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With an ooey, gooey, crisp texture, healthy rice krispie treats taste just like the ones you knew and loved as a kid. Like so many of my other no bake dessert recipes including bliss balls, healthy rice krispy treats need minimal hands-on time before others can get their hands on them. My girls always love when I make these!

Like my sugar-free smores bars, these healthy treats are made with sugar-free marshmallows, but they have the added bonus of protein (from the protein packed ingredients) — similar to my peanut butter protein balls, protein muffins, and protein cookies. But, what really sets these healthier rice krispy treats apart is the marshmallows…

I have been whipping up homemade sugar-free marshmallows for what feels like forever, but there was always something missing — the ability to use them just like regular marshmallows! That’s why I was so thrilled when ChocZero made sugar-free marshmallows. They toast and melt just like regular ones — all with monk fruit as their natural sweetener — and they’re ideal for making all your favorite sugar-free treats!

Get CHOCZERO MARSHMALLOWS HERE

(Use code WHOLESOMEYUM for 10% off, just for my readers!)

Overhead view of healthy rice krispy treats with marshmallows scattered around them.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Sweet with vanilla flavored marshmallows
Chewy and crunchy like traditional rice krispie treats
Just 4 simple ingredients
5 minutes prep time
Dairy-free, gluten-free, high protein, sugar-free, and low carb
Easy make ahead recipe
Much healthier rice krispie treats than store-bought versions

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for healthy rice krispy treats, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

ChocZero Sugar-Free Marshmallows – Chewy, puffy, and sweet — just like the real deal! You can use regular marshmallows (or even vegan marshmallows), but they will be higher in carbs and sugar. Or, you could use my homemade sugar-free marshmallows instead.
Salted Butter – I prefer grass-fed butter, but any brand will do. Butter-flavored coconut oil would work as well. If you only have unsalted butter, you’ll need to add a pinch of sea salt.
Vanilla Extract – Adds a rich flavor. Use a high-quality brand if you can.
Protein Cereal – I like using this keto variety for its low carbs, but you could also use a standard crispy rice cereal (or brown rice cereal) if your lifestyle allows. If yours isn’t rice-shaped, chop coarsely for a finer texture (which is what I did, as shown below).

Ingredients for rice krispie treats in small bowls.

How To Make Healthy Rice Krispie Treats

This section shows how to make sugar free rice krispie treats with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

Prep. Line a baking dish with parchment paper that goes up all four sides for easy removal. Grease lightly with butter.
Melt. Place marshmallows and butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat and stir in stages until the mixture is smooth and melted. Quickly stir in vanilla extract.
Mix. Immediately add half of the chopped cereal, stir, and then add the remaining amount, one cup at a time, until all of the cereal is coated and the mixture is consistent.

Marshmallows and butter melted in a bowl with a spatula.

Melted marshmallows and butter with cereal in a bowl with a spatula.

Transfer. Spread mixture in the prepared pan, pressing it down gently.
Cool. Allow to cool until firm. Use the edges of the parchment paper to remove the bars from the pan. Slice into 16 squares with a sharp knife.

A rice krispie square lifted out of the pan.

Tips For The Best Homemade Rice Krispie Treats

It’s a simple recipe, but keep these tips in mind for better results:

Work quickly. Once the marshmallows are melted, this recipe moves fast. Make sure the butter is softened before melting with the marshmallows and have the cereal pre-chopped and ready to go.
Press, don’t pack. Lightly pressing the mixture into the pan retains a little air so the pieces stay light and chewy.
Use your favorite method to avoid sticking. You can wet your hands with water, use a rubber spatula coated with cooking spray, or a sheet of parchment paper to press down on the bars without sticking.
Avoid the fridge. Rice krispie treats will become too hard if they are refrigerated.

Recipe Variations

This healthy alternative to rice krispie treats works with lots of flavor options!

Peanut Butter – Melt 1/4 cup of nut butter in the microwave with marshmallows and mix in. Peanut butter rice krispie treats are my favorite flavor variation, but you could also use almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
Chocolate – Create a chocolate drizzle with 1/2 cup melted sugar-free dark chocolate chips, or skip the melting and mix full chips in with the cereal.
Sprinkles – Colorful sugar-free sprinkles give rice krispie squares a party ready look. Just sprinkle them on top and press into the bars.

Storage Instructions

Store: Keep rice krispie treats in a covered container at room temperature up to 1 week.
Freeze: Layer each healthy rice krispy treat between sheets of parchment paper. Transfer to a zippered bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.

More Healthy Sugar Free Desserts

Looking for something sweet, without the sugar crash? Try these classic recipes with a healthy twist:

Healthy Fruit Dip

Coconut Flour Brownies

Almond Butter Cookies

Protein Mug Cake

Recommended Tools

8×8-Inch Square Baking Dish – Nice and deep for thicker treats.
Rubber Spatula – Three sizes for all-purpose stirring, mixing, and scraping.

