If you’re in the market for a lightning-fast, naturally gluten-free, colorful dessert, look no further than my easy, 3-ingredient Fruity Pebbles Cereal Bars! These Fruity Pebbles Rice Krispies Treats are a fun, flavorful twist on the original that is just as easy as the classic version and arguably more delightful. It’s the perfect last-minute shareable treat for any occasion!
You know those weeks where all your plans for record-breaking productivity go down the tubes? Not because you did anything wrong, mind you — just that there weren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week? That seems to be EVERY week for me lately. 🤦🏼♀️
When my one day off a week finally arrived, I forgot we were going to a friend’s house for a pool party. I felt a little flustered. As a former restaurant worker, I never show up empty-handed. (It’s basically an unspoken rule!) So I did a quick scan of my cabinets and found a box of Fruity Pebbles and a bag of jumbo marshmallows, and BOOM! We were in business. Fruity Pebbles bars to the rescue!
Exactly 12 minutes later, I had a perfectly acceptable potluck offering. But, me being me, I also added a little extra pizzaz with a squiggle of melted white chocolate and the powdered remnants of my can of freeze-dried strawberries. Y’all, I kid you not — the entire 9x13 tray of Fruity Pebbles marshmallow treats was gobbled down within an hour of our arrival. They’re THAT good.
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Why You’ll Love This Fruity Pebbles Cereal Bars Recipe
If you loved the sweet sticky goodness of Rice Krispies treats as a kid, I have a feeling you’re going to love the technicolor dreamworld of Fruity Pebbles Rice Krispies treats. The biggest difference between the two is some seriously fruity-licious flavor, plus all those bright, cheerful colors.
Aside from being a charming new rendition of the original, these rainbow Rice Krispies treats are also:
- Made With Only 3 Basic Ingredients - All you need is butter, marshmallows, and cereal. If you want to go for garnishing gold and make my extra-fancy Fruity Pebble treats, add some white chocolate melts and freeze-dried fruit to the mix. 😻
- Quick & Easy - Made in one pan in just 10 minutes with no baking? These Fruity Pebble crispy treats are a procrastinator’s DREAM.
- Allergen-Friendly - These Fruity Pebble bars are naturally gluten-free, peanut-free, and soy-free so pretty much everyone can get in on the fun. They’re also super easy to make vegan if you swap in gelatin- and egg-free marshmallows (like Trader Joe’s brand) and dairy-free butter.
- Crowd-Pleasing - Fruity Pebble rice crispy treats are bright, colorful, stretchy-soft while still staying crispy, and utterly delicious. I’d be shocked if I met someone who didn’t like them.
Ingredients & Substitutions
As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this Fruity Pebble cereal bar recipe. Here’s what to grab:
- Butter - I use salted butter. If you’re swapping in unsalted, add about ½ teaspoon of kosher salt to the mix.
- Marshmallows - Feel free to use fancy homemade marshmallows if you want, but I think those are best reserved for hot chocolate. If possible, opt for mini marshmallows — they melt faster and more evenly than the Jumbo fellas.
- Fruity Pebbles Cereal - I used the traditional version, but feel free to swap in any seasonal or limited edition varieties you like (like the Lucky Charms-inspired Fruity Pebbles with marshmallows?!?). You’re also welcome to use Cocoa Pebbles for a chocolate version.
If you want to add a little extra somethin’-somethin’ to make these Fruity Pebbles krispies treats really shine, you can also grab:
- White Chocolate & Coconut Oil - Melting your chocolate with coconut oil is the easiest way to get the pretty, tempered shine without the fuss of tempering. Feel free to swap in white chocolate melts for a 1-ingredient fix.
- Strawberry Extract - Totally optional, but fun for reinforcing that fruit-aliciously sweet Fruity Pebbles cereal bar vibe.
- Freeze-Dried Strawberries - Joe and I buy giant cans of these whenever they go on sale. They’re great for adding to regular bran flakes (like homemade Special K!), snacking on by the handful, or adding bright color and yummy strawberry flavor to all your favorite snacks.
How To Make Rice Crispy Treats With Fruity Pebbles
This Fruity Pebble bars recipe comes together in a flash. Here’s how:
Prep a 9x13 pan by spraying with non-stick spray or greasing with butter.
Step 1: Melt Butter & Marshmallows in a large, deep pan. (I find my ceramic-coated dutch oven is the perfect amount of nonstick!)
Step 2: Add Fruity Pebbles and stir to combine.
