Gluten-free rice krispie treats are soft and gooey with the perfect amount of sweet. Easy to make no bake dessert that everyone will love. Dairy free option!
Free from: Wheat, gluten, dairy (optional), casein (optional), eggs, soy (optional), peanuts, tree nuts, coconut, fish, shellfish, crustaceans, mollusks, celery, corn, sesame, mustard, lupin, sulfites, and more
Rice crispy treats are one of the classic childhood desserts that everyone loves. Crisp cereal covered in gooey marshmallows and with a touch of vanilla, what’s not to enjoy? Using simple ingredients, you can make this classic treat safe for everyone to enjoy.
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Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy recipe to make
- Based on the original recipe and jazzed up a bit to be even more special
- Classic treat made gluten free
- Gluten free, dairy free, egg free, vegan friendly
Ingredients
You only need a few things to make rice krispies treats once you have a gluten free cereal. Here is a quick look at what you’ll need.
- Gluten free rice cereal: Use one that is best for you. See below for more info on which brands are gluten free.
- Marshmallows: I like to use Dandie’s vegan marshmallows for the flavor and they are naturally gluten free and vegan! They melt just as well as other marshmallows. Trader Joe's also makes a vegan marshmallow. Campfire marshmallows are also gluten free!
- Water: A little bit of water helps the marshmallows to melt more smoothly.
- Butter: You can use either dairy butter or to make it dairy free, use your favorite dairy-free butter. Make sure to grab the stick butter and not to use butter from a tub as the fat:water ratio is different.
- Vanilla extract: This makes it taste even sweeter.
- Sugar: Optional ingredient if you are using Nature’s Path Rice Puffs.
- Salt: A pinch of salt helps the flavor.
Gluten free rice cereals
Kellog’s Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free. They are made with malt syrup or malt flavor which is a type of syrup derived from barley, making it not gluten free.
Kellog’s used to make a gluten free rice cereal, however, it was discontinued after claiming it had poor sales. Alas.
However there are several brands that ARE gluten free!
Great Value Rice Crispers Cereal
Notes: Available at Walmart so easily accessible, less expensive, does contain corn, less sugar than other brands
Where to buy: Walmart
Nature’s Path Crispy Rice Cereal
Notes: High quality ingredients organic, no corn syrup, sweetened with cane sugar
Where to buy: Nature’s Path, Amazon, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, iHerb, Walmart
Nature’s Path Rice Puffs Cereal
Notes: Only one ingredient of brown rice, sugar free, organic
Where to buy: Nature’s Path, Amazon, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, iHerb, Walmart
Aldi Crispy Rice Cereal
Notes: Most affordable of the bunch at about $1.65, does contain corn syrup
Where to buy: Aldi stores
Allergy Substitutions
If you are avoiding dairy, you can totally make these dairy free. Use your favorite dairy free butter in an equal amount. Try to use a stick butter as they have a better fat:water ratio.
If you are avoiding soy, make sure that your marshmallows are soy free. Many times in vegan marshmallows in particular, there is soy protein. My favorite soy free marshmallow is the Campfire brand.
If you are avoiding corn make sure that the marshmallows, cereal, and vanilla extract are all corn free. See my shop page for my favorite corn free vanilla and more corn free options.
Instructions
This is just a quick overview of the instructions for this recipe. For the full instructions, complete with recipe measurements, please see the recipe card below. You can also use the "jump to recipe" button at the top of the page.
This recipe is great because it is based on the classic recipe and follows a similar method.
- Melt butter and sugar in a medium to large saucepan over low to medium heat.
- Add the marshmallows and water. Mix almost constantly until the marshmallows are melted, about 3-5 minutes. Turn the heat down to low.
- Remove the pot from the heat and add the vanilla extract.
- Add the rice cereal to the marshmallow mixture and stir, stir, stir!
- Press the treats into a prepared pan that's 8x8 or 9x9 and let them cool to room temperature.
- Enjoy!
Tips
- Line your pan with parchment paper. This will help you get the treats out after they are done setting up.
- Don’t be afraid to really press the cereal into your pan. If you don’t the treats won’t stick together.
- You can set these in the fridge to get them to set faster.
FAQs
No, they are not. Regular rice krispies are not gluten free. they contain ingredients like barley malt which is a gluten-containing grain. However, there are several types of gluten free available for you to use!
Great Value Rice Crispers Rice Cereal (Walmart)
Nature’s Path Crispy Rice Cereal (Nature’s Path, Amazon, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, iHerb, Walmart)
Nature’s Path Rice Puffs Cereal (Nature’s Path, Amazon, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, iHerb, Walmart)
Aldi Crispy Rice Cereal (Aldi stores)
Yes! There are several kinds of marshmallows that are gluten free. My family really loves Dandies marshmallows as they are also vegan. Campfire marshmallows are also great and they are soy free, too!
Yes you can. I just prefer mini marshmallows as I think they melt better.
If you only have the large marshmallows, just know that 1 cup of mini marshmallows = 9 regular sized marshmallows. 1 cup of mini marshmallows = 2 ½ giant marshmallows
Yes, you totally can! Doubled, this recipe will fit into a 9x13 tray and is perfect for parties!
Yes, totally. Use a vegan butter like Earth Balance and make sure to use vegan marshmallows. My favorite brand is Dandie's.
How to store
Countertop: Keep these rice krispie treats in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 2 days before they begin to turn stale. You can wrap individual treats in plastic wrap.
Fridge: You can keep these in the fridge in a covered container and they should last up to about 5 days.
Freezer: Yes, you can make these ahead of time and freeze them, however since they are a delicate treat, I don’t recommend freezing. Slice them into your preferred size and wrap each in parchment paper so they don't stick together. Then, freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw before serving after freezing.
More Gluten Free Desserts
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Recipe
Equipment
- Large pot
- mixing spoons
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- parchment paper
- cooking spray
- 8x8 or 9x9 pan
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter can use vegan butter
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 bag of marshmallows 10 oz of marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4 ½ cups rice cereal
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Prepare the pan. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 pan with cooking spray and parchment paper. Set aside.
- Melt the butter. In a large pot over low-medium heat, melt the butter and sugar together until the butter is fully melted but no more.
- Melt marshmallows. Add the marshmallows to the pot on the stove and keeping it over a low heat, gently melt the marshmallows. I like to ad 2 tablespoons of water to help them melt. Keep stirring until fully melted and smooth.
- Add remaining ingredients. Remove the pot from the stove and add the vanilla extract, mixing well. Finally add the cereal. Using a good wooden spoon, mix until the treats are fully incorporated.
- Set. Transfer the rice krispies to the prepared pan. Gently tap the mixture into place using a spatula or your fingers. Press them down a little bit so they stick together, but not so hard they get squished. Let them set at room temperature for about an hour until ready to serve. Enjoy!
Notes
- How to make these dairy free / vegan friendly
- Use a vegan butter like Earth Balance and make sure to use vegan marshmallows. My favorite brand is Dandie's.
- How to store
- Countertop: Keep these rice krispie treats in an airtight container on the countertop for up to 2 days before they begin to turn stale. You can wrap individual treats in plastic wrap.
- Fridge: You can keep these in the fridge in a covered container and they should last up to about 5 days.
- Freezer: Yes, you can make these ahead of time and freeze them, however since they are a delicate treat, I don’t recommend freezing. Slice them into your preferred size and wrap each in parchment paper so they don't stick together. Then, freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw before serving after freezing.
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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