Healthy Rice Krispie Treats

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Review

US Customary – Metric

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them. Please turn Safari reader mode OFF to view ingredients.

6 cups ChocZero Sugar-Free Marshmallows ▢
1/4 cup Salted butter (plus more for greasing the pan) ▢
1/2 tsp Vanilla extract ▢
5 cups Protein cereal (coarsely chopped) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper, making sure the paper goes up all 4 sides (to prevent sticking) and hangs over at least 2 sides (for easy removal). Grease lightly with butter.
Place the marshmallows and butter into a large glass bowl. Heat in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Stir, then microwave for 45-60 seconds longer, until almost fully melted. (A few marshmallows may still be intact at this point.) Stir until completely smooth and melted.
Working quickly before the mixture cools, stir in the vanilla extract.
Immediately add half of the chopped cereal. Stir to combine, then add the remainder 1 cup at a time, adding it to the areas where there is less cereal. Stir quickly before the mixture sets, as this happens very fast.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan and press gently. To prevent sticking, you can wet your hands with water, wash the rubber spatula and spray with cooking spray before using that to press down, or (my preferred method) press using a sheet of parchment paper. Avoid packing the mixture tightly, or your rice crispy treats will be dense and hard.
Cool completely in the pan for 30-60 minutes, until firm. (Avoid refrigerating, as they will harden too much.)
Once cooled, use the edges of the parchment paper to lift the bars out of the pan, transfer to a cutting board, and slice into 16 squares.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 healthy rice krispie treat bar

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 300

Fat 5.1g

Protein 7.6g

Total Carbs 4.4g

Net Carbs 4.1g

Fiber 0.3g

Sugar 0.1g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keywords: healthy rice krispie treats, healthy rice krispy treats

Calories: 300 kcal

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22 Comments

Eunice
0 July 6, 2023Reply

What is a good proteins cereal for this recipe?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 July 7, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Eunice, This is the high protein cereal that I recommend.
shari
0 June 15, 2023Reply

What kind of protein cereal?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 June 16, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Shari, This is the protein cereal I recommend.
Helene
0 March 6, 2023Reply

I have made this recipe several times using Magic Spoon’s Frosted, Birthday Cake, Cocoa and Cream, and soon with its Maple cereal. I smash or crumble the cereal into chunks. It’s definitely in my list of favorite recipes.
Arden Vaughn
0 February 20, 2023Reply

If I were to use your recipe for homemade sugar-free marshmallows for the Rice Krispie squares how many cups of marshmallows would it make, compared to the 6 cups of ChocZero marshmallows needed for this recipe?
- Maya | Wholesome Yum
  0 February 20, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Arden, Unfortunately I don’t think it would work with the homemade ones, as those don’t melt the way ChocZero’s do.
  - Arden Vaughn
    0 February 21, 2023Reply
    
    In your ingredient substitution you suggest that you could use your homemade sugar-free marshmallows. Instead of melting them couldn’t I just add the already whipped creme into the cereal along with the melted butter and vanilla? If that is possible, would one recipe of your homemade sugar-free marshmallows be equivalent to 6 cups of the ChocZero marshmallows?
    - Wholesome Yum D
      0 February 22, 2023Reply
      
      Hi Arden, I have not tried that but please let me know your results.
Betty Conley
0 February 17, 2023Reply

These Rice Krispie treats are fantastic!!! It’s hard to tell the original ones with regular marshmallows with these no sugar treats! The marshmallows from choc zero are great!!! Thanks Maya, for a good recipe!!! I used rice Kristy cereal❤️❤️❤️😀
- Audrey
  0 April 14, 2023Reply
  
  Where do you find rice Kristy cereal at? Thanks!
  - Maya | Wholesome Yum
    0 April 16, 2023Reply
    
    Hi Audrey, The one I used is found here.
Andrea Thueson
0 February 3, 2023Reply

Genius! I had never thought of using Protein cereal to make “rise krispie treats” so smart! And they turned out so good!!
- Christine
  0 July 9, 2023Reply
  
  I happened to have the Marshmallows and cereal on hand, so I said why not? And made this recipe….such incredible goodness! Thank you!
Journa Liz Ramirez
0 February 3, 2023Reply

These rice krispie treats were so good and crunchy! My kids love the gooey texture, such a hit!
Jennifer
0 February 3, 2023Reply

I love rice krispie treats and I love that these are healthier for my family!
Lynn
0 January 28, 2023Reply

Which flavor of protein cereal do you recommend?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 January 31, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Lynn, I use the frosted flavor for these rice krispie treats.
Sandra
0 January 28, 2023Reply

Do non-stick metal pans work for this recipe?
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 January 31, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Sandra, That should work for you.
Janet Fotino
0 January 21, 2023Reply

This recipe calls for 6 cups of the marshmallows. The link to the bag says 10 oz. How many cups is in this 10 oz bag? I’m pretty sure you’ll need more than one bag to make the recipe.
- Wholesome Yum D
  0 January 24, 2023Reply
  
  Hi Janet, You will need two bags of marshmallows.