I never thought rice krispie treats could get any better until my daughter asked if we could put them on sticks “like cake pops.” Growing up, we always made them the regular way – pressed into a pan and cut into squares. Sometimes they’d end up a bit wonky, but we didn’t mind.
Turns out, making these into lollipops isn’t just fun – it’s actually easier than the traditional method. No more dealing with sticky hands trying to cut perfect squares, and kids love helping to shape them into balls. Plus, everything’s more exciting when it’s on a stick, right?
Why You’ll Love These Rice Krispie Lollipops
- Kid-friendly fun – These treats are perfect for getting the kids involved in the kitchen – they’ll love helping to shape the pops and add colorful sprinkles.
- Quick preparation – With just 20-30 minutes from start to finish, you can whip these up for last-minute parties or when sudden sweet cravings hit.
- Simple ingredients – You only need a few basic pantry staples to make these festive treats, and you can easily find everything at your local grocery store.
- Party-perfect treats – These portable, mess-free lollipops are ideal for birthday parties, bake sales, or any celebration where you need fun, grab-and-go desserts.
- Customizable design – Switch up the chocolate colors and sprinkles to match any holiday or party theme – the decorating possibilities are endless!
What Kind of Marshmallows Should I Use?
Regular-sized or mini marshmallows both work great for rice krispie treats, though mini marshmallows tend to melt a bit faster and more evenly. Fresh marshmallows are key here – if your marshmallows are old and hard, they won’t melt as smoothly and could affect the texture of your lollipops. Store-brand marshmallows work just as well as name-brand ones, so no need to spend extra money there. If you’re using regular-sized marshmallows, you might want to cut them into smaller pieces before melting to help them blend more easily with the butter. Just make sure to avoid using marshmallow fluff or spread – they have different moisture levels and won’t give you the right consistency for these treats.
Options for Substitutions
Making these fun treats but missing something? Here are some handy swaps you can try:
- Puffed rice cereal: While Rice Krispies are the classic choice, you can use other puffed cereals like Cocoa Krispies, Cheerios, or even Corn Flakes. Just keep in mind that each will give a slightly different texture and flavor.
- Marshmallows: Regular marshmallows work best, but in a pinch, you can use mini marshmallows (use 4½ cups) or marshmallow fluff (use about 7 oz). Just avoid using old marshmallows as they won’t melt as smoothly.
- Chocolate chips: Feel free to swap either chocolate type with milk chocolate, butterscotch chips, or even peanut butter chips. If using chocolate bars instead of chips, just chop them up first.
- Cooking oil: Any neutral oil works here, or you can use shortening. This helps thin the chocolate for easier dipping. Coconut oil is another good option that works well with chocolate.
- Sprinkles: Don’t have sprinkles? Try crushed nuts, coconut flakes, crushed candy pieces, or even colored sugar for decoration. You can even skip the toppings entirely!
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Making
The biggest challenge when making Rice Krispie lollipops is getting the marshmallow mixture just right – melting the marshmallows over too high heat can result in a hard, tough texture, so keep the heat low and stir constantly until they’re just melted.
When mixing in the cereal, working too slowly can lead to a dense, difficult-to-shape mixture, so have your cereal measured and ready to go before melting the marshmallows, and mix quickly but gently to keep the treats light and airy.
For perfectly shaped lollipops that don’t fall apart, let the mixture cool just enough to handle (about 2-3 minutes), but not so long that it becomes too stiff to mold – and don’t forget to lightly grease your hands with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking while shaping.
When it comes to the chocolate coating, adding a small amount of oil helps create a smoother consistency that won’t crack when you bite into it, and letting each layer of chocolate set completely before adding the next will give you cleaner, more professional-looking results.
What to Serve With Rice Krispie Lollipops?
These fun and festive rice krispie lollipops are perfect for parties and go great with other sweet treats! Since they’re already pretty sweet, I like to serve them alongside some fresh fruit like strawberries or apple slices to balance things out. You can set up a cute dessert table with a variety of dips for the lollipops – try warm caramel sauce, extra melted chocolate, or even some vanilla yogurt for dunking. For drinks, a cold glass of milk or hot chocolate makes the perfect companion, especially since these treats can be a bit sticky.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: These fun rice krispie lollipops stay fresh at room temperature for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container. Place a piece of wax paper between each lollipop to prevent them from sticking together. Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to prevent the chocolate from melting.
Make Ahead: You can make these treats a day or two before your party or event. Just wait until the chocolate coating is completely set before storing them. If you’re planning to stack them, remember to use that wax paper between layers to keep the decorative sprinkles looking nice.
Refrigerate: If your kitchen is warm or you want them to last a bit longer, pop them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Just remember to let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before eating – they’re much more enjoyable when they’re not too hard!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 20-30 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2200-2400
- Protein: 20-25 g
- Fat: 90-100 g
- Carbohydrates: 320-340 g
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons of butter or margarine
- 4 cups of small marshmallows
- 6 cups of puffed rice cereal
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
- Decorative sprinkles
Step 1: Melt Marshmallows and Combine with Rice Krispies
In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat, then add 4 cups of mini marshmallows.
Stir continuously until the marshmallows are fully melted and smooth.
Once melted, remove the pan from the heat.
Add 6 cups of Rice Krispies and stir until the cereal is thoroughly coated with the melted marshmallow mixture.
Step 2: Form the Rice Krispies Treats
Press the marshmallow-coated Rice Krispies mixture into a greased 13×9 inch pan using a spatula to flatten evenly.
Allow the mixture to cool completely in the pan.
Step 3: Cut and Shape the Rice Krispies Pops
Once the mixture has cooled, cut it into 16 equal rectangular pieces.
Insert an ice cream stick into each treat to create Rice Krispies Treat pops.
For a rounded ice cream pop appearance, push the top corners of each treat down with your fingers.
Step 4: Melt Chocolate for Dipping
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips with 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Microwave this mixture in short intervals, stirring until fully melted.
In another bowl, repeat this process with 1 cup of white chocolate chips and 1/2 tablespoon of oil.
Step 5: Dip and Decorate the Pops
Holding each Rice Krispies pop by the stick, dip it into the melted chocolate.
Alternate between using semisweet chocolate and white chocolate for variety.
Sprinkle each dipped pop with colorful sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet to add decoration.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy
Place the finished pops on parchment or wax paper to cool and set the chocolate.
Once the chocolate is firm, your Rice Krispies Treat pops are ready to be enjoyed!