Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats
Whether you have leftover cereal or are tired of the heat, these no bake Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats made in a loaf pan are the ideal ooey gooey dessert.
Growing up, I ate packaged rice krispie treats in my lunch box made by the cereal company who invented them.
Although they were fine, it wasn’t until I ate my first homemade rice krispie treat that I really appreciated what they were – crispy cereal treats made with ooey gooey marshmallows.
Marshmallows are one of my favorite ingredients. Now we have an entire treat completely dedicated to their flavor and gooeyness.
I love making them from scratch but don’t make them often enough. Probably because I’d eat the entire pan in one sitting.
The solution? Making a small batch in a bread pan, which I got the idea from my Small Batch Brownies.
And since it’s been blazing hot in Pittsburgh, now is the perfect time to post my recipe for Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats made in a loaf pan.
It’s a no bake recipe and only takes a few minutes on the stove to make. I try to avoid turning up on my oven because it heats up my entire apartment being the gas inferno it is.
Plus you only need 3 ingredients – butter, marshmallows, and cereal. Make them now and have them ready to eat tonight!
How to make rice krispie treats
First, melt butter in a large pot. Even though this recipe makes a small batch, I like to use a Dutch oven (affiliate link) so I have plenty of room to stir.
Once melted, add the marshmallows. Keep stirring until melted and don’t let them burn.
Next, turn off the heat and stir in the cereal until everything is coated.
Immediately transfer the cereal to the loaf pan and pat down into a single layer. Let cool until firm then serve.
How to keep rice krispie treats from sticking to your hands
There’s no doubt rice krispie treats are sticky (and hot!) from the marshmallows. Of course you can grease your hands with some butter, but 1 – I find that messy and 2 – the cereal is still really hot to handle.
The best way to keep rice krispie treats from sticking to your hands is patting them down with a piece of parchment paper.
Not only will it not stick, you won’t burn your hands. Win win.
How long do rice krispie treats last?
When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, rice krispie treats can last up to 1 week.
How do you keep rice krispie treats from getting hard?
Nothing is as disappointing as making a fresh batch of rice krispy treats, only for them to set up rock hard.
A few tricks to keep your rice krispie treats from getting hard:
-
- Use fresh marshmallows: When you melt fresh marshmallows, they become soft and gooey. This is ideal for keeping your cereal treats together.However, when you melt old marshmallows, they are dry and firm so they don’t melt as well. Always use fresh marshmallows for best results.
- Melt on low and slow heat: As tempting as it is to crank the heat up on high to make your treats faster, the high heat will overcook the marshmallows, resulting in hard treats.Keep the heat on low and resist the temptation to go faster. Your teeth will thank you.
More Rice Krispie Treat Recipes
Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats
Whether you have leftover cereal or are tired of the heat, these no bake Small Batch Rice Krispie Treats made in a loaf pan are the ideal ooey gooey dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter (add 1/8 teaspoon salt if unsalted)
- 5 ounces marshmallows (roughly 3 cups mini marshmallows or 4 cups regular marshmallows)
- 3 cups crispy rice cereal
Instructions
- Line a 9x5 loaf with parchment paper.
- In a Dutch oven or large pot over low heat, melt the butter (add the salt if using). Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir with a wooden spoon until completely melted.
- Turn off the heat and stir in the cereal until everything is coated.
- Transfer the mixture to the pan and pat into a single layer using a greased piece of parchment paper. Cool completely before cutting into squares, about 1 hour. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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Looks so yummy!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Let me know if you try it!
I used to love rice krispie treats as a kid, they were always a fav! I can’t believe I have never made my own before, this is so easy!
One of the easiest recipes you can make!
Thanks these were perfect. Just the size I needed.
Wonderful! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Your recipe of rice krispie treats is looking so yummy. I will try it real soon. Thank you.
Let me know what you think!
I am loving these bars…I can’t wait to make them again for my kids’ bake sale.
Wonderful! Best of luck at the bake sale!
So delicious and easy to make!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
Can I use low fat margarine instead of butter?
I haven’t tried it, but I think you’ll be ok since you’re not baking it.
Is the recipe correct in only using 1 Tablespoon of butter? I made these today and they turned out really hard and crunchy. Thanks!
Yes, that’s correct. The butter helps melt the marshmallows. Otherwise the marshmallows will burn. With that said, it sounds like your marshmallows weren’t fresh or your heat was too high. I addressed this issue in my blog post under the section “How do you keep rice krispie treats from getting hard?”
I also made these today and while melting the marshmallows even slowly on low heat it wasn’t enough butter. I would suggest a tablespoon and a half.
What kind of pot are you using? Is it a wide pot? I’m wondering if maybe using a smaller pot means everything doesn’t get coated with the 1 tablespoon.
Our sons wanted these and so I started ti make them. Oh no! Not enough Alice Krispies. Desperate, I added corn flakes to make the amount of cereal needed. It was really a good combo. At some point I decided to add coconut and a few coarsely chopped pecans that is now our favorite way to make Rice Krispies treats.
Glad you were able to use both cornflakes and rice krispies! Love the addition of coconut and pecans.
I tried this recipe just this morning because I just had a craving for some rice krispie treats, and they came out perfect!! I only have 4th of July rice krispies right now, so I dyed the marshmallow mixture blue, and my grandma LOVED them she thought they were so adorable lol!!
Love the festive twist! Glad you enjoyed them.
I have made these several times…but this time, I made them with Honey bunchws of O’s as I did not have enough rice krispies…as a final day of school treat for the little girls in my neighborhood…they were a hit! Thank yu so much for all the smikes I get with these!
Love the adaptation! Glad you enjoyed the recipe.
I didn’t make this recipe but for St.Pat’s Day, I made rice krispe bars recipe. Put all on aluminum and cut with my four leaf clover cutte.r. Frosted with green icing and sprinkles to match. Turned out nice.
That sounds like a fun idea for the holidays!
Great recipe and the perfect size for 2 people. I did add vanilla, approximately 1/2 teaspoon or to taste. I also cook my marshmallows and butter in the microwave. It’s faster and the bowl cleans easier. One minute, stir, then 30 second intervals., stirring in between, I did it 2x. Used a bowl big enough so that I just added the rice krispies to the melted marshmallows. Another tip is to spray the bottom of a spaula with cooking spray and then use it to flatten the squares, no parchment paper required or greasy fingers!
Thx for the small batch recipe!
Yes for such a small amount, you can certainly microwave it in a large enough bowl. Smart about the spatula. Thanks for sharing!