Golden Grahams Treats

Here's a fun twist on our best Rice Krispie Treats recipe made using Golden Grahams cereal. These crispy and chewy Golden Grahams Treats are absolutely fabulous and so easy to make.

Since starting this recipe site, I have had so much fun making Kid's Cereal Treats using a variety of cereals. So far, I've made Fruit Loops Cereal Bars, Fruity Pebbles Marshmallow Cereal Treats, Reese's Puffs Cereal Treats, Cap'n Crunch Cereal Treats, and more.

Today, I made a few batches of these Golden Grahams Treats and was surprised at how great they taste. I have to admit I am not a huge fan of this classic kid's cereal on its own, but when blended with butter and marshmallows, this cereal made delicious-tasting treats. I couldn't stop eating them!

I had to experiment a few times to get the consistency just right. Every time I use a new cereal, I have to figure out the perfect ratio of butter and marshmallows to cereal. Each cereal treat shape must be paired with just the right amount of melted gooey marshmallows.

I think I finally got it right. Is your mouth watering yet?

I just know you will love the flavor of these treats especially if you use European-style salted butter and Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows to make them.

Why, European-style butter? It's all about the flavor!

Cereal treats made using European butter will have a richer flavor and creamier texture.

American Butter VS. European Butter

• Compare European Butter and American Butter
  • American butter has a higher water content than European butter.
  • European butter has a higher butterfat content than American butter.
  • Butter made in Europe must have a minimum butterfat content of 82% while butter made in America only needs to have 80%.
  • While that may not seem significant, when you melt the butter to make your treats, more water will be evaporated from American butter leaving you with less butterfat, which means less flavor.

Marshmallows.

• When we created the very first recipe for this website, we had over 20 people taste test over 20 versions of the traditional Rice Krispie Treat recipe and found that tasters preferred the flavor and texture of Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows in their treats. 
• Tasters commented that the cereal treats made using Jet-Puffed Marshmallows had a wonderful vanilla flavor without being overly sweet. They also had the perfect chew. When tasters pulled the treats apart they were gooey but not overly sticky.
• If you use another brand of marshmallow take note that:
  • We found store-brand marshmallows to be stickier and were much more difficult to blend with the cereal. 
  • If you use store-brand marshmallows (like Kroger and Walmart) add more cereal (½ - 1 cup extra) so that our treats won't be overly sticky. 

How many cups of marshmallows?

We found that every brand of marshmallows is different. Some are denser than others. So when making these Golden Grahams treats it's best to use a 10-ounce bag of marshmallows. But you can measure them out if needed. 

Mini Marshmallows:

• Each cup of mini marshmallows weighs approximately 1.67 ounces.
• A 10-ounce bag contains about 6 cups of mini marshmallows.
• A 16-ounce bag contains about 9 ⅔ cups of mini marshmallows.
• You can check out our Marshmallow Conversion Chart to see exact measurements for 8 different brands of marshmallows.

NOTE:

• For some reason, Kellogg’s original Rice Krispie Treat recipe says there are 4 cups of mini marshmallows in a 10-ounce bag. We’ve weighed and measured this many times and there are definitely 6 cups in 10 ounces.

Standard (large) Marshmallows:

• Each large marshmallow is approximately 0.24 ounces.
  • 7-8 marshmallows = 1 cup of mini marshmallows
• There are approximately 40-48 marshmallows in a 10-ounce bag.
•  There are approximately 64-70 marshmallows in a 16-ounce bag.
• Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows are lighter than some other brands. If using them you’ll need 40 marshmallows for a recipe calling for 10 ounces and 64 for a 16-ounce recipe.

Let's make some treats!

Instructions:

• Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan, a large mixing bowl, and a silicone spatula (or wooden spoon) with butter or nonstick baking spray. I prefer the flavor of butter and it works great to keep your treats from sticking.
• Pour your cereal into the bowl.
• Set the bowl aside until needed. 

NOTE: By pouring the warm marshmallows over a bowl filled with cereal, you ensure the cereal does not get too hot. If you pour the cereal into your hot pan, the cereal cooks and softens. Your treats can taste stale immediately after making them if your cereal gets hot.

