These Marshmallow Squares are made with 5 simple ingredients and come together in 15 minutes. No cereal needed. Made with browned butter, potato chips, popcorn, and pretzels, these bars are a fun twist on the iconic Rice Krispie Treat. These are perfect for bake sales or giving out as gifts.
Easy Marshmallow Squares Without Cereal
No Rice Krispies here, just buttery, gooey, salty-sweet magic packed into a pan. These bars are crispy from crushed chips, airy popcorn, and mini pretzels, then held together with melted marshmallows and rich browned butter. They’re chewy, crunchy, sweet, and salty all at once. Basically everything you want in a no-bake dessert.
I’ve made my fair share of marshmallow bars over the years, and honestly, most of them blur together. They’re fine. Sweet, soft, nostalgic. But when I first swapped out the cereal for potato chips and pretzels? You get crunch from every bite, but they still have that classic marshmallow pull. Think Rice Krispie Treats’ cousin. No cereal. No fuss. Just salty-sweet in the best way.
This recipe is so easy it feels like cheating. Melt some butter (don’t skip the browning—trust me), stir in marshmallows until they’re silky and glossy, and then dump in your crunchy mix. I like using wavy chips because they hold their shape. Plain popcorn keeps it light, and the pretzels? They give that salty snap. Press it all into a pan, let it set, and you’re done.
If you’ve got a soft spot for marshmallow desserts, you’ve got to try these peanut butter chocolate marshmallow bars too. And if you’re in the mood for something snacky with a little attitude, this homemade Chex Mix is bold and oven-baked for extra crunch.
The browned butter is what sets these bars apart from the rest and helps offset the sweetness from the marshmallows. To brown butter, you’ll place it in a saucepan over medium heat until the milk solids caramelize, turning an amber color. The flavor goes from buttery to nutty and adds a depth of flavor to these marshmallow treats.
The Snack Bar You Didn’t Know You Needed
Here’s why you’ll want to add this treat to your dessert rotation:
- A fun twist on a classic: You still get that nostalgic marshmallow flavor but with a different texture since this recipe doesn’t use cereal.
- Simple: You only need a few simple ingredients and some easy steps to make this recipe.
- No-bake: You won’t even need to turn on the oven for this recipe, just the stovetop.
Everything You Need for These Sweet and Salty Bars
Here’s what you’ll need to make marshmallow squares at home. Don’t forget to check the recipe card for the full list of ingredients.
- Mini marshmallows: These are the glue that holds everything together. They melt faster than regular marshmallows and coat evenly.
- Wavy potato chips: Wavy chips hold up better than thin ones and give more texture.
- Pretzels: Grab the small twist or stick style and crush them just enough to break them up but not turn them into crumbs.
- Popcorn: Plain, salted popcorn works great. Avoid anything with butter flavoring, as it’ll compete with the browned butter and marshmallow.
Let’s Make Marshmallow Squares
Step One: Mix the Crunchy Stuff
Step Two: Brown the Butter
Step Three: Melt the Marshmallows
Step Four: Combine and Press
If you have extra marshmallows, try some chocolate peanut butter marshmallow bars.
Saving Squares for Later
Keep the cooled squares in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze them for up to 1 month. Make sure to stack the squares between parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
Don’t Forget!
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Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- 8 cups mini marshmallows 10 ounce bag
- 2 cups wavy potato chips coarsely crushed
- 2 cups pretzels coarsely crushed
- 1 cup popcorn
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl combine the potato chips, pretzels and popcorn.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat bring butter to a boil, stirring constantly until it turns a deep amber color. Immediately add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from the heat. Quickly add the potato chip mixture and stir until completely coated.
- Transfer to the prepared pan and press evenly. Allow to cool before cutting into squares.
Notes
- Have everything ready in advance, as the marshmallows will firm up quickly.
- Use the butter wrapper to press the mixture into the pan.
