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These easy Cocoa Rice Krispie Treats are soft, chewy, crispy, chocolatey, and made with 5 simple ingredients. The easiest almost no-bake chocolate dessert everyone loves!

Stack of chocolate rice Krispy treats with mini marshmallows

Cocoa Rice Krispie Treats Recipe with Cocoa Krispies

If you’re looking for the easiest, chocolate lovers treat that disappears every single time, these cocoa Rice Krispie treats are the answer. They’re everything you love about classic rice krispie treats – but with a rich chocolate flavor thanks to Cocoa Krispies cereal.

The buttery and gooey marshmallows creates incredibly soft and chewy bars that stay gooey for days. Whether you’re making an after-school snack, packing treats for a bake sale, or bringing dessert to a party, these almost no-bake chocolate treats are always a crowd favorite.

The best part is that they come together with just 5 simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep work only. Making them one of the easiest desserts you’ll ever make.

Krispie treats with chocolate chunks and marshmallows on a cutting board

Why You’ll Love These Cocoa Rice Krispie Treats

🤎 Only 5 simple ingredients needed
🤎 No oven baking required – just a few minutes on the stove top
🤎 Soft, gooey, crunchy, and chewy texture
🤎 Perfect for birthdays, holidays, bake sales, after school snacks, and a family treat
🤎 Easy to customize with milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or dark chocolate + sprinkles on top, a chocolate glaze, or chocolate dipped ricotta krispie treats

A hand holding a krispie treat with a bite taken out of it

Only 5 Simple Ingredients Needed

Salted Butter
Mini Marshmallows : 9 cups of mini marshmallows which are divided; which means you will add some of it at one point of the recipe and the remaining later.
Chocolate Chunks : These can be found by the chocolate chips. If you can’t find them you can use chopped up Hershey milk chocolate bars, milk chocolate baking bars that have been chopped, or chocolate chips in milk chocolate or semi-sweet depending on preference.
Pure Vanilla Extract
Cocoa Krispies Cereal

How To Make Cocoa Krispie Treats (Printable Recipe Card)

Lightly spray a 9×9-inch square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. Set aside.

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

Once the butter is completely melted, add 6 cups mini marshmallows and cook until melted and smooth.

Remove the pot from the heat, then stir in ½ cup of the chocolate chunks and the vanilla extract. Continue stirring until the chocolate has melted.

Mix in the Cocoa Krispies, the remaining 3 cups mini marshmallows, and remaining ½ cup chocolate chunks.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and gently press into an even layer.

Allow the treats to cool at room temperature for about 1 hour before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

How To Store Cocoa Rice Krispie Treats

These cereal treats should stored in an airtight container, or covered baking dish, at room temperature for up to 4 to 5 days. Serve at room temperature, or microwave for 5 to 10 seconds to make them warm and gooey.

Recipe FAQs

What Is The Best Way To Press The Treats Into The Pan?

To press the treats into the pan, you can use a spatula, back of a dinner spoon, or lightly wet your fingers to press them down to prevent them from sticking to your hands. I have also found that using a plastic spoon works really well when pressing sticky stuff down into an even layer.

Can I Add A Topping To The Treats?

Yes, you can add a topping to the treats. If you are adding a chocolate chip topping then gently press those into the treats while they’re still warm and after you have pushed them into the pan. You could also add some marshmallow bits on top of the treats for a topping. If you want to add an icing, you will need to wait until after the treats are completely cooled to add it. You could also dip half of the treat into some melted chocolate or melted almond bark as well. Again, wait until they’re completely cooled to do that.

How Would You Describe These Treats?

These treats have a crisp, crunchy bite from the cereal, are packed with a rich and smooth chocolate flavor from the chocolate chunks, and are ooey-gooey from the mini marshmallows. These flavors come together in perfection, creating a mouth-watering treat that is sure to satisfy both flavor and texture cravings.

Pro Tips From The Test Kitchen

If using unsalted butter you may want to add a pinch of sea salt to the pan when adding the butter.
Chocolate chunks can be found by the chocolate chips at the store. Other options include a chocolate baking bar that has been chopped (use milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark) or chocolate chips; again use milk chocolate, semi-sweet, or dark depending on preference. The chocolate chunks are semi-sweet and that is what I use in this recipe.
When pressing the cereal mixture into the pan do not aggressively or firmly press them. Rather, gently push them with light pressure to an even layer. If you compress or push too hard the treats can turn dry and crumbly.
To prevent the treats from sticking to your hands when pressing them into the pan; I have found the thing that works best is the back of a plastic spoon. You can also lightly wet your hands to prevent sticking or use a silicone rubber spatula.

A hand holding a piece of rice Krispy treat

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