Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

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This chocolate Rice Krispie treat recipe is a quick and easy no bake dessert or snack you can make with your kids! It is made with simple ingredients you can find in your regular grocery stores or pantry. If you love Rice Krispie cereals, you will certainly love these decadent and chocolatey Rice Krispie treats!

three chocolate rice krispie treats stacked on a plate


 

In our household, cereals are a staple. We always have cereals in our pantry basically all the time, but that’s normal right? Of course. But sometimes I always have some leftover and so I love using them up to make a rice krispie treat.

I just can’t say no to a rice krispie treat basically any time of year. Like my strawberry rice krispie treats in the summer time, or my Christmas rice krispie treats around the holidays. Or my peanut butter rice krispie treats and brown butter rice krispie treats any time of year!

But this time I was craving chocolate and had some chocolate rice krispies in the house that were begging to be used.

With this quick and simple chocolate Rice Krispie treat recipe you will have delicious snacks your whole family will enjoy! Everyone in your family will love these chocolate rice Krispie treats!

See Also:

cut chocolate rice Krispy treat squares in pan

Why Youโ€™ll Love This Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

  • No Baking Needed – To make this chocolate Rice Krispie treats, there is no baking involved. I made these treats on my stovetop. 
  • Simple And Quick To Make – This recipe is very easy to follow. Also, in just 20 minutes, you have a delicious sweet snack. You can make their chocolate Rice Krispie treats with your kids.
  • Rich And Chewy – Every cocoa Rice Krispies squares are chocolatey and chewy perfect for kids of all ages and kids at heart.
chocolate rice krispie treat squares

Ingredients Needed

Here are the ingredients you will need to make these delicious chocolate Rice Krispie treats:

  • Chocolate Rice Krispies Cereals – This will be the base for this Krispies recipe. If you can’t find cocoa rice krispie cereal, you could using cocoa pebbles instead.
  • Butter – I used unsalted butter for this recipe, but you can also use salted butter and then just omit the added salt.
  • Salt– I like to add a little salt. The additional saltiness balances the sweetness of the marshmallow and Rice Krispies cereal and the richness of chocolate chips and cocoa powder.
  • Vanilla extract – This just adds extra flavor and makes for the best rice krispies treats! Don’t skip it.
  • Marshmallows – You can use either regular or mini marshmallows. Mini marshmallows melt quicker than regular marshmallows. 
  • Chocolate Chips – I used semi-sweet chocolate chips for this chocolate Rice Krispie treat recipe. The marshmallows and Rice Krispie cereals are already sweet. Thatโ€™s why I used semi-sweet chocolate chips instead. But you can also use dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips.

How To Make Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

For this chocolate Rice Krispie treats recipe, you will need the following tools and equipment:

  • 9×13-inch square baking dish
  • Large Stockpot or Saucepan
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • Aluminum foil (or parchment paper)

Hereโ€™s how to make chocolate Rice Krispie treats:

1. Prepare Your Baking Pan

With aluminum foil, line your baking dish. Spray it with non-stick cooking spray for good measure. The marshmallow mixture is very sticky. It is best to add a layer of cooking spray to make sure it doesnโ€™t stick and is easy to remove after chilling. 

You can also use butter if you donโ€™t have cooking spray.

2. Make The Mixture

In a large saucepan, melt your butter over medium-low heat.

Reserve 2 cups of the miniature marshmallows and stir in the rest of the marshmallows into the butter and stir them until they melt. Make sure to stir well to avoid burning and sticking.

melted marshmallows in a large saucepan

Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract and salt.

vanilla and salt added to melted marshmallows

Add semi-sweet mini chocolate chips, and the rest of the marshmallows, to your melted butter and melted marshmallows.

chocolate rice krispie treat ingredients added to saucepan

Stir and combine together until smooth.

chocolate rice krispie treat mixture in saucepan

Scrape the mixture and transfer it to the prepared baking pan. With a clean and flat spatula, press the cocoa Krispies mixture into the baking pan. Or you can also use greased plastic wrap and press the cocoa mixture into the pan.

chocolate rice krispie treat mixture pressed into pan with plastic wrap

5. Cool And Serve

Let your chocolate Rice Krispie treats cool and set at room temperature for about 2 hours. Cut into squares and serve.

chocolate rice krispie treats cut into squares in pan

Recipe Tips

  • When preparing and lining your baking dish, let a few inches of aluminum foil or parchment paper hang at the sides of the dish. This will make it easier to remove the chocolate Rice Krispie treats. All you need to do is lift the chocolate cereal treats up and you can cut them into squares.
  • If you have other types of rice cereal in your pantry, you can add them to your Rice Krispie treats. 
  • To make it fancy, drizzle melted chocolate at the top, add colorful sprinkles, sprinkle flaked salt, or mix in more mini chocolate chips for a better chocolate flavor.
  • You can use marshmallow fluff or fresh marshmallows instead of store-bought marshmallows if you have leftovers from making one.
  • This rice cereal Krispie treats recipe is versatile. You can incorporate your favorite flavors like peanut butter to make peanut butter Rice Krispies, fruits, nuts, white chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips, etc. There are many options to choose from!
  • When pressing the best chocolate rice Krispie, don’t put too much force. Gently press the mixture into the baking dish. This will keep them soft, fluffy, and crispy.
  • You can use other types of rice cereal to make it gluten-free. Cocoa Krispies and Kellog’s Rice Krispies are not gluten-free. These cereals contain malt making Cocoa Krispies not gluten-free. Also, check whether your marshmallows are gluten-free. If anyone in your family have specific allergies or sensitivities, it is important to always check the label.
hand pulling a chocolate rice krispie treat apart

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze these treats?

