Why are my homemade rice crispy treats so hard?

High heat is the prime culprit for rock hard rice krispie treats . → Follow this tip: It will take a few more minutes of cook time, but melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat. You'll be rewarded with delicious, soft and chewy treats!

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies Treats?

What happens if you put too much butter in Rice Krispies Treats? If you put too much butter in rice krispies treats they will become oily, the cereal will soak up the butter and the treats will become soggy, rather than crispy .

Can you use dried out marshmallows for rice krispie treats?

Lack of moisture means old marshmallows don't melt properly. Instead, the dehydrated marshmallows congeal into a thick mass, says Eating Expired. When making Rice Krispies treats, always opt for fresh marshmallows.

What are the ingredients in rice krispies?

Ingredients: Rice, sugar, contains 2% or less of salt, malt flavor. Vitamins and Minerals: Iron (ferric phosphate), niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.

How do you keep homemade Rice Krispie treats from getting hard?

Keep the heat low . If you melt the marshmallows too fast, it might result in a Rice Kripsy treat that is harder and crunchy than chewy.

Why are my rice crispy treats falling apart?

An important factor in a rice krispie treat recipe is the ratio of marshmallow to cereal. Too much cereal and the squares will taste dry, crunchy, and bland. Too much marshmallow and the squares will be too sticky and fall apart.

Why are my rice crispy treats so sticky?

Too much marshmallow and butter can make a super sticky, wet or soggy slice, while too little makes a hard, dry or crumbly one. I recommend using a baking scale for my recipe to get the ratio JUST right, creating the perfect chewy but crispy Rice Krispie Squares. Melted marshmallow = sticky mess.

Can you leave homemade rice crispy treats out?

Store the treats at room temperature for up to 3 days . After 3 days, you should throw away the old rice crispy treats and just whip up a new batch!

Why do lifters eat Rice Krispie Treats?

Rice Krispies treats are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates while remaining relatively low in fat and protein. Therefore, they give the body easily accessible energy without slowing digestion . This means someone can eat a portion shortly before a workout and not worry about getting an upset stomach or cramps.

Why are my Rice Krispies so dense?

Slow on low heat is the way to go for chewy results! Another problem could be using too much pressure when spreading them into your prepared pan. If you pack everything in too tightly , they'll end up denser and harder than they should be. Use a silicone spatula to gently spread everything evenly into your pan.

How long does it take rice crispy treats to harden?

How long does it take for Rice Krispies treats to harden? Not too long! It takes about an hour for them to cool off completely after melting on the stove. But you can start digging in after 20-30 minutes if you don't mind an extra gooey rice krispie.

How to make mushy rice crispy?

How to fix mushy rice in the fridge Distribute mushy rice on a baking sheet and spread it into a thin layer. Cover the rice with parchment paper. Transfer the rice to the fridge and let it cool for 30 minutes. Check to see if the moisture has dried out. Microwave the rice to reheat before serving. May 5, 2023

What to do if Rice Krispies are too sticky?

Alternatively, those greasy used butter wrappers work wonders in helping press your mixture down and keeping things stick-free. Be sure to press down firmly, but not too tight, so that your mixture is easy to cut but doesn't become hard.

Rice Krispies Treats Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Aimee 437 comments
Published: Sep 26, 2023 Last Updated: Sep 26, 2023

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Get the secret tips and tricks to making the most PERFECT Rice Krispies Treats recipe. From using fresh butter and marshmallows to adding vanilla extract, this is our favorite dessert.

Love easy cereal treats? Try our recipes for homemade puppy chow (muddy buddies)! Or make a savory snack like this Taco Chex mix!

The Original Rice Krispie Treats
Why My Recipe Is Best
Ingredient Notes
Aimee’s Secret Ingredient
Tips and Tricks
Recipe FAQs
More Rice Krispie Treat Flavors
More Easy Dessert Recipes:
Rice Krispie Treats Recipe Recipe

The Original Rice Krispie Treats

I spend days and days trying to come up with the perfect cake. Or the most beautiful cupcakes. Or to create the fudgiest brownies.

