The best Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats are an easy, no-bake recipe that takes your original classic cereal treat to the next level with chocolate filled goodness. The perfect traditional cereal treat for every chocolate lover. This quick, gooey and crispy homemade dessert is made with cocoa powder and marshmallows.
With all that chocolate goodness this dessert is perfect for an after school snack but also make a fun treat for Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, or even Christmas. You can even make this into an elegant treat and serve them for a baby shower.
See variations and substitution to add holiday themed M&Ms and different flavors like peanut butter and mint.
Calling all chocolate lovers, this gluten free dessert can be double chocolate by adding mini chocolate chips to the top. It adds a cute look and tastes delicious.
We love this style of homemade treat. Be sure to look for our other recipes like Halloween Rice Krispies, and Christmas Rice Krispie Treats.
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What You'll Love About This Recipe
- Valentine's Day Treat - add red hots or valentine's day sprinkles to the top for a perfect love day chocolate treat.
- Quick and Easy - A simple treat that is made and ready to eat in less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Kid Friendly -This is a fun treat to have kids help make. They also will enjoy the chocolatey spin on a traditional dessert.
- Classic - This is a classic American dessert staple and it's always fun to find new variations.
- Easy Ingredients- Made with ingredients that are typically in your cupboard already or they are easy to get at the store.
- Versatile- You can make this treat with added flavors and looks like peanut butter and mint. Look to our variations and substitutions for ideas!
Ingredients
- Mini Marshmallows- You can use mini marshmallows or large marshmallows for this recipe. We like using the mini marshmallows because they melt easier and more quickly.
- Rice Krispies Cereal- any brand of Rice Krispie Cereal will work with this recipe.
- Salted Butter- Salted butter works great with this recipe. It adds a little salt to a sweet and chocolatey treat.
- Cocoa Powder- Using cocoa powder is a great way to get that chocolate taste with a dairy free option. The bitter of the cocoa powder pairs nicely with the sweet marshmallow.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- In a large sauce pan, melt the butter completely.
2. Add the mini marshmallows and stir. Continue to stir until the marshmallows begin to melt. Don't let the marshmallows sit in the pan without stirring or they may burn.
3. When the marshmallows are half melted, add the cocoa powder and continue to stir. Stir until completely melted.
4. When the marshmallows and cocoa powder mixture is smooth add the Rice Krispies immediately. Gently mix until they are completely coated in the gooey mixture.
5. Pour the mixed cereal and marshmallows into a well greased 9x9 pan.
6. With parchment paper, press down on the mixture until flat and touching all sides and corners. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips on the top and immediately press them into the cereal with the parchment paper.
7. Let them cool completely before cutting into squares. If you cut them too soon, they will not be set and difficult to work with
Hint: Do not overcook the marshmallows once melted, this will cause your dessert to set hard.
Substitutions
- Chocolate Chips - instead of using cocoa powder, use ½ cup of chocolate chips. Melt them with the marshmallows. Use dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate depending on your preference.
- Dairy Free- Use dairy free or vegan butter to make this a dairy free dessert (without butter). Skip add chocolate chips to the top, or top it with dairy free chocolate chips.
- Peanut Butter Chips - make this a chocolate peanut butter treat by adding peanut butter chips to the top of the treat instead of mini chocolate chips. Or add ¼ cup of peanut butter chips with the melting marshmallows to get the flavor throughout.
- Mint Chocolate Chips- Top with mint chocolate chips to get a mint chocolate taste. Or toss in ¼ cup of mint chocolate chips to melt with the marshmallows.
- Cocoa Krispies- Instead of the traditional cereal, make it a chocolate explosion with Cocoa Krispies. Follow the recipe as written, or just use the Cocoa Krispies and omit the other chocolate add ins.
Variations
- Chocolate Peanut Butter- add ¼ cup of smooth peanut butter to the melting marshmallows along with the cocoa powder. This will make a chocolate peanut butter mixture. Add the Rice Krispies as normal.
- Mint Chocolate - add ¼ cup of mint chocolate chips when melting the marshmallows. Add the cocoa powder and then the rice Krispies as normal.
- Red Hots- For a fun and spicy valentines themed treat, top the dessert with red hots. It gives them a cute look and a fun taste.
- M&Ms- Top the treat with M&Ms. Use traditional colored candies or, depending on the holiday you are making them for, use Christmas, Halloween, Easter, or Valentines themed colored candies.
- Chocolate Chips- Add ¼ cup chocolate chips to mix in when the melting marshmallows. This will give a chocolate filled flavor and a double chocolate taste.
- Dipped/Covered- For the ultimate chocolate experience, once cooled and cut melt ½ cup of your favorite melting chocolate and dip the tops or dip half of the treat in the melted chocolate. Set on a parchment paper to set. This will give you a double chocolate covered or dipped dessert.
Equipment
For best results for this recipe you will need a large sauce pan, a mixing spoon, 9x9 baking pan, and parchment paper.
Storage
Store uneaten Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats at room temperature covered with saran wrap or foil. Make sure they are cooled completely before covering or they will become soggy.
If you don't cover, they will become stale and hard.
They can be stored for 3-4 days for a good fresh taste.
Do not refrigerate! The cereal will become chewy and you will loose the crispness you love.
Top tip
Use a 9x9 baking pan instead of a 9x13 baking pan to ensure you get a thick 8 inch Chocolate Rice Krispie Treat. If you want a thinner dessert, use a 9x13 pan. No matter what you will have a great tasting product.
FAQ
How do you keep homemade rice crispy treats from getting hard?
Make sure to not over melt the marshmallows! Add the cereal as soon as the marshmallows melt. If you overcooked the cereal treat gets hard.
Also, store in an airtight container at room temperature to prevent them from getting hard and stale.
Recipe
Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 1 Large Sauce Pan
- 1 9x9 Pan
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 6 cups rice krispies
- 6 cups mini marshmallows about 1, 10 ounce bag
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon mini milk chocolate chips optional, for topping
Instructions
- Grease a 9x9 baking pan, set aside.
- Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Once melted add in the marshmallows.
- Melt the marshmallows until they are almost completely melted but some still have their form. Stir continually. Stir in ¼ cup of cocoa powder until the melted marshmallows turn brown.
- Remove from the heat and immediately add the 6 cups of rice Krispie cereal. Stir until completely mixed with the marshmallow butter mixture.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into the greased pan and press down with parchment paper. If desired, sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top and immediately press them into the rice Krispies with parchment paper. If you wait too long they will start to melt and when you press them down, they will lose their form.
- Let cool, cut and serve. This will make 8 inch treats. Use a 9x13 pan for a thinner square.
Video
Notes
- Instead of chocolate chips, sprinkle the top with red hots or valentines sprinkles for a Valentines day treat.
- Add ¼ cup peanut butter while melting the marshmallows for a fun variation.
- Add ¼ cup mint chocolate chips while melting the marshmallows for a fun flavor.
- Top with holiday themed M&Ms depending on which holiday you are making them for.
- Top with mint chips or peanut butter chips as a variation.
Andrea
My boys loved help make these delicious Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats. We are going to make them again for Valentine's Day and add some sprinkles and red hots. Love a quick and easy after school treat for the family.