10 Ways to Make Crispy Rice Treats More Fun

Give classic Rice Krispies Treats a fun and flavorful upgrade.

Snap, crackle, and pop! There's no doubt about it: Crispy rice treats are tons of fun to eat. But they can also be a lot of fun to make when you get creative with the flavors and ingredients.

The foundation of this classic treat is simple — marshmallows, puffed rice cereal, and butter. However, by adding a just few extra ingredients (like coconut or peanut butter) or a few special steps (like taking time to brown the butter versus just melting it), you can transform these timeless treats into an absolutely incredible dessert.

Here are 10 ways to level up your basic Rice Krispies Treats recipes with fun flavors, cool mix-ins, and insider tips that will make them extra tasty.

Peanut Butter Crispies II
Amber Edwards

1. Use peanut butter in place of marshmallows.

Beyond adding tons of great flavor to your crispy rice treats, peanut butter makes the perfect substitute for marshmallows because it binds everything together, while still providing a salty sweetness. And for all you chocolate-peanut butter lovers out there, try using chocolate-flavored cereal for an added twist.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Crispies II

2. Brown the butter, instead of simply melting it.

Browning the butter adds a wonderful depth of rich flavor to your crispy rice treats recipe. Melt the butter on medium heat until it turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma. This recipe also gets a dash of bourbon added to the mix, which makes the end result taste even better.

Get the Recipe: The Best Brown Butter Salted Rice Krispies® Treats

Coconut and Chocolate Rice Crispies
Foodie Family

3. Try a chocolate and coconut combo.

Using flaked coconut and chocolate rice cereal gives these classic treats an Almond Joy candy bar-like flavor. Plus, the coconut shreds give this recipe some extra texture. Optional: Add a caramel drizzle on top for a Samoas Girl Scout cookie-inspired dessert!

Get the Recipe: Coconut and Chocolate Rice Crispies

4. Add graham crackers to make s'mores-inspired crispy rice treats.

You’ll feel like you’re sitting around a campfire when you dig into this s'mores-inspired version of crispy rice treats, which have broken pieces of graham crackers mixed in with the rice cereal and a drizzle of chocolate on top.

Get the Recipe: S'mores Rice Crispy Treats

Bake Sale Marshmallow Treats
magicallydelicious

5. Get creative with different cereal options.

Like keeping your options open? Why not make a crispy rice treat with more than one kind of cereal? In addition to the rice cereal, add a brown sugar and butter-flavored breakfast cereal, like Cap'n Crunch or Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or a fruit-flavored breakfast cereal, like Froot Loops or Trix, for a smorgasbord of flavor!

Get the Recipe: Bake Sale Marshmallow Treats

6. Shake things up with a salty-sweet combo.

For a take on crispy rice treats that strikes a balance between salty and sweet, give this recipe a try. Instead of marshmallows, make a caramel to bind the cereal together. Then, add flaked sea salt for a distinct salty-sweet bite.

Get the Recipe: Salted Caramel Marshmallow Crispy Treats

Funfetti Cake Batter Rice Krispies Treats
Sandra

7. Flavor your crispy rice treats with cake mix.

Have someone's birthday coming up? Surprise them with this wow-worthy Funfetti crispy rice treat! Add a packaged cake mix, like Funfetti, into your crispy rice treat mixture for some extra sweetness and cake batter flavor.

Get the Recipe: Funfetti Cake Batter Rice Krispies Treats

8. Incorporate international flavors.

For an international twist, add raisins and cardamom to your crispy rice treats mixture, and finish it off with a sprinkle of sea salt on top. These unique Indian-spiced rice treats pack a whole lot of flavor and stand out from the crowd.

Get the Recipe: Indian Spiced Rice Treats

Chocolate topped crispy rice bars on a white plate
footballgrl16

9. Mix butterscotch chips into the marshmallows for extra sweetness.

Step aside, peanut butter. Chocolate has a new best friend — butterscotch! Substitute one cup of butterscotch chips in place of the marshmallows, and melt chocolate to place on top of this decadent crispy rice treat dessert. The final result will be oh-so sweet.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Scotcheroo Bars

10. Combine rice crispy treats and brownies into one ultimate dessert idea.

Crispy rice treats like you've never had them before! These tantalizing treats have a base of brownie, a middle layer of marshmallow fluff, and a layer of chocolatey, peanut buttery rice crispy cereal on top.

Get the Recipe: Krispy Brownie Delights

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