If you love cookies with a crunch, you will LOVE these Rice Krispie cookies! No need for marshmallows in this rice krispie treat. These cookies are so easy you'll make them over and over again!
People can be picky about crispy cookies. Some feel strongly about the texture and either love or hate them. Me? I just love cookies! Give me soft cookies, hard cookies, thin cookies or LARGE cookies. As long as the flavor is great, I'm all in. These Rice Krispie cookies fit into the most delicious thin and crispy sugar cookies EVER category.
This is my most "go-to" cookie recipe when needing a last minute idea to bring to a gathering. They are super easy to make and although they are thin, they are also hearty enough to transport without breaking. Everybody is surprised by how much they love them!
Ingredients
This recipe includes your basic sugar cookie ingredients with the addition of Rice Krispies cereal.
Here's what you need:
- Flour (2 cups)
- Rice Krispies cereal (1 ½ cups) - or any generic brand of crispy rice cereal
- Unsalted butter (1 cup/2 sticks)
- Granulated sugar (¾ cup)
- Vanilla (1 tablespoon)
- Baking soda (¾ teaspoon)
- Salt (½ teaspoon)
You read it right, there is no egg in this recipe!
How to Make Rice Krispie Cookies
To make these cookies, simply combine the 6 ingredients (you can use a stand mixer or an electric mixer for creaming the butter and sugar), scoop the cookie dough into mounds and bake at 300°F.
These cookies are crunchy because they are double baked. This means, after they're in the oven for the first 15 minutes, you remove them from the oven and flatten them with a spatula then return to the oven another 25 minutes. This longer baking time turns out a crispier cookie.
Best Tips
In order to make the cookies the same size, I use my medium cookie scoop.
I also space the cookies apart on the baking sheet at least 2 to 3 inches so there is room for them to spread and evenly bake.
Use a silicone mat or parchment paper on the baking sheet for easy clean up.
Let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container.
Tutu's Old Hawaiian Cookie Recipe
The original recipe comes from a Hawaiian grandmother ("Tutu"). As the story goes, she would sell these cookies at a local farmers market allowing only 1 bag per customer until she sold out. A customer asked her for the recipe and she told him not to share it for 25 years. The years passed and he shared it with a publication which is how I eventually found it.
More Rice Krispies Recipes
- Birthday Cake Rice Krispies Treats
- Scotcheroos
- Chocolate Covered Crispy Poppers
- Christmas Crunch Cookies
Made this Recipe?
Leave a star rating and tag me on Instagram @seededtable so I can see. I love hearing from you!
This recipe was originally published September 2020.
Recipe Card
Rice Krispie Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter , at room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups Rice Krispies cereal
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with the sugar and salt until light and fluffy. Combine the vanilla with the baking soda and add to the butter/sugar mixture. Stir in the flour 1 cup at a time. Gently stir in the Rice Krispies. Do not over mix.
- Scoop 2-tablepoon sized mounds onto prepared baking sheets, making sure to space them at least 2 inches apart. Bake 15 minutes. Remove from oven and quickly but gently flatten with a spatula. Return to oven (rotating pans front to back, top to bottom) and bake an additional 25 minutes, until lightly golden and cracked on top.
- Remove from oven and let cool on baking sheet 8 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Nutrition information is an estimate only.
Lauri T says
Fantastic cookie! I skeptical at first because there was no egg. After reading the reviews, I proceeded with the recipe. I only had salted butter and should have left out the 1/4 tsp on salt. Still tasted delicious and had the texture I was looking for. I too cut 5 minutes off the last bake time.
Definitely a keeper!
Joanne says
Hello ladies/men : I am currently in the process of making these. They are in the oven. When I make a new recipe, I follow exactly the recipe’s mesurements. The dough is extremely dry .. it does not hold together. I’ve put one cookie sheet in the oven and I’ve just smashed them with a spatula after 15 minutes. They are all crumbled.
I think before I continue, I will add a beaten egg with perhaps a bit of milk to moisten the batter. I will let you know what the final results are.
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Joanne, do you happen to live in a higher elevation area, such as Colorado? The dough is a little more more dry than most cookie doughs, but shouldn't be falling apart. Or, maybe you smashed them too hard with the spatula? How did the second sheet turn out? Thanks!
Debra says
Hello Joanne. I have been making these cookies for 15+ years. I found the recipe in a Good Housekeeping magazine! They were called Tu Tu’s Sugar cookies. Please don’t add an egg. These are basically a shortbread cookie recipe with Rice Krispies added.
The dough can be crumbly. After forming the balls, I will firmly press each ball in my hand to form the ball. They will hold together fine as long as you are measuring the flour correctly. (Spooned lightly in to the measuring cup). I think the egg will change the recipe. These cookies are beyond delicious. They keep for days and make great gifts or for taking camping!
Kim says
These are delicious! Definitely a new favorite crispy cookie. I added 1/4t of almond extract, and the second bake I cut 5 mins short - they're perfect! Especially with coffee or tea. Will absolutely make these again!
Katy Davis says
Has anyone tried adding chocolate chips to this recipe?
Judy says
There is a similar rice Krispy cookie recipe that adds 1 Cup of chocolate chips to their rice Krispy cookie recipe. That recipe makes 24 cookies. This recipe doesn't state how many cookies it makes. I am going to add 1 cup of cinnamon chip instead. Also 1 Cup of mini marshmallows can be added. Look on Pinterest for more rice krispy cookie recipes. There's several. ** Adding extras might be a new cookie. **
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Judy! Thanks for helping out Katy with your ideas. We haven't tested adding anything to these cookies, but I might try it someday! 🙂 Also, this recipe does indeed state how many cookies. You might've just overlooked it. It makes 2 dozen. Thank you!
E says
Good cookie, I did not think they would turn out, but they did! Next time I won’t let the second bake go for 25 min., maybe closer to 20.
Lindsey says
So happy to come across an egg free cookie recipe!
Sue K. says
Excellent cookie! I never liked how rice krispies would be chewy after baking. I substituted a recipe called Rice Krispy Crunch. Adds a extra flavor layer and can be made with any cereal (larger cereal needs to be crushed into smaller pieces). In a large bowl, combine 1/2c. milk powder, 3T. sugar,1 tsp. kosher salt. Mix in 5 cups of rice krispies and pour on 8T (1/2c.) of melted, unsalted butter. Mix well and spread on parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Bake at 275 for 20 minutes. Cool. Can freeze.
Dena Fiad says
Do these freeze after being baked? Thank you:)
Nikki Gladd says
I haven't tried to freeze these yet, but I think that should work just fine!
Barbra says
Do you have a recipe that includes the marshmallows?
Nikki Gladd says
Do you mean rice krispies treats recipe? The standard recipe is on the cereal box, I don't have it on my website. But I do have a couple of variations. I have a Pumpkin Pie Rice Krispies recipe and a Cake Batter Rice Krispies recipe. Thanks!
Rhonda says
Absolutely delicious!
Nikki Gladd says
Thank you, Rhonda!
Chris says
Can you make these with gluten free flour?
Thanks.
Nikki Gladd says
I have not tested with gluten free flour and not familiar with using it for substitutions. Maybe another reader has tried and can chime in!
Michelle says
I notice that eggs aren’t listed as an ingredient. Is this the case? (Just hopeful it is and not a typo.) I’m looking for an eggless recipe as I’m making cookies for someone with an egg allergy.
Nikki Gladd says
That's correct, Michelle. No eggs! 🙂 Yay!