A fun twist on a classic recipe, Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats. Who doesn’t love a dessert that comes together in minutes and can be simplified for an everyday snack or dressed up for a party platter!
Looking for some easy, delicious treats?
These Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats take just a few ingredients and turn them into a delicious, festive treat that’s perfect for any occasion!
Sometimes, the classics just need a little something extra. We all know and love the humble Rice Krispie treat, that nostalgic after-school staple made with three simple ingredients. But what if you crave a bit more pizazz? A fun way to elevate your basic Rice Krispy treats is by making Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats. This easy recipe takes the classic treat and injects it with a vibrant dose of red velvet flair. It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day, bake sales or any time of year.
What Is Red Velvet?
Red velvet cake might seem like a fancy, upgraded version of chocolate cake, but there’s more to it than meets the eye! Believe it or not, the vibrant red color we associate with red velvet cake is a relatively recent invention. Back in the day, the cake actually had a more subtle, rusty hue thanks to a chemical reaction between some of the ingredients. In the 1920s, a food coloring company saw an opportunity and introduced a recipe using red food coloring, which is how we get the bright red color we know today.
So what exactly goes into red velvet cake? It’s not just your typical cake mix. Along with the usual flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, red velvet cake has cocoa powder, buttermilk, and vinegar. These ingredients are used to create a natural reddish color when they interact, but modern cocoa powder often doesn’t react the same way. That’s why most recipes today call for red food coloring to achieve the classic red hue.
But don’t be fooled by those seemingly unusual ingredients – the buttermilk and vinegar are what make the cake so light, fluffy, and tender. Plus, red velvet cake is typically paired with a delicious cream cheese frosting. The white frosting beautifully complements the red color, and the tangy cream cheese flavor perfectly balances the subtle tang from the buttermilk. We’re happy to see this unique cake back in style – it’s a real crowd-pleaser!
As for these red velvet Rice Krispie treats, we use the addition of some red velvet cake mix, just like our red velvet cake ice cream, except we’re using uncooked cake mix for this recipe. They’re almost as decadent as red velvet cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting but in the form of cereal!
What you’ll love about this recipe:
What You Need to Make Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats
- Butter: This is the base that gets melted to hold everything together. Just like in regular Rice Krispie treats, melted butter helps bind the marshmallows and cereal into a delicious, gooey bar.
- Mini marshmallows: They melt and become sticky, which is what coats the cereal and gives the treats their signature texture.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla extract adds a touch of warm, sweet flavor that complements the chocolatey red velvet flavor.
- Red velvet box cake mix: This is what gives these treats their beautiful red color and signature red velvet flavor. The cake mix usually contains cocoa powder, buttermilk powder, and sometimes red food coloring, all working together to create that unique taste.
- Cocoa Rice Krispies Cereal: These add a fun twist to the classic Rice Krispie treat. The chocolate flavor in the cereal complements the red velvet cake mix, and the different texture adds a nice crunch. You could also use regular Rice Krispie cereal if you prefer.
- White chocolate chips: Melted white chocolate chips are optional, but they add a lovely creamy sweetness and a contrasting color to the red treats.
How to Make Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats
- Line a 9×13-inch pan with wax or parchment paper and grease well.
- Heat a large skillet or saucepan over low heat. Then, the signature ingredients, butter and marshmallows, are melted until smooth. For this version, add in a little red velvet cake mix before folding it all in with cocoa rice cereal.
- Stir frequently as the marshmallows melt until the mixture is smooth. Quickly fold the rice krispies into the melted marshmallow mixture until combined and everything is coated.
- Transfer the sticky cereal mixture to the prepared pan, pressing down with the back of a greased spoon or your fingers until the top is level.
- Allow the krispie treats to set for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
- Once they are pressed into a pan, drizzle with a little white chocolate if you’re feeling fancy. (Cream cheese frosting seemed like overkill – though let’s be honest, we would do it in a heartbeat.)
Expert Recipe Tips
- Just like the classic version, you need a pan to press the mix into, and pro-tip, line it with lightly greased wax paper or parchment paper for later, trust us.
- Make the perfect Valentine’s Day treats by using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to make red velvet Rice Krispie hearts!
How to Store Leftovers & Reheat
No one likes it when these treats get hard or soggy while sitting around waiting to be devoured. So, to keep them fresh, cut them up into portions and store them in a resealable airtight container for up to 3 days.
If they do get too hard, pop them in the microwave for 15 seconds. It’s not going to bring back the freshness, but it’s a good trick to make them soft again!
These Red Velvet Rice Krispie Treats are sweet ending with a touch of sophistication, minus the hours of baking. They’re a playful wink to childhood, a reminder that sometimes the most delicious things are the simplest. If you try this recipe, please rate the recipe card and leave a comment down below to help out the next reader!
Red Velvet Krispie Treats
AmericanIngredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 10.5 ounces bag mini marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup red velvet cake mix
- 6 cups Cocoa Rice Krispies cereal
- 4 ounces white chocolate chips - melted
Instructions
- Line a 9×13-inch pan with wax or parchment paper and grease well.
- Heat a large skillet or saucepan over low heat. Add the marshmallows, cake mix, and vanilla.
- Stir frequently as the marshmallows melt until the mixture is smooth. Quickly fold in the rice krispies to the marshmallow mixture until combined and everything is coated.
- Transfer sticky cereal mixture to the prepared pan, pressing down with the back of a greased spoon or your fingers until the top is level.
- Allow the krispie treats to set, at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
- Drizzle white chocolate over the top, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional informations provided as a courtesy and is only an approximatation. Values will changes based on ingredients used.
⭐ Tried this recipe? Rate it ⭐
Help out the next person and give it a star rating below!
So funny you post about this mascara kit, since just a few days back I was at the brim of buying it online! I’ll wait until your reviews to see which one is best!
Those Red Velvet Treats look divine!!!
Oh yum! Love this spin on the rice krispie treat!
I love Sephora and their mascaras! I recommend Benefit Bad Gal Lash or Dior Show mascara… but those are for like, ultra lash glam! 😉 Save it for special occasions!
What a beautiful treat and the colour so festive. Great post 🙂
What a gorgeous color! (I meant the cookie). Never really liked rice krispies but this … I can do. Looks delicious. I’m imagining the lovely combination of cake and crunch, yum!
I’m a jeans and t-shirt person myself, owned 3 pairs of high heels for the whole of my existence, in the hope that one day I might learn to walk in them … never did … now totally happy in flatties. Girly, I’ll never be.
I love Cocoa Krispies, and the bars look awesome. But I think I’ll pass on the mascara! 🙂
Oh, these are delightful! Love the red velvetness….
Aahh these look so awesome! I love rice krispie treats of all flavors and designs, but these are perfect for all the holiday parties coming up. So festive! Except for I might want to eat them all myself…
I’m a total L’Oreal mascara kinda of gal… but some things {like OPI nail polish}, I just can’t live with out. PS… these rice krispie treats are beautiful!
Ah, they look so pretty! You most definitely have to make another batch and try them out!!
If three bristly balls and NOT Priscilla Queen of the Dessert popped out of my fairy drops mascara, I might be tempted to take it back. Shame.
These krispie treats are fantastic. So holiday. So chic chic and dare I say, girlie!? Love.
Mmmm red velvet krispies!? Loving it. And I’m interested to see which mascara you like best. I am in love with diorshow.
In case you haven’t had the chance to make these again, I made them yesterday and they were kick ass. Definitely think the use of the cocoa rice krispies helped.
These are sooo awesome. I love this idea! Mascara and krispy all in one post? It’s definitely the holidays. Time for playing dress up and eating! 🙂
these are so darn pretty
These look so good they make me want to curse.
Oh wow, what a stunning dessert! 🙂 I’ve never seen cake mix used in rice krispie treats, very interesting!
Mmmmmmm…..you’re SO creative, Kita, and these look amazing!!!
Omg, this is brilliant! I neeeeed to make them but I know I would eat the entire batch!
I’m excited to hear the rest of your reviews. I’m have a serious mascara addiction but I rarely stray from my beloved L’Oreal Voluminous. I need to branch out.
Woah! I didn’t even know you could do that to rice krispies! Totally trying this 😀 Thanks!
HOLY FREAKIN’ KITA. I want to date these bars. YUM!!!!!!!!
I have a weakness for red velvet anything – these look divine!
If a drag queen popped out I would go buy it now. [sigh] I’m relieved I am not the only one that buys beautiful high heels but never wears skirts. 🙂
I swear by Dior Iconic mascara. I have zero eyelashes if you look without a magnifying glass and it always seems to go on smooth without clumping or rubbing off.
Urban Decay Big Fat Lash or whatever disappointed me. I’ll save it for Sunday’s and smear it under my eyes for football effect.
As I said on Facebook your treats are so beautiful. I’m gonna steal that little treat stand…I just love it!
What a great idea! These look delicious, I’d love to have one right now. Great post!
I am so clueless when it comes to make up! Always love a good review!
Red Velvet rice krispie treats….now those I can understand. And they are red – so what better treat for Christmas 🙂
Wow these look delicious! Love the red velvet cake batter in there too. YUM!
just when I thought nothing else could be done to a rice krispie treat!! wow those look amazing!! great job 🙂
Using coco krispies. What an epiphany. You’re amazing. I’ve never seen a rice krispie treat look so elegant.
I’m sorry about the mascara and the whole fairy thing. Mascara’s one of the things I don’t mess with or change up, ever. I like why I buy so I stick with it. If the brand ever goes under, I’m in trouble. 🙂
I love rice krispie treats and I love red velvet so this looks flipping amazing!
I love reading about your “girly” pursuits. You are a riot. Perhaps you could start a new niche, recipes with beauty product reviews? I love it! …along with your giggles. You are too funny 😉
I am so with you. I am definitely not a girly girl. It’s been about 2 years since I updated my make up collection. I’m looking forward to what you like, seeing as I am in need of suggestions too lol. The red velvet rice crispy treats were a great idea! I love the dark red color.
You and I are twins….except I don’t buy the shoes! It was worth the mascara for the terrific review! I chuckled through the whole thing!
I love the idea of making rice krispy treat into a red velvet treat, just beautiful! I am so not a girlie girl either, my husband is totally okay with that, LOL:-) Hugs, Terra
these looks so delish
I would have wanted that magical mascara, but knowing my makeup fascination lasts only as long as how many minutes it takes for water to boil, I am sure it will be a total waste for me. I have a few pieces that work real fine, so I am ok with that. What I have been looking for is a great green-colored eyeshadow (not the gliterry type) that somebody suggested I use to cover my huge eyebags…
Meantime, I’ll just start working on trying out your red krispie treats that look really great! Yum! Thanks for sharing…I love reading your stories, keep posting!
These need to be in my life very soon! So creative and so fun!
These are just beautiful RKTs and so festive!
What a great idea Kita! It looks so yummy! I can honestly say I never would have thought of this. So creative!
Dior Show is definitely my favorite mascara!
These rice krispies look amazing. I made rice krispies w/ PB and PB M&Ms the other day and they were devoured. So good! I bet these are even better…yum!
I feel like I am so behind too! I love anything red velvet and we know we all love rice krispies treats! Yum!
My hubby came home today from the comic book store and said that I had to check out your blog and “like” it on Facebook. Comics are not my cup of tea but I agreed. Yeah, totally not a comic book related blog. More like, “OMG I’m going to gain soooo much weight” blog! Loving the look of these treats and can’t wait to make them!
I try to bake with cocoa krispies, too, when I have the choice between cocoa and plain…you just get an extra oomph of flavor with the cocoa.
I am a huge RKTreats fan and these look amazing!
So I made these for a potluck yesterday, and the first person to take a bite immediately exclaimed “NO ONE eat the dessert! It’s DISGUSTING!” and proceeded to greedily consume the rest of her bar. I suggested that I should just take the rest home to spare the rest of the guests and she said “NOOOOO!”
In fact I had to make another batch today. I think you get some kudos here. 🙂
This recipe was fabulous! I needed a few additional gourmet style rice krispies treats for a tv segment I did yesterday and gave yours a try! This is my new go-to red velvet krispies treat recipe!
I feel like a dummy asking, but I just want to make sure I do this right. 🙂 3 tablespoons of butter are listed in the ingredients, but I don’t see where those are used in the recipe. I see that the pan needs to be greased, but I’m thinking 3T of butter is more than you need for that, so I wondered if a step had been missed in the directions. Thanks!
Oooooh never mind, I just clicked through to the original recipe and found it. Hooray! Can’t wait to try these!
Im sorry for not getting back to you sooner. We were out today for the holiday and I didn’t have access to a computer. I hope you enjoyed these! Thanks!
These look amazing! My sister is in love with anything red velvet (and honestly so am I)…I’m planning ahead for her birthday so these would be amazing but I had two questions: 1) can I use regular rice krispies and add cocoa powder for extra taste? and 2) what would you do with the remaining cake batter?
Hi Nada, I would give it a go. It’s krispie treats, so even not so great experiments are still yummy treats! I have used the remaining cake batter in various things like milkshakes and what not. But I don’t keep it long. I buy it on the cheap while it’s on sale then don’t feel bad if I don’t end up using all of it.
I’m sorry. These were awful. I made them for valentine’s day, and they came out hard as a rock. You can’t, aapparently, just throw unbaled cake mix into the normal recipe for rice krispie treats and hope for the best. Also, you forgot to say when to add the butter.
Sorry to hear about your results. They worked for me. You add the butter when melting the marshmallows.