If you're searching for the best Rice Krispie Treats recipe, you've come to the right place.
After conducting a blind taste test of more than 20 different recipes, our panel of 20 taste testers discovered the perfect ratio of butter, marshmallows, and Rice Krispies cereal to create the ultimate cereal treat.
The winning recipe produces treats that are:
• Soft and chewy
• Perfectly gooey without being sticky
• Rich and buttery
• Crispy with just the right crunch
Even the editors at TheKitchn' rated this recipe 10/10 and called it the best on the web.
Below you'll find the exact recipe, followed by the results of our extensive taste tests that explain why this recipe works better than all the others.
The Perfect Rice Krispie Treat Ratio
After testing dozens of versions, we discovered the perfect balance of ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
16 ounces marshmallows
7 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Pressed into a 9×13-inch pan, this ratio creates treats that are thick, chewy, buttery, and full of marshmallow flavor without being overly sweet.
Too little butter makes the treats bland.
Too many marshmallows makes them sticky and overly sweet.
Too much cereal makes them dry.
This ratio gives you the perfect balance of crunch and chewiness. You can read all about our taste test below the recipe card.
Pro Tips for Perfect Rice Krispie Treats
These small tricks made a huge difference during our taste tests.
✔ Remove marshmallows from the heat before they fully melt
Residual heat finishes the melting gently.
✔ Do not overheat the marshmallows
Overheating causes the sugar in the marshmallows to crystallize and makes your cereal treats hard.
✔ Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal (not the other way around)
This prevents the cereal from softening.
✔ Do not press the mixture firmly into the pan
Light pressure keeps the treats soft instead of dense.
Stovetop Method
Melt butter over low heat.
Stir in marshmallows until about 75% melted.
Remove from heat and stir until smooth.
Pour over cereal and mix gently.
- Spread into the pan and cool.
Microwave Method
Combine butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave 1 minute, then stir until melted.
Heat in 15-second intervals if needed, stirring each time.
Mix with cereal and spread into the pan.
You can see our Microwave Rice Krispie Treat recipe for more details.
Recipe
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Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons European-style salted butter, cut into small pieces
- 16 ounces Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows
- 7 cups Kellogg's Rice Krispies Cereal
Instructions
- Grease a 9 inch by 13-inch pan with butter or spray with baking spray.
- Grease a large mixing bowl with butter or baking spray and pour in the cereal.
Stove Top Instructions
- Begin melting the butter in a medium-large saucepan set over low heat then stir in the marshmallows.
- Continue to melt over low heat, stirring often, until about 75% of the marshmallows have melted.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir vigorously until all of the marshmallows have melted.
- Pour the melted marshmallows over the Rice Krispies Cereal and toss to evenly coat.
- Spread the mixture into the buttered pan and gently press into an even layer.
- Let the cereal treats cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into 18 rectangles.
Microwave Instructions
- Combine the butter and marshmallows in a large microwave-safe mixing bowl.
- Heat in the microwave for 1 minute then remove and stir vigorously until melted.
- If needed, heat for additional 15-second increments stirring after each until melted.
- Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal and toss until evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture into the buttered pan and gently press into an even layer.
- Let the cereal treats cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into 18 rectangles.
Video
Notes
It contains more butterfat than American butter, giving the treats a richer, creamier flavor while balancing the sweetness. • Use Kraft Jet-Puffed marshmallows if possible.
They melt smoothly and have great vanilla flavor. Some store brands are stickier. If using store-brand marshmallows, add up to 1 extra cup of cereal if the mixture feels too sticky. • Do not overheat the marshmallows.
Overheating causes the sugar to crystallize and results in hard treats. Remove the pan from the heat when the marshmallows are about 75% melted and stir until smooth. • Gently press the mixture into the pan.
Do not compact the cereal mixture or the treats will become dense and hard. • Store properly.
Keep Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. • Do not refrigerate.
Refrigeration makes the cereal stale and the treats hard. • Freezing instructions.
Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature while still wrapped.
Small Batch Recipe
For an 8- or 9-inch pan, use:- 4 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces marshmallows
- 4⅔ cups Rice Krispies cereal
Why This Is the Best Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
We didn’t just guess the ratios. We conducted a blind taste test with over 20 tasters.
We tested six different classic recipes, adjusting butter, marshmallow, and cereal quantities until our taste testers agreed on a clear winner.
Here are the recipes we tested:
• 3 tablespoon butter, 10 oz marshmallows, 6 cups cereal
• 6 tablespoon butter, 12 oz marshmallows, 6 cups cereal
• 6 tablespoon butter, 16 oz marshmallows, 7 cups cereal
• 5 tablespoon butter, 13 oz marshmallows + extra mixed in
• 8 tablespoon butter, 16 oz marshmallows, 9 cups cereal
• 6 tablespoon butter, 14 oz marshmallows + extra mixed in
The winner was unanimous:
6 tablespoon butter + 16 oz marshmallows + 7 cups cereal
Taste testers loved the balance of crispy cereal and gooey marshmallow.
The Best Ingredients for Rice Krispie Treats
After finding the best ratio of ingredients, we tested different brands of butter, cereal, and marshmallows to determine which would make the best marshmallow cereal treats.
The differences were surprisingly noticeable.
Best Butter
All 20 of our taste testers preferred salted butter over unsalted butter in this recipe. The difference in flavor was surprisingly noticeable.
Salted butter helps balance the sweetness of the marshmallows and adds a richer, more flavorful taste to the treats. When unsalted butter was used, the cereal treats tasted noticeably flatter and less buttery.
For the best flavor, we highly recommend using salted butter. You'll be amazed at the difference.
Good-quality butter also makes a huge difference. The top choices were:
• Kerrygold Butter
• President Butter
• Kroger Private Selection French Style Butter (nottheir regular butter)
• Land O Lakes European Style Butter
European-style butter contains more butterfat, which creates richer flavor and creamier texture. Taste testers agreed that regular Kroger-brand butter made the worst-tasting treats.
Best Rice Krispies Cereal
We tested three brands of crisped rice cereal to find which made the best treats.
Winner: Kellogg’s Rice Krispies – the classic choice. They had the best flavor and stayed crisp inside the treats, giving the perfect balance of crunch and chew.
Store brands were acceptable but slightly less flavorful. Notably, Target’s Market Pantry cereal was overly crispy, making the treats too hard and crunchy for some tasters.
For consistently soft, chewy, and flavorful Rice Krispie Treats, stick with the classic Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.
Cereal Alternatives
You can use just about any cereal to make treats, but the ratio of ingredients may vary slightly due to the shape and size of the cereal. We've created recipes using dozens of cereal brands. Some of our favorites include:
Best Marshmallows
Winner: Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows
Our taste testers loved them for their:
- Soft texture
- Light vanilla flavor
- Perfectly gooey consistency
Store-brand marshmallows tended to be stickier and denser, producing overly sticky treats. We tested brands from Walmart, Kroger, and Target, and all made the treats less smooth and harder to work with.
For the best Rice Krispie Treats, stick with Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows for consistently soft, gooey, and flavorful results.
Does Marshmallow Size Matter
You can use mini or regular marshmallows to make Rice Krispie Treats. The melt time will vary slightly, but either works.
For exact measurements, check out our marshmallow conversion chart to see how many marshmallows of each brand fit in a cup or ounce. It also includes details on size, weight, and more—perfect for making your treats consistently soft and gooey.
Optional Flavor Additions
Some taste testers enjoyed adding a small amount of vanilla for extra flavor.
If you’d like to try it, stir in ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Opinions were mixed, so this step is optional. Personally, I don’t think it’s necessary, as the marshmallows already provide plenty of vanilla flavor.
How to Store Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie Treats stay fresh for up to one week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
Do not refrigerate them, as the cereal can become stale.
