little golden, and keep in mind that the more patient you are, the more the flavor will develop. Then, add in the Rice Krispies.

Once everything is stirred together and combined, pour the mixture into your prepared pan and smooth the top. Don’t pack in the Rice Krispies too much—just lightly smooth the top. Let them cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving them up.

The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.

Recipe Tips

• Resist packing the pan. After pouring the Rice Krispies into your pan, simply smooth the top. A little pressure is fine, a lot of pressure is not. Overpacking will cause hard, dense, and dried-out Rice Krispies treats—no one wants that. To smooth the top, you can use a silicone spatula or place a piece of parchment on top and then smooth with your hand. If using a spatula, you can wet it slightly or spray with a little nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
• Take your treats over the top. To go beyond your basic Rice Krispies treats, I sometimes brown the butter before adding the marshmallows. Brown butter will give your treats a nutty, rich, vanilla-like flavor that truly is irresistible. Alternatively, if you feel like getting creative, you can really experiment with the mix-ins here. Use our Reese's-stuffed Rice Krispies treats, Oreo Rice Krispies treats, and strawberry shortcake Rice Krispies treats for inspo.

Storage

With a little will power, these will keep for a few days in an airtight container on the counter. I don’t recommend chilling these treats—they’ll turn hard and be too hard to eat.