These 3-ingredient Cocoa Krispie Treats are a fun chocolate twist on the nostalgic gooey marshmallow bars we all grew up eating. This no-bake dessert is a chocolate lovers dream, and will quickly become your whole family’s favorite sweet treat!
You know I love no bake dessert recipes! And if you know me personally, you know I’m a huge sucker for classic rice krispie bars because my mom made them a ton while I was growing up (and she still does!). In college I was introduced to different variations on the classic, and fell in love. So making twists on rice krispie treat recipes (like lucky charms treats, fruity pebbles treats, and s’mores treats with golden grahams) is something I do a lot because they’re just so fun, easy, and always a crowd pleaser when brought to parties, cookouts, bake sales, potlucks, and picnics.
If you like Cocoa Pebbles or Cocoa Krispie cereal, you’ll love ooey gooey chocolate rice krispie bars! These wonderfully sweet cereal bars with a soft, chewy, and perfectly crispy texture need to be added to your no bake treats rotation ASAP.
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Why You’ll Love this Cocoa Krispie Treats Recipe
Only 3 simple ingredients. All you need to make this recipe is salted butter, mini marshmallows, and your favorite chocolate rice krispie cereal to make these delicious treats! When I say three ingredients, I mean it! You don’t need to add any additional spices, extracts, or salt.
Bursting with chocolate flavor. Thanks to the use of chocolate cereal, this no bake treat is a wonderfully chocolatey rendition of the classic version.
Truly a no-bake recipe. These cereal bars don’t require the oven or the stovetop! I use the microwave to melt the butter and the marshmallows.
So quick and easy. This is an easy dessert recipe that is perfect for beginner cooks, older kids, and teenagers. With so few ingredients and no stovetop required, this recipe is practically impossible to mess up!
Great for kids and adults alike! My toddler would eat her body weight in these if I let her… so would my husband. My coworkers also loved these.
Ingredients Needed
Salted Butter. I highly recommend using salted butter (not unsalted butter) because the salt adds depth of flavor to the dessert bars and balances out the sweetness.
Mini Marshmallows. Miniature marshmallows are melted in the microwave and are also folded into the cocoa krispie mixture whole. MINI marshmallows are a must because you can’t stir in regular-sized marshmallows.
Chocolate Cereal. Grab a box of your favorite cocoa rice krispies for this cereal treat recipe. I usually use Cocoa Pebbles, but Cocoa Krispies are a great option for this chocolate version too.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Turn these into double chocolate rice krispie treats! You can add even more chocolate to these bars if you’d like, and there are several ways to do it! Add a half cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to your large bowl when microwaving the butter and marshmallows to mix it right in. Toss in some chocolate chips when you add in the extra marshmallows. Or use a small bowl to make melted chocolate in the microwave and add a chocolate drizzle on top of your bars.
- Add vanilla extract. Some similar recipes call for vanilla extract. I don’t think it’s necessary, but you can add a splash if you’d like!
- Use large marshmallows. If you can’t find mini marshmallows at the grocery store, you can use regular marshmallows. Just melt the full amount along with your butter (do not hold any back to fold in later). They’ll still be super awesome! If you do want to fold some of your larger marshmallows into your mixture per the recipe, you’ll have to chop them up into smaller-sized pieces to fold into the cereal mixture at the end.
- Use the stovetop. If you don’t have a microwave, you can still make this recipe! Simply melt the butter and mini marshmallows on the stovetop in a large saucepan over low heat.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Reserve 1 cup of mini marshmallows, and then place remaining marshmallows and butter into a large, microwave-safe mixing bowl.
Step 2: Begin to melt butter and marshmallows for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir using a rubber spatula to begin coating the marshmallows with butter.
Step 3: Place the bowl back into the microwave and cook for another 1 minute.
Step 4: Stir again until the butter and melted marshmallows are fully incorporated.
Step 5: Place half of the chocolate cereal into the bowl with the melted marshmallow mixture.
Step 6: Stir to combine.
Step 7: Add the remaining cereal.
Step 8: Add the reserved 1 cup of mini marshmallows.
Step 9: Stir to combine. Be sure all of the cereal has been coated with the marshmallow and butter mixture.
Step 10: Pour mixture into a 9×13 pan.
Step 11: GENTLY press to push the mixture to the edge of the pan / into an even layer.
Step 12: Allow to cool for at least 1 hour. Then cut and enjoy!
Possible Dietary Restrictions?
Post Cocoa Pebbles are gluten free, as are and most brands of mini marshmallows, making this a gluten free recipe. Note: Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies are NOT gluten free. Something to keep in mind if you’re making these for someone with celiac.
