Choose this rice krispie treats recipe when you’re short on time but want a sweet treat that fits with your macro goals. Sweet, rich flavor with less fat makes a great treat for the whole family!
We all love a good throwback, and nothing takes me back to childhood faster than a classic Rice Krispies treat.
While the love for that gooey marshmallow crunch hasn’t changed since the 90s, chances are your wellness goals probably have.
That means we need a new rice krispie treats recipe that fits with life today. And this one does the trick! It’s just sweet enough, completely kid-approved, and the perfect quick win for a busy week.
How do you make healthy rice krispie treats?
By tweaking the classic rice krispie treats recipe, you get the irresistible combination of crispy cereal, gooey marshmallows, and buttery flavor for a treat that’s still nostalgic but with a smarter balance.
HOMEMADE RICE KRISPIE TREATS RECIPE
Why make a homemade version of the rice krispie treats recipe?
- They’re way cheaper to make from scratch. A box of store-bought Rice Krispie treats doesn’t go very far, but for an entire 9×13 pan, you only need 3 ingredients. Speaking of ingredients…
- The packaged version contains six different types of sugar in the ingredients list. SIX! Sugar, corn syrup, fructose, corn syrup solids, vegetable glycerin, and dextrose. No thank you! (Marshmallows still contain three of those, but that’s better than six!)
- You can make them gluten-free if you need to. Just double-check your cereal.
- Macro-friendly. By using less butter than the standard rice krispie treats recipe, this version of the classic treat has fewer calories and can fit more easily with your macro goals.
- Quick and easy. Crispy rice krispie treats only take a few minutes to make.
- Yummy! Kids and adults alike love this nostalgic treat.
RICE KRISPIE SQUARE RECIPE INGREDIENTS
If you’ve ever made a rice krispie square recipe, these ingredients will look familiar to you.
- Rice Krispies Cereal. The cereal you use doesn’t have to be name brand (store brand is almost always cheaper!). Any puffed rice cereal will work. Many puffed rice cereals contain barley malt syrup, so look for a gluten-free version if you need one.
- Mini Marshmallows. You’ll need a typical 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows for these treats. While you can use larger-sized marshmallows, the mini version melts the most evenly.
- Butter. We’re using less butter than typical recipes for rice krispie treats, making these treats fit better with your overall macros.
I tested this recipe a few different ways and did not find that it needed a pinch of salt or vanilla. Save your homemade vanilla extract for another favorite no bake dessert recipe!
HOW TO MAKE RECIPE FOR RICE KRISPIES SQUARES
Step 1. Spray a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside. Have your cereal and marshmallows measured and ready to go.
Step 2. Add the butter to a large saucepan and melt over low heat. Tilt the pan, or use a spatula to ensure the butter covers the bottom and just up the sides of the pan to prevent the mixture from sticking.
Step 3. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from the heat.
Step 4. Add the cereal and, working quickly, stir until completely coated. Press into the prepared 9×13 pan with parchment paper or hands sprayed with cooking spray.
Step 5. Cool slightly and cut into 16 pieces.
Store the recipe for rice krispies squares at room temperature. You can keep them in the 9×13 pan and cover with a lid or plastic wrap to keep them from drying out, or slice them and put them in an airtight container with parchment paper or wax paper between layers so they don’t stick together.
CRISPY RICE KRISPIE TREATS TIPS
The difference between soft and crispy rice Krispie treats comes down to a few key factors:
- Lower heat will keep the marshmallows soft, while higher heat makes the sugar in the marshmallows harden. Don’t increase the heat to make the recipe go faster!
- The ratio of marshmallows to cereal matters. Extra marshmallows or butter make for a gooier texture overall. Since we’re using less butter, these will be more on the side of crispy rice krispie treats than soft, but they still shouldn’t be overly crunchy.
- Don’t press too hard! When you transfer the cereal mixture to the glass baking dish, gently spread it out and flatten it slightly. Pressing too hard compresses the cereal and makes for a dense, chewy bar.
Want to decorate the rice krispie treats recipe? Add sprinkles to the top and press them lightly with your hands or a spatula immediately after making the treats. They’ll stick to the marshmallows as the rice crispy squares cool.
You can use the same method to make cereal bars with a different type of small cereal. Small round or square cereals work better than flakes (think Cheerios or Chex). You may need to adjust the cereal-to-marshmallow ratio slightly.
MACRO-FRIENDLY RICE KRISPIE TREATS RECIPE
These aren’t protein rice krispie treats – while I DO think it’s important to eat enough protein throughout the day, I don’t believe we should add protein powder to everything (or that everything we eat needs to be high in protein).
These rice krispie treats are simply a modified version of the recipe that should fit into your calorie range a little bit better, and hopefully, you can eat a little bit more.
More treats? Say less.
In this rice krispie treats recipe, you’ll find carbohydrates from the cereal and marshmallows and fat from the butter. Like other treats, you’ll want to pair them with protein of some sort, and make sure that you intentionally fit them with your nutrition goals for the day.
Eating treats is part of my real-life weight loss philosophy. I’m a board-certified fat loss and nutrition coach, helping women 35+ lose weight and have more energy without giving up the foods they love. Grab my free guide here to start achieving your real body goals today!
RECIPE RICE KRISPIE TREATS FAQS
Can you make the recipe rice krispie treats with bigger marshmallows?
Regular or large marshmallows technically work for making rice krispie treats, but they don’t melt evenly and can start to stick to the bottom of the pan before they’re fully melted. If that’s all you have on hand, use kitchen scissors to cut them in half or into smaller pieces.
Why are my homemade rice krispie treats hard?
Too high of heat for melting the marshmallows, using stale marshmallows, or pressing the rice krispie squares too firmly into the pan can all result in dense, crunchy treats.
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Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Choose this rice krispie treats recipe when you’re short on time but want a sweet treat that fits with your macro goals. Sweet, rich flavor with less fat makes a great treat for the whole family!
Ingredients
- 6 cups puffed rice cereal (160g)
- 10 oz mini marshmallows (292g)
- 2 tbsp butter (28g)
Instructions
-
Spray a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside. Have your cereal and marshmallows measured and ready to go.
-
Add the butter to a large saucepan and melt over low heat. Tilt the pan, or use a spatula to ensure the butter covers the bottom and just up the sides of the pan to prevent the mixture from sticking.
-
Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from the heat.
-
Add the cereal and, working quickly, stir until completely coated. Press into the prepared 9×13 pan with parchment paper or hands sprayed with cooking spray.
-
Cool slightly and cut into 16 pieces.
Notes
More treats? Say less.
In this rice krispie treats recipe, you’ll find carbohydrates from the cereal and marshmallows and fat from the butter. Like other treats, you’ll want to pair them with protein of some sort, and make sure that you intentionally fit them with your nutrition goals for the day.
Nutrition
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 96kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 26mgPotassium: 9mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 44IUCalcium: 2mgIron: 0.2mg
