Make These Emergency Rice Krispies Treats in the Microwave
In five minutes, you can make a personal portion of this comforting childhood sweet.
ValVades
Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
My Rice Krispies Treats memories involve a massive pot, a stovetop, and stirring a whole stick of butter for 10 minutes. Delicious, but it's a big to-do—and who wants to clean that giant marshmallowy pot? I too was a prisoner to this method...until I saw my boyfriend's mom make a batch in the microwave.
As fast as a microwave can say "beep-beep-beep" these childhood sweets have made a swift reentry into my life. I like this hack because it only takes about five minutes, from pouring the cereal to pressing it into the mold. (And that's if you dilly-dally taking pictures like I did.)
How to make Rice Krispies Treats in the microwave
1. Microwave the butter
Drop a tablespoon of butter into a microwave safe bowl. (Break it in half to speed up melting.) Nuke for about 30 to 45 seconds. While that’s happening, butter a 6-cup cupcake pan. You can also use a loaf pan, or anything you’d like, but I prefer the cupcake pan—the divots make perfectly sized portions, and separating the mixture will allow it to cool and set quicker.
2. Microwave the marshmallows
After the marshmallows puff up in the microwave, they'll deflate and look wrinkly. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Once the butter is completely melted and hot, remove it from the microwave and pour in two cups of mini marshmallows. Large marshmallows will work if that’s what you have, but in the interest of easy and fast melting, I selected the minis. Toss the marshmallows in the melted butter until they’re coated and put the bowl back in the microwave for 30 seconds. The marshmallows will start to expand. This is good. Remove from the microwave and stir the mixture quickly with a rubber spatula until the marshmallow forms a homogeneous goo.
3. Add the cereal and shape the treats
Once the cereal is evenly coated in melted marshmallow, scoop it into the pan. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Dump one and a half cups of snap-crackly cereal into the melted marshmallow and continue mixing with the rubber spatula until well coated. Working quickly, divide the mixture between the cupcake cups, pressing it down into each mold with the spatula. (If you'd rather press with your fingers, butter them first so they don’t stick.)
A cupcake pan helps the treats set faster. Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
4. Refrigerate
If you like your Rice Krispies Treats to be hard-set, with firm, spongy marshmallow glue, then you’ll need to pop them in the fridge for five to 10 minutes. I, however, have no qualms about eating a slightly warm cereal and marshmallow treat—and thanks to the cupcake mold, you can easily pop one out to snack on while the rest chill.
Easy Rice Krispies Treats, Microwave Recipe
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 ½ cups Rice Krispies cereal
1. Butter a 6-cup cupcake pan.
2. Melt the butter in the microwave for about 30 to 45 seconds.
3. Stir in the marshmallows. Microwave the mixture for another 30 seconds, or until the marshmallows puff up. Stir until smooth.
4. Mix in the cereal thoroughly. Divide the mixture amongst the cupcake cups and press. Let it set for a few minutes. Chill the treats in the fridge or proceed to devour them immediately.
Allie Chanthorn Reinmann
Staff Writer
Allie has been Lifehacker’s Food Writer since 2021. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Ithaca College in drama and studied at the Institute of Culinary Education to earn her diploma in Pastry and Baking Arts. Allie worked professionally as a private chef for over a decade, honing her craft in New York at places like Balthazar, Bien Cuit, The Chocolate Room, Billy’s Bakery, and Whole Foods. She spent evenings as a chef instructor, and also earned a master’s degree at Hunter College for teaching English. Allie’s YouTube channel, Thainybites, features recipes and baking tricks. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.
