How long does it take to make rice krispie treats

We’ve perfected this The Best Ever Rice Krispie Treats Recipe over the years and it makes the best Rice Krispie Treats (in under 15 minutes) that we’ve ever tasted!

Whenever we post a fun Rice Krispie Treats dessert, we get a ton of questions about how to make the perfect Rice Krispie Treat.  While I’m not a Rice Krispie Treats expert, I feel like I am definitely ready to turn pro.  I’m just waiting for a big signing bonus from one of the top schools.  Our Best Ever Rice Krispie Treat Recipe is tried and true. They are always the first dessert to disappear from a holiday or party dessert table. Here is my doctored recipe and tips for whipping up the perfect Rice Krispie Treat. (And you can do it in less than 15 minutes!) We hope your family enjoys them as much as our family does!

Ingredients You Will Need

How to Make the Marshmallow Mixture

Step 1: Melt 8 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan on medium-low heat. We like soft and buttery Treats so we use more butter in our recipe than most other recipes out there.  Trust us, it makes a difference in the taste.
Step 2: Don’t melt the butter too fast or on too high a heat. (Browned Butter Rice Krispie Treats are yummy, but that’s another recipe!)

Step 3: Add 8 cups of Mini Marshmallows to the melted butter.
Step 4: Stir the marshmallows so they are completely covered in the melted butter.
Step 5: On medium-low heat, stir the marshmallows continually until they are completely melted.
Step 6: As soon as the marshmallows are melted, take the pan off the heat. Marshmallows that are melted too quickly or heated too long can make your Rice Krispie Treats too hard and crunchy.

Adding the Rice Krispie Cereal

Step 7: Add 8 cups of Rice Krispie Cereal to the marshmallow mixture.
Step 8: Gently fold the Rice Krispie Cereal into the marshmallow mixture.
Step 9: Working quickly, keep folding the mixture until every piece of cereal is covered in the marshmallow mixture.

Pouring the Mixture into the Pan

Step 10: Spoon the mixture into a 9×13″ pan.  You don’t need to grease the pan, the butter in the Rice Krispie Treats will allow the squares to easily release from the pan.
Step 11: Lightly press the mixture into the pan.  You don’t want to press the mixture down too compactly, just smooth the top with a spatula or butter your fingers and pat down the top.

Step 12: Let them cool and then cut them into squares. That’s it. So very easy. You’ll be done in less than 15 minutes!

The Secret to Amazing Rice Krispie Treats

We have found that the secret to soft and amazing Rice Krispie Treats is Fresh Marshmallows.  Fresh Marshmallows do not stick together.  They do not stick together when you take them out of the bag. They pour easily into the measuring cup. If you have ever had Rice Krispie Treats that are a bit too hard and crunchy, the culprit is usually old marshmallows, so save the old ones for the hot chocolate and use a new bag for this recipe.

Marshmallow Conversion Chart

We recommend using Mini Marshmallows for this recipe but if you only have regular sized Marshmallows or Jumbo sized Marshmallows on hand the marshmallow conversions are as follows:

• 1 cup of Mini Marshmallows = 9 Regular Sized Marshmallows
• 1 cup of Mini Marshmallows = 2 1/2 Jumbo Sized Marshmallows

How to Color Rice Krispie Treats

One of the many great things about this class dessert is that they don’t have to be beige! You can use this recipe as the base for many fun and creative and colorful Rice Krispie Treat desserts.

It is so easy to do … the trick is when to add the food coloring which is AFTER the marshmallows are melted and BEFORE you add the Rice Krispie Treats. 

And if you need some help choosing a pretty color, we have a comprehensive Rice Krispie Treats Color Guide with all of our food coloring formulas for every color in the rainbow!

How to Store/Freeze Rice Crispy Treats

Rice Krispie Treats are eaten very quickly by our family but here are some guidelines for storing them.  They will last 2-3 days at room temperature in an air-tight container before they start to get stale.  You can extend that timeline a few days if you store them in the refrigerator and then take them out about 30 minutes before you eat them.  They freeze up great though and that is what we do if we want to make these ahead of time for a party or a family gathering.  They defrost very quickly and taste great once they are defrosted.  You can keep them in the freezer for up to a couple of months.

