The Only Type of Marshmallows I’ll Use for Rice Krispies Treats

BA’s Best is our vault of the Test Kitchen’s definitive takes on iconic dishes. Today senior editor Jesse Szewczyk takes you behind the scenes of his latest recipe, Rice Krispies Treats, and the technique that makes them foolproof.The first time I made BA’s Best Rice Krispies Treats, I was greeted with oohs and aahs. “This texture is amazing,” one taster declared. “How did you get them so soft and chewy?” asked another. I explained my process, thinking nothing of it, but one detail stood out my coworkers:I use mini marshmallows, not regular and certainly not jumbo. They were aghast! And to be honest, so was I. People use larger marshmallows to make Rice Krispies Treats? It is time for me to stand on my soapbox and put a stop to such nonsense.When it comes to marshmallows, bigger isn’t always better. Yes, a marshmallow of a certain stature is impressive, filling out a s’more snugger than Rozanov’s glutes in his hockey pants, but size isn’t everything. Sometimes smaller is preferable, and no recipe showcases this better.Why? Mini mallows melt quickly and evenly, coating the rice cereal in a sugary veil. This makes sense—picture a giant ice cube versus those crushed ice pebbles. Just a few stirs with melted butter is enough to melt the little guys, while the more resilient larger variety takes awhile to fully break down and does so inconsistently.Our new recipe for Rice Krispies Treats adds the marshmallows in two phases. The first is as expected: fully melted to glue the cereal together. But once that bag is accounted for, another bag is added, stirred into the coated cereal just enough to distribute. Their petite size allows them to melt ever-so-slightly, creating tiny gooey pockets throughout the bars, like chocolate chips in a cookie. Try this with the large variety and you’ll have a mess on your hands; boulders of marshmallow disrupting the chewy texture.Sure, it’s a small detail, but that’s the sort of thing that makes or breaks a recipe in the Test Kitchen.Treat yourselfA few clever changes take classic Rice Krispies Treats to soaring new heights.View Recipe