Lucky Charms Treats
Lucky Charms treats are like Rice Krispie treats, but with a different cereal! It’s a quick no-bake recipe that’s made with just five ingredients and is especially perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
These Lucky Charms treats are a unique spin on my all-time favorite Rice Krispie treats. They’re an incredibly easy no-bake dessert made with just five ingredients and they come together in about 20 minutes.
This recipe also uses an entire bag of mini marshmallows. I intentionally created the recipe this way so that you’re always able to use the freshest possible marshmallows and so you don’t wind up with any left over.
This is a great dessert to make for St. Patrick’s Day, kid’s birthday parties, or any Lucky Charms lovers in your life!
What You Need
- Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter. If you only have salted butter on hand, just omit the additional salt from the recipe.
- Lucky Charms: You’ll need 9 cups (350 grams) of Lucky Charms cereal. I like to set some of the marshmallows aside to use for topping the finished bars later on, but you may skip this step.
- Marshmallows: I prefer using mini marshmallows because they melt faster, but a bag of larger marshmallows will work just fine too. Make sure to use fresh marshmallows as well, if they’re stale the treats won’t turn out very soft.
- Salt: To balance out the sweetness of the cereal and marshmallows.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract will deliver the best flavor.
How To Make Lucky Charms Treats
- Add the butter to a large saucepan and melt over medium-low heat.
- Add the marshmallows and salt to the melted butter. As soon as the marshmallows have melted, immediately remove the saucepan from the heat (you don’t want to over cook them!).
- Stir in the vanilla, then the Lucky Charms cereal. I prefer to add the cereal in two to three separate batches to make it easier to mix together.
- Turn the mixture into a greased 9×13 pan and firmly press it down into one even layer. Top with extra Lucky Charms marshmallows and allow to cool for 1 to 2 hours before slicing and serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your treats hardened significantly after cooling on your countertop, there could be a couple culprits. The two most common reasons are because the marshmallows were stale or you cooked the marshmallows for too long.
To make soft and chewy treats every time, use fresh marshmallows and heat them over medium-low heat. Be sure to remove the marshmallow mixture from the heat as soon as all of the marshmallows have melted.
If stored in an airtight container, they should last up to five days on your countertop. I suggest transferring them to a container as soon as you slice them to keep them fresh for as long as possible.
Yes, just keep in mind that flavored marshmallows might compete with the marshmallows in the Lucky Charms cereal.
Baking Tips
- Don’t crank up the heat on your stove to melt the marshmallows faster. You’ll likely overcook the marshmallows by mistake, which will result in rock hard treats!
- The marshmallow-cereal mixture will be very sticky. I recommend spraying your hands or a rubber spatula with non-stick spray before pressing the mixture into the pan.
- If you prefer a smaller batch, you can cut this recipe in half and press it into an 8-inch square pan.
If you’re looking for more fun St. Patrick’s Day recipes, try my Irish soda bread or mint chocolate truffles next. My cream cheese mints (with a little bit of green food coloring) would be delicious too!
Lucky Charms Treats
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter sliced into tablespoon-sized pieces (85 grams)
- 1 (16-ounce) package mini marshmallows
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 9 cups Lucky Charms cereal (350 grams; plus extra marshmallows for topping)
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, leaving some overhang for easy removal. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray or grease with butter and set aside.
- Place a large saucepan over medium-low heat, add the sliced butter to the saucepan and allow to melt completely.
- Once the butter is melted, add the mini marshmallows and salt. Continue stirring the mixture until the marshmallows are just melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Add half of the Lucky Charms cereal and mix until well combined, then stir in the remaining cereal and continue mixing until fully combined.
- Scoop the mixture into the prepared baking pan and press it down firmly into one even layer. If needed, grease your hands or a rubber spatula with nonstick cooking spray to make it easier. If desired, sprinkle about ½ cup of Lucky Charms marshmallows on top and gently press them in.
- Allow to cool at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours. Then remove from the pan, slice into bars, and enjoy!
