Vegan Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
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Vegan chocolate rice krispie treats are an easy no-bake dessert for chocolate lovers! It’s a homemade Kellogg’s copycat recipe and made in just 10 minutes. They are sweet, sticky, crispy, and loaded with rich chocolate flavor. The recipe uses simple ingredients like marshmallows, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and brown rice crisps. You can make these cereal dessert bars dairy-free and gluten-free!
I’ve shared Rice Krispie Treats and Birthday Cake Rice Krispie Treats already, but I knew some Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats were needed to satisfy all of the chocolate lovers! This dessert contains everything you love about the original cereal bars, but it’s elevated with a richer chocolate flavor.
These cereal bars are sticky-sweet, gooey, yet light and crispy. The recipe is made with a handful of ingredients you probably already have at home. This includes crispy rice cereal, marshmallows, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. You can make them in 10 minutes on the stovetop with just one pot!
What’s more, we’ll drizzle melted chocolate over the top to enhance the appearance and flavor. You can add flaky sea salt if you like a salty-sweet dessert. Alternatively, top them with sprinkles, cacao nibs, or crushed nuts. Once you sink your teeth into this decadent treat, your chocolate cravings will be instantly satisfied!
These chocolate covered rice krispie treats are:
- Vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free friendly
- Crispy, sticky, sweet, and gooey
- A quick and easy no-bake chocolate dessert
- Made with only 7 ingredients
- Crowd-pleasing for parties and potlucks!
What are chocolate rice krispie treats made of?
- Rice Krispies cereal: You can use classic Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal or choose a healthier option, like organic brown rice crisps cereal. If you want to make a gluten-free version, see the FAQ below for recommended brands.
- Marshmallows: Be sure to use soft, fresh marshmallows because they will create the best texture. If you are vegan, make sure the ingredients do not contain gelatin. Dandies and Trader Joe’s are vegan-friendly brands.
- Cocoa powder: Cocoa powder, or cacao powder, creates the rich chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate chips: Chocolate chips are melted into the rice krispies mixture, which creates a chocolaty flavor. Additionally, melted chocolate is drizzled on top.
- Butter or vegan butter: If you are a vegan, I suggest using the Earth Balance brand. Otherwise, you can use regular dairy butter.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla sweetens and balances the cocoa and chocolate.
- Salt: Add a dash of salt to enhance the other ingredients.
How to make chocolate rice krispie treats with chocolate chips
For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: 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.
Step 6: Lastly, set the rice krispies aside to cool for one hour. If you’d like to speed up the process, you can store them inside the refrigerator. After, slice into 12 or 16 squares. Enjoy!
Tips for the best vegan chocolate rice krispie treats
Always use fresh marshmallows. Marshmallows that have a soft, pillowy texture will produce gooey and crispy treats. That’s the goal! Do not use a stale bag; they will turn the treats harder and crunchier.
Slowly melt the marshmallows. It’s super important to be patient while melting the marshmallows. I recommend slowly melting them so the sugar does not burn. If you burn them, the rice krispie treats will become unpleasantly hard and crunchy.
Vegan marshmallows are trickier to work with. Vegan marshmallows do not contain gelatin, which means they do not melt as easily as regular marshmallows. Be extra patient while melting them on the stovetop. It’s completely OK if there are few unmelted chunks that won’t fully combine.
How to prevent rice crispy treats from sticking to the pan: Make sure you use parchment paper and lightly spray it with oil. If you do this, you will be able to easily remove the bars from the pan later on.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
No. Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal is not gluten-free since it contains malt flavoring. Malt flavoring is derived from barley, which is a grain that contains gluten.
Thankfully, there are lots of gluten-free alternatives for rice krispies cereal. My favorite brands are Nature’s Path Organic Crispy Rice Cereal, One Degree Organic Foods Sprouted Brown Rice Crisps, and 365 by Whole Foods Market.
No, they are two different ingredients. Rice krispies cereal (or brown rice crisps) are crispy and sweetened. This is essential for creating homemade rice krispies treats. On the contrary, puffed rice has a puffy texture and it is unsweetened. It won’t create the same results.
They shouldn’t be! There are two key tips for getting a light and crispy texture. First, use fresh marshmallows. Second, slowly melt them so the sugar does not burn. If you use stale marshmallows or burn them, the treats will become too hard and chewy.
Since regular marshmallows contain gelatin, you will have to opt for vegan-friendly alternatives. I recommend using the Trader Joe’s or Dandies brand.
Absolutely! If you do not follow a dairy-free diet, you can use regular butter and marshmallows.
How to store homemade rice krispie treats
Store these chocolate rice krispie treats inside a tightly-sealed container at room temperature. Enjoy within 3 days for the best flavor and texture. They will be tastier and fresher the sooner you enjoy them!
If you try these Vegan Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!
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Vegan Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 treats 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop, Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Vegan chocolate rice krispie treats are an easy no-bake chocolate dessert! It’s a homemade Kellogg’s copycat recipe. These cereal bars are crispy, gooey, sticky-sweet, and loaded with rich chocolate flavor. The recipe is made with marshmallows, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and brown rice crisps. You can make them dairy-free and gluten-free. They’re a crowd pleasing dessert for potlucks, parties, and chocolate lovers!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter or vegan butter
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 12 oz marshmallows or vegan marshmallows
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal (or brown rice crisps)
- 1 cup chocolate chips, for topping (optional)
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 and cocoa powder over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows. Stir together just until the marshmallows are melted through. It is important to slowly melt them; do not overcook the marshmallows or your rice krispies treats will become hard.
- Once the marshmallows are nearly fully melted, add the chocolate chips, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix together to evenly combine. Once the chocolate chips have melted, immediately remove from heat and add rice krispies cereal to the pot. Gently fold together, evenly coating all of the cereal.
- Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Using a silicone spatula, press it across the dish in an even layer. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, add chocolate chips. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted through. Drizzle or spread the melted chocolate on top of the rice krispie treats.
- Set rice krispies aside to cool for one hour. If you’d like to speed up the process, you can store them inside the refrigerator. After, slice into 12 or 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: Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal contains malt flavoring, which is not gluten-free. Therefore, 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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat
- Calories: 236
- Sugar: 7g
- Fat: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 2g
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