Storage
Chocolate rice krispie treats can be stored in an airtight container or zip-top plastic bag at room temperature for 3-5 days. I doubt they’ll last that long though!
They can also be stored right in the baking dish, as long as they’re tightly covered with plastic wrap or foil.
Refrigeration isn’t necessary, but it won’t hurt them if you’d like to store them in the fridge.
Expert Tips
- Don’t forget to reserve 1 cup of mini marshmallows to mix in at the end. Mixing in whole, unmelted mini marshmallows gives each bite an extra bit of gooey goodness!
- If you’re worried about your rice krispie treats sticking to the pan, you can line your pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray or butter and press your cereal dessert mixture into the prepared baking dish. I don’t line or grease the pan though and I’ve never had a problem with them sticking.
- I use a rubber scraper (silicone spatula) to press the mixture into the pan. You could also use your fingers. To do so, dip your fingers into water to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.
- If you choose to use the stovetop method to melt the butter and marshmallows, it’s important that you use LOW and SLOW heat. If you try to speed up the process with high heat, you’ll end up burning the sugar in the marshmallows.
- Don’t use an old, opened bag of marshmallows that have been in your cupboards since last summer. Old stale marshmallows will produce hard and stale marshmallow treats! Fresh marshmallows will give your cereal treats the soft and chewy texture we’re looking for in this recipe.
- It’s important to let your treats set for 1 hour (or longer). This will make cutting them into perfect little squares much easier!
My top tip for making awesome Cocoa Krispie Treats is to gently press your cereal and marshmallow mixture into your pan.
Do NOT smash them into the pan! Pushing your mixture into your pan with a lot of force will result in hard and dense cereal bars. Gently pressing them will result in soft and airy bars.
Helpful Equipment
You’ll need a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, a rubber spatula, and a 9×13-inch baking dish. An 8×8 square baking dish would also work, you’ll just end up with thicker bars.
Recipe FAQs
Can I make cocoa pebbles treats with marshmallow fluff?
Yes, you can make this chocolate rice krispie treat recipe with marshmallow fluff. However, it’s not a 1:1 substitute for melted marshmallows. You’ll want to find a recipe that specifically calls for marshmallow fluff.
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Ingredients
- 16 ounces mini marshmallows (1 cup reserved to mix in later)
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter
- 6 Cups Chocolate Puffed Rice Cereal (such as Cocoa Krispies or Cocoa Pebbles)
Instructions
- Reserve 1 cup of mini marshmallows, and then place remaining marshmallows and butter into a large, microwave-safe mixing bowl.
- Begin to melt butter and marshmallows for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir using a rubber spatula, and then place back into the microwave and cook for another 1 minute. Stir again until the melted marshmallows and melted butter are incorporated.
- Place half of the chocolate cereal into the bowl with the melted marshmallow mixture and then stir to combine.
- Add the remaining cereal and reserved 1 cup of mini marshmallows, stirring to combine until all of the cereal has been coated with the marshmallow and butter mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 pan and GENTLY press to push the mixture to the edge of the pan.
- Allow to cool for at least 1 hour.
- Cut and enjoy!
Notes
- Turn these into double chocolate rice krispie treats! You can add even more chocolate to these bars if you’d like, and there are several ways to do it! Add a half cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to your large bowl when microwaving the butter and marshmallows to mix it right in. Toss in some chocolate chips when you add in the extra marshmallows. Or use a small bowl to make melted chocolate in the microwave and add a chocolate drizzle on top of your bars.
- Add vanilla extract. Some similar recipes call for vanilla extract. I don’t think it’s necessary, but you can add a splash if you’d like!
- Use large marshmallows. If you can’t find mini marshmallows at the grocery store, you can use regular marshmallows. Just melt the full amount along with your butter (do not hold any back to fold in later). They’ll still be super awesome! If you do want to fold some of your larger marshmallows into your mixture per the recipe, you’ll have to chop them up into smaller-sized pieces to fold into the cereal mixture at the end.
- Use the stovetop. If you don’t have a microwave, you can still make this recipe! Simply melt the butter and mini marshmallows on the stovetop in a large saucepan over low heat.
Mary says
Terrific chocolatey treat! Love the mini marshmallows. I will make these!
Meredith says
I’m so glad to hear you loved these!! Thanks Mary 🙂
David says
Big Cocoa Pebbles fan here, so these are perfect! Made these bars and love ‘em!
Meredith says
So happy to hear that you loved these too!!