The BEST Rice Krispie Treats with the perfect ratio of marshmallows and cereal! Big, thick, and delicious Rice Krispie Treats every time!

Stack of rice krispie treats on a white platter.

Rice Krispie Treats have always been a favorite, quick, and easy snack or dessert I can depend on my family loving. They are one of the first recipes I remember making alongside my Mama when I was a young girl and one of the earliest I remember teaching my son to make as well. I’ve shared a few Rice Krispie Treat recipes through the years for how to make them in any number of flavors and shapes.

But friends, this is the absolute family-favorite Rice Krispie Treats recipe that my family calls the best Rice Krispie Treats they’ve ever tasted! Want to know why? Well, there are a few reasons these are the best.

What Makes These “the Best” Rice Krispie Treats?

Marshmallow to cereal portions. The ratio of marshmallows to Rice Krispies in this recipe is absolutely perfect I believe. It gives you crunchy cereal with gooey marshmallows in every bite with bites of marshmallows that aren’t fully melted as well.

Big, Thick Rice Krispie Treats. Think bakery sizing for these treats! They are big and thick on purpose for an impressive treat everyone loves. You can cut them into individual pieces as small or large as you like, but you can’t mistake the thickness of these treats!

Vanilla and Buttery deliciousness. The use of salted butter with a bit of salt in the marshmallow mixture as well as the generous splash of vanilla extract enhances the flavor of these treats and takes them right over the top!

How to Make the Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Ingredients used to make the best rice krispie treats.

Ingredients

Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.

You’ll just need five ingredients for this recipe.

  • Crispy Rice Cereal – use any brand that you prefer, but we tend to use Rice Krispies or an organic brand when we can find them.
  • Mini Marshmallows – use a good quality marshmallow
  • Butter – I use salted butter in these treats. If you use unsalted, increase the salt added later in the recipe.
  • Vanilla Extract – use a high-quality vanilla extract and not an imitation vanilla flavoring. I love to use my homemade vanilla extract.
  • Salt – I use kosher salt

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep. Butter a 9×13 baking dish or line it with parchment paper. You can also lightly butter the parchment paper if you wish. Tip: I use the butter wrapper to butter my pans or parchment paper.

Make the Rice Krispie Treats. Melt the butter in a Dutch oven or pot over medium-low heat. Allow the butter to become a light golden brown. Swirl the pan to coat with the butter and then add 1 and 1/2 bags of the mini marshmallows. Stir until melted, but not entirely smooth. Remove from the heat. Stir in the crispy rice cereal, the vanilla extract, the salt, and the remaining marshmallows.

Rice krispie treats in baking dish.

Pour into the pan. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently press with the back of an oiled spoon or spatula just enough to secure the treats in the pan. Allow to cool and rest for one hour before cutting.

Rice cereal treats on a white bake plate with one in front.

Cut and Serve. Cut into individual pieces to your preferred sizing and serve.

The Best Rice Krispie Treats Ratio!

The ratio of cereal to marshmallows, butter to salt, and then the vanilla extract make the best rice krispie treats! You can increase (or decrease) the recipe as needed, but be sure to keep the ratios consistent!

Recipe Variations

Sprinkle Rice Krispie Treats. Stir your favorite sprinkles into the treats along with the crispy rice cereal for a festive treat. Great to add for holidays!

Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats. Substitute Cocoa Rice Krispies for the crispy cereal in the recipe.

Frosted Rice Krispie Treats. Once cooled, top with your favorite frosting. We love to use chocolate or vanilla buttercream.

Storage Tips

To store. Rice Krispie treats are best enjoyed within two days of making them. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for best results.

To make ahead. Prepare, cut, and wrap well in an airtight container. Store at room temperature and serve within two days of making them.

To freeze. Cool completely, cut, and wrap each treat individually with parchment paper. Then wrap with plastic wrap and store in an airtight, freezer-safe container. To serve, remove all or individual treats from the freezer and allow them to thaw. Unwrap and serve.

Rice cereal treats stacked on a white cake plate with one treat pulled apart to show the gooey marshmallow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you freeze Rice Krispie Treats?

Rice Krispie Treats freeze great! Follow my Storage Tips in the post as well as the recipe card notes for how to make them ahead and how to freeze them!

Can you make dairy-free Rice Krispie Treats?

Use a plant-based butter in place of the butter called for in this recipe. The buttery flavor is what makes these treats so delicious!

Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

5 from 1 vote
The BEST Rice Krispie Treats with the perfect ratio of marshmallows and cereal! Big, thick, and delicious Rice Krispie Treats every time!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Resting time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 20

Ingredients 

  • 3/4 cup (169.5 g) butter, salted
  • 2 (10-ounce) packages (566 g) mini marshmallows, about 11 cups
  • 1 teaspoon (4.7 g) vanilla extract
  • 9 cups (252 g) crispy rice cereal
  • 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 g) kosher salt

Instructions 

  • Prep. Line a baking dish with parchment paper. Lightly butter the parchment paper.
  • Brown the butter. Add the butter to a Dutch oven or large stock pot set over medium-low heat. Melt the butter and let it turn a light golden brown color.
  • Make the marshmallow mixture. Swirl the butter in the pan and then add one and a half bags of marshmallows. Stir until the marshmallows are completely melted but not entirely smooth. Remove from the heat.
  • Fold in the crispy cereal. Add the crispy rice cereal, the vanilla, the salt, and the remaining half bag of marshmallows, and stir until the cereal is coated with the melted marshmallow mixture.
  • Transfer to baking dish. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Lightly grease a rubber spatula and spread the mixture into the baking dish, gently pressing the crispy treats with the back of the spatula to secure them in the pan without pressing them flat.
  • Rest, cut, and serve. Allow the Rice Krispie treats to set in the pan for about 1 hour. Then lift them from the pan using the ends of the parchment paper. Cut into individual pieces and serve.

Notes

Storage Tips

To store. Rice Krispie treats are best enjoyed within two days of making them. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for best results.
To make ahead. Prepare, cut, and wrap well in an airtight container. Store at room temperature and serve within two days of making them.
To freeze. Cool completely, cut, and wrap each treat individually with parchment paper. Then wrap with plastic wrap and store in an airtight, freezer-safe container. To serve, remove all or individual treats from the freezer and allow them to thaw. Unwrap and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 213IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

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About Robyn

Robyn Stone is a cookbook author, wife, mom, and passionate home cook. Her tested and trusted recipes give readers the confidence to cook recipes the whole family will love. Robyn has been featured on Food Network, People, Southern Living, and more.

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Recipe Review




3 Comments

    1. Sherry, thanks for catching that. You will add the vanilla in with the Rice Krispies, salt, and the remaining half of the marshmallows after you take it off the heat. I hope you enjoy!