Yes, you can freeze rice cereal Krispie treats. However, I recommend against it. The problem is not the freezing but the thawing. When you thaw frozen chocolate rice cereal Krispie treats, they will get soggy. The texture will be totally different. I love my chocolate Rice Krispie treats crispy and chewy. And when thawed, they will lose those amazing textures.
But if you donโ€™t have a choice, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. Wrap individual squares with plastic wrap or wax paper and then transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container. Squeeze out as much air as possible to avoid freezer burn. Place in your freezer.ย 

How do I store these treats?

Place chocolate Rice Krispie treats in an airtight container or wrap them with plastic wrap. Store at room temperature. It can last up to 1 week at room temperature. I recommend consuming these delicious cereal treats as soon as possible to avoid any changes in texture.

Why are my Rice Krispie treats falling apart?

You might have added too many marshmallows. Marshmallows make these chocolate rice cereal Krispie treats more gooey. However, if you add too many they wonโ€™t hold together and keep falling apart. I know you love your mini marshmallows but refrain from adding too many. Also, let your chocolate Rice Krispie treats cool and set them before cutting them into squares.ย 

Why are my chocolate Rice Krispies treats soggy?

You probably used too much salter or unsalted butter for your mixture. The rice cereal is dry and will absorb any liquid it comes in contact with. If you add too much butter, the Rice Krispie cereals will absorb them and turn your treats soft or soggy. Always measure your ingredients before adding them.

Can I use large marshmallows?

Yes you can large marshmallows. Just melt all 20 ounces at once into the melted butter before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

stack of chocolate rice krispie treats on a white plate

How To Make In The Microwave

Yes, you can melt butter, mini chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows in the microwave. Hereโ€™s how to make the mixture with a microwave:

  1. In a large bowl, combine butter and marshmallows. 
  2. Melt butter and marshmallows on high for 1 minute.
  3. Stir the mixture.
  4. Continue melting in 30 seconds intervals.
  5. Once the mixture is smooth, stir in the rice krispies, mini chocolate chips, vanilla, salt, and remaining marshmallows.
  6. Mix well.
  7. Press into the pan.
stack of chocolate rice krispie treats on a plate

More Recipes To Try

Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Resting Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 303kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 Tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter
  • 20 ounces mini marshmallows divided
  • ยฝ teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 7 cups (196 g) cocoa rice krispies
  • 1 cup (170 g) miniature chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Prepare pan. Lightly spray x 9×13 pan or line with parchment paper (or tinfoil) for easy removal. Then spray with cooking spray. You can use a smaller pan if you want thicker treats.
  • Melt butter. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, over low heat, melt butter until completely melted and smooth.
  • Melt marshmallows. Set aside 2 cups of the marshmallows. When butter is melted, add the remaining marshmallows. Stir with a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon until melted.
  • Add vanilla and salt. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract and salt.
  • Add remaining ingredients. Immediately stir in remaining 2 cups mini marshmallows, cocoa rice krispies and chocolate chips. This can cool and set quickly so be sure to stir in immediately and then spread into your pan.
  • Press in pan. Spread in pan (I like to use a piece of saran wrap lightly sprayed with cooking spray, a piece of wax paper, the butter wrapper, or you can spray your hand with cooking spray) and press into the pan. Be sure to not press down too hard or it can make them very hard and compact. Let sit for 1 hour to harden. Lift out of the pan and cut into squares and enjoy.

Notes

  • Storage: I keep them covered at room temperature and they keep for up to 3 days. Do not stir in the fridge or they will dry out.
  • Freezing: I don’t really recommend freezing rice krispie treats as they don’t thaw and have the same texture. But if you do want to try freezing be sure to wrap between layers of parchment or wax paper and place in a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
  • Butter – I always use unsalted butter but if you use salted butter I would omit the salt.
  • Marshmallows – I use two bags of mini marshmallows. I reserve 2 cups of marshmallows to stir in at the end. If you only have large marshmallows then just stir in all the marshmallows to melt at the beginning.Or if you want to use marshmallow creme you can use two 7.5 ounce containers.
  • Vanilla extract – Pure is best, but imitation would work just fine.
  • Cocoa Rice Krispie cereal – If you can find cocoa rice krispies cereal, you can use cocoa pebbles cereal.
  • Chocolate chips – If you don’t have miniature chocolate chips, try stirring in regular chocolate chips!

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 222mg | Potassium: 64mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 946IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @BostonGirlBakes or tag #BostonGirlBakes!


 

10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    I made these treats with the kids today and they were delicious! And so easy too!

    1. Super, thanks so much, Tayler!

  2. 5 stars
    There is nothing quite like a chocolate rice krispie treat! Wow these were fantastic!

    1. Great, thank you so much!

  3. 5 stars
    I made this recipe last night and it turned out wonderfully. It had just the right balance of flavours without making it too sweet. Perfect for lunchboxes as well and my kids were so happy to take some to school today!

    1. So great to hear that these were a hit with your kiddos! Thanks so much, Angela!

  4. 5 stars
    As a mom of three, I have made plenty of Rice Krispie treats. However, I have never tried chocolate Rice Krispie treats. I don’t know why I waited so long. These were delicious, soft, chewy, and perfectly sweet. I will be making them again!

    1. Super, I am so happy that you all enjoyed them!

  5. 5 stars
    I made these for a recent potluck, and they were a total hit, a chocolate lover’s dream! I love the fact that can whip them up quickly and don’t have to turn the oven on, living in the tropics! Thanks so much!

    1. So glad that you enjoyed them, thank you!

5 from 5 votes

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