Rice crispy treats have been a favorite sweet snack for generations, but making them the traditional way can mean standing over the stove, melting butter and marshmallows, and hoping nothing sticks or burns. If you love this classic treat but want an easier way to make it, you have to try oven-baked rice crispy treats!
A Simple Dump-and-Bake Method
This simple method is almost as easy as dumping everything into a pan and letting the oven do the work. Start by greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour a bag of mini marshmallows evenly into the bottom of the pan, then layer your crispy rice cereal over the marshmallows. Add small pats of butter across the top, and pop the whole dish into the oven.
After baking for just a few minutes, the marshmallows become soft and gooey while the butter melts throughout the pan. Carefully remove the dish from the oven and stir everything together until the cereal is coated in that delicious marshmallow mixture. Then gently press it back into the pan and let the treats cool before cutting them into squares.
That’s it! No large pot to wash, no standing over the stove, and no complicated steps.
Perfect for Summer Days
These oven-baked rice crispy treats are perfect for so many occasions. They make a fun and easy treat for summer days, whether you’re enjoying a family picnic, having a backyard cookout, or simply looking for a sweet snack after a day outside. Kids and adults both love them, and they disappear quickly at parties and family gatherings.
A Great Lunch Box Treat
They also make great lunch box treats! Make a batch ahead of time, cut them into squares, and store them in an airtight container for a quick grab-and-go snack. They’re an easy homemade treat to add to school lunches or enjoy as an afternoon snack.
You can even change them up by adding chocolate chips, colorful sprinkles, or an extra handful of mini marshmallows for an even gooier treat.
An Easy Treat Everyone Loves
Sometimes the easiest recipes are the ones everyone loves most, and this is definitely one of them. If you already love classic rice crispy treats, give this simple oven method a try. You may never want to make them on the stovetop again!
Easy Oven-Baked Rice Crispy Treats
Make easy oven-baked rice crispy treats with this simple dump-and-bake method!
Ingredients
- 1 10-oz bag mini marshmallows
- 6 cups rice crispy cereal
- 5-6 tbsp butter, cut into small pats
- 1/2 tsp vanilla optional
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish really well with butter or cooking spray.
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Pour the mini marshmallows evenly into the bottom of the dish.
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Sprinkle the rice crispy cereal evenly over the marshmallows.
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Place small pats of butter all over the top of the cereal.
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Bake for about 8-10 minutes, just until the marshmallows are soft and puffed and the butter has melted. Don't let them brown.
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Remove the pan from the oven. Add vanilla if desired, then stir everything together immediately, working from the bottom up until the cereal is coated with the melted marshmallow.
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Gently press the mixture into the pan. Don't pack it down too firmly or the treats can become hard.
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Let cool for about 30–60 minutes, then cut into squares.
Recipe Notes
For extra gooey treats: Use 10 ounces of marshmallows plus another 1-2 cups mini marshmallows stirred in after the pan comes out of the oven. That gives you those delicious pockets of soft marshmallow.