You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing.
Rice Krispie Treat Variations
Once you master the perfect base recipe, you can create fun variations like:
- Reese's Cup Rice Krispie Treats
- S'mores Rice Krispie Treats
- OREO Rice Krispie Treats
- Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Creative Rice Krispie Treats
You can have fun making cute shapes for holidays and special occasions, like...
Or you can really go all out and turn them into decorated lollipops.
Final Thoughts
After testing more than 20 different recipes, we’re confident this is truly the best Rice Krispie Treat recipe you can make.
With the perfect ratio of butter, marshmallows, and cereal, these treats turn out soft, gooey, crispy, and buttery every single time.
Once you try them, you may never go back to the original recipe again.
Now that you have a basic recipe, you can use it to make other treats with Rice Krispies.
Mawrean says
I'm making these today...I was pretty sad to find out both kroger private selections French style butter and presidents butter have been discontinued😥🥺 so I tried the next recommended which is the Kerry gold. I can't wait to try!
Beth Klosterboer says
Kerry Gold is a great butter to use. I've been using it too because Kroger discontinued their butter. I did not realize President's Butter had been discontinued.
Keri Dawn says
what about big batches. what would be the best ratios if using a pan bigger than 9x13?
Beth Klosterboer says
You would have to do some math in order to determine the ingredient quantities for a different size pan. I'd need to know the pan size you plan to use in order to estimate how much to use. If you don't want to go through that, just double or triple the recipe, press the mixture into your larger pan, until you have the thickness that you want. If you have leftover, cereal treat, press it into a smaller pan. It doesn't have to fill the pan. You can press it into the thickness that you like, leaving space in the pan along one edge of the treat. It will maintain it's shape.
Vonita says
These were the best rice krispie treats ever!!! I took half over to a neighbor. She had relatives to visit today and they could tell the difference from the regular recipe and loved them.
This will be our recipe that we use from now on. Thank you for your improvement on a fantastic treat anyway 😋😋😋😋😋
Beth Klosterboer says
It's great to hear that everyone loved this recipe and that it will your go-to from now on. 🙂
Rachel says
I’ve made these treats before using your recipe and our modification is that our local grocery store has an horchata flavored rice cereal, so we used three cups of these and four cups of regular Rice Krispies. Everyone who tried them said they were the best treats they had ever had. I believe that they were the best because of the ratios y’all provided! Thank you!
Meaghan Mountford says
Thank you so much Rachel! Beth tested a LOT of ratios, so I'm glad it worked so well. And now I have to find some horchata rice cereal around me to try!
Judith Horton says
AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Seriously, when I read your post, I was skeptical that your recipe was really that much better than the traditional rice krispie treat recipe but after making a batch, I am totally convinced that this is the best rice krispie treat recipe ever! My whole family agrees. Pulling the marshmallows off the stove early made such a huge difference in the texture of these treats. That is such a great tip. Thank you for that. I used Kerry Gold butter and the treats tasted so good. Another great tip.
Beth Klosterboer says
I am so happy to hear you and your family loved this recipe. I'm glad to hear the tips worked well for you too. They really do make a difference. 🙂
Emily says
Hi! Wow, never thought I'd find such a site dedicated to RKT's! As if you don't have enough info, just to be sure - you would use 64 whole regular size marshmallows. Correct? Are the larger the preferred choice or a 16oz. mini bag? Wondering if size is a factor in texture. I'm making these treats for a bride to give out at her shower to guests. I'll be making 60. I will be freezing for a week or so. As these will be dipped partially in candy melt, will candy melt crack if frozen? Lastly, will double recipe work well in a 12x18 pan. Thank you! happy to have found your site!
Beth Klosterboer says
Hi Emily,
oth
I like to use the 16 ounce bag of mini marshmallows but Meaghan prefers the larger marshmallows. Both work great. The texture of the final treats is pretty identical using either. I just like that the mini marshmallows melt more quickly. You can find 16 ounce bags of large or mini marshmallows which is nice because you don't have to count them out. If you check out our Marshmallow conversion chart here - https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/marshmallows/, you will see that every brand of marshmallows is slightly different and even marshmallows in the same bag are different sizes.
