Rice Crispy Treats

By
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher
Stephanie Gallagher is a journalist and food writer who has authored multiple cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 03/14/22
Classic Rice Crispy Treat
Classic Rice Crispy Treats

The Spruce

 
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Cool: 45 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 24 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
66 Calories
2g Fat
13g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 24
Amount per serving
Calories 66
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 2%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 4mg 1%
Sodium 55mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 4mg 22%
Calcium 1mg 0%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 9mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This is the classic recipe for rice crispy treats that kids all over have come to love. And once you master this basic recipe, there are lots of different ways to vary it for holidays and special occasions or just different flavors like this brown butter version. 

While it's super easy to spread onto a pan and then cut into squares, you could also form the mixture with your hands (but be careful it's not too hot!) to create your own creative shapes. If that seems like a lot of work, you could use cookie cutters to cut them after they are cooled.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups crispy rice cereal

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 4 cups mini marshmallows, or 10 ounces regular marshmallows

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. 

    Classic Rice Crispy ingredients
    Ingredients for Rice Crispy Treats. The Spruce 

  2. Spray a heat-proof spatula and a 9 x 13-inch pan or jellyroll pan with cooking spray.

    Spray pan with cooking spray
    Add cooking spray to pan. The Spruce

  3. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring frequently until the marshmallows are completely melted.

    Melt butter and marshmallows
    Melt the butter and marshmallows in saucepan. The Spruce 

  4. Pour over the crispy rice cereal.

    Pour marshmallow mixture over crispy rice
    Add mixture over crispy rice. The Spruce

  5. Toss with the spatula to coat the cereal well.

    Toss the mixture
    Toss marshmallow and crispy rice mixture. The Spruce

  6. Immediately transfer the rice crispy treats mixture to the prepared pan, and spread into an even layer with the spatula.

    Put rice crispy mixture in pan
    Transfer rice crispy mixture to pan. The Spruce

  7. Let rice crispy treats cool completely before cutting into squares.

    Cut into squares
    Cool rice crispy treats and cut into squares. The Spruce

  8. Serve and enjoy!

Rice Krispies Treats were invented in 1939 by Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day at the Kellogg Company Home economics department as a fundraiser for Camp Fire Girls. Kellogg's began to commercially produce plain and chocolate-based treats under the trademark brand names of "Rice Krispies Treats" in the U.S. and Mexico in 1995; however, other manufacturers had offered similar products under variant names (such as "Crisped Rice Treats" or "Marshmallow Treats") prior to this. 

If you just need to order some to be sent to a friend and want it to be over the top, how about checking out The Crispery? They make flavors like Chocolate Candy Buttons Crispycake, Chocolate Caramel Crispycake, and Peppermint Twist Crispycake. Maybe they will inspire you to make your own crazy creations―and getting the kids in on this is a surefire way to make an hour in the kitchen a lot of fun.