But, it’s no secret, Rice Krispie Treats have always been the key to my heart. Knowing how to make rice krispie treats has gotten me far in life.

I love crispy treats so much that I’ve created over a dozen flavors….from Fluffernutter Krispie Treats to Cinnamon Roll Krispie Treats.
I’ve even got these adorable TURKEY Krispie Treats and this Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispie Treat for Thanksgiving!

But, in the end, it’s the classic, original, homemade RICE KRISPIE TREAT that draws me in.

The biggest question is how to spell it. Some people say Rice Crispy, Some say Crispy Rice, some say Rice Crispies. Either way, you get the point!

Why My Recipe Is Best

There are thousands of recipes for making this classic treat, and I’m putting it out there that my recipe is BEST. Why?

Only 4 ingredients
Thick and chewy
Vanilla flavor
Perfect ratio of cereal to marshmallows

We love that this classic treat can be changed up using different cereals too!

Chocolate– Cocoa Krispie Treats
Fruity– Fruity Pebbles Treats
S’mores– Golden Grahams Treats
Cheerios– Cheerio Treats

Ingredient Notes

Butter- use salted butter for this recipe. Just trust me! Don’t have any on hand? Use unsalted butter and a pinch of salt while melting. DO NOT use margarine.
Marshmallows- you’ll need 9 cups of mini marshmallows, keeping about 1 cup aside to add in at the end!
Rice Krispies Cereal- any brand of crispy rice cereal will work, just make sure it’s FRESH.

Aimee’s Secret Ingredient

Adding my homemade vanilla extract or any pure vanilla extract takes this recipe over the top.

Tips and Tricks

Line a 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper. This way you don’t have to worry about extra butter on your fingertips, or the other extreme of your bars sticking to the pan! Use binder clips to help the parchment paper stay in place.
Use fresh marshmallows. Seriously, they make a difference. Don’t grab that bag that’s been in your pantry for months and months thinking it will be okay since you are melting them. It won’t be okay.
Add my secret ingredient. VANILLA EXTRACT. Not imitation vanilla, but PURE VANILLA extract. It makes a difference in creating the illusion that you’re using homemade marshmallows.
Toss in some extra marshmallows with your cereal. This adds a whole dimension of chewiness!
DO NOT (I repeat) DO NOT press these bars into your pan firmly. Using your fingertips, GENTLY press them in just until they are spread out. The harder you pack them in, the harder they are when it’s time to eat them!
The trick to pressing them in your pan without sticking to your hands is to run your fingers in water, shake off the excess, and press. Voila. No sticking!
Store in an airtight container for two days. If they last that long, I’d be shocked! ENJOY
Make these gluten free by choosing a crispy rice cereal labeled Gluten Free (and check your marshmallow labels too just in case).

Recipe FAQs

Why do my rice krispies treats get hard?

Your krispies treats could be getting hard if you press the treats too firmly into the pan. Also, be sure to start with fresh marshmallows and cereal, not stale!

Do rice krispie treats need to be refrigerated?

Do NOT refrigerate rice krispie treats, as it can make the marshmallow very hard. Instead, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for best results.

More Rice Krispie Treat Flavors

Add in some flavored gelatin (or pudding mix) to the melted marshmallow for a unique twist! Cherry Krispie Treats!

Make Lucky Charms Treats for a St.Paddy’s Day dessert idea.

For best results, name brand cereal stays fresher longer and can hold up to the melted butter and marshmallows better
Always start with fresh marshmallows. If you use stale marshmallows in hopes that melting them will give you good results, you’ll be disappointed!
More mix-ins: fold in some m&m’s or Reese’s peanut butter cups for a delicious dessert idea.

More Easy Dessert Recipes:

Scotcheroos
Peanut Butter Rice Crispies Treat
Easter Krispie Treats
Biscoff Rice Crispy Squares
No Bake Cookies

Rice Krispie Treat Recipes

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Rice Krispie Treats