Chocolate Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
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Chocolate strawberry rice krispie treats are packed with freeze-dried strawberries and topped with a melted chocolate drizzle! They are crispy, sticky-sweet, tart, and fruity. The recipe is easily made vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly. It’s a fun twist on chocolate covered strawberries, and an easy no-bake dessert for Valentine’s Day!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time for all things strawberry and chocolate! If you’re a fan of classic chocolate covered strawberries, you will adore these Chocolate Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats.
The rice krispie squares are perfectly sticky-sweet, crispy, and gooey. They’re packed with rich vanilla flavor, tart freeze-dried strawberries, and a melted chocolate drizzle. You will love how they’re simultaneously chocolaty and fruity!
One amazing thing about this dessert is how quick and easy it is. The recipe is made in under 30 minutes from start to finish. Also, it’s made in one pot on the stovetop – there’s no baking and no oven needed. It uses pantry staples like cereal, marshmallows, and sweetened condensed coconut milk.
PS: If you enjoy strawberry chocolate desserts, make sure you also try my Chocolate Strawberry Fudge and No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake Brownies!
These chocolate strawberry rice krispie treats are:
- Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly
- Sweet, tart, fruity, and chocolaty
- Perfectly crispy and gooey
- Packed with crunchy freeze-dried strawberries
- Taste like chocolate covered strawberries
- An easy no-bake dessert for Valentine’s Day!
Ingredients in chocolate strawberry rice krispie treats
- Rice Krispies cereal: Use the classic Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal or select a healthier option, like organic brown rice crisps. If you want to make gluten-free rice krispie treats, see the FAQ section below for brand recommendations.
- Marshmallows: Soft and fresh marshmallows will always create the best rice krispie treats. Try not to use a stale bag. If you are vegan, make sure they do not contain gelatin.
- Sweetened condensed coconut milk: This is a dairy-free alternative to sweetened condensed milk. It’s made from coconut milk and sugar. It creates a sweeter flavor and softer texture.
- Freeze-dried strawberries: Also known as dehydrated strawberries, this ingredient is just the fruit with the water removed. They are deliciously tart, fruity, and crunchy. Make sure you use freeze-dried strawberries, not dried strawberries (which are gummy). The crunchy texture is essential!
- Butter or vegan butter: Use regular butter or, if you want to make them vegan, use dairy-free butter.
- Chocolate chips: We’ll drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the rice krispie treats. This creates a prettier appearance and creates a chocolate-covered-strawberry flavor!
- Vanilla extract: Add a splash for a sweet vanilla flavor.
- Salt: Salt balances all of the sweet ingredients.
How to make rice krispie treats with freeze dried strawberries
For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
First, line a 9×9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some of the paper hanging over the edges. Lightly spray with oil.
Next, in a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows, then stir together just until the marshmallows are melted through. It is important to slowly melt them; do not overcook the marshmallows or the rice krispies treats will become hard.
Then, stir in the sweetened condensed coconut milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Immediately remove from the heat.
Add rice krispies cereal to the pot. Gently fold together, evenly coating all of the cereal. Add 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries and stir together until combined.
After, transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Using a silicone spatula, press it across the dish in an even layer.
In a small bowl, add chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted through. Drizzle on top of the rice krispie treats. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries on top.
Set aside to cool for one hour. If you’d like to speed up the process, you can chill them in the refrigerator. After, slice into 16 squares. Enjoy!
Tips for making the best chocolate covered strawberry rice krispie treats
Use fresh marshmallows. Marshmallows that are soft and pillowy will produce the best texture. If yours are stale, they won’t melt as easily. This causes the rice krispie treats to become harder and crunchier.
Melt the marshmallows slowly. Be patient! If you overcook the marshmallows, you’ll burn the sugar. This results in a crunchy and unpleasant texture.
Vegan marshmallows do not melt easily. Vegan marshmallows do not contain gelatin, so they don’t melt as easily as regular marshmallows. It’s OK if they won’t completely melt and dissolve.
How to prevent rice krispie treats from sticking to the pan: Always use parchment paper and lightly spray it with oil. This will make removing them from the pan so much easier! You’ll be able to effortlessly remove the bars from the pan.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
No, the classic Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is not gluten-free. It contains malt flavoring, which is derived from barley, so it contains gluten.
You can find many gluten-free alternatives for rice krispies cereal! I recommend the One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps, Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal, and 365 by Whole Foods Market brands. Make sure they are brown rice crisps, not puffs.
Since regular marshmallows contain gelatin, which is an animal byproduct, they are not vegan-friendly. If you want to make this recipe strictly vegan, use the Dandies or Trader Joe’s brand. Both options are gelatin-free marshmallows.
Absolutely! If you are not following a vegan or dairy-free diet, just use regular butter and marshmallows.
In order to prevent a hard texture, make sure you slowly melt the marshmallows. If you melt them too hot and quickly, the sugar will likely burn. This will create a hard, unpleasant texture. Be patient!
How to store strawberry rice krispie treats
Store them inside a tightly sealed container at room temperature. Enjoy within 2-3 days for the best results. The sooner you eat them, the fresher they’ll be!
More vegan rice krispie treats
If you try these Chocolate Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below!
PrintChocolate Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 16 treats 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter or vegan butter
- 12oz marshmallows or vegan marshmallows
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed coconut milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal (or brown rice crisps)
- 1 and 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries, divided
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips, melted
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving some of the paper hanging over the edges. Lightly spray with oil.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows, then stir together just until the marshmallows are melted through. It is important to slowly melt them; do not overcook the marshmallows or the rice krispies treats will become hard. Stir in the sweetened condensed coconut milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Immediately remove from the heat.
- Add rice krispies cereal to the pot. Gently fold together, evenly coating all of the cereal. Add 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries and stir together until combined.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Using a silicone spatula, press it across the dish in an even layer.
- In a small bowl, add chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted through. Drizzle on top of the rice krispie treats. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup freeze-dried strawberries on top.
- Set aside to cool for one hour. If you’d like to speed up the process, you can chill them in the refrigerator. After, slice into 16 squares. Enjoy!
Notes
- How to store: Store rice krispie treats inside a sealed container at room temperature. Enjoy within 2-3 days.
- How to make them gluten-free: The classic Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is not gluten-free because it contains malt flavoring. You must use gluten-free brown rice crisps cereal instead. I listed several recommendations in the FAQ.
- Dairy-free/vegan: If you are not dairy-free or vegan, you can use regular dairy butter and regular marshmallows for this recipe. The results are the same!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 205
- Sugar: 6g
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1.5g
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