The Original Rice Krispies Treats™ Recipe: Get Back to Basics With This Old-School Snack Desserts

At family get-togethers, there are certain recipes that get requested over and over again. The most common is my banana pudding. That dessert recipe is usually my go-to, but often I like to try new recipes and use my family and friends as guinea pigs. I've had lots of successes (magic vanilla cake, two-ingredient lemon bars) and plenty of disasters (keeping that to myself). On July 4th, I decided to go old school and made classic Rice Krispies Treats™. Needless to say, the adults and kids went bonkers for them. What is it about this marshmallow cereal treat that puts a smile on everybody's faces?

While I was tempted to try a creative recipe for these cereal treats, I just went basic and made the original Rice Krispies Treats™ recipe. This three-ingredient recipe is beyond simple to make, which explains another reason why we love them. Here's your shopping list: puffed rice cereal, butter and marshmallows.

Serve these ooey, gooey, marshmallowy treats for a snack or dessert at your next family party or holiday. I bet they'll be a hit!

Note: 30Seconds is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program and this post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission or fees if you make a purchase via those links.

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes plus time to cool
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes 
Servings: 16

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 bag (10 ounces) marshmallows or 5 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups puffed rice cereal

Helpful Products

• 13x9-inch Pan
• Rubber Spatula
• Saucepan
• Knife
• Airtight Container
• Wax Paper

Recipe Notes

• Use fresh marshmallows.

• If you don't have marshmallows, a 7-ounce jar of marshmallow crème can be substituted.

• Store the cereal treats in an airtight container at room temperature.

• You can freeze the treats in an airtight container separated by wax paper for up to six weeks.

• If you do want to add a little more to the basic recipe, stir in some peanut butter or chocolate chips. Frost with chocolate icing or marshmallow crème. Add colorful sprinkles to the top while warm, or stir them directly into the cereal treat when you add the cereal.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat.
2. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted.
3. Remove from the heat. Stir in the puffed rice cereal until completely combined.
4. Pour into a buttered 13x9-inch baking pan. Using a buttered spatula or the butter wrapper (pro tip), press the mixture into the pan.
5. Once cool, cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.

Recipe cooking times and servings are approximate. Need to convert cooking and baking measurements? Here are some kitchen conversion charts. Here's how to submit your recipes to 30Seconds.

Take 30 seconds and join the 30Seconds community, and follow us on Facebook to get recipes in your newsfeed daily.