You can make a double batch of the treats in a 12x18-inch pan. They will be slightly thicker than a single batch made in a 9x13-inch pan but it won't be very noticeable.
Candy melts can crack and will become sticky if frozen (condensation will form on the surface making the chocolate sticky). I never recommend freezing anything dipped in candy melts but I know some people do it. If you absolutely have to, be sure to let them thaw completely at room temperature before opening your container. If you can put something like a few paper towels or a piece of cardboard in the container before freezing the treats, it can help to wick up any condensation. I would suggest, freezing the plain treats, letting them thaw completely, then dipping them in the candy melts up to 4 days before the wedding if at all possible.
Good luck and have fun!
Emily says
Thank you, Beth! I will make them a week ahead, freeze, then dip them the day before. Better safe than sorry.
Beth Klosterboer says
Enjoy!
FLMom says
The flavor of these are marvelous, however, I am still struggling with my cereal tasting stale (have tried multiple recipes). The box was brand new and I cooked everything on extremely low power and followed the directions to a T. What am I doing wrong?!
Beth Klosterboer says
Did you pour the melted butter and marshmallows over your cereal or did you pour the cereal into the saucepan? That can make a big difference in texture.
Michelle says
These are hands down the best rice-crispy treats ever! They solve problems with rice crispy treats that I didn't know I had. Make them.
Beth Klosterboer says
LOL! I had a friend tell me something similar after making this recipe. I'm glad you enjoyed them!!!
Madison says
Hello! I’m getting ready to try this recipe now and I’m so excited! Can I mix in extra mini marshmallows into the treats? If so, how much would I need to add? Or do you think it would throw it off?
Meaghan Mountford says
Hi Madison! Apologies for the delay in answering! You may have already made the treats (and hopefully everything worked out). We do sometimes add additional mini marshmallows mixed in at the end, so they aren't added to the melted mixture, and it works great. Our s'mores Rice Krispie Treats is an example. I added 1/2 cup extra mini marshmallows at the end, and I made the 8-inch square size, not the 9 x 13. https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/smores-rice-krispie-treats/#recipe
Judi H. says
You’re so awesome! I can't believe how much time and effort you put into making a simple recipe the very best it can be. I made these yesterday and everyone in my family agrees they are the BEST rice krispie treats they have ever had. Thanks!!!!
Beth Klosterboer says
It was truly a labor of love! I've had lots of good and lots of bad treats over the years and I really wanted to find what made them great. I'm glad you love the recipe.
Lisa says
This recipe is fantastic! I especially like the tip about buttering the bowl for the cereal. Much better than adding cereal to the marshmallows. I added some mini marshmallows and a few mini m&m's to the cereal before adding marshmallows. I'll be making this again!
p.s.
I'm very thankful for those that taste tested the 20 recipes. Thanks for taking one for the team!
Meaghan Mountford says
Thank you so much, Lisa! Beth definitely put in the work to make the best Rice Krispie Treats ever. I agree, adding the marshmallows to the cereal instead of the other way around works SO much better. I love the idea of mini M&Ms. I've used regular size, but I think you can jam pack more chocolate with the minis. 🙂
Joanie says
I didn’t see the recipe for the one with the ice cream cone one.
Meaghan Mountford says
Hi Joanie, are these the treats you're looking for? https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/rice-krispie-treat-ice-cream-cones/
Charlene Weaver says
Best rice krispie treats ever! I was amazed. Thanks for all the effort you put into this recipe. Yummy!
Carina says
Hi there! My kids and I just made these and they taste amazing! Thank you for your recipe and all the info on your post!
Beth Klosterboer says
That is great! I'm so glad you all enjoyed this recipe.
