Cocoa Krispies Malted Treats Recipe

I’m a champion snacker and sweet tooth, and there’s nothing I love more than a portable treat that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare. For this reason, homemade Rice Krispies treats are a staple in my house. The effortless dessert requires little more than tossing the ingredients into a saucepan, scraping the mixture into a baking dish and letting it cool before portioning. (It’s also gluten-free, nut-free, and can be easily made dairy-free by swapping it with melted dairy-free butter, making it a great contribution to school bake sales and community events.)

Another advantage? Rice Krispies treats are wonderfully versatile. The neutral flavor of the cereal and marshmallows makes the bars easily adaptable to a variety of flavors or additions. S’mores, schmaltz and chocolate are just a few of the other flavor variations available on our site. Recently, I gave my favorite recipe a twist by adding chocolate (via Cocoa Krispies and dark chocolate chunks) and malted milk powder.

Made from a blend of wheat flour and malted barley extract, malted milk powder is deeply flavorful, with what former Serious Eats editor Stella Parks describes as a “roasty, toasty, earthy flavor.” Powdered milk also adds a rich creaminess, which enhances the flavors of browned butter, marshmallows and chocolate. (Unfortunately, these treats are not gluten-free because malted milk powder contains wheat.)

As simple as Rice Krispies treats are, there are several ways to make them even better. Like my basic Rice Krispies Treats recipe, I toast the cereal and brown the butter to give the bars a rich, nutty flavor and deeper flavor. I also season the bars generously, creating a sweet-salty dynamic that keeps you coming back for more. Filled with crunchy cereal, chocolate chunks, and lots of browned butter and gooey marshmallows, these malty Cocoa Krispies treats are easy, delicious, and perfect for feeding a crowd.