This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more information.
Jump to recipeThese rice crispy bars are not dry and crunchy like so many. They are ooey and gooey with pockets of melty marshmallow.
I have never been a huge fan of rice crispy treats. Dry and crunchy? No thanks, give me something chocolate.
But not too long ago, I found myself with about 10 bags of marshmallows, and needed to do something with them. And after making these once, I was pleased to have all of those bags….. so I could make more!
I checked several places to find a recipe that wouldn’t be as dry as what I remembered, and settled on this one. What makes all the difference are the extra mini marshmallows that you stir in at the end which only partially melt. This leaves you with gooey pockets of partially melted marshmallow. Divine!
I have to admit, I was skeptical. I assumed that these minis would harden back up into their original form. Nope. They retain their partially melted state of gooiness.



I doubled the recipe here, and made one plain pan and one that I patted a cup of chocolate chunks onto.
You’ve gotta try these! I’m telling you, they have completely changed my view of rice crispy treats forever.
Do you prefer your rice crispy bars plain or with extra goodies on top?
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. (1/2 stick) of butter - plus more for greasing pan
- One - 10 ounce bag of marshmallows
- 6 cups puffed rice cereal
- pinch of salt
- 2 cups miniature marshmallows
- Optional: 1 cup chocolate chips or chunks for top
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13 pan with softened butter
- In a large pot, melt butter and 10 ounce bag of marshmallows together over low heat
- Stir pretty constantly until relatively smooth
- Remove from heat
- Add pinch of salt and cereal
- Stir until cereal is mostly coated with marshmallow mixture
- Then mix in miniature marshmallows
- Turn into buttered pan and pat down, pressing a bit
- *Tip: If your fingers stick too much, you can dampen them a bit
- If using chocolate chips/chunks sprinkle them immediately over the top and press slightly
- Let cool completely before cutting
Looks like a good recipe, Susan! I love making a peanut butter version of rice crispy bars. So delicious!
I love anything with peanut butter! Do you just add the PB to the marshmallow mixture? Sounds yum!
Nope, in the recipe I make, the bars are actually made of caramel and PB! No marshmallow (which makes me happy, since I don’t like marshmallows), but everything else delicious! 🙂
Caramel, peanut butter and rice crispies?! That sounds like the world’s best candy bar. Chocolate on top might make me actually swoon!… I did a quick pinterest search with those ingredients and saw several that do indeed have chocolate. I have had these, I think, but didn’t know there was no marshmallow in them. I’m fascinated and will be making them. 🙂 Thanks!
I like Fruity Pebble Bars! 😉
Bleh…I thought we could be friends, now I’m not so sure. 🙂 My husband and youngest would love them (we actually have Fruity Pebbles in the cupboard right now!). I could do Cocoa Pebbles, though, for sure.