Dawn says
Any tips on how to add colored sprinkles or candies and not have the colors run due to the warmth of the mixture?
Beth Klosterboer says
I have found that some brands of sprinkles bleed while others do not. I made cookies recently and the sprinkles bled badly once baked but I didn't have any trouble when I made my Funfetti Rice Krispie Treats (https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/funfetti-rice-krispie-treats/) and my Sprinkles Rice Krispie Treats (https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/sprinkle-rice-krispie-treats/). I'm sure I used different sprinkles. I have 3 drawers filled with them. LOL! If your sprinkles are bleeding. just allow the marshmallows to cool before stirring them into the cereal. They will still be melted as they cool so you should be able to mix them into the cereal with no issue.
Bri says
loved this reading! 🙂
Sue Bernard says
Took a pan to a neighborhood potluck today. Made just as described using Kerry Gold salted butter. I was speaking to someone else and the person next to me stood up and declared that it was the best Rice Krispie Treat she ever had! Then she asked who brought them? LOL One person ate 4 of them himself - and I cut them big!
Beth Klosterboer says
That is great to hear! I love it!
Judith Horton says
These treats are amazing! This will be my go-to recipe from now on. Thanks for all the work you did to find this perfect recipe.
Amy Barnes says
BEST Rice Krispie Treats ever!!!! I made them for Thanksgiving and everyone loved them. They were perfection. Thanks so much for taking so much time to find the best recipe.
Beth Klosterboer says
You are welcome! I'm glad you loved this recipe.
Judith Horton says
These are the best rice krispie treats ever!!! My family went nuts for them. I'm making them again for Christmas day. Thanks!
Beth Klosterboer says
That's great! Have a Merry Christmas.
H says
When should I add food coloring?
Meaghan Mountford says
Hi H! You add the food coloring to the melted butter and marshmallow mixture BEFORE pouring over the cereal. We have how-tos for every color here! https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/rice-krispie-treat-colors/
Carol Weaver says
I had my doubts that your recipe would be better than the original but I was wrong. Your recipe makes perfect Rice Krispie Treats. I used Kerrygold salted butter and was blown away by the flavor difference. Who knew that such a simple ingredient could enhance the flavor so much? I will definitely be recommending this recipe to my family and friends.
Beth Klosterboer says
That is so great to hear!
Teri Murphy says
I made a double batch of these for my grandson’s 5th birthday party and they flew off the platter! I shared the recipe with several people and now I’m asked to bring them to every event.
FYI- I used Kerry Irish butter; my favorite!
Question- how to I make a shamrock version for St. Patrick’s day?
Meaghan Mountford says
Hi Teri, We love hearing this!!! They're our favorites too! And good news. We have a shamrock recipe, too 🙂 You can use any size shamrock cutter and any green food coloring, even liquid. The candy eyes and smiles are optional.
https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/shamrock-rice-krispie-treats/
For more info on how to make green Rice Krispie Treats (in case you have different food coloring than the one used in the shamrock post): https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/green-rice-krispie-treats/
Thank you so much for your comment!
카지노사이트 says
Looks so yummy, will gonna make this soon! For now i will save the recipe first. Thank you.
Beth Klosterboer says
I hope you enjoy the treats!
Mary from Salem says
I’ve made these many times and they really are the best! I always struggle when it comes to evenly, coating the cereal and getting it all out of the bowl. The mixture starts to cool down and it’s hard to scrape the bowl. I try to work very quickly. Does that happen to everyone or is there some thing I need to focus on? Thanks!!
Meaghan Mountford says
Hi Mary, What helps me a LOT at that stage is greasing the large bowl that holds the cereal. I use non-stick spray, but you can also use a bit of butter if you find the taste of non-stick spray off-putting. I also grease my spatulas which helps. And, I use the largest bowl I have, especially if I'm making the larger batch of treats!!
Charlene Weaver says
This recipe is fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amy B. says
Oh, my goodness these were amazing. Thanks for all the effort you put into finding the very best Rice Krispie Treats recipe.
