Soft Strawberry Rice Crispy Treats

If you ask me, rice crispy treats are one of the best no-bake desserts around.

These strawberry-flavored treats take the classic snack we all grew up with and add a fun, fruity twist. The pink color and sweet berry taste make them extra special, while keeping that satisfying snap and crunch we love.

They’re made with real strawberry pieces mixed right into the marshmallow coating, giving each bite a burst of natural fruit flavor. The whole thing comes together in just minutes with a handful of simple ingredients.

It’s a kid-friendly treat that’s perfect for parties, bake sales, or just because you’re craving something sweet and crispy.

What Kind of Marshmallows Should I Use?

Regular or mini marshmallows will both work great in this recipe, though each brings something different to the table. Mini marshmallows tend to melt faster and more evenly than their larger counterparts, which can make the mixing process a bit easier. If you’re using regular marshmallows, you might want to cut them into smaller pieces to help them melt more quickly. For the extra marshmallows that get folded in at the end, definitely stick with the mini variety – they’ll create perfect little pockets of soft, gooey goodness throughout your treats. Just make sure your marshmallows are fresh, as older ones can be dry and won’t melt as smoothly.

Options for Substitutions

Looking to switch things up with these pink treats? Here are some helpful substitution tips:

• Marshmallows: Regular or mini marshmallows both work great here. If you’re vegetarian, look for vegan marshmallows – just know they might melt differently, so you’ll need to work quickly when mixing.
• Strawberry gelatin: You can swap in any flavor of gelatin powder to create different variations – try raspberry, cherry, or even watermelon! Just make sure to use the same amount as called for in the recipe.
• Butter: While unsalted butter works best, you can use salted butter – just skip adding any extra salt. Coconut oil can work too, but it will add a slight coconut flavor to your treats.
• Lime juice: Lemon juice works just as well here. The small amount of acid helps balance the sweetness – but you can skip it if you don’t have any citrus on hand.
• Puffed rice cereal: Any brand of crispy rice cereal will do the job. For a different twist, try using half rice cereal and half crushed graham crackers.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making

The biggest challenge when making rice crispy treats is ending up with rock-hard squares instead of soft, chewy ones – this usually happens when you overheat the marshmallows or compress the mixture too firmly into the pan.

To keep your treats perfectly chewy, melt the butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring constantly, and remove from heat as soon as they’re melted – continuing to cook them will make the final treats too hard.

When mixing in the cereal, fold gently rather than stirring vigorously, as too much stirring can break down the cereal and make the treats dense and tough.

For the best texture, press the mixture into your pan with just enough pressure to hold it together – using too much force will compress the cereal too much and result in dense, hard treats that aren’t nearly as enjoyable to eat.

What to Serve With Strawberry Rice Crispy Treats?

These sweet and fruity rice crispy treats are perfect for serving alongside a cold glass of milk or a cup of hot chocolate, depending on the season! Since they’re already pretty sweet, I like to balance them out with some fresh fruit on the side – strawberries are an obvious choice and really play up the berry flavor, but any fresh berries work great. For parties or bake sales, I often pair these treats with other simple desserts like chocolate chip cookies or brownies, and they’re always a hit with both kids and adults. If you’re serving these at a party, consider setting up a simple drink station with different milk options (regular, chocolate, or strawberry) to let everyone choose their favorite pairing.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These strawberry rice crispy treats stay nice and chewy when kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Place pieces of wax paper or parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. They’ll keep well for about 3 days, though they’re usually so good they don’t last that long!

Extend Life: Pop them in the fridge in a sealed container, and they’ll stay fresh for up to a week. The cool temperature helps maintain their shape and chewiness. Just remember that they might get a bit firmer in the fridge, so let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before enjoying.

Make Ahead: These treats are perfect for making a day before a party or event. Just cut them into squares once they’ve completely set, then store them with wax paper between layers. They’ll be ready to go when you need them!

Preparation Time	10-15 minutes
Cooking Time	10-15 minutes
Total Time	20-30 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1100-1200
• Protein: 10-12 g
• Fat: 60-65 g
• Carbohydrates: 130-140 g

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 bag (10 oz) marshmallows, regular or mini
• 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin (such as jello)
• 1 tsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 cups puffed rice cereal
• 1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Grease an 8-inch square cake pan and line it with parchment paper.

This ensures that your treats will be easy to remove and keeps them from sticking.

Step 2: Melt the Butter and Marshmallows

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 bag (10 oz) marshmallows, regular or mini

In a large pot, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat.

Once melted, reduce the heat to low and add the 10 oz bag of marshmallows.

Stir continuously with a rubber spatula until the marshmallows are fully melted and the mixture is smooth.

Step 3: Add Flavors

• 1 package (3 oz) strawberry gelatin (such as Jello)
• 1 tsp fresh lime juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Maintain the pot on low heat and stir in the strawberry gelatin until it is fully incorporated.

Then, mix in the fresh lime juice and vanilla extract, stirring until the mixture is evenly colored and fragrant.

Step 4: Combine with Cereal and Mini Marshmallows

• 6 cups puffed rice cereal
• 1 cup mini marshmallows (optional)

Remove the pot from the heat.

Add the puffed rice cereal in two additions, stirring well after each to ensure all pieces are coated with the marshmallow mixture.

If you want extra gooey and textured treats, fold in the mini marshmallows at this point.

I love adding these for little pockets of meltiness in every bite.

Step 5: Press and Cool the Treats

Quickly transfer the coated cereal mixture into the prepared pan.

Using a rubber spatula, gently and evenly press the mixture into all corners of the pan without compacting it too much.

This helps keep the bars light and chewy.

Allow the treats to cool for 15 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

For a special touch, you can drizzle the top with white chocolate ganache before letting the bars cool.