Everything is better in pink, especially these Pink Rice Krispie Treats! Enjoy an adorable – and extra delicious – twist on a classic cereal dessert, with chewy marshmallow and sweet strawberry in every single bite. Plus, they come together in about 10 minutes!
My pink Rice Krispie treats are about to become your go-to for baby showers, birthday parties, bake sales, and Galentine’s gatherings. This easy recipe takes the basic Rice Krispies delight to new heights – and they’re just so dang cute!
What makes them so special? For starters, they’re infused with real freeze-dried strawberries for a fruity, slightly sweet flavor and the prettiest pink color. With a touch of food coloring, the result is a treat that looks amazing as it tastes.
I love them even more because they’re versatile – you can dress them up by using cookie cutters to make fun shapes, or easily press them into a pan and cut into that classic square shape. I love finishing mine off with a dusting of pink sprinkles or a drizzle of melted white chocolate to really leave an impression.
These pink beauties will be the star of the dessert table every time. And if you thought regular Rice Krispies treats were good, wait until you try these!
For more pink-inspired party recipes, check out my Sweet and Salty Pink Party Chex Mix, Copy Cat Starbucks Pink Drink, and Pink Moscow Mule!
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Why You'll Love It
Beyond that happy pop of color that never fails to put a smile on my face, here’s why you’ll absolutely love these colored Rice Krispies treats:
- Last-Minute Lifesaver. When you need a fun dessert but are short on time, pink Rice Krispies will come to your rescue! With a 10-minute recipe and easy-to-find ingredients, these beauties will be your go-to dessert for those last-minute events.
- Instagram-Worthy. That gorgeous pink color makes them look like they came straight from a fancy bakery! Pink is such a happy color, so don’t be surprised when everyone gathers around to snap a photo for the ‘gram.
- Tastes Even Better. If you thought the original Rice Krispies couldn’t be beat, think again! Freeze-dried strawberries add a boost of flavor and tang, giving the OG Rice Krispies a facelift.
Important Ingredients
We are not holding back on sugary sweet flavors here. They’re called a “treat” for a reason! Here's what you'll want to grab:
- Butter: Melted butter breaks down the marshmallows on the stove, making the mixture easier to work with while keeping the treats soft, chewy, rich, and textured. Salted butter tastes the best!
- Marshmallows: The delicious glue that holds pink Rice Krispie treats together. Mini marshmallows are preferred because they melt more quickly on the stove, but full-sized ones work just fine.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla enhances all the flavors, bringing out the natural sweetness of the strawberries and the sugar-y sweetness of the marshmallows.
- Freeze-Dried Strawberries: This secret ingredient adds concentrated strawberry flavor with sweetness and tang – and a light pink color. Double win!
- Red Food Coloring: Amp up the natural pink hue from the strawberries with a couple of drops of red food coloring to really make it pop.
- Rice Krispies Cereal: Consider this puffed rice cereal as the crispy, crunchy vehicle for ooey-gooey marshmallows and yummy strawberry dust. As a key player, you can’t miss it!
Swaps and Substitutions
Check out these simple swaps that won’t sacrifice flavor or texture.
- Butter. Salted butter is best – it balances the sweetness and makes everything taste richer. But if you don’t have salted butter on hand, go with unsalted butter and add a pinch of salt.
- Marshmallow Fluff. This is an easy and effortless marshmallow swap, and it’ll save you time spent on melting the marshmallows on the stove. Use one jar of marshmallow fluff to replace a 16-ounce bag of marshmallows.
- Strawberry Flavor. You can actually use strawberry Jell-O to flavor and dye pink Rice Krispies. In place of freeze-dried strawberries, use one 3-ounce packet of strawberry Jell-O powder, and omit the food coloring.
- Food Coloring. Pink food coloring gel works just as well as red to color the treats. You won’t need to use as much— a dab will do ya. And don’t hesitate to experiment with different colors, too – purple, blue, and yellow colored rice krispie treats are so fun!
Full Recipe Below
Find the full list of ingredients & measurements below!
- Step 1: Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray. Melt the butter and marshmallows over medium heat in a large saucepan.
- Step 2: Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring until the marshmallows are melted.
- Step 3: Turn off the heat. Gently stir in the vanilla and red food coloring.
- Step 4: Pour the Rice Krispies and freeze dried strawberries in and mix.
- Step 5: Gently press the mixture evenly in the pan. Top with a few extra freeze-dried strawberries. Let cool, and enjoy!
Top Tip
Dress your treats to the nines with sprinkles in all shapes, colors, and sizes, a drizzle of white chocolate, and holiday-specific candies (hearts for Valentine’s Day treats, holiday sprinkles for Christmas, etc.) For the best results, mix the sprinkles into the Rice Krispies mixture or dust on top while the treats are still warm. Don’t hold back, unleash your creativity!
