Dairy-Free Rice Krispie Treats (Gluten-Free)

These Dairy-Free Rice Krispie Treats are ooey, gooey, chewy, and everything you want in a classic Rice Krispie treat without the butter, thanks to coconut oil! These treats are completely dairy-free and gluten-free while still having that classic marshmallowy flavor and irresistible texture. You only need 4 simple ingredients and a few minutes to whip up a batch. They’re super easy and quick to make and loved my kids and adults. Whether you’re making them for your kids as an after school snack, a party, a bake sale or potluck, or just because you’re craving something sweet, these are always a hit!

Rice krispie treats are such a nostalgic, classic dessert. Am I right or am I right? We LOVE making these, plus they’re so versatile with sprinkles, candies, food dye, etc! To be completely honest, I even made a rice krispie tiered cake the night before my wedding for an added dessert on the table. Trust me, everyone loved it! Actually, I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone that doesn’t like rice krispie treats.

What Makes These Rice Krispie Treats So Good?

The secret to these dairy-free Rice Krispie treats is coconut oil.

Instead of using butter like traditional Rice Krispie treats, coconut oil adds just enough richness to help create that classic soft, chewy texture while keeping the treats completely dairy-free. You can definitely swap the coconut oil for dairy-free butter, like Earth Balance, too.

Combined with gooey melted marshmallows and crispy rice cereal, you get that perfect combination of crunchy cereal and soft, stretchy marshmallow in every bite. And don’t worry, the coconut oil doesn’t make these taste overly coconutty.

Ingredients and Swaps

• Coconut Oil: I use coconut oil from Costco for these treats. However, you can swap the oil with Earth Balance vegan buttery sticks or any brand.
• Marshmallows: You’ll need one 10-ounce bag of miniature marshmallows. I like to use the brand, Jet Puffed, because they’re gluten-free and dairy-free.
• Rice Cereal: I use gluten-free crispy rice cereal. But you can use any cereal and brand you want.
• Vanilla extract: I love using vanilla to add more flavor, but this can be optional as well.
• Pinch of salt: This is totally optional and can be left out, but it cuts just a pinch of the sweetness.

A Quick Note About Gluten-Free Ingredients

Not all cereals and marshmallows are gluten-free and dairy-free, so always check the labels if you’re making these for someone with food allergies.

Tips & Tricks for the Best Rice Krispie Treats

Quantity matters. This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled for thicker rice krispie treats and more of them. 

Coconut oil. The coconut oil makes these dairy-free and gooey, but the same delicious taste and texture as the classic treats. However, you can absolutely use dairy-free butter in place of the coconut oil. 

Don’t overheat the marshmallows. Melt them slowly and gently just until they’re smooth.

Don’t pack them down too much. A gentle press works perfectly because the more you pack them down, the more dense they’ll turn out.

Fresh marshmallows always. Fresh marshmallows are responsible for the fluffy, gooey texture. Do not use the ones that have been sitting in the back of your pantry forever.

Use refined coconut oil if you don’t want any coconut flavor. Unrefined coconut oil can add a subtle coconut taste.

Don’t skip the vanilla. It’s just needed, I promise. Plus, they add another level of delicious flavor.

Fun Ways to Change Them Up

These are delicious just as they are, but you can easily make them extra fun for holidays, parties, celebrations, or any day of the week! Some ways to change these treats up are:

• Dairy-free chocolate chips
• Another bag of mini marshmallows (NOT melted) added in with the cereal
• Gluten-free sprinkles (our favorite dye-free sprinkles and our favorite regular sprinkles …because balance and whatever I have on hand)
• Mini chocolate candies like MnMs, Reese’s pieces, etc
• A drizzle of dairy-free chocolate
• Crushed gluten-free cookies
• Freeze-dried strawberries
• A sprinkle of flaky sea salt
• We also love to add food coloring to the melted marshmallows for a colored treat

Can I Make These Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! These are a great make-ahead treat. Once they’re completely cooled, slice them into whatever shapes you want and place in an airtight container at room temperature. They are at their yummiest and softest within the first few days of being made. Honestly, ours are typically gone within a day or two. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap if you want an easy grab-and-go treat for lunches, snacks, or to keep longer. However, I don’t recommend freezing them as the texture / consistency won’t be quite the same after thawing.

More Yummy Recipes You’ll Love:

• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
• Gluten-Free Raspberry Lemon Bars
• Chewy Fudgy Gluten-Free Brownies
• Gluten-Free Carrot Zucchini Muffins
• Gluten-Free Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Rolls

I cannot wait for you to give this yummy recipe a try! Please snap a picture and share it with me! Seeing your kitchen creations makes my day and encourages me to keep creating new allergy friendly recipes for you!