marshmallow fluff rice krispie treats

Published: Aug 28, '20 · Modified: Dec 22, '22 · By: Beth Klosterboer · This post may contain affiliate links.

Use a jar of marshmallow creme instead of marshmallows to make these simple 3-ingredient Marshmallow Fluff Rice Krispie Treat for dessert tonight or a snack this afternoon. Your whole family will love them!

Recently a friend of mine asked me, "can you use marshmallow fluff to make Rice Krispie treats?"

I told her that you can definitely swap out marshmallow fluff (also known as marshmallow cream, marshmallow creme, marshmallow spread, or marshmallow paste) for the marshmallows in a rice crispy treats recipe.

The flavor is pretty identical however the texture will be slightly different.

Traditional rice krispie treats made using marshmallows are crispy and very chewy. When you pull apart a treat that is made using the right proportion of marshmallows to cereal you see ribbons of sticky glistening white marshmallows clinging to the tiny crisp rice cereal.

When you pull apart a marshmallow cream Rice Krispie treat you won't see those sticky ribbons of marshmallow.

When you look at the crispy treats pictured above you definitely see the creamy marshmallow fluff that holds the treats together but when you take a bite you'll notice the cereal treat comes apart really easily. They are not sticky or very chewy.

When you watch the video you'll notice just how easily the treats pull apart.

So, what is marshmallow fluff?

Marshmallow fluff (also known as marshmallow cream, marshmallow creme, marshmallow paste, and marshmallow spread) is essentially a spreadable version of marshmallows.
It is typically made using corn syrup, sugar, vanilla, and egg whites.
Most store-bought marshmallow cream is gelatin-free.
It's smooth and creamy and tastes just like marshmallows.
You can find jars of marshmallow fluff in the grocery store on shelves along with traditional marshmallows.
Marshmallow creme has a shelf life of 6-8 months, about the same as marshmallows.
The spreadable marshmallow cream is edible after it's best-buy date but once the jar is opened the sugars in the fluff may begin to crystallize causing it to become gritty.
You should store your jars of marshmallow fluff in a cool dry place like a pantry or cupboard (away from direct heat like the stovetop or oven.)

Advantages of using spreadable marshmallow cream to make treats:

They are easier to stir and spread into a pan.
Marshmallow fluff melts easier and more quickly than marshmallows.
You'll save yourself a trip to the store if you don't have a bag of marshmallows in your pantry but you do have a jar of marshmallow creme.
You can eat marshmallow fluff rice crispy treats even if you wear braces because they are not too sticky.
These treats won't tug on your dentures.

So if you have a jar of marshmallow creme in your pantry go ahead and give this recipe a try and be sure to let us know what you think in the comment section below. Oh, and don't forget to give us a star rating too!

To make these treats you'll need:

5 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
4 tablespoons salted butter*
7 ounces marshmallow fluff (cream or creme)

*We recommend using European-style butter when making these cereal treats. In our taste testing, we found that European-style butter which has a higher butterfat content provides better flavor.

Salted butter also enhances the flavor. If you don't have salted butter and you choose to use unsalted butter, do not add salt to the recipe. It's difficult to get the grains of salt evenly distributed in your treats. You may end up with pockets of salt which will make some of your treats taste salty.

Instructions:

Grease an 8-inch square pan, a large mixing bowl, and a rubber spatula using butter or non-stick baking spray.
Pour the Rice Krispies Cereal into the bowl and set aside.
Cut the butter into slices and set them in the bottom of a medium saucepan.
Set the pan over low heat and allow the butter to melt.
Spoon the marshmallow fluff into the pan and begin to stir.
Continue to stir until the marshmallow cream and butter come together into a smooth mixture, this may take up to a minute.
Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal and toss to coat.
Spread the cereal mixture into an even layer in the square baking pan.

TIPS:

Do not overheat the marshmallow mixture or your treats may become hard instead of soft and chewy.
Typically when I'm making crispy treats made using marshmallows I gently press them into the pan. I don't want to compact them too tightly. With these treats, you need to use a bit more pressure. Go ahead and compact them a bit more to ensure they stay together.

Cover and set the pan aside for about 2 hours until the treats are firm.
Remove the treats from the pan and cut into 16 squares.

Can I make these treats in a 9X13-inch pan?

Yes, you can simply double the recipe and spread it into a 9 by 13-inch pan. Just note that treats made this way will be thicker than those shown in my pictures.
If you prefer your treats to be similar in thickness to those I've made then use these measurements:
- 7 ½ cups of rice krispies
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 9 ½ ounces marshmallow cream

TIP:

When measuring marshmallow creme, I recommend spraying your measuring cup and spoon with non-stick baking spray. The sticky marshmallow will be less likely to stick!

Be sure to watch the video to see how easy it is to make these no-bake desserts.

Recipe