We also use LOW heat to melt our butter and marshmallows which ensures your marshmallows won't crystalize (become like hard candy) which makes for nice chewy treats instead of hard treats.

Stove-top method

1. Begin to melt the 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium saucepan set over low heat.
   Then stir in the 10 ounces of marshmallows and allow them to melt, stirring often, until about 75% have melted.
2. Remove the marshmallows from the heat and stir, smashing them, until they are completely melted.
   • If you remove the pan from the heat when the marshmallows are not fully melted the residual heat will continue to melt them. 
   • If marshmallows are overheated the sugar will begin to crystalize which in turn will create hard treats.
3. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal and toss to coat evenly.
4. Spread the cereal mixture into the prepared pan.
   • I found it best to pour half the cereal into the pan and spread that into an even layer before adding the second layer. I could see big gaps in between the cereal and could fill them in.
5. Press down gently to flatten the mixture into an even layer. 
6. Then set the pan aside for at least 1 hour in order for the marshmallow cereal treats to cool before cutting into 16 squares.

Microwave Recipe

1. Combine the butter and marshmallows in a large microwave-safe bowl.
2. Heat on high power for 1 minute then remove and stir until the melted butter blends with the marshmallows.
3. Keep stirring until the marshmallows melt.
4. If needed, reheat for 15-second increments, stirring after each until the marshmallows are fully melted.
5. Once again, you do not want to overheat the marshmallows! 
6. Pour over the cereal and stir until the cereal becomes well blended with the marshmallows. 
7. Then spread the cereal mixture into a prepared pan. 
8. Give the cereal treats time to cool before cutting.

The video below shows how to make Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats which are very similar to these Golden Grahams treats. You'll use the same technique to make this recipe.

Storage

• These treats are best served within a few days. They will stay fresh if stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
• If you'd like to make these treats in advance you may freeze them.
• See our Rice Krispie Treat FAQ for information regarding freezing and storage. 

Printable Recipe

Golden Grahams Treats

Beth Klosterboer

Gooey marshmallow cereal treats made using Golden Grahams Cereal have a sweet honey flavor and a crispy and chewy texture. They are easy to make using the stovetop or microwave.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 153 kcal

Equipment

• 1 large mixing bowl
• 1 8-inch or 9-inch square pan
• 1 silicone spatula or wooden spoon
• 1 medium saucepan (or large microwave-safe bowl)

Ingredients

  

• 7 cups Golden Grahams cereal
• 4 tablespoons salted butter (use European-style butter for the best flavor)
• 10 ounces marshmallows

Instructions

 

• Grease a large mixing bowl, 8-inch or 9-inch square pan, and silicone spatula (or wooden spoon) with butter.
• Pour the cereal into the greased bowl and set aside.
• Cut the butter into small pieces and place in the saucepan.
• Set the pan over LOW heat and allow the butter to begin to melt.
• Add the marshmallows to the pan and let them begin to melt.
• Stir often until about 75% of the marshmallows have melted.
• Then, remove the pan from the stove and stir vigorously until all the marshmallows have melted.
• Optionally, you can melt the butter and marshmallows in a large bowl in the microwave on high power for 1 minute. Then let the bowl sit for a minute in the warm microwave before removing and stirring until melted.
• Pour the marshmallows over the cereal.
• Fold the marshmallows and cereal together just until combined.
• Pour into the greased 8-inch or 9-inch square pan and gently spread into an even layer.
• Let the Golden Grahams Treats cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before removing and cutting into 16 squares.

Notes

Store your Golden Grahams Treats in an airtight container at room temperature. Your cereal bars will taste best if eaten within a few days but will keep for up to a week. 

To freeze, wrap the bars well in wax paper, tin foil, or Glad Press 'n Seal, then seal in a large zip-top bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

TIPS:

• Heat your marshmallows on low heat on the stove and only partially melt them on the stove. If you overheat your marshmallows, your treats will be hard. 
• Gently press your treats into your pan. If you compact the treats too much, your treats will be hard. 
• I found it easiest to pour half of the cereal treat mixture into the pan. Then, I spread it into an even layer before adding the rest of the cereal. This made it easier for me to see large gaps between cereal pieces so I could fill in the gaps. 

Keyword cereal bars, cereal treats, Golden Grahams cereal, marshmallows

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