Other Marshmallow Recipes You Will Love

• Marshmallow Popcorn
• Chocolate Marshmallow Pops
• Homemade Marshmallows
• Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting

Did you Make This Recipe? Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @twosisterscrafting on Instagram so we can see it!

And don’t forget to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram!

Step by Step Video

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The Best Ever Rice Krispie Treats Recipe  

Yield 12-15 squares

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

We've perfected this The Best Ever Rice Krispie Treats Recipe over the years and it makes the best Rice Krispie Treats (in under 15 minutes) that we've ever tasted!

Ingredients

• 8 tablespoons Salted Sweet Cream Butter
• 8 cups Mini Marshmallows
• 8 cups Rice Krispie Cereal

Instructions

1. Melt 8 tablespoons of butter in a large saucepan on medium-low heat. We like soft and buttery Rice Krispie Treats so we use more butter in our recipe than most other recipes out there.  Trust us, it makes a difference in the taste.
2. Don't melt the butter too fast or on too high a heat. 
3. Add 8 cups of Mini Marshmallows to the melted butter.
4. Stir the marshmallows so they are completely covered in the melted butter.
5. On medium-low heat, stir the marshmallows continually until they are completely melted.
6. As soon as the marshmallows are melted, take the pan off the heat. Marshmallows that are melted too quickly or heated too long can make your Rice Krispie Treats too hard and crunchy.
7. Add 8 cups of Rice Krispie Cereal to the marshmallow mixture.
8. Gently fold the Rice Krispie Cereal into the marshmallow mixture.
9. Working quickly, keep folding the mixture until every piece of cereal is covered in the marshmallow mixture.
10. Spoon the mixture into a 9x13" pan.  You don't need to grease the pan, the butter in the Rice Krispie Treats will allow the squares to easily release from the pan.
11. Lightly press the mixture into the pan.  You don't want to press the mixture down too compactly, just smooth the top with a spatula or butter your fingers and pat down the top.
12. Let the Rice Krispie Treats cool and then cut them into squares. That's it. So very easy. You'll be done in less than 15 minutes!

Notes

Storing/Freezing Instructions
Rice Krispie Treats will last 2-3 days at room temperature in an air-tight container before they start to get stale.  You can extend that timeline a few days if you store them in the refrigerator and then take them out about 30 minutes before you eat them.  They freeze up great though and that is what we do if we want to make these ahead of time for a party or a family gathering.  They defrost very quickly and taste great once they are defrosted.  You can keep them in the freezer for up to a couple of months.

Did you Make this Recipe? Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @twosisterscrafting on Instagram so we can see it!

How long does it take for Rice Krispies to harden?

How long does it take for rice Crispy Treats to harden? It takes about an hour or more for rice crispy treats to harden especially when left at room temperature. If you don't want to wait that long (we never do), then you can cool them in the fridge or freezer for about 20 – 30 minutes.

How long do Rice Krispie Treats need to sit?

It will be tempting to cut into your treats as soon as they are in your pan, but we recommend you allow at least 30 minutes for the marshmallow and butter to cool before cutting your treats. It's best to wait an hour for the treats to cool completely, but we understand sometimes you just have to have one sooner.

How far in advance can you make rice crispy treats?

Make ahead tip.

While rice krispie treats are best enjoyed the day they are made, they will keep for up to 3 days wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature. Place sheets of wax paper in between layers if you need to stack them. ... .

You can also freeze them for up to 2 months..

Why is it hard to get Rice Krispies?

An Ingredient Shortage With Bad Timing The strike isn't the only reason for the shortage. The pandemic is also to blame: Disrupted supply chains have made it difficult to secure a wide range of food products, and rice—obviously one of the main ingredients in Rice Krispies—is one of them.