Celebrate with a batch of birthday cake rice krispies treats today! These no-bake treats are ready in 15 minutes or less and taste like your favorite vanilla birthday cake.
Why you'll love this recipe
Tastes like birthday cake. They're made with vanilla extract, almond extract, and rainbow sprinkles to achieve that classic vanilla birthday cake flavor.
Feeds a crowd. This recipe makes 24 two-inch squares.
Great last minute treat. Have a batch ready in 15 minutes with no baking needed!
Travels well. Great for picnics, potlucks, and birthdays.
Customizable. Add sprinkles to match your favorite sports team, birthday theme, or favorite color.
Similar to: birthday cake cookies and strawberry rice krispies treats
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Cereal - Rice krispies cereal (or a generic brand) serves as the base of this recipe.
- Marshmallows - I prefer using mini marshmallows in rice krispies treats because they melt easily but large marshmallows will also work.
- Butter - Unsalted or salted butter works in this recipe. If using salted butter, cut the listed salt in half.
- Extracts - The combination of vanilla and almond extracts is what creates that classic birthday cake flavor. I use the same combination in my birthday cake cookies recipe.
- Salt - Enhances the other flavors in the recipe and helps balance the sweetness.
- Sprinkles - You'll need some rainbow jimmies sprinkles to add those pops of color throughout the rice krispies treats.
How to make rice krispies treats
- Use a large stock pot on the stovetop to melt your butter.
- Add marshmallows, extracts, and salt, stirring until the marshmallows are mostly melted.
- Add cereal and sprinkles and gently stir to coat.
- Press cereal mixture into a greased or lined 9x13 pan.
- Allow to cool before slicing and serving.
Tips and tricks
Pan size - You'll need a 9x13 rectangular baking pan for this recipe.
Work quickly - The marshmallow mixture cools off and thickens quickly, so it's important to work fast. Mix your ingredients and press them into the pan quickly before the mixture cools and becomes difficult to stir.
How to make rice krispies treats less sticky - Your cereal mixture will be sticky once mixed. There are a few methods that can help to painlessly press your bars into the pan. Using either your hands or a large spatula, spray with cooking spray or dampen with water before pressing your bars down. Both methods help reduce stickiness.
Storage
Birthday cake rice krispies treats are best enjoyed within 1 to 2 days of preparing and dry out quickly after that. Store prepared treats in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.
They also freeze well, up to six weeks or more when stored in optimal conditions. I suggest tightly wrapping your treats in foil, then storing in a tightly sealed freezer-safe container or bag.
Frequently asked questions
I don't recommend making rice krispies treats more than one day ahead of time for best results. If you plan to make your bars ahead, leave the slab whole instead of slicing into bars and storing individually. Storing as a whole slab helps retain moisture in your bars.
A bag of mini marshmallows could be substituted with a jar of marshmallow fluff if desired.
I recommend jimmies sprinkles (the long, thin sprinkles shown in the photos) for best results. Feel free to use any color variation you like. Sanding sugar and nonpareils melt into the marshmallows instead of adding distinct pops of color.
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Birthday Cake Rice Krispies Treats
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter
- 10 ounces (284 g) mini marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 cups (168 g) rice krispies cereal
- ¼ cup rainbow jimmies sprinkles
Instructions
- Line 9x13 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a stock pot over low heat, melt butter.
- Add marshmallows, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt. Stir until marshmallows are almost completely melted. Remove pan from heat.
- Add Rice Krispies cereal and sprinkles and gently stir until evenly coated.
- Press cereal mixture firmly into 9x13 pan using a spatula. Allow to cool completely.
- Use excess parchment around the edges of the pan to pull bars from the pan and slice into 2-inch squares.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Storage: Rice krispies treats will keep for about two days in a tightly sealed container at room temperature. Leftovers can be frozen for up to three months.
- Make ahead: If making ahead, store rice krispies treats slab whole and slice the day of serving. Slicing and storing separately will dry out treats faster than leaving whole.
I had so much fun creating this recipe! I hope you give it a try and love it as much as I do. If you have a question, check out the post above, which is packed with information about the recipe. Tried the recipe? I'd love to hear your thoughts — leave a comment and a star rating to share your feedback!