Step 3: Shape. Pour the marshmallow cereal treat mixture into the prepared pan. Spray a bit of non-stick spray on the bottom of a glass or on your hands to press the mixture into an even layer.
Step 4: Cool. Let the cereal bars set up for about 10-20 minutes.
Step 5: Cut the set cereal bars into rectangles like granola bars, or squares if you prefer. If you're using the topping, set the bars on top of a piece of parchment with a bit of space between them.
If you want to add the optional strawberry white chocolate drizzle topping:
Step 1: Melt. In the meantime, melt the white chocolate, coconut oil, and extract (if using) in a double boiler OR using the microwave in 30-second bursts. Stir until smooth, well combined, and a drizzling consistency.
Step 2: Drizzle. Dip a fork in the melted chocolate mix and Jackson Pollock spatter over the top of the sliced cereal bars. Sprinkle the crushed strawberries on top.
Step 3: Chill. Let the white chocolate set (you can speed this up by popping the tray into the fridge for about 15 minutes). Dig in!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations
The great thing about this Fruity Pebbles treats recipe is you can easily adapt it to your needs. Here are a few optional variations to try:
- Dairy-Free/Vegan - Just be sure to use vegan butter and vegan marshmallows to make this a plant-based treat. (Fruity Pebbles are vegan-friendly!)
- Different Cereal - The great thing about the OG Rice Krispies Treats recipe is that it can easily be adapted to just about any kind of cereal you have on hand. Honey Nut Cheerios? Sure! Cocoa Pebbles? Why not! Honey Grahams? Do it! Have fun experimenting, and let me know YOUR favorite cereal to turn into crunchy, chewy, cereal treats in the comments below.
- Mix-Ins - Feel free to make fun additions like mini chocolate chips or chopped, freeze-dried fruits for added flavor and texture. Stick to no more than ½ cup.
- Drizzles & Dips - I wrote instructions for a strawberry white chocolate drizzle, but feel free to dip or drizzle in the chocolate of your choice!
Expert Tips
- Use fresh marshmallows for the best consistency. I’ve used stale ones in the past, and while they do work, your Fruity Pebbles snacks will come out a bit grainier and tougher if you do.
- Refined coconut oil has no discernible coconut taste, but unrefined coconut oil does taste a bit coconutty. Choose whichever suits you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Like Rice Krispies treats, these Fruity Pebble cereal bar treats are best served the day they’re made. That said, they’ll keep in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for a few days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
That’s an H-E-double-hockey-sticks YES! These Fruity Pebbles treats with marshmallows are like a technicolor spin-off of the original, and they are a rainbow-flavored delight!
Yes and yes!
More Easy Dessert Recipes
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Fruity Pebbles Cereal Bars (Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats)
Equipment
- 9x13 Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon Butter or swap vegan butter
- 10 oz Marshmallows feel free to use vegan (e.g. Trader Joe's)
- 6 C Fruity Pebbles
Optional Topping
- ½ C White Chocolate chips or bars, cut into small pieces
- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil refined for neutral flavor, unrefined for coconut flavor
- ½ teaspoon Strawberry Extract optional, but fun!
- ½ C Freeze Dried Strawberries crushed
Instructions
- Prep a 9x13 pan by spraying with non-stick spray or greasing with butter.
- Melt butter and marshmallows in a large, deep pan. (I find my ceramic-coated dutch oven is the perfect amount of nonstick!)
- Add Fruity Pebbles and stir to combine.
- Pour the cereal mixture into the prepared pan. Spray a bit of non-stick spray on the bottom of a glass or on your hands to press the mixture into an even layer.
- Let the cereal bars set up for about 20 minutes.
- If using the optional topping: In the meantime, melt the white chocolate, coconut oil, and extract (if using) in a double boiler OR using the microwave in 30-second bursts. Stir until smooth, well combined, and a drizzling consistency.
- Cut the set cereal bars into rectangles like granola bars, or squares if you prefer. If you're using the topping, set the bars on top of a piece of parchment with a bit of space between.
- If using the optional topping: Dip a fork in the melted chocolate mix and Jackson Pollock spatter over the top of the sliced cereal bars. Sprinkle the crushed strawberries on top.
- Let the white chocolate set (you can speed this up by popping the tray into the fridge for about 15 minutes). Dig in!
Notes
- You can use white chocolate candy melts in place of the white chocolate and coconut oil if you prefer.
- Nutrition facts include the white chocolate and strawberry topping.
- Like Rice Krispies treats, these Fruity Pebble cereal bar treats are best served the day they’re made. That said, they’ll keep in an airtight container or zip-top bag at room temperature for a few days, in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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