These Easy Vegan Rice Krispie Treats are one of my all time favorite desserts. They're sweet, gooey and crispy and can be customized with add-ins...although the traditional way is my favorite.
Luckily, they make vegan marshmallows (without gelatin) so I can have a vegan version of my favorite treat. Made with simple ingredients, these Easy Vegan Rice Krispie Treats recipe takes only about 10 minutes to make so you can whip up a batch anytime.
Looking for a unique twist on the classic recipe? Check out my vegan cosmic rice krispie treats and vegan ube rice krispie treats.
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Why You'll Love These Vegan Rice Krispie Treats
- Family friendly: I'm not sure who loves these more, the kids or the grownups!
- Only 4 ingredients: You need vegan crispy rice cereal, vegan marshmallows, vegan butter, and a little vanilla extract.
- Ready in minutes: Since there's no baking required, this vegan treat is super quick to make.
Brands of Vegan Marshmallows
I use Dandies brand of vegan marshmallows. They are soft and delicious and taste better than traditional marshmallows. Trader Joe's also makes marshmallows without animal products but they are seasonal so you usually can't get them year round.
Vegan marshmallows don't melt quite as easily as regular ones so buy mini marshmallows if you can find them. If you can't, for best results I recommend cutting them into halves or quarters for this recipe.
Ingredient Notes
You only need 4 ingredients to make this tasty treat:
- Vegan butter - My favorite brand of vegan butter is Country Crock Plant Butter. It's available in both a tub and in butter sticks.
- Crispy rice cereal - Technically, Kellogg's Rice Krispies aren't vegan so you'll want to find a vegan alternative crispy rice cereal. The Vitamin D3 that's added is derived from animals. Most generic varieties of the crisp cereal are vegan so just check the nutritional information.
How To Make Easy Vegan Rice Krispie Treats
Step 1: First, prepare your pan. You can either (vegan) butter it or line it with parchment paper. I like using a 9x13 pan, but if you prefer thicker squares then you can also use a 9x9.
Step 2: Next, prepare your marshmallows but cutting them in halves or quarters. It's much easier to use a pair of kitchen shears than a knife. If you are using mini marshmallows you can skip this step.
Step 3: Next, melt the vegan butter in a large pot over medium to medium-low heat. Once melted, add the marshmallows and stir continuously.
IMPORTANT: Do not cook over high heat. Do not let the vegan butter burn. One time I made these I was distracted and not stirring and it burned. The only word to describe it was rancid and I had to throw the whole batch out. I haven't made that mistake a second time!
Step 4: Once the marshmallows are melted and gooey, remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Next, add the 5 cups of vegan crispy rice cereal to the melted marshmallow mixture and stir to combine.
Step 5: Once it's all combined, scoop the cereal mixture into the prepared baking dish. You'll want to press it down to even it out. The easiest way to do that is to use a piece of parchment paper in your hand to press it on the crispy cereal mixture with.
Allow to cool for about 20 minutes before cutting into squares.
Expert Tips
- If you are using full size marshmallows, cut them into pieces so they can melt easier.
- Do not let the vegan butter burn. You won't get "brown butter" like regular butter. Instead you'll get horrible smelling and tasting treats that will need to be thrown out.
Recipe and Storage FAQs
While I haven't tried it, I've seen several vegan rice krispie treat recipes that use coconut oil instead of vegan butter. It will definitely give your krispie treats a coconutty flavor but that could be delicious with a chocolate drizzle on top.
Regular marshmallows contain gelatin. According to Peta.org, "Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water. It is usually obtained from cows or pigs. Gelatin is used...as a thickener for fruit gelatins and puddings (such as Jell-O); in candies, marshmallows, cakes, ice cream, and yogurts...Gelatin is not vegan."
You can buy Dandies in store at Whole Foods, Stop and Shop and more. You can also buy them online on Amazon.
Yes! Just make sure that the rice cereal and marshmallows you use are certified gluten-free. Some brands offer gluten-free versions of both.
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or they will get hard.
Yes! Since these are made with vegan butter, they are dairy free.
More Vegan Dessert Recipes
If you tried this Vegan Rice Krispie Treats Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
Easy Vegan Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 9" x 9" or 9" x 13" baking dish
Ingredients
- ¼ cup vegan butter
- 1 10 oz. bag of vegan marshmallows
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 cups crispy rice cereal
Instructions
- Prepare your 9x13 pan either by lining with parchment paper or lightly buttering. For thicker treats, use a 9x9 pan.
- For easier melting, prep your marshmallows by cutting them in halves or in quarters. Or you can use mini-marshmallows as well.
- Put the vegan butter in a large pot over medium-low heat.
- Once the vegan butter is melted, add the marshmallows to the pot. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon until the marshmallows melt and are gooey. Make sure you don't brown the butter or marshmallows.
- Remove the pot from heat and add the vanilla extract. Stir well.
- Add the 5 cups of crispy rice cereal and stir until well combined.
- Scoop the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Use a piece of parchment paper on your hand and press to flatten out the mixture.
- Allow to cool for 20 minutes before cutting into squares.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
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- If you are using full size marshmallows, cut them into pieces so they can melt easier.
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- Do not let the vegan butter burn. You won't get "brown butter" like regular butter. Instead you'll get unpleasant treats that will need to be thrown out.
- My favorite brand of vegan marshmallows is Dandies.
- I like using Country Crock Plant Butter in sticks in my desserts.
Jen says
These taste so much like the original. Happy they can be easily veganized.