Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats

Indulge in a colorful rainbow of fruity flavor with these delicious and easy-to-make Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats. Perfectly gooey marshmallows, crispy rice cereal, and a pop of color with Fruity Pebbles with Marshmallows cereal. Kids and adults alike will love these gooey and sweet treats. 

My family loves Rice Krispie treats! Be sure and try our other favorites like Oreo Rice Krispie Treats, my version of the classic Scotcheroos Recipe, and these Golden Graham S’mores Rice Krispie Treats.

Colorful Rice Krispie Treats (Using Fruity Pebbles with Marshmallows Cereal)

These rainbow Rice Krispie treats are so colorful, gooey, and sticky but in the best way possible! Rice Krispie cereal + fruity pebbles with marshmallows is the “secret” combination when making rainbow marshmallow treats. 

They make for a fun sweet treat, after school snack, or make them for a rainbow themed St. Patrick’s Day treat or dessert. 

Ingredients You Need To Make This Recipe

• Salted Butter – You want that extra bit of salt in the salted butter for this sweet and gooey recipe. Unsalted butter can be used, just be sure to add some additional salt (if needed). 
• 12 ounce Bag Large Marshmallows – They sell a 12 ounce bag of large marshmallows that you will need for this krispie treat recipe. If you can’t find this size of bag, you can use 7 cups mini marshmallows OR 48 regular sized marshmallows counted out from a larger bag. 
• Salt – I prefer using kosher salt or sea salt. 
• Rice Krispies Cereal – The generic store brand works great here and it’s much cheaper!
• Fruity Pebbles with Marshmallows Cereal – This is what makes these treats so colorful and rainbow-like! The added pops of fun and fruity marshmallows really make it yummy. 

Step-by-Step Instructions For how to Make Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats

Making this recipe is actually very simple. Be sure and read to the bottom of the page where there is a detailed recipe card, a printable option, and a pin it button so you can save the recipe for later. 

• Prep : Line a 9×9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper. Spray it lightly with cooking spray. Set aside for later. 
• Melted Butter : Add the butter to a large saucepan and heat it over medium-low heat until it’s melted completely. 
• Gooey Marshmallow Time! : Once melted, add in the marshmallows and salt. Continue heating over medium-low heat, stirring continuously, until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth. 
• Cereal : Remove the pan from the heat and gently fold in the Rice Krispies and fruity pebbles with marshmallows until all the cereal is evenly mixed into the marshmallow mixture. 
• Baking Dish : Scoop the mixture into the prepared baking dish and gently press it into an even layer with a spreader (spatula) or your hands. 
• Cool : Allow the Krispie treats to cool completely at room temperature before cutting into squares. 

Rice Krispie Treats FAQ’s

• What If I can’t Find a 12 Ounce Bag of Marshmallows?

  • Depending on your grocery store you may not be able to find a 12 ounce bag of marshmallows. I use a 12 ounce bag of regular size marshmallows when I make this recipe. If you can’t find that then here are 2 simple ways to substitute.
    • Mini Marshmallows : Use 7 cups of mini marshmallows 
    • Use 48 regular sized marshmallows if measuring from a bag that is larger than 12 ounces. 

• Can I Freeze Krispie Treats?

  • I do not recommend freezing Krispie treats. Once thawed from frozen, the texture will be firmer, not gooey like when they’re fresh, and they will dry out easily. 
  • If you must freeze them, I would recommend wrapping them in a double layer of foil and then placing the wrapped squares into a freezer safe Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

• Common Mistakes When Making Rice Krispie Treats

  • Here are some common mistakes when making Rice Krispies and how to avoid them. 
    • Not Using Enough Butter : If you don’t use enough butter, the treats will be dry and crumbly. Make sure to use the correct amount of butter, as specified in the recipe, so that the flavor and texture turn out correctly. I know lots of times people want to reduce the butter to help with calories and whatnot, but it’s best not to do that for krispie treats. 
    • Overheating The Marshmallows : This is probably the most common mistake that people make. If the marshmallows are overheated, you will often end up with hard, difficult-to-bite treats. If you heat the marshmallows for too long, or at too high a temperature, they may burn which will give the treats a burnt taste. Make sure you always heat the marshmallows low & slow at medium-low heat, stirring constantly, just until they are melted and smooth. 
    • Not Stirring The Mixture Enough : Not stirring the marshmallow + cereal mixture enough enough can lead to uneven distribution. This is not like a cake recipe where you stir gently just until incorporated. Stir the mixture gently so you don’t crush the cereal, but be sure to stir it enough so you don’t end up with dry areas and areas of just marshmallow. 
    • Not Pressing The Mixture Down Firmly Enough Into The Pan : If you don’t press the mixture down firmly enough, the treats will be loose and crumbly. If you’re having difficulty getting and even layer in the pan, you can grease your spreading spatula or grease your hands and press the treats into a nice, thick, even layer. Feel free to re-grease, as necessary, if the treats start to stick. You don’t want to press the treats down with all your weight, just give them a gentle but firm press, into the pan to ensure they hold together well. 
    • Using Stale Cereal : I always recommend buying new cereal and using it fresh when making Rice Krispie treats. Stale cereal has a really unpleasant texture! There will be extra cereal which is perfect for a bowl of cereal afterwards. 

Recipe Tips

Here are a few of my helpful tips for this recipe so you can have success recreating it in your own kitchen ♥

• Storing Leftovers : Rice Krispies should be stored at room temperature, in an airtight container or wrapped tightly (first in plastic wrap and then in another layer) to keep them fresh for up to 3-4 days. I don’t recommend putting rice krispies in the fridge as that will make them harder in texture and dried out. 
• Use Parchment Paper : Make sure to leave an overhang of parchment paper so you can easily pull the krispie treats out of the pan and cut them evenly. You could also use wax paper or aluminum foil instead of parchment paper. Just be sure to spray it lightly with cooking spray. 
• Let Marshmallows Melt Completely : It’s super important that you allow the marshmallows to melt until they’re completely smooth before removing them from the heat and adding the cereal. Don’t try to rush this step and turn the heat up. Low and slow is the best way to melt marshmallows the correct way. No need to cook past that stage, once they’re smooth and melted you’re done. No additional cook time is needed because over cooking them can be bad too. 

More Colorful Rainbow Recipes You’ll Love

Lucky Charms Rainbow Snack Mix – This fun and sweet snack mix uses Lucky Charms cereal + rainbow sprinkles!

Funfetti Cake Batter Cookie Bars – Rainbow sprinkles in the cookie bars and on the frosting. 

Funfetti Chex Mix – Sweet powdered sugar Chex cereal with a healthy dose of rainbow sprinkles. 

Froot Loop Cereal Marshmallow Bars – So colorful thanks to the Froot Loops cereal. Gooey too!

The Great Big List of Rainbow Desserts – You should see this list of the best, most colorful rainbow desserts. So pretty. 

Rainbow Fudge – Easy to make fudge with only 3 ingredients plus some gel food coloring.