How to make vegan rice crispy treats

If you are eating a vegan diet you can still enjoy chewy and crispy cereal treats. These Vegan Rice Krispie Treats are made using vegan cereal, vegan marshmallows and coconut oil or vegan butter. As an added bonus they are gluten-free too.

It’s so nice to know that you don’t have to forgo eating this favorite childhood snack if you have chosen a vegan lifestyle or if you have eliminated gluten from your diet. 

Vegan and Gluten-Free Marshmallows

Many vegan cereal treat recipes do not include marshmallows but that’s really what makes a rice crispy treat gooey and there are brands of vegan marshmallows on the market that are not made with gelatin. 

I used Dandies All-Natural Marshmallows and have to say that they have a better flavor than most store-bought marshmallows. They are vegan, gluten-free, and corn-syrup free too.

I love eating the fluffy puffs right out of the bag and had to buy extra bags just so I’d have enough to make these treats. 

The marshmallows pictured above are the minis, but you’ll notice in the recipe video that I used the larger marshmallows and cut them into quarters. I found that the larger marshmallows melted a bit better than the minis.

Neither melted like traditional marshmallows but they did get soft enough to blend with the cereal. 

Vegan Crispy Rice Cereal

Speaking of cereal, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal that we use to make our traditional cereal treats is not vegan. The puffed rice cereal contains vitamin D3 derived from animals, so be sure to find a vegan alternative. 

I used Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal. The pieces of cereal are smaller and not quite as puffed as other brands but they tasted very nice and worked well in this recipe.  

There are other brands like Barbara’s Brown Rice Crisps and One Degree Organic Foods Brown Rice Crisps that are also vegan and gluten-free. Barbara’s cereal may be closer in texture to a traditional rice crispy cereal. 

Just be sure you buy cereal that has “crispy” in the name. Puffed rice cereal is not the same. 

Virgin Coconut Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, or Vegan Butter

When testing this recipe I made batches using vegan butter, refined coconut oil, and virgin coconut oil.

They all worked to make cereal treats but my favorite flavor came by using virgin coconut oil which has a delicious tropical coconut flavor. But I love coconut so I put these recipes to the test.

I shared all three versions of the recipe with friends and family and the blend of vegan cereal, Dandies Marshmallows, and virgin coconut oil was the hands-down winner even with those who said they do not like coconut. 

Most tasters could not detect the actual coconut flavor, they just felt the vegan treats had a more intense flavor than a traditional Rice Krispie Treat.

How to make Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

Ingredients:

• 10 ounces Vegan Marshmallows (large Dandies Marshmallows)
• 1/4 cup Virgin Coconut Oil (or refined coconut oil or vegan butter)
• 4 2/3 cups Vegan Crispy Rice Cereal

Stovetop method:

• Cut the large marshmallows into 4 small pieces and place them in a saucepan.*
• Add the coconut oil or vegan butter and set over low heat. 
• Heat, stirring often until softened and somewhat melted.*
• Use the back of a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon to smash the marshmallows until they break down. 
• Stir in the crispy rice cereal.
• Then use your hands, cautiously as the marshmallows are hot, to fully combine the cereal and marshmallows together.
• Gently pat the cereal mixture into an 8-inch or 9-inch pan that has been greased with your coconut oil or vegan butter.
• Allow the treats to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into rectangles or squares.

Microwave Method:

• Cut the large marshmallows into 4 small pieces.
• Combine the marshmallows and coconut oil or vegan butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
• Heat on high power for 30-second bursts of power, removing and stirring, until the marshmallows become very soft and look somewhat melted. This took about 90 seconds in my microwave.*
• Use the back of a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon to smash the marshmallows until they break down. 
• Add the crispy rice cereal and stir to begin to coat the cereal.
• Then use your hands, cautiously as the marshmallows are hot, to fully combine the cereal and marshmallows together. Pulling the mixture apart then gently pressing it together. Repeat this process as needed. 
• Gently pat into an 8-inch or 9-inch pan that has been greased with your coconut oil or vegan butter.
• Give the cereal treats time to cool before cutting into squares or rectangles.

*I found that the Dandies Marshmallows did not fully melt like most marshmallows but they do blend with the cereal once they are softened. Heating them past the point where they were really soft did not help, so just heat them until they are easily smashable. 

Also, note that the larger marshmallows melted better than the mini marshmallows but to allow them to melt more quickly and evenly I cut them into 4 smaller pieces. 

I did find these marshmallow cereal bars to be a bit more firm than traditional rice crispy treats mostly because the cereal itself is a bit more firm.

If you can find a vegan crispy rice cereal that is puffed a bit more then your treats will be closer in texture to the original. 

But, as I mentioned before, the flavor is amazing. I’m sure you are going to really enjoy this recipe no matter which cereal you use. 

Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

Cereal treats made with vegan ingredients including vegan crispy rice cereal, vegan marshmallows, and virgin coconut oil (or refined coconut oil or vegan butter).

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 2 mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 16

Calories 122 kcal

Equipment

• 8-inch or 9-inch square pan (greased with coconut oil or vegan butter)

Ingredients  

• 10 ounces vegan marshmallows (large Dandies Marshmallows)
• 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil or refined coconut oil or vegan butter
• 4 2/3 cups vegan crispy rice cereal

Instructions 

• Grease an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with coconut oil or vegan butter.

Stovetop method:

• Cut the large marshmallows into 4 small pieces and place them in a saucepan.

• Add the coconut oil or vegan butter and set over low heat.

• Heat, stirring often until softened and somewhat melted.

• Use the back of a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon to smash the marshmallows until they break down.

• Stir in the crispy rice cereal.

• Then use your hands, cautiously as the marshmallows are hot, to fully combine the cereal and marshmallows together.

• Gently press the cereal mixture into an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.

• Allow the treats to cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into rectangles or squares.

Microwave Method:

• Cut the large marshmallows into 4 small pieces.

• Combine the marshmallows and coconut oil or vegan butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.

• Heat on high power for 30-second bursts of power, removing and stirring, until the marshmallows become very soft and look somewhat melted. This took about 90 seconds in my microwave.

• Use the back of a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon to smash the marshmallows until they break down.

• Add the rice crispy cereal and stir to begin to coat the cereal.

• Then use your hands, cautiously as the marshmallows are hot, to fully combine the cereal and marshmallows together.

• Gently press the cereal mixture into an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.

• Give the cereal treats time to cool before cutting into squares or rectangles.

Notes

Store your gluten-free vegan cereal bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. 

Keyword cereal treats, Dandies Marshmallows, vegan, vegan recipes, virgin coconut oil

You can use this gluten-free, vegan, recipe to make other treats too. Just swap out the ingredients for the recipes below with vegan and gluten-free ingredients. 

What can I use instead of marshmallows in Rice Krispies?

What Rice Krispies are vegan?

Can vegetarians eat rice crispy treats?

What causes rice crispy treats to get hard?