Why are my Rice Krispie Treats not sticking together?

If they're not sticky, then you didn't use the correct amount of marshmallows. The marshmallows are like the "glue" that holds the cereal together and makes them nice and gooey.

Can I use marshmallow fluff in place of the marshmallows?

No. Marshmallow fluff is not a suitable substitute for marshmallows.

How far in advance can I make this recipe?

While these are best enjoyed fresh on the day that you make them, you can make them up to 3 days in advance. Just tightly cover the pan with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

Why are my treats so hard and dense?

There's 3 reasons that your treats turned out hard and dense. 1. The marshmallows were stale. You want them to be squishy and fresh for the best results. 2. You didn't add enough marshmallows. I know the amount may seem like a lot, but it's really what gives the cereal treats their ooey gooey texture. 3. You pressed them down into the pan. While yes, you want to press them into a nice even layer, you don't want to compress them THAT much. I like to lightly press the top to get a flat layer, then leave them to set.

Do these need to be refrigerated?

No, there is no need to refrigerate your Rice Krispie Treats. In fact, I suggest not to because I've found that it dries them out quicker.

Are Rice Krispies gluten free?

No, in the United States, Rice Krispies are NOT gluten free. They're made with malt syrup, which comes from barley, which is a kind of wheat that can trigger those with a gluten allergy/intolerance.

The Best M&M Rice Krispie Treats

Best M&M Rice Krispie Treats

overhead shot of rice krispie treats with M&Ms on parchment paper.

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

These simple M&M Rice Krispie Treats are hands down the greatest no-bake treat around! They're fun, colorful, and best of all, only need 5 ingredients. These treats are ooey, gooey, chocolatey, and so fun for kids and parties!

Author: Nicole Radcliffe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 Servings 1x
Category: Bars
Method: No-bake
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

8 tablespoons salted butter
10 ounces mini marshmallows
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 cups Rice Krispie Cereal
2/3 cup Mini M&Ms (frozen)

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Instructions

Place the mini M&Ms into the freezer for at least 20 minutes before starting.
In a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat, begin to melt the butter. Continue to cook it, swirling occasionally, until the top becomes foamy and you'll audibly hear popping sounds. When the noises stop, you'll want to swirl the pan until the butter smells nutty and you start seeing brown bits form at the bottom. Continue swirling for 1-2 minutes until the butter appears a rich, amber color.
Turn the heat off and add in the vanilla, marshmallows, and salt, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon until all the marshmallows are smooth and melted.
Remove the pot from the heat. Then pour in the rice cereal and stir with a rubber spatula until all of the cereal is completely coated. Let the mixture sit for 3-4 minutes to cool off a bit. (no more than 4 minutes though!!)
After 4 minutes, add the frozen mini M&Ms to the cereal/marshmallow mixture and gently fold them in. Transfer the mixture to a prepared 9x9 inch baking pan and LIGHLTY press the mixture into the pan with your fingers or the rubber spatula
Allow the treats to cool completely to room temperature before using a sharp knife to cut them into squares. Enjoy!!

Notes

Use fresh ingredients: Stale cereal or marshmallows will cause your M&M Rice Krispie Treats to turn out hard and well, stale. You want to use fresh ingredients so you end up with ooey, gooey, chewy treats instead!
Freeze your M&Ms: In order to completely prevent the chocolate from melting in the cereal treat mixture, I like to freeze the M&Ms for at least 20 minutes before mixing them in.
Wait before mixing in the M&Ms: Even though the M&Ms have been frozen, I still like to wait about 10 minutes after mixing the cereal into the melted marshmallows to add the M&Ms so that the colors don't spread and the chocolate melts.
Don't pack them in: Another way to prevent hard, dense cereal treats is to NOT tightly pack them into your pan. Just lightly press on the tops to make an even layer and let them set.
Prepare your pan: For easy removal and clean up, I like to either spray my pan with non-stick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Both are quick, easy, and make sure your treats don't get stuck!
Cool completely: If you want to be able to cut the Rice Krispie Treats with M&Ms into squares, let them cool and set completely before using a sharp knife to cut them.
Decorate: For a little decoration, I melted some white chocolate chips and dipped the top of the treats. I also added a few mini M&M's for extra color and flair!
Storing: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.

Keywords: rice krispie treats with M&Ms, M&M rice krispie treats,

Find it online: https://www.coleinthekitchen.com/mm-rice-krispie-treats/