Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies
Looking for a cookie that combines nostalgic crunch with gooey chocolate decadence? These Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies are your new go-to treat. With a base of buttery dough and the familiar comfort of chocolate chips, they take things a step further by adding crispy cereal that brings texture and playful surprise to every bite.
Whether you’re baking for a quick snack, a birthday party, or a weekend movie night, these cookies deliver on all fronts—crisp, chewy, rich, and impossible to stop at just one. Let’s dive into what makes these cookies a true standout and how to make them perfectly every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
1. Textural Contrast: Crisp Meets Chