Why do my rice crispy treats fall apart. I follow the recipe every time?

Alice, I'm making my very first batch now, but I remember my mother covering the krispies with wax paper and pounding on them as hard as she could with a solid potato masher. Hopefully this will keep them together. ;-)

I gently push mine into the pan because the harder you press them down they become hard & not soft & chewy.

Alice, try measuring the marshmallows by weight (ounces) rather than volume (cups). Whenever I tried measuring by volume I always found I was short of marshmallows. As a result, the rice krispy treats did not hold together as well and were a little less sweet, too.

Your treats are falling apart most likely because you are using margarine and not butter. I'm just saying because there is an amount of water in margarine, mine falls apart or is very limp if I don't use "real" butter. I also make sure I use the marshmellos and not marshmello cream in a jar. Don't know if this will help, hope it does.

I add 2 to 3 heaping wooden spoonfuls of peanut butter after microwaving the marshmallows. Then microwave abpprox. 30 seconds more... everyone who loves peanut butter enjoys it! Also, I find using wax paper instead of a spatula much eaier to press down the mixture into the pan.

I love making new recipes, especially these rice crispy treats!!!

Just before adding the rice krispies to the mix, I always add some vanilla extract (about a tablespoon full). Everyone always wonders why mine always taste better than when they make them. Ha ha .... thats the secret!

Hint - a dash or two of salt in the melted marshmallows is also a twist that gives the treats a good flavor. I heard that on a Martha Stewarts show years ago. I also add the vanilla and have had lots of compliments.

I like using the stove top method for melting the marshmallows, and I use a teaspoon of vanilla too. I also use the back of a large or medium sized metal spoon with butter on the back of it for spreading and pressing the mixture evenly into a lightly buttered pan. No sticky mess to deal with. ;)

My son and I make our rice krispies treats well prepared to make a mess so we dont limit ourselves trying to keep clean. I got the hand method from him true to his childlike instincts he went hands first into the pan while I struggled with the spatula to flatten the recipe...so roll up your sleeves and dig in...its so much easier and my treats have never been more fun or more tasty!

If you rub the spatula with butter you can easily mix the recipe without sore shoulders when your done. Ha ha

A little trick I use.. I wear my medical gloves, spray a little butter or spread butter on them to spread them out. Works great every time. Add the vanilla too, it's great!

As an alternative to the medical glove suggestion, I always just use a plastic sandwich bag on my hands coated with butter. Works great to push the treats into the pan.

I like to add butterscotch chips to mine. They are delicious!!

Substitue marshmallow creme for the package of marshmallows..much easier!

Quick and easy. I used cocoa Rice Krispys for that chocolate taste. Mix in a few choc. chips or melt some on top. The crew luvs these.

You really need to add 5 cups of the rice crispies, not 6 cups like most recipes state. If you add too much of the rice crispies, they tend to fall apart and don't hold together well. The original recipe from 1941 required 5 cups of crispies and 1/4 cup butter, but over the years the recipe changed to 6 cups crispies and 3 tbsp. butter. I wish our society wasn't so health conscious, because it makes people alter good recipes that should be left alone.

Bravo Kim!!!

I agree with Kim regarding using 5 cups instead of 6 cups.

Kim and everyone else. Great suggestions. Thanks so much for sharing. This was a mother and daughter (11 year old) project. Your suggestions made it fun and guaranteed tasty. Thanks for helping make good memories.

Thank you Kim S for clarifying the difference between the real original recipe and the one you see today. I was beginning to think I was losing my mind and remembered the wrong amounts from my childhood. Thank you...

I agree with Kim S. The original recipe was with 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 pound marshmallows, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 5 cups rice krispies and 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate pieces.

It worked so good and I did it myself only 10

Hey everybody, I wanted to make some last minute treats for me and my hubby, I used five cups to 1/4 cup butter and doubled it. I was out of vanilla, so I tried adding almond flavoring. It is amazing, my hubby flipped. I also took your suggestions and added two pinches of salt. Thanks ladies for your help, Happy New Year!!! Stephanie

For New Years Eve I put dried cranberries and salted sunflower seeds in my treats and they were a big hit! They looked fun, too.

I'm hoping someone can help me with this.. I have tried to make rice krispie treats several times.. I use the name brand rice krispies and everything.. Follow recipe to the the "T" and they always taste stale!! Every single time! I don't get it.. I can cook anything from Italian to Mexican, anything.. this is the only thing I cannot cook!! Someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong??

Cherie, I came to this site looking for recipes because I have never made these before. I just made 2 batches at the same time, one in the microwave and one on the stove. The microwave batch is PERFECT and crunchy. The one on the stove is stale tasting. Exact same box of cereal and all ingredients used. So, I would guess it's leaving the cereal on the heat in the marshmallow mixture too long. To everyone else: Thanks for the tips!

Cherie, if you are using margarine and not butter, that is one problem. My husband works for a margarine manufacturing company and they put a lot of water in margarine these days, out of one cup of melted margarine you might have 1/8 of a cup of oil. Use the microwave recipe if you can, also. That helps the taste stay fresh. Putting the vanilla in can also help, but I recommend real extract not the watered down stuff, so only use a teaspoon.
To everyone else: Thanks for the hints and tips - you are all generous to share with us your secrets!!!