Tips for the Perfect Pink Rice Krispie Treats
Follow my tried-and-true tips to get perfectly chewy, flavorful, and pink treats every time!
- Crush part of the freeze-dried strawberries into a powder using a food processor or a bag with a rolling pin. Smaller pieces/finer powder mixes more evenly, so you’ll enjoy a more vibrant flavor. Keep the remaining strawberries whole for texture and visual appeal.
- Use gel food coloring. Although there’s nothing wrong with regular food coloring, gel food coloring is more concentrated, making it easier to achieve the best shade. They also come in a variety of specialty shades beyond the primary colors if you want to get creative!
- Add the food coloring to the melted marshmallows before the Rice Krispies to ensure an even, thorough blend. No one wants splotchy pink Rice Krispies.
- A squeeze of lime or lemon juice will really make the flavors pop. A dash of acid complements the intense sweetness.
- Keep the heat on low. Anything higher, and you risk scorching the marshmallow mixture and diluting the bright pink color.
- If the mixture is too warm and overly gooey, pop the tray in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. But nothing more – they’ll start to dry out and get too hard and dense.
- Pink Rice Krispies treats do not need to be stored in the refrigerator long-term, but they can dry out and become hard to chew if they aren't appropriately covered. If you're serving them right away, cut them to your desired shape and pile them on a plate.
- For extended storage, keep them in an airtight container or package them individually in plastic wrap. This will keep them soft, fresh, and chewy.
Recipe Variations
Strawberry Rice Krispie treats have got to be the easiest dessert to customize, you’ll never get bored! They’ve quickly become my favorite recipe for this exact reason!
- Raspberry Rice Krispie Treats: Swap strawberries for freeze-dried raspberries for a delicious new flavor while maintaining that gorgeous pink color.
- Valentine's Day Heart Rice Krispies Treats: Give them extra love with a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Lightly spray the cutter with cooking oil to prevent sticking. Then, press firmly to cut out the adorable hearts. If the mixture is still warm after the first round of cutting, press the scraps back together and make more!
- Dipped Rice Krispie Treats: Make your Galentine’s Day, birthday party, or baby shower rice krispie treats extra elegant with a drizzle of chocolate! Melt pink chocolate, white chocolate, or pink candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl according to the package directions. Dip each treat halfway or all the way into the melted mixture, then let them set on a piece of parchment paper or wire rack (with something underneath to catch the drips) until the coating hardens.
Related Recipes
If you tried this Pink Rice Krispie Treats Recipe, or any other of the delicious recipes on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe Card
📖 Recipe
Pink Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 9 x 13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 bagged freeze dried strawberries 1 oz
- 2-3 drops red food coloring
- 1 16-oz bag mini marshmalllows
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Instructions
- Spray a 9-inch square pan with cooking spray.
- Melt the butter and marshmallows in a large pot over medium heat.
- Reduce the heat to low and continue stirring until the marshmallows are melted.
- Turn off the heat and add in the vanilla, red food coloring, freeze dried strawberries, and rice krispies.
- Stir well then pour the rice krispie mix into the baking pan.
- Gently press the mixture into the pan to form an even layer. Top with a few extra freeze-dried strawberries.
- Let cool and enjoy!
Notes
- Pink Rice Krispies do not need to be stored in the refrigerator long-term, but they can dry out and become hard to chew if they aren't appropriately covered. If you’re serving them right away, cut them to your desired shape and pile them on a plate.
- For extended storage, keep them in an airtight container or package them individually in plastic wrap to keep them soft, fresh, and chewy.
- Crush part of the freeze-dried strawberries into a powder using a food processor or a bag with a rolling pin. Smaller pieces/finer powder mixes more evenly, so you’ll enjoy a more vibrant flavor. Keep the remaining strawberries whole for texture and visual appeal.
- Use gel food coloring. Although there’s nothing wrong with regular food coloring, gel food coloring is more concentrated, making it easier to achieve the best shade. They also come in a variety of specialty shades beyond the primary colors if you want to get creative!
- Add the food coloring to the melted marshmallows before the Rice Krispies to ensure an even, thorough blend. No one wants splotchy pink Rice Krispies.
- A squeeze of lime or lemon juice will really make the flavors pop. A dash of acid complements the intense sweetness.
- Keep the heat on low. Anything higher, and you risk scorching the marshmallow mixture and diluting the bright pink color.
- If the mixture is too warm and overly gooey, pop the tray in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. But nothing more – they’ll start to dry out and get too hard and dense.
- Pink Rice Krispies treats do not need to be stored in the refrigerator long-term, but they can dry out and become hard to chew if they aren't appropriately covered. If you're serving them right away, cut them to your desired shape and pile them on a plate.
- For extended storage, keep them in an airtight container or package them individually in plastic wrap. This will keep them soft, fresh, and chewy.
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