Surprise your sweetheart or your family with these adorable Rice Krispie treats just like the classic version but with the surprise element of red velvet cake and a vibrant red coloring!
Fun and festive homemade treats are the best when they’re easy! Get your kids involved for a weekend activity or take it upon yourself to surprise everyone and don’t forget to add Red Velvet Cookie Bars and Valentine’s Hot Chocolate Bombs to your special day!
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Easy No-Bake Valentine’s Day Dessert
These Valentine treats are so cute! They’re an easy no-bake delicious treat I like to make around this time of year. They’re as simple to make as the classic treat, but the added red velvet cake mix adds a festive flair which has always impressed a crowd. Have a little extra fun and use cookie cutters for heart shapes!
If you’re looking for a new homemade recipe, this one is it. They take very little time and effort, use only a handful of ingredients, and are a perfect fun treat for a Valentine’s day surprise for your sweetheart, a dessert tray for parties, a bake sale, or just to share with your family!
Why this recipe works/why we love this recipe
- Quick and easy and ready in 25 minutes without turning on the oven!
- A twist on the classic recipe so you know they’re going to be delicious.
- Always a hit at parties because they’ve got that wow factor. It’s not often that we see red rice Krispies treats!
- The red velvet is great for Valentine’s day but this recipe can be customized for any occasion.
Ingredients/shopping list
- Mini marshmallows – I used mini marshmallows in this recipe but you can use another size if that’s what you have. Just account for the difference in measurement.
- Butter – Unsalted or salted it’s up to you.
- Rice Krispies cereal – You know the one!
- Red velvet cake mix – Any brand of store-bought red velvet cake mix will do.
- Vanilla extract – A lovely flavor that pairs well with the marshmallows and just makes them extra yummy.
- White chocolate chips – Melted for the drizzle on top.
- Red food coloring – Look for gel food coloring as it’s more concentrated and has a more vibrant red color. You also want to make sure it’s taste-free so it doesn’t interfere with the flavor of the other ingredients.
How to Make this Recipe
With just 8 ingredients and 25 minutes, this easy treats are perfect to throw together for last-minute guests or a fun after-school snack for the kids!
Step 1: In a large saucepan, melt butter and marshmallows on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring continuously, until completely melted.
Step 2: Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cake mix and vanilla until combined.
Step 3: Add the red food coloring and finish combining. From there, you can add more food coloring drop by drop until you reach your desired color.
Step 4: Add the Rice Krispie cereal and stir until it’s completely coated by the marshmallow mixture. It will be thick!
Step 5: Transfer everything to a parchment-lined 9×13 baking dish that’s been sprayed with non stick cooking spray (or greased with butter) and press evenly into the corners of the prepared pan using a wooden spoon or your fingers.
Step 6: Let it stand until completely cooled and then use the parchment paper to lift it out of the pan. Slice into squares, rectangles, or use a heart-shaped cookie cutter if desired.
Step 7: Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave, transfer them to a piping bag (or just use a fork to drizzle) and create any type of decoration on your treats. I just use a typical drizzle but you do you!
Variations/ Substitutions
- Leave out the red velvet cake mix, if desired, and reduce butter to 3 tablespoons. For color, feel free to keep the food coloring.
- Use pink, red, or brown M&Ms inside or on top of the Rice Krispies. You could also use red, pink, or white sprinkles.
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter or cut into mini squares for smaller bite-sized versions.
- Press conversation hearts into the top of each cut treat for a sweet surprise.
- Swap the white chocolate chips for milk chocolate chips for a darker chocolate drizzle.
- Press conversation hearts into the top of each cut treat for a sweet surprise.
- Cut them smaller or use smaller heart shapes and put them on lollipop sticks!
Tips
- Use either parchment paper or foil to line the pan. You want it to not only avoid it sticking to the pan but leaving a bit above the rim helps with lifting it out of the pan.
- As soon as the marshmallow mixture has combined, remove it from the heat. If you leave it too long, the sugars in the marshmallow mixture will burn.
- Substitute 7-ounce jar marshmallow crème for marshmallows.
- For a quick microwave version, zap butter and marshmallows in a microwave-safe bowl for 2 minutes at 30-second intervals. Then, continue as directed.
- Use a different food coloring depending on the occasion. This recipe works all year round.
FAQ’s
These can be kept at room temperature stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To maintain their freshness for a little longer keep them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
These cereal treats can be kept frozen for up to 1 month. Place them in a freezer-friendly bag and separate the layers with parchment paper. This way they won’t freeze in a clump and you can just grab as many as you need at a time.
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Valentine’s Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 10 oz mini marshmallows
- ½ cup butter
- 6 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
- 1 cup Red Velvet cake mix
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
- Red gel food coloring taste free
Instructions
- Line a 13×9 pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper and the rub with butter or spray with cooking spray.
- Place the marshmallows and butter in a large pot and heat on the stove on medium heat until completely melted. Be sure to stir continuously.
- Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the cake mix and vanilla until combined completely.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of red food coloring and stir to combine. Add in more food coloring to get your desired color.
- Add the rice krispie cereal and stir to coat completely. The mixture will be very thick.
- Pour the thick mixture into the lined dish and press evenly into the corners. (use a wooden spoon or fingers if preferred)
- Let stand until completely cooled (approximately 20 minutes)
- Remove from the pan by lifting by the parchment paper.
- Cut into rectangles or use a heart shaped cookie cutter if desired.
Notes
Add marshmallows and butter to a microwave-safe bowl.
Cook for 2 minutes.
Stir continuously until smooth.
Then add in the cake mix, vanilla and stir to combine.
Add in 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring and stir to combine well.
Press into prepared pan.
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