Soft Rice Krispie Bars are the sweetest and softest Rice Krispie bars you will ever make because of one special ingredient and a lot of it! Try my other favorite Rice Krispie Bar recipe for another no-bake treat!
Soft Rice Krispie Bars
Yes, I know there are plenty of Rice Krispie recipes out there. However, the difference in this recipe is that I used an entire can of sweetened condensed milk. Yes, I said an entire 14-ounce can! The end result is a super sweet treat that stays super soft & gooey! And, if you feel motivated, make your own homemade marshmallows to use. I also have Fluffernutter Rice Krispie Bars that have added peanut butter and marshmallow fluff which are incredible!
Bars Ingredients
Sweetened Condensed Milk: If a little is good, a lot must be great, right? Well, in this case, it is. Many recipes use just 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk, but trust me, you want to use the whole can! Be sure to check the labels carefully when buying sweetened condensed milk. Do not use evaporated milk in this recipe.
Butter: I used unsalted butter, but you can absolutely use salted if that is what you have on hand.
Do I Have to Use the Entire Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk?
You don’t have to use the whole can; you GET to! Using the entire can makes the treat extra sweet and ooey-gooey and keeps them soft a little bit longer.
Can I Make Rice Krispie Bars in a Different Sized Pan?
Yes! I wanted the bars to be nice and thick, so I used an 8×8-inch baking dish. You could use a 9×9-inch dish or even a 9×13-inch baking dish. However, the bars will be quite a bit thinner.
Can I Freeze Soft Rice Krispie Bars?
Yes! Let the bars cool completely. Then, cut them into individual bars and wrap each in plastic wrap. Finally, store the wrapped bars in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3-4 months. Be sure to label and date the packaging.
More Delicious Bars
Soft Rice Krispie Bars
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 bag (10 ounces) miniature marshmallows
- 6 cups (174 g) rice cereal
Instructions
- Spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add sweetened condensed milk and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Add marshmallows, stirring frequently until melted.
- Remove the pot from heat and fold in the rice cereal with a clean rubber spatula (I like to spray the spatula with nonstick spray to prevent sticking). Stir until well coated.
- Transfer mixture into the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer.
- Allow the bars to cool to room temperature before cutting and serving.
Video
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
I didn’t read the recipe closely (typical of me 🙂 …but all turned out well…doubled the butter and the cereal and I added a little vanilla and spread the mix in a 9 x 11 pan…delicious!
Not exactly sure what happened for us. After following the recipe exactly my mixture resembled porridge rather than Rice Krispy treats. I added two more cups of cereal to get it to a somewhat solid state and the poured into the pan. So far they are still mush and have to be scooped with a spoon. The taste is unlike anything I’ve sampled before and the texture is a bit slimy.
They definitely don’t resemble the pictures shown, and my family is disappointed.
Would love some troubleshooting ideas if you have them!
I’m sorry to hear that the bars didn’t turn out as expected. This recipe does use a full can of sweetened condensed milk to achieve an extra gooey and soft texture. Here are a few things to check:
Ingredient Verification: Ensure that sweetened condensed milk was used, not evaporated milk, as they behave differently in recipes.
Cooking Temperature: The mixture should be brought to a gentle simmer, not a full boil, to prevent the sugars from breaking down improperly.
Cereal Measurement: Using the full 6 cups of rice cereal is crucial for the right balance; less than that can make the mixture too wet. (8 cups would be more on the dry side)
Cooling Time: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature before cutting to ensure they set properly.
If you have any more details or questions, feel free to share them. I’d be happy to help troubleshoot further!