An easy recipe for gluten-free Rice Krispies Treats. A no-bake dessert that takes only 6 ingredients! This recipe also has a dairy-free and vegan option. 

Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Treats

Making and eating Rice Krispies Treats is a favorite childhood memory of mine. You may be thinking “are Rice Krispie Treats gluten-free?” Traditional Rice Krispies Treats are not gluten-free because Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is not gluten-free.

We are a gluten-free family, so I make my kids gluten-free Rice Krispies Treats. Now that gluten-free crispy rice cereal is easier to find at stores like Walmart and Target, my kids get to enjoy this easy no-bake dessert, just like kids without food sensitives.

My kids love the Starbucks Marshmallow Dream Bars, so this homemade version is a real treat for them. Plus the homemade Starbucks Dream Bars are much more budget-friendly treat.

Ingredients

• Butter: Using unsalted butter allows us to better control the saltiness of these bars. For a dairy-free option, use Country Crock Plant Butter or Smart Balance Butter. For a vegan option, use Country Crock Plant Butter or Earth Balance.
• Mini Marshmallows: Stick these bars together and make them sweet. For a vegan option, use Dandies marshmallows.
• Vanilla: Enhances the sweetness. Use pure vanilla extract, as it is guaranteed to be gluten-free.
• Salt: Enhances the natural flavor of the bars.
• Milk: Adds moisture to the bars. For a dairy-free or vegan option, use unsweetened almond or coconut milk.
• Gluten-Free Crispy Rice Cereal: Gives these bars their structure and crunch. We used Malt O Meal and Nature’s Path Organic.

You can see just how easy it is to make gluten-free Rice Krispies treats in the recipe video.

How To Make Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Treats

• Line a 9-inch x 13-inch pan with parchment paper or grease with gluten-free cooking spray.
• Measure out 2 cups of the mini marshmallows and set aside to add at the end of the recipe.
• In a large pot, melt the butter on low heat. Do not turn up the heat or you could brown your butter.
• Add mini marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted.
• Add the pure vanilla extract, milk, and salt and stir until fully combined. (photo 1)
• Turn off the heat or remove the pot from the heat.
• Add the gluten-free crispy rice cereal and mix until the cereal is completely coated with the marshmallow mixture. (photo 2)
• Add the remaining 2 cups of mini marshmallows and stir until fully combined and slightly melted. (photo 3)
• Using a greased spatula, spoon the mixture into the prepared pan. Smooth the mixture to make even.
• Wet your hands and lightly press the mixture down into the pan.
• Cover with plastic wrap and allow them to cool at room temperature for 1 hour. You can also place them in the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour. (My family likes their treats cold.) (photo 4)
• Cut into squares and serve. Enjoy!

Is Rice Krispies Cereal Gluten-Free?

Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is not gluten-free because it has malt flavor listed in the ingredients. Malt flavor is made from barley, which is a gluten-containing grain.

The good news is that there are several brands of gluten-free crispy rice cereal. The two brands I used to make these gluten-free rice Krispie treats are Malto O Meal and Nature’s Path Organic.

The Malto O Meal is a brand made and sold at Walmart and comes in a 36-ounce bag. This brand of crispy rice cereal was the closest to the traditional Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.

I bought the Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice at Target, and it was a 26-ounce bag. Nature’s Path Organic cereal is made with brown rice and was a little different in flavor and texture than the traditional Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.

Both brands of gluten-free crispy rice cereals made yummy rice crispy treats.

Are Marshmallows Gluten-Free?

I have never seen a brand of marshmallows that were not gluten-free, but it is important that you always read the label because companies often change their ingredients.  For this recipe, I used both Kraft Jet-Puff and Great Value brand (Walmart) mini marshmallows.

Tips For Making Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Treats

• Line your pan with parchment paper. It makes it easy to remove the treats from the pan to easily cut.
• You can also grease the pan with gluten-free cooking spray (I like coconut oil spray). This method works best if you are going to cut the treats directly in the pan.
• Keep your heat on low, because you don’t want your butter to brown.
• Don’t use marshmallows that are sticky and clumped together in the bag. I try and buy a bag of marshmallows where I can see them not sticking together. They pour easily into the measuring cup too. Fresh marshmallows make for a better rice Krispies treat.
• If you do not have mini marshmallows, you can use these guidelines: 1 cup of Mini Marshmallows = 9 Regular Sized Marshmallows
  1 cup of Mini Marshmallows = 2 1/2 Jumbo Sized Marshmallows. I always use mini marshmallows to make my treats.
• Don’t skip the step to reserve 2 cups of the mini marshmallows to stir in at the end. Trust me on this!
• Use a greased spatula to softly spread the mixture into the pan.
• After spreading the mixture, use wet hands to press the mixture into the pan.
• I have found that gluten-free crispy rice is a little different and needs to be firmly pressed into the pan so the treats will not be too soft.

What is the Best Way To Store Rice Krispies Treats?

I always store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for 2-3 days before they start to get stale. If you need them to last a little longer, you can refrigerate them.

If you refrigerate them, it’s best to allow them to come to room-temperate. If you let them sit on the counter for 30 minutes, that should do the trick (if you can wait that long).

Can You Freeze Rice Krispie Treats?

Yes, you can! They can be placed in a plastic freezer bag and frozen for up to 2 months. You can defrost them overnight in the refrigerator.  I think fresh rice Krispies treats are the best, but it is an easy dessert to keep in the freezer too.

Dairy-Free and Vegan Rice Krispie Treats

Most of my family is also dairy-free, so I always try and include a dairy-free option to my gluten-free recipes. I used County Crock Plant Butter Sticks (almond oil) for the dairy-free version of this recipe. So now you too can enjoy gluten-free and dairy-free Rice Krispies Treats.

You can easily adapt this recipe to be gluten-free and vegan Rice Krispies Treats by using your favorite vegan butter and a brand of vegan marshmallow, like Earth Balance Butter and Dandies Marshmallows.

Easy Gluten-Free Rice Krispies Treats

This no-bake recipe is an easy gluten-free dessert than can be whipped up in just 15 minutes. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make homemade gluten-free Rice Krispie Treats.

These treats are perfect to make for parties and holidays. Rice Krispies Treats are a classic childhood dessert that has been made for generations and is enjoyed by both kids and adults.

Who can resist their marshmallowy goodness? Not me!

More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes To Try!

• Gluten-Free Lemon Bars {Dairy-Free Option}
• Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies {Dairy-Free Option}
• Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes {Dairy-Free Option}

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