Vegan Rice Krispie Treats
You’ll absolutely love these tasty vegan Rice Krispie treats made with vegetarian marshmallows and crispy rice cereal!
I’m such a huge fan of summer desserts. These rice krispie treats are perfect because they have everything I love — crunchiness, chewiness, sweetness, and dare I say funness? I know it’s not a word, but I hope you get my point. Should be fun and these sweet little treats are the epitome of fun eating!
I’ve also seen them spelled differently. So, whether you call them vegan rice crispy treats or krispie treats, it’s all the same thing!
Of course, these days I don’t eat dairy. If that’s you or someone you know, these non-dairy rice krispie treats will be a winner!
Love mixing up your summer desserts? You will love these vegan Fourth of July Cupcakes. So festive!
How to Make Vegan Rice Krispie Treats
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- In a large saucepan, melt the vegan butter over medium heat.
- Then add all but one cup of the marshmallows, stirring to coat.
- Cook until the marshmallows are melted.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and a pinch of salt.
- Pour in the cereal and remaining cup of marshmallows. Gently stir to coat the cereal pieces.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared pan.
- Press the cereal mixture into the pan. You don’t want to press too hard, just enough to confirm it to the pan.
- Add sprinkles (if using).
- Set them aside for at least 1 to firm up. Then they’re ready to cut and serve. To do so, lift the treats out of the pan using the parchment paper. Then cut into squares,
Key Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, including substitution ideas:
- Vegetarian marshmallows — I used Dandies mini marshmallows.
- Vegan Butter — You’ll need 6 tablespoons of vegan butter and I recommend using sticks like Earth Balance rather than tub margarine which sometimes has higher water content. Using vegan butter makes these rice krispie treats dairy-free.
- Vanilla — We’ll add a bit of vanilla to the melted marshmallow mixture.
- Salt — These treats are sweet so adding a pinch of salt helps curb that sweetness.
- Rice Krispies cereal — You can use the name-brand cereal or a generic store brand. Both will work just fine.
Making Rice Krispie Treats in a Microwave
I personally find using the microwave to be a better process because it’s faster and the marshmallows melt more evenly.
- Combine butter and all but one cup of marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Then stir.
- Microwave on high for 30 seconds to a minute longer until all the marshmallows are melted. Stir to combine.
- Add the cereal.
- Gently stir until the cereal is coated.
- Then follow the instructions from the recipe card to press the cereal into a pan.
What Makes This Recipe Shine?
- KID-FRIENDLY — Not only will the kids enjoy eating these sweet treats, but they can also even help make it!
- COLORFUL — Add colorful sprinkles to make your treats beautiful as well as tasty.
- EASY — You’re only 5 ingredients away from an easy summer dessert that everyone loves!
Frequently-Asked Questions
Can vegans eat rice krispie treats?
Most rice krispie treats are made with marshmallows that are not even vegetarian (thanks to gelatin), so they’re not aligned with a vegan diet or a vegetarian diet. In addition, they may be made with dairy butter. However, they’re easy to make vegan at home!
Why are my rice crispy treats so hard?
Make sure to melt the marshmallows over low to medium-low heat. If the marshmallows get too hot, their sugars can crystalize, causing your treats to become rock-hard. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to melting marshmallows.
Can I use stale vegetarian marshmallows?
I have used some very stale marshmallows to make these rice crispy treats and it worked just fine.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these dairy-free rice krispie treats with your favorite beverages, such as:
Storage Tips
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 10 days. Add pieces of waxed paper between layers to prevent them from sticking. They can be frozen, although the cereal texture loses a bit of its crispiness.
Vegan No-Bake Treats
If you love these no-bake vegan rice crispy treats, here are even more no-bake treats to tickle your sweet tooth:
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Dairy-Free Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 8 cups vegetarian mini marshmallows (see notes)
- 6 tablespoons vegan butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
Instructions
- Line a 9-inch pan with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with a light coating of vegetable cooking spray.
- Stovetop: In a large saucepan, melt the vegan butter over medium-low heat. Then add all but one cup of the marshmallows, stirring to coat. Cook until the marshmallows are melted.
- Microwave: Combine butter and all but one cup of marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes. Then stir. Microwave for 30 seconds to a minute longer until all the marshmallows are melted. Stir to combine.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and a pinch of salt.
- Pour in the cereal and remaining cup of marshmallows. Gently stir to coat the cereal pieces.
- Pour this mixture into the prepared pan. Spray the back of a rubber spatula with vegetable cooking spray and use it to gently press the cereal mixture into the pan. You don't want to press too hard, just enough to confirm it to the pan.
- Set them aside for at least 1 hour (but up to overnight) to firm up. Then they're ready to cut and serve. To do so, lift the treats out of the pan using the parchment paper. Then cut into squares,
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 10 days. Add pieces of waxed paper between layers to prevent them from sticking.
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
Marshmallows
- You can increase marshmallows to 9 cups for even more gooey bars.
- I have used stale vegetarian marshmallows and this recipe still worked. I’m sure it depends on how stale your marshmallows are. But heating them makes them tender and puffy and so it seems to work just fine.
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
YUM!! It’s great to have this recipe. We loved the rice crispy bars. Thanks so much.
You’re so welcome. So glad you liked them!