These no bake Rice Crispie treats are gooey, soft and filled with buttery marshmallows and crispy cereal. Just 3 simple ingredients and 15 minutes for a dessert that turns out perfect every time!

No bake rice krispies stacked on top of each other.

This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy.

The Best Rice Krispie Treats

Rice krispie treats (or is it rice crispy treats?) are the no-bake dessert I always have in my back pocket. They’re nostalgic, simple and super kid-friendly, and my kids love helping me make them along with these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies.

The secret to the BEST rice krispy treats is reserving some of the mini marshmallows to stir in at the very end. That’s what makes them extra gooey. If you love easy no-bake treats like these, my avalanche cookies are another favorite.

XO - Jamielyn
starstarstarstarstar

“These really are the best, so gooey and delicious. I guess my baby in my belly loved them too cause she made me eat almost the whole pan alone.”

Michelene

3 Simple Ingredients

Take your rice krispies cereal to the next level with melted marshmallows and butter! Every kid to adult loves a good krispie treat. Combined they make the world’s famous homemade rice krispies treat!

Rice krispie treats ingredients on counter including crispy rice cereal, mini marshmallows and butter.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

  • Butter: This is a smooth and velvety texture. Melted unsalted butter doesn’t take long to do in a pan. Make sure it does not overheat or burn.
  • Mini marshmallows: These take a little longer to melt together. Marshmallows will be the glue and stick everything together.
  • Crispy rice cereal: You’ll need 6 cups, which is about half of a 12-ounce box (there are roughly 10 to 12 cups per box). Doubling the recipe uses the full box. I always keep a couple boxes on hand so I can whip these up whenever I’m in a pinch!

How to Make Rice Krispie Treats

Slowly cook, stir, and mix the ingredients together in a large pot. The marshmallows are ooey gooey, while the butter makes them silky smooth, and the rice krispies cereal gives it a base and structure form.

A photo collage of how to make a rice krispie treats recipe.
  1. Prepare. Line a 9×13″ (or 9×9″ for thicker bars) baking dish with foil and butter. Set aside.
  2. Melt. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until they begin to melt.
  3. Mix. Once the marshmallows are almost melted, stir in the cereal and the extra marshmallows. Mix until completely coated in the marshmallow mixture.
  4. Press and cool. Add mixture to a baking dish and push down with a spoon coated in butter or wax paper. Cool completely before cutting.
Rice krispie treats cut into squares.

Tips for the Best Homemade Rice Crispy Treats

  • Butter your pan. Line the baking dish with foil, butter it, and leave a little overhang so you can lift the whole batch out easily.
  • Use low heat. Melt the butter and marshmallows slowly over low heat. It takes a few extra minutes, but high heat is what causes hard, dry treats.
  • Keep your hands sticky-free. Spray a rubber spatula or your hands with non-stick spray before pressing the treats into the pan. If I remember, I save the butter wrapper and use that, too.
  • Stir in extra marshmallows at the end. Reserving 2 to 3 cups of mini marshmallows to fold in last is what makes them extra gooey.
  • Add flavor or mix-ins. A splash of vanilla, almond or peppermint extract, sprinkles for holidays, or mini chocolate chips for chocolate lovers.
  • Cool before cutting. Let them set about 30 minutes so the squares hold their shape, then cut with a plastic knife (it sticks way less than metal).
Rice krispie treats up close.

These rice crispy treats are perfect for a fun snack! Cereal bars, scotcheroos and Fruity Pebbles treatsare other favorites.

More Rice Krispie Treats Recipes

stacked rice krispie treats

Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

5 from 38 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Cool: 30 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 18
No bake rice krispie treats made with just 3 ingredients: butter, marshmallows and crispy rice cereal. Melt, stir and press into a pan for the gooiest, softest squares every time!
Print Pin This! Rate

Ingredients 

  • 5 Tablespoons butter
  • 16 ounce mini marshmallows
  • 6 cups rice krispies cereal (about 1/2 a box)

Instructions

  • Line a 9×13″ (or 9×9" for thick bars) baking dish with foil and butter. Set aside.
  • Melt 5 Tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat and then add 7-8 cups marshmallows. Once they are almost melted, stir in the 6 cups rice krispies cereal and remaining 2-3 cups of mini marshmallows. Mix until completely coated with the marshmallow mixture. 
  • Add mixture to baking dish and press down with a spoon coated in butter or wax paper to compact and level out surface. 
  • Cool before cutting. I find using a plastic knife to cut them works best.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Feel free to make fun variations for the holidays or special occasions. Just add food coloring, sprinkles or extras like M&M’s or chocolate chips. 
Storage: Store in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature up to 3 days (a tight seal is what keeps them from turning dry and hard). Wrap squares in foil or plastic wrap to keep them from sticking together.
To freeze, individually wrap squares in foil, place in a zip-top freezer bag and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature about an hour before enjoying.

Nutrition

Serving: 1square, Calories: 198kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 11mg, Sodium: 146mg, Potassium: 19mg, Sugar: 19g, Vitamin A: 1170IU, Vitamin C: 9.8mg, Calcium: 3mg, Iron: 4.8mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.