These nostalgic Lucky Charms Treats with stretchy, chewy marshmallows and lots of crunchy cereal are a quick and easy dessert that’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! Made with three simple ingredients, this nostalgic treat only requires about 10 minutes of hands-on effort before it needs to set.
I like using the colorful marshmallow pieces in the cereal as a topping, but you can also use sprinkles or dip the bars in melted chocolate! For more cereal bar recipes, try my classic Rice Krispie treat recipe, scotcheroos, and Special K bars.
Ingredients
Lucky Charms cereal — you need 7 cups of cereal for the perfect crunch. This is about one 10.5-ounce box. Use a fresh box of Lucky Charms—if they are stale, your cereal bars won’t be very crispy.
Butter — butter adds a rich flavor and creaminess to the marshmallows and also reduces the stickiness a bit.
Marshmallows — I prefer using mini marshmallows since they melt more easily in the butter. But you can use a bag of large marshmallows if you have those on hand.
How To Make Lucky Charms Treats
1. Start by removing about ⅓ cup of the colorful marshmallow pieces from the cereal and set them aside for now. In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat and then add the marshmallows. Stir frequently with a silicone spatula until fully melted. Remove from the heat.
2. Immediately add the Lucky Charms cereal and fold to combine. Work as quickly as you can.
3. Pour the mixture into a parchment paper-lined 9×9-inch square pan or baking dish. Use the silicone spatula to press the cereal mixture into an even layer in the pan.
4. Sprinkle the reserved marshmallows over the top and gently press them onto the surface. Let cool completely for about 1 hour. Use the piece of parchment paper to remove the uncut Lucky Charms bars from the pan. Use a lightly greased sharp knife to cut the block of cereal treats into squares.
Can I Use Marshmallow Fluff Instead Of Marshmallows?
No, marshmallow fluff won’t set and will remain soft. You need the gelatin in regular marshmallows for these Lucky Charm treats to set up firmly.
Variations
- Brown the butter first: Use browned butter to add a delicious nutty flavor to Lucky Charms marshmallow treats. You can use the instructions for how to brown butter, make it in the same pot, and stir in the marshmallows once the butter has browned.
- Add sprinkles or freeze-dried fruit: Add a bit of flavor and additional festivity by stirring in your favorite freeze-dried fruit or sprinkles along with the cereal to these fun treats. Or, add sprinkles or crushed freeze-dried fruit as a topping; lightly press it into the top of the treat block after you can spread it into the pan but before it sets.
- Dip or drizzle with chocolate: Dip or drizzle Lucky Charms Rice Krispie treats with melted white chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate. For an extra festive St. Patrick’s Day themed treat, dip the cut squares in melted green candy melts!
- Add vanilla extract: Stir 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract into the marshmallow mixture just before adding the cereal.
How To Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Add a pinch of salt to the marshmallow and butter mixture to help balance the sweet flavors. Or sprinkle the top of the bars with flakey sea salt.
- Work quickly. The marshmallows in the cereal will begin to dissolve when added to the hot marshmallows.
- Spray the spatula with cooking spray when pressing the mixture into the prepared baking pan to prevent the cereal mixture from sticking.
- Don’t pack the mixture too tightly. Press it into the pan, but don’t pack it too tightly, or the cereal bars will turn out hard and dense.
- Soak the pot for easy cleanup. Melted marshmallows make a bit of a sticky mess, but it’s easy to clean up! Simply soak the pot in hot water with some dish soap to dissolve the marshmallows.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are best eaten quite soon after they set for the best texture. I recommend making them within 48 hours of serving, though they will last for up to 1 week.
Yes. Wrap each bar tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Defrost at room temperature for a few hours. While they will freeze, the treats will lose some of their crispy texture when defrosted.
General Mills Lucky Charms cereal is a rice cereal and certified gluten-free. But please double-check ingredient labels to be sure.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this Lucky Charms treats recipe, then don’t forget to rate it and let me know how you got on in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
Lucky Charms Treats Recipe
Equipment
- Large Pot
- 9×9 inch pan
Ingredients
- 7 cups Lucky Charms cereal (10 ounces, 275g)
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (70g)
- 7 cups mini marshmallows (12 ounces, 340g)
Instructions
- Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper or foil. (You can spray the pan first with nonstick cooking spray to hold the lining in place, if needed.)
- Measure out the cereal, then remove about ⅓ cup of the colorful marshmallow pieces. Set aside.
- In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the marshmallows. Stir frequently with a silicone spatula until fully melted, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Immediately add the cereal and fold to combine. (It’s important to work quickly, as the marshmallows in the cereal will begin to melt.)
- Pour the mixture into the baking pan. Use the silicone spatula or the butter stick wrapper, press the mixture into an even layer into the pan. Sprinkle the reserved marshmallows over the top and press them into the surface. Let cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Use the parchment to remove the treats from the pan. Lightly grease a sharp knife and cut into squares.
Notes
- Add a pinch of salt to the marshmallow and butter mixture to help balance the sweet flavors. Or sprinkle the top of the bars with flakey sea salt.
- Work quickly. The marshmallows in the cereal will begin to dissolve when added to the hot marshmallows.
- Spray the spatula with cooking spray when pressing the mixture into the prepared baking pan to prevent the cereal mixture from sticking.
- Don’t pack the mixture too tightly. Press it into the pan, but don’t pack it too tightly, or the cereal bars will turn out hard and dense.
- Soak the pot for easy cleanup. Melted marshmallows make a bit of a sticky mess, but it’s easy to clean up! Simply soak the pot in hot water with some dish soap to dissolve the marshmallows.
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