Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats layer red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple marshmallow cereal mixtures in one 8- or 9-inch square pan. The recipe serves 12 and uses 32 ounces miniature marshmallows, 12 tablespoons butter, and 15 cups crisp rice cereal. It records 38 minutes total: 35 minutes of preparation and 3 minutes of cooking, with the stated room-temperature setting time included in the workflow.
Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats Ingredients
For the Base: 32 ounces miniature marshmallows (2 standard bags); 12 tablespoons butter (1½ sticks); 15 cups Rice Krispies cereal.
For the Colors: Red gel food coloring; Orange gel food coloring; Yellow gel food coloring; Green gel food coloring; Blue gel food coloring; Purple gel food coloring.
Optional Decoration: White candy melts or almond bark for drizzling.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like Chocolate Cherry Pie.
How to Make Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats
- Prepare your pan: Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with wax paper, leaving some overhang on the sides to use as handles later. Spray the wax paper with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. This preparation step is crucial for easy removal of your treats when they're done.
- Melt the marshmallows: In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine the miniature marshmallows and butter. Heat in the microwave for 1 minute, then remove and stir well. Return to the microwave for another minute, then stir again. Continue this process in 30-second to 1-minute intervals until the mixture is completely smooth. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make your treats hard instead of chewy.
- Divide and color the marshmallow mixture: Divide the melted marshmallow mixture evenly between six different bowls. You'll need approximately 1 cup of mixture per bowl. Add gel food coloring to each bowl, creating the colors of the rainbow - red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Start with a small amount of gel color and add more as needed until you achieve your desired vibrancy. Stir each bowl thoroughly to distribute the color evenly.
- Add cereal to each color: Working with one color at a time, add 2½ cups of Rice Krispies cereal to each bowl of colored marshmallow mixture. Fold gently but thoroughly using a spatula or spoon coated with non-stick spray, making sure all the cereal is evenly coated with the colored marshmallow mixture. The mixture should be sticky but not so wet that it loses its shape.
- Create the rainbow layers: Begin layering your colored mixtures in the prepared pan. Start with the purple layer on the bottom, spreading it evenly and pressing it down gently with a buttered spatula or wax paper. Continue with the blue layer on top of the purple, then green, yellow, orange, and finally red on top. Press each layer firmly enough to adhere to the previous layer, but not so hard that you compress the treats too much.
- Let the treats set: Allow the layered treats to cool completely at room temperature, which should take about 30 minutes. This cooling time is important for the layers to set properly and stick together. Do not refrigerate, as this can make the treats too hard.
- Remove and cut: Once completely cooled, use the wax paper handles to lift the entire block of treats out of the pan and onto a cutting board. If necessary, trim any uneven edges to create a perfect square. Cut the large square in half, then slice each half into serving-sized pieces approximately 1-inch thick. For cleaner cuts, lightly butter your knife between slices.
- Optional decoration: For an extra special touch, melt some white candy melts or almond bark according to package directions and drizzle over the tops of the cut treats. Allow the drizzle to set before serving or storing.
- Serve and enjoy: Arrange your colorful rainbow treats on a serving platter or store them in an airtight container with wax paper between layers if stacking is necessary. They're ready to bring a pop of color to any celebration!
For storage details after serving, the USDA leftovers and food safety guidance.
Why the Order Matters
Wax paper with overhanging handles lines the square pan and receives nonstick spray before mixing starts. Marshmallows and butter heat for one minute, are stirred, heat for another minute, and continue in 30-second-to-one-minute intervals only until smooth. The melted base is divided evenly among exactly six bowls. Gel coloring creates red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple portions, and each receives two and one-half cups cereal. The six mixtures are folded gently, then pressed into the pan in the exact bottom-to-top order purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Each layer is firm enough to adhere but not densely compressed. After about 30 minutes at room temperature, the slab is lifted out, squared if necessary, and cut into serving pieces. Optional white candy melt or almond-bark drizzle sets before storage.
If you enjoy this recipe, you may also like Nun's Puffs.
Critical Visual and Timing Cues
A smooth marshmallow mixture should have no unmelted pockets, but overheating makes the finished bars hard rather than chewy. Divide it promptly and evenly while it is workable. Gel color provides vibrancy without the excess moisture of liquid coloring. Keep six distinct bowls and use a clean or carefully wiped utensil for each so the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple remain separate. Fold cereal until evenly coated without crushing it. In the pan, verify purple is first and red is last. Use gentle, even pressure between layers. Let the slab cool completely at room temperature for about 30 minutes; the source specifically says not to refrigerate it. A lightly buttered sharp knife gives cleaner one-inch-thick cuts.
Serving and Storage
Arrange 12 portions on a platter after cutting, allowing any optional white drizzle to set first. Store extras at room temperature in an airtight container with wax paper between stacked layers. The source allows preparation one to two days ahead and freezing for up to six weeks when wrapped well. The recipe contains dairy, may contain gluten depending on the cereal, and contains corn through typical marshmallow ingredients; candy melts or almond bark can introduce other allergens, so inspect all packages. Keep the six-color order intact when portioning so each serving displays the full rainbow. Avoid dense pressure during packing and moisture during storage, both of which compromise the intended soft, chewy texture. The optional drizzle is decoration only and should not obscure the colored layers.
Recorded Recipe Tips
- These rainbow treats are perfect for holidays like St. Patrick's Day, birthday parties with rainbow or unicorn themes, pride celebrations, or any occasion that calls for a colorful dessert.
- For the best texture, be gentle when mixing the cereal into the marshmallow mixture and when pressing the layers - too much pressure will result in dense, hard treats rather than soft, chewy ones.
- Gel food colors work much better than liquid food colors for this recipe, as they provide vibrant color without adding too much moisture to the marshmallow mixture.
- These treats can be made 1-2 days in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. They can also be frozen for up to 6 weeks if wrapped well.
Conclusion
Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats makes 12 servings in 38 minutes of recorded preparation and cooking, plus any separately stated chilling or resting time. Follow the exact ingredient list and ordered method for the intended texture and doneness.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How many servings does Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats make?
It serves 12 and makes 12 servings.
- → How long does Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats take?
The recipe records 35 minutes of preparation, 3 minutes of cooking, and 38 minutes total, plus any separately stated chilling, resting, or cooling time.
- → What equipment should be ready?
Prepare 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan; Wax paper; Non-stick cooking spray; Large microwave-safe bowl; 6 medium mixing bowls; Spatula or spoon; Cutting board; Sharp knife before starting.
- → Can I change the recorded method?
For the verified result, keep the listed quantities, temperatures, timing, and ordered instructions exactly as written. Use only optional variations explicitly recorded in the recipe tips.