Gooey Rice Krispie Treats

A few extra ingredients help these classic treats become something spectacular! My Gooey Rice Krispie Treats are a crowd pleaser.

When you need a quick and easy treat Gooey Rice Krispie Treats are winning choice! If you need more quick treats try Homemade Fudge, Mint Overload Bark, and Peanut Butter Pretzel Muddy Buddies!! 

Even better than the original

A while ago, I had some girls from church coming over, and 20 minutes before the girls were to arrive, I realized that I had completely forgotten to make a treat. Thankfully I remembered that we had a box of Rice Krispies and a half eaten bag of jumbo marshmallows sitting in the pantry.

With just minutes to spare before they’d be knocking at the door, I whipped up a batch of these gooey rice krispie treats. The girls loved them!

I thought I’d share with you the secret to really Gooey Rice Krispie Treats. Sure, the original recipe is good, but these are better! The secret is to add in a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt.

You won’t believe the difference they make! They come out looking great and tasting amazing. Nice and big, just like the ones you see in bakeries and dusted with cute little sprinkles for a festive touch! They’ll be gone in seconds!

How to make Gooey Rice Krispie Treats

PREP. Prepare a 9×9 baking pan by buttering the sides and bottom, set aside.

CEREAL. In a large mixing bowl add cereal.

MARSHMALLOWS. In a medium size saucepan set over low heat, combine butter and regular marshmallows (or the 5 c. miniature marshmallows). With a rubber spatula, stir continuously until the mixture becomes smooth and shiny. Remove from heat and mix in salt and vanilla.

COMBINE. Pour over the cereal, stirring to combine. Before the cereal is completely coated, add in the remaining miniature marshmallows, this way they melt slightly but still remain fairly chunky.

PRESS + CHILL. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press with the spatula to create an even layer. Place in the refrigerator to chill for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Tips, Variations + Storing Info

This recipe takes a long time favorite and kicks it up a notch making it extra gooey and tasty and sure to be a new go-to! Here are a few tips when putting together this quick and easy treat:

• Use an 8X8 pan for even thicker treats!
• Line your pan with parchment or wax paper for easier clean up. Just lift the treats out with the paper when you are ready to cut and serve them, discarding the paper underneath when you are done.
• Make sure to use fresh marshmallows for best results. Stale marshmallows will melt into a big thick blob instead of becoming stringy.
• Spray your rubber spatula with some cooking spray or grease it with some butter before stirring the marshmallow mixture into the cereal to help prevent everything from sticking to it. Spray it again if needed before using it to press the cereal mixture into the pan.
• For colorful treats add a few drops of food coloring into the melted marshmallow mixture before stirring in the cereal.

STORE Gooey Rice Krispie Treats at room temperature in a Ziploc bag or air tight container. They will store well for up to 3 days. 

CHILL leftover treats in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, but make sure to let them sit at room temperature for at least a half hour before serving.

Make treats ahead of time and FREEZE for up to 3 months. Wrap treats in wax paper followed by aluminum foil before freezing. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

For more marshmallow treats:

• Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
• Lucky Charms Bars
• Peppermint Rice Krispie Treats
• 6 Ingredient Rocky Road Cups
• S’mores Muddy Buddies

Recipe source: adapted from Kellogg’s, The Original Treats