Beth Klosterboer says
You are welcome. I'm happy you enjoyed them.
Heather says
When do I add food coloring?
Beth Klosterboer says
If you are adding food coloring, mix it into the melted marshmallows. Make it brighter than you want your treats to be. The cereal will mute the color slightly. You can see step-by-step instructions and images on this post - https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/blue-rice-krispie-treats/
June Harvey says
Thank you for all the helpful tips. My treats turned out great.
Judith Horton says
I loved this recipe and so did my entire family. Yummy!!! Thanks for sharing.
lori says
They turned out fantastic!
Sue says
Thank you for all the input of making the "BEST" Rice Krispie Treats! I want to add Peanut Butter to a batch... could you please tell me how much to use? Do I need to alter the amount of Butter for this addition? Thanks for the help!
Meaghan Mountford says
Hi Sue, Absolutely! We actually have recipes for peanut butter Rice Krispie treats, chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter and jelly, peanut butter butterscotch AND peanut butter honey. Here is the peanut butter recipe, but if you put "peanut butter" in the search bar on our site, you'll find the others. Thank you so much for your kind words! https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/peanut-butter-rice-krispie-treats/
Karen McCombs says
I am so glad to have found this site with the recipe I had given up on. I even tried a store bought rice krispie treat, YIKES! Now I am going to the store for a couple of specific items. I can hardly wait, its been YEARS since I've had a truly good treat! My mouth is watering, gotta go! THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Meaghan Mountford says
Thank you so much Karen!!
Jenn says
Made these for a party today. These were perfect! So much better than the Original Rice Krispies recipe. Thanks for sharing! This is now my new go to!!
Meaghan Mountford says
We're so glad to hear, Jenn!! Thank you so much!
Paige Huff says
Thank you for all this research! I definitely paid off. The marshmallow technique, the product types and use of the buttered bowl are great tips as well as the ratios. Everyone loved them!
Beth Klosterboer says
That's great to hear! I'm so glad you found the tips helpful and that everyone enjoyed the treats.
Jenn G says
This is amazing! I volunteered to make these for my son’s musical intermission concession stand and I heard they’re usually really popular and sell out quick. This is my first time making them in bulk, so if I have to make, say 100 of these, is there a way you can educate me on how to multiply the ingredients accordingly? I’m a decent baker but usually I only bake for my family of 5 lol
Thank you so much for all the hard work you did in making this article!
Beth Klosterboer says
Hi Jenn,
I'm so sorry I didn't see your question earlier. I'm guessing you've already made your treats, but if not, you would need to make 6 batches of Rice Krispie Treats using a total of 36 tablespoons of butter, 96 ounces of marshmallows (six 16-ounce bags), and 42 cups of Rice Krispies Cereal (which is equal to approximately 42 ounces of Rice Krispies Cereal). I would recommend you make one batch at a time. You'd need a very large bowl to make a double batch of treats.
I do hope your treats turned out well, and that they were a big hit at the concession stand.
Lenore Litwin says
Fantastic recipe! I’m wondering if I could do cocoa krispies and add peanut butter along with the melted marshmallows…do you think this would work? If so, how much peanut butter would you add or how would that alter the other ingredients needed? Thanks
Beth Klosterboer says
Hi Lenore,
I am so sorry for the delay in responding. I missed seeing this question. We have a great peanut butter rice krispie treat recipe that you can use. Just swap out Cocoa Krispies for the Rice Krispies in this recipe - https://howtomakecerealtreats.com/peanut-butter-rice-krispie-treats/
Suzanne Charles says
Best Rice Krispie Treats Ever! Thank you for all the interesting information you have provided, and your intense work to find “THE BEST RICE KRISPIE TREAT EVER!!!! They are scrumptious!!!
Beth Klosterboer says
You are very welcome! It was a true labor of love finding the very best Rice Krispie Treat recipe, and I'm so happy you enjoyed it!!! 😊