Rice krispy treats are so quick to make them at home with healthier ingredients, no dyes, or preservatives to make them last. These vegan rice crispy treats are all natural and go fast! We pack them in little zip bags and the kids love them for school.
Those melted gooey marshmallow crispy rice treats we all love so much only healthy, vegan, and gluten-free! Vegan rice crispy treats are a breeze to make with these 5 ingredients!
You can also use vegan marshmallows (no gelatin in them) for chocolate marshmallow treats, ghostly marshmallow treats, and these popcorn marshmallow treats.
Key Ingredients
All you need to make vegan rice crispy treats are:
- Vegan crispy rice cereal (not rice puffs cereal)- sadly Kellogg's Rice Krispies brand is not vegan or gluten-free as it contains Vitamin D3 from animals and barley malt. Top brands to use are: Nature's Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal, Market Pantry Toasted Rice Crispy Cereal, Great Value Rice Crisps, and Thrive Market Brown Rice Crisps.
- Large Vegan marshmallows - You can make vegan marshmallows at home or purchase a bag of gelatin-free Dandies Vegan Marshmallows or Goodland Farms Marshmallows which is great for vegan and vegetarian crispy treats. Most marshmallows contain gelatin, which is derived from animals.
- Plant-based vegan butter - you can also substitute it for coconut oil, but we prefer the buttery taste! Also great for this brownie recipe with coconut oil.
- Vanilla extract - just a dash to brighten up the flavor of rice crispy treats.
- Salt - brings out the sweetness and flavors of butter, marshmallow, and vanilla.
Step-by-step how to make rice crispy treats
Step 1: Prep the pan:
Prep an 8 x 8 inch baking pan by spraying it with cooking oil. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit and line the bottom of the pan. The oil helps the paper to stay in place.
Step 2: Melt the marshmallow and butter:
In a large pan, heat on low heat the butter and marshmallows (may need to cover it throughout the melting process). Using a spatula, stir frequently until melted, about 5-7 minutes, then and mix in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Make sure to melt the marshmallows as much as possible, even smashing and breaking the marshmallows up with the spatula to melt easier.
Step 3: Add the rice cereal and press into the pan:
Add the crispy rice cereal and mix to coat with the melted marshmallow.
Transfer the rice crispy mixture to the prepared pan. Using a spatula, press the mixture down until flat, working quickly as it cools.
Press in the sides too for a tight compact treat. Let it cool completely before slicing into 12 squares.
How to make rice krispies extra gooey
Use a 10 ounce bag of marshmallows for a vegan rice crispy recipe that is not too sticky on the hands. It is easier for picking up and for healthy snacks for kids to take to school.
BUT - and that's a bit BUT - if you want these rice crispy treats extra gooey with stretches of marshmallow coming out as you pull pieces apart then use 12 ounces of marshmallow or cut the rice crispy cereal down to five cups. See this oz to cups conversions chart if needed.
This image is using 12 ounces of marshmallow and the recipe is still slightly warm :-).
Storing marshmallow treats
Wait until the vegan rice crispies are cooled in the pan completely, then slice them into 12 squares. Store them in individual zip bags to take for snacks or in an airtight container on the counter.
Recipe FAQs
One would think they are but Kellogg's Rice Crispy Treats are not vegan. They contain gelatin and sometimes added milk flavoring which is from animals.
To replace marshmallow you can use peanut butter or almond butter, which creates a binding sticky texture for vegan rice crispy squares. It's perfect for holding together no-bake bars and cereal bars.
Kellogg's rice crispy cereal and most rice crispy cereals contain barley malt which is not gluten-free. Look for a brand or crispy rice cereal that is specifically vegan and gluten-free.
Marshmallows are gluten-free but they are not vegan. Traditional marshmallows contain gelatin which is from animals. For vegan rice krispy treats use marshmallows that are specifically labeled vegan on the packaging.
More easy bar recipes
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Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
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Equipment
- 8 x 8 inch square baking pan
- parchment paper
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon vegan butter (plant-based butter)
- 10 ounces vegan marshmallows large, or use 12 ounces for extra gooey treats
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- salt pinch of salt - we use pink himalayan salt which has healthy trace minerals
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal make sure it is vegan and gluten-free
Instructions
- Prepare an 8 x 8 inch baking pan by spraying it with cooking oil. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit and line the bottom of the pan. The oil helps the paper to stay in place.
- In a large pan, heat on low heat the butter and marshmallows (may need to cover it to help it melt). Using a spatula, stir frequently until melted, about 5-7 minutes, then mix in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Make sure to melt the marshmallows as much as possible, even smashing them and breaking them apart with the spatula to melt easier.
- Add the crispy rice cereal and mix to coat with the melted marshmallow.
- Transfer the rice crispy mixture to the prepared pan. Using a spatula, press the mixture down until flat, working quickly as it cools. Let it cool completely before slicing into 12 squares. Store in individual bags for a grab-n-go snack or in a sealed airtight container on the counter.
Notes
Nutrition
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