Anyone else absolutely love rice krispie treats when you were little? They were the ultimate dessert and I love anytime anyone would jazz them up and do something a little different…you know, like adding peanut butter, chocolate or even butterscotch chips. In fact, remember when I made my peanut butter rice krispie treats a few years back? SO DANG GOOD.
Today I’m sharing my latest and greatest version of a rice krispie treat. They’re made with brown rice krispies, no marshmallows (!!!) naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup, speckled with sprinkles and drizzled with a white chocolate glaze for the ultimate treat. I hope you LOVE these!
Ingredients in healthy birthday cake rice krispie treats
The base of these gluten free birthday cake rice krispie treats is just 5 simple ingredients to keep them perfectly sweet, easy and incredibly delicious. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Cashew butter: be sure to use an all natural, creamy cashew butter. You can also use a different nut butter or tahini, but I like using cashew butter because it’s relatively neutral in flavor.
- Maple syrup: we’re sweetening these birthday cake rice krispies with pure maple syrup. You can also use honey or brown rice syrup if you’d like.
- Coconut oil: you’ll need a bit of coconut oil to give these bars the right texture and for the white chocolate drizzle. You can also use butter or vegan butter.
- Vanilla extract: for a little boost of flavor.
- Salt: you’ll just need a pinch if your cashew butter isn’t already salted.
- Crispy brown rice cereal: note that traditional Rice Krispies cereal is not certified gluten-free, so be sure to check your box and use a brown rice krispies cereal alternative that’s gluten free if need be.
- Rainbow sprinkles: to make these birthday cake flavored! I like to use this all natural brand but this one is another great all natural sprinkles brand.
- White chocolate chips: you’ll just need a couple tablespoons of white chocolate chips for the drizzle. YUM.
How to make gluten free rice krispie treats without marshmallows
- Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place a medium pot over low heat and add in cashew butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well combined, about 1 minute.
- Next add in crispy brown rice cereal and sprinkles; stir until combined and cereal is completely coated. Pour into the prepared pan, and use a spatula to flatten the top so it is even.
- Next make the white chocolate drizzle topping by adding white chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until chocolate is completely melted. You can also melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over very low heat if you prefer. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the bars and evenly sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sprinkles.
- Place the pan in the freezer for 20-30 minutes or until the bars are completely cool and the white chocolate drizzle has solidified. Cut into 16 bars and enjoy!
Optional swaps in these birthday cake rice krispie treats
- Feel free to use peanut, tahini, almond or sunflower butter in place of the cashew butter. Cashew butter has the most neutral flavor but any of these should work okay.
- Instead of coconut oil, you may use melted butter or vegan butter.
- Feel free to use honey or brown rice syrup instead of maple syrup.
- To make dairy free: simply skip the white chocolate drizzle (they’ll still be delicious!)
How to store birthday cake rice krispie treats
- In the fridge: Store these bars covered in the fridge for up to 1 week. When you’re ready to eat them, just let them come to room temp for about 5 minutes so that they soften a bit.
- In the freezer: yes, you can freeze this birthday cake krispie treats! Place them in the freezer for up to 2 months in an airtight container. I’d recommend separating the bars with parchment wax paper as well. When you’re ready to eat them, let the bars thaw in the fridge and then bring them to room temp as described above.
I hope you love these easy no bake birthday cake rice krispie treats! If you make them be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them. Enjoy, xo!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup natural creamy cashew butter
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt (if your cashew butter isn’t already salted)
- 2 1/2-3 cups crispy brown rice cereal*
- ⅓ cup rainbow sprinkles
- For the white chocolate drizzle:
- 2-3 tablespoons white chocolate chips*
- 1-2 teaspoons coconut oil
- To garnish:
- 1 tablespoon rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place a medium pot over low heat and add in cashew butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and well combined, about 1 minute.
- Next add in crispy brown rice cereal and sprinkles; stir until combined and cereal is completely coated. Pour into the prepared pan, and use a spatula to flatten the top so it is even.
- Next make the white chocolate drizzle topping by adding white chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between, until chocolate is completely melted. You can also melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over very low heat if you prefer. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the bars and evenly sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sprinkles.
- Place the pan in the freezer for 20-30 minutes or until the bars are completely cool and the white chocolate drizzle has solidified. Cut into 16 bars and enjoy!
- Bars should be kept covered in the fridge and will stay good for up to 1 week. Take bars out 5 minutes before you are ready to serve to ensure they aren't too crunchy! They soften up at room temp.
10 comments
Hi! Must I say that these look amazing! Ive been eating low carb for the last 15 months and ready to transition to having a higher amount of carbs, so I started searching for a lot of clean eating blogs and I am so glad that I found yours! Can’t wait to try all of your tasty recipes.
Hi! I hope you find recipes here that you love!
My husband doesn’t like white chocolate (and somehow I married him anyway), so the first batch I made with cashew butter and omitted the white chocolate. The taste was good but the sprinkles went everywhere. So, of course, I made them again, but using tahini and a dark chocolate drizzle. The second batch is so rich – it tastes like a pastry shop dessert – and we are obsessed with them. I keep them in the freezer so we can hopefully eat them a little more slowly…
Perfect! Love the idea of using tahini and adding dark chocolate 🙂 so glad you both enjoyed!
So amazing! I followed it to a T with no modifications. This recipe is helping me curb my sugar craving when I can grab this is a healthier alternative. Best dessert ever that makes you feel like every day is your birthday!
Amazing! So glad you loved these!
These are my new favorite kind of Rice Krispie treats! I cut them into squares and keep them in the freezer. Perfect after meal treat!!!!
Made these for my husband’s birthday and he was a huge fan! He said they were BETTER than Rice Krispie treats. I would have to agree! Will definitely be making them again.
When/where do you add in the 1/3 cup of sprinkles?
Thank you for the catch! Add them in Step 3 with the cereal 🙂