Lucky Charms Treats (3 Ingredients Cereal Bars!)

This 3-ingredient Lucky Charm Cereal Bars recipe is a fun twist on the nostalgic marshmallow bars we all grew up eating. With colorful Lucky Charms marshmallows, this simple treat is the perfect way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, enjoy an after school snack, as a fun treat to pack into your kiddo’s lunch box, or as a quick treat just because. No baking required!

Like a lot of our favorite no bake sweet treats, these fun Lucky Charms treats are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth with very minimal effort. And if you know me personally, you know I’m a huge fan of 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. Like our no-bake  peanut butter Rice Krispies treats, and Golden Graham S’mores Bars these yummy cereal bars are soft and chewy thanks to the perfect amount of gooey marshmallows yet perfectly crispy thanks to the crunch of Lucky Charms cereal. So if Lucky Charms are your favorite cereal, this great recipe is a must try!

Ingredients Needed

Salted Butter. You need to use salted butter, not unsalted butter. The salt adds depth of flavor to the dessert bars and balances out the sweetness. 

Mini Marshmallows or Regular Marshmallows. You can use whatever sized marshmallow you have in your pantry for these yummy snack bars (unlike our Fruity Pebbles Treats and Cocoa Pebbles Treats, we don’t bother folding in extra marshmallows in this recipe because we’re already got all the fun Lucky Charm Marshmallows that are the star!). I tend to pick mini marshmallows because I find that they melt in the microwave a little faster. 

Lucky Charms Cereal. You can’t have Lucky Charm bars without the star of the show! We recommend sorting out about 1 cup of the Lucky Charm marshmallows to add on top too for that ‘wow’ factor.

See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements. 

Recipe Variations and Substitutions 

• Replace 1-2 Cups of the Lucky Charms with Rice Krispies. Cut the sweetness level a little bit by simply replacing 1-2 Cups of the Lucky Charms with Rice Krispies (or your favorite puffed rice / crisp rice cereal)! Lucky Charms krispie treats are my favorite variation of this recipe! And may be a good starting point if you really love classic Rice Krispie treats.
• Add some white chocolate. If you’d like to add a little more flair (and even more sweetness) adding a drizzle of melted white chocolate over the top of your bars or dipping your bars in melted white chocolate once cut into squares may be the add-on for you. 
• Use the stovetop. If you don’t want to use the microwave method outlined, you can still make this recipe on the stovetop! Simply melt the butter and mini marshmallows on the stovetop in a large saucepan over low heat. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sort out about ½ cup of the Lucky Charm marshmallows and set aside. Then place the mini marshmallows into a large microwave-safe bowl.

Step 2: Place the marshmallows and butter into a large microwave-safe bowl.

Step 3: Cook for 1 minute in the microwave. Stir to begin coating the marshmallows with butter. Then cook for another 1 minute. Stir again until the butter and melted marshmallows are fully incorporated.

Step 4: Pour the Lucky Charms into the melted butter and marshmallow mixture.

Step 5: Stir until all of the cereal has been coated.

Step 6: Pour mixture into a 9×13 pan and GENTLY press into an even layer.

Step 7: Spread the extra Lucky Charm Marshmallows across the top of the bars and gently press them in so they’ll stick.

Step 8: Allow to cool for at least 1 hour. Then cut and enjoy!

Possible Dietary Restrictions? 

Original Lucky Charms and most brands of mini marshmallows are gluten free, making this a gluten free recipe in addition to being vegetarian recipe. If you’re serving someone with celiac, it’s always wise to double-check the ingredients of your marshmallows while you’re at the grocery store though. 

Storage

Lucky Charm cereal bars 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  

• Use fresh 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.  
• If you’re worried about your bars sticking to the pan, you can line your pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it with nonstick cooking spray or butter if desired. 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 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. 
• It’s important to let your treats set for 1 hour (or longer). This will make cutting them into perfect little squares much easier! 

Helpful Equipment

You’ll need a large microwave-safe mixing bowl, a rubber spatula, and a 9×13-inch baking dish.

Recipe FAQs 

Can I make Lucky Charm Treats with marshmallow fluff?

Yes, you can make Lucky Charm cereal bars 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.