Plate piled with soft marshmallow crispy rice treats beside a vintage Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal box in a warm 1970s-style kitchen setting.

Classic Rice Krispies Marshmallow Treats

Name: Classic Rice Krispies Marshmallow Treats
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 24 small squares
Ingredients: ¼ cup butter; 10 oz marshmallows; 5 cups crispy rice cereal; Chocolate drizzle; Caramel drizzle

Melted marshmallows and butter coat every piece of crispy rice cereal in these soft, chewy squares. A gentle press into the pan keeps the treats light enough to pull apart with that familiar gooey stretch.

By Betty Lou Gardner50 minUpdated 2026-08-25

These Classic Rice Krispies Marshmallow Treats are soft, buttery, and perfectly gooey with just enough crispy crunch in every bite. Quick to make and always the first thing people reach for at bake sales, birthday parties, and family gatherings, they’re the kind of simple homemade treat that never really goes out of style.

Betty Lou Gardner in a family archival photograph

Granny’s Kitchen Notes

From Betty Lou Gardner

I always butter the spoon first because marshmallow mixture sticks to absolutely everything once it starts cooling down. The trick is not pressing them too firmly into the pan or they turn heavy instead of soft and chewy the way they ought to be.

How to Make Rice Krispies Marshmallow Treats

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Butter and marshmallows melting in a stainless steel saucepan over low heat with a wooden spoon.

Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

Melt the butter over low heat, then stir in the marshmallows until completely smooth and creamy.

Crispy rice cereal folded into melted marshmallow mixture in a stainless steel saucepan with a wooden spoon.

Fold in the Cereal

Remove the saucepan from the heat and quickly fold in the crispy rice cereal until every piece is evenly coated.

Hands gently pressing marshmallow-coated crispy rice cereal into an even layer in a 13x9-inch pan.

Press into the Pan

Spread the mixture into a greased pan and gently press it into an even layer without compacting it.

Cool Before Cutting

Let the treats set at room temperature until firm enough to slice into small squares.

Serve Soft and Gooey

Best served the same day while still chewy and fresh.

Betty Lou Gardner

Betty Lou Gardner’s family recipes are preserved in Granny’s Recipe Box.

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