These Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats have all of the flavors of a warm, creamy cup of hot chocolate in a small bite-sized treat! They're the easiest no-bake chocolate dessert to serve all winter long. Have these ready in just under 30 minutes!
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📋 About the Recipe
- Super rich and chocolatey! These treats are made with cocoa powder and chocolate chips for the best chocolate flavor.
- Uses both melted marshmallows as well as whole marshmallows to create the perfect "hot chocolate" feel.
- Uses plain rice cereal instead of chocolate rice cereal, allowing you to buy 1 box of cereal for multiple rice Krispie treat recipes. Try pairing these treats with my Snowman Rice Krispie Treats and my Candy Cane Rice Krispie treats for holiday variety.
- Great treat to enjoy all season long - not just for Christmas!
- Make a variety of flavored rice krispie treats with my chocolate covered s'mores treats and peanut butter chocolate chip treats!
🛒 Ingredients
A few notes about the ingredients:
- Rice cereal - This recipe uses 8 cups of rice cereal. Be sure to measure! Using too little rice cereal will make your treats soggy and using too much will make it hard to keep the rice cereal stuck together.
- Marshmallows - Fresh marshmallows are a MUST when making fluffy, gooey rice Krispie treats! Be sure to melt your marshmallows over low heat to prevent burning or evaporating too much of the moisture.
- Butter - Adds a rich, creamy flavor (similar to the creaminess of milk in hot chocolate) and keeps the treats moist and chewy.
- Cocoa powder - Essential ingredient to making these treats taste like hot chocolate. Make sure yours is unsweetened - the only ingredient should be cocoa.
- Vanilla extract - Helps enhance the chocolate flavor and balances the bitterness of cocoa by adding hints of sweetness.
- Mini chocolate chips - Makes these treats extra indulgent and adds great texture in the form of a small crunch!
📓 Instructions
1. Prepare a 9x13 baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray and adding parchment paper to the bottom for easy removal.
2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is almost completely melted, add the marshmallows.
3. Stir to coat the marshmallows fully in the butter. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring intermittently until the marshmallows melt completely. Don't overcook, as this will cause the mixture to burn and the marshmallows to harden.
4. Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
5. Pour in the cereal. Stir to fully combine, making sure to scrape any additional marshmallows from the bottom of the pot.
6. Allow mixture to cool for about 5 minutes before adding in additional mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, reserving some for the top of the treats.
7. Dump out the cereal and marshmallow mixture into the 9x13 baking pan. Using a greased spoon, spread out evenly from edge to edge.
8. Top with the reserved marshmallows and chocolate chips, gently pressing down so they stick to the top of the treats.
9. Allow the rice krispie treats to cool and slightly harden for about 15 minutes before slicing into 15 even-sized rectangles.
10. Remove them from the baking pan and use your hands to mold them into evenly shaped rectangles.
⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
- If necessary, you can substitute the rice cereal and unsweetened cocoa powder for chocolate rice cereal or cocoa Krispies. Note that they may not be as rich and chocolatey as the written recipe and will likely be a bit sweeter since boxed cocoa Krispies are heavily sweetened.
- Mini chocolate chips help to add chocolate flavor, but still keeps the treats chewy and even in texture. You can use full sized chocolate chips in a pinch- the crunch from the chocolate chips will just be more substantial.
- Cacao powder can be substituted for the unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Substituting unsweetened cocoa powder with hot chocolate mix is not recommended. This will make your hot chocolate treats too sweet, and is not as nearly as chocolate-y as using the cocoa.
- Substitute salted butter for the unsalted butter and kosher salt, if desired.
❄️ How to Store
To store: For optimal, long lasting results, store your treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Refrigeration is not recommended as this will harden the marshmallows and alter the texture of your treats.
To freeze: These hot chocolate treats freeze well for up to 6 months in a freezer-safe zip top bag. Be sure to allow them to fully thaw for about 15 minutes on the counter before enjoying. You can also speed up the process by microwaving for 15 to 30 seconds to help soften.
🔍 FAQs
Yes, they can and should be "left out." However, for optimal freshness, make sure to store at room temperature in an airtight container. If you leave your treats out overnight unsealed, they will become hard and stale.
Yes! These treats will last up to 5 days. Make them ahead of any holiday party or winter activity and still enjoy chewy, soft treats!
Yes, these treats are completely gluten free! Just make sure to read the backs of the ingredient packages to double check.
💭 A Few More Tips
- Take your time melting the butter and marshmallows. High heat can cause the marshmallows to burn or make them too sticky and hard. You want them nice and fluffy!
- Some of the chocolate chips mixed into the rice Krispie treats may melt - that's okay!
- Once you've pressed the treats into the 9x13 baking pan, be sure to wait the full 15 minutes before slicing into squares. This will ensure the treats have set properly and won't fall apart.
- For perfect, neat slicing, lightly spray your knife with cooking spray before slicing. This will prevent sticking.
- Don't skimp on the butter or marshmallows - this recipe uses more than what the "box instructions" call for in the traditional rice krispie treat, this helps to keep them soft and chewy for even longer. A good amount of butter and marshmallows is also essential in bringing out that creamy and rich hot chocolate flavor!
🍴 Related Recipes
Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!
Hot Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 15 ounces mini marshmallows (about 1 ½ bags)
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 cups rice cereal such as Rice Krispies
- 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows (about ⅓ of a bag) divided
- ⅔ cup mini chocolate chips divided
Instructions
- Prepare a 9x13 baking pan by spraying it with nonstick spray and adding parchment paper to the bottom for easy removal.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Once the butter is almost completely melted, add the marshmallows.
- Stir to coat the marshmallows fully in the butter. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring intermittently until the marshmallows melt completely. Don't overcook, as this will cause the mixture to burn and the marshmallows to harden.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Pour in the cereal. Stir to fully combine, making sure to scrape any additional marshmallows from the bottom of the pot.
- Allow mixture to cool for about 5 minutes before adding in additional 1 ½ cups mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, reserving some for the top of the treats.
- Dump out the cereal and marshmallow mixture into the 9x13 baking pan. Using a greased spoon, spread out evenly from edge to edge.
- Top with the reserved marshmallows and chocolate chips, gently pressing down so they stick to the top of the treats.
- Allow the rice krispie treats to cool and slightly harden for about 15 minutes before slicing into 15 even-sized rectangles.
- Remove them from the baking pan and use your hands to mold them into evenly shaped rectangles.
Storage
- To store: For optimal, long lasting results, store your treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Refrigeration is not recommended as this will harden the marshmallows and alter the texture of your treats. To freeze: These hot chocolate treats freeze well for up to 6 months in a freezer-safe zip top bag. Be sure to allow them to fully thaw for about 15 minutes on the counter before enjoying. You can also speed up the process by microwaving for 15 to 30 seconds to help soften.
Notes
- Don't overcook the marshmallows, this will cause them to burn and lose moisture, making your treats hard in the end.
- Some of the chocolate chips may melt as you mix them into the treats, this is okay and will provide a nice, rich, chocolatey flavor.
- Store-bought cocoa rice cereal can be used in a pinch, but won't provide the same rich and chocolatey flavor. They will also increase the sweetness.
- Using hot cocoa mix instead of unsweetened cocoa is not recommended as it will make the treats too sweet.
Nutrition
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