These Gooey Rice Krispie Treats are soft, extra chewy, and loaded with marshmallows in every bite. Made with crispy rice cereal, butter, and vanilla, they come together in minutes with no baking required. Perfect for parties, lunchboxes, or nostalgic snacking.
Before You Make, Read This!
💬 The Vibe: Classic, nostalgic, sweet, and chewy childhood treats.
📦 Storage Tip: Don't refrigerate! Room temperature keeps them soft.
💡 Best Bite Alert: Use fresh cereal and extra marshmallows, trust us!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ultra gooey & soft thanks to extra marshmallows.
- No oven required, just a stovetop or microwave.
- Quick & easy to make in under 15 minutes.
- Kid-friendly and fun to make together.
- Great for parties or gifting (and always a hit!).
Ingredients You'll Need
- Crispy Rice Cereal - Use any brand, but make sure it's fresh for that signature crunch.
- Mini Marshmallows - Two 10-ounce bags (or one 16-oz plus extra) for ultimate gooeyness. Mini marshmallows melt faster and give better texture.
- Butter - Salted or unsalted, both work. It creates that rich, buttery base.
- Vanilla Extract - A splash of vanilla rounds out the flavor and enhances the marshmallow notes.
👉🏾 See the recipe card below for exact quantities and full instructions.
How to Make Gooey Rice Krispie Treats
Prepare the Pan: Lightly spray an 8×8-inch pan with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
Melt the Butter & Marshmallows: In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Add in the marshmallows and stir continuously until fully melted and smooth.
Add Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract and remove the pot from the heat.
Mix in Cereal: Immediately add the crispy rice cereal and gently stir until evenly coated.
Press & Set: Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press gently into an even layer with a spatula sprayed with cooking spray (or damp hands).
Cool & Cut: Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Slice into squares and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Go extra gooey: Use the full 20 oz of marshmallows if you like them super soft.
- No sticking: Spray your spatula or hands with cooking spray before pressing the mixture into the pan.
- Don't press too hard: Light pressure keeps them soft and chewy.
- Use fresh cereal: Stale cereal = stale treats.
- Make it a party: Add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or drizzle with melted chocolate.
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Storage Tips
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Don't refrigerate: Cold = hard treats. Keep them soft by storing at room temperature.
- Freezing is not recommended for the best texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but cut them into smaller pieces so they melt more evenly.
Butter adds better flavor and richness, but margarine works in a pinch.
You may have used stale cereal, old marshmallows, or pressed them too firmly into the pan.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter with ½ cup mini marshmallows in a small bowl in the microwave. Stir in ¾ cup cereal and eat with a spoon!
More Sweet Treats You'll Love
- Candy Corn Rice Krispie Treats
- Strawberry Delight
- Chocolate Delight
- Old-Fashioned Pound Cake
- Halloween Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats
Have any comments, questions, or gooey mix-in ideas for these Rice Krispie Treats? Drop them below, I'd love to hear how you make yours!
📖 Recipe
Gooey Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 1 8x8-inch square baking pan
- Parchment paper
- 1 Large Stock Pot
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 20 ounces mini marshmallows (two 10 oz bags)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal
Instructions
- Spray an 8×8-inch pan with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper.
- In a large pot over medium-low heat, melt the 6 tablespoons butter.
- Add 20 ounces mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
- Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Remove from heat and immediately stir in 6 cups crispy rice cereal until evenly coated.
- Press into the prepared pan using a greased spatula or damp hands. Don't pack too tightly.
- Let cool 10-15 minutes. Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- Go extra gooey: Use the full 20 oz of marshmallows if you like them super soft.
- No sticking: Spray your spatula or hands with cooking spray before pressing the mixture into the pan.
- Don't press too hard: Light pressure keeps them soft and chewy.
- Use fresh cereal: Stale cereal = stale treats.
- Make it a party: Add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or drizzle with melted chocolate.
Original post date 04/03/2015. Updated 03/03/2023 & 05/27/2025.
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
My kids always loved rice krispie treats when they were little...my husband once made a rice krispie castle for one of their birthday parties. It was a huge hit! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy recipe with us at #FoodieFriDIY...hope to see you again tonight! We go live at 9 pm EST. 🙂
admin says
Thanks you! Now a rice crispy treat castle sounds amazing!! I may have to have one of those for my next birthday, but I will probably eat all of it 😉
Keisha | The Girl Next Door is Black says
One of the best snacks ever! Hooray for extra marshmallows!
admin says
Hi Keisha! I could not agree with you more.
Angela Gilmore says
I never used sprinkles when making rice crispy treats, I love the way them make them look so festive! We don't make these much because we only use vegan marshmallows and they are really expensive. I have been craving them though, and these pictures make me want them even more, you can SEE how gooey they are!
admin says
The sprinkles really do make these a little more festive...I could have actually used more sprinkles. I never thought about vegan marshmallows and when I looked up the price I could see why these would be a rare vegan treat. They were gooey though and you could always make homemade marshmallows...They will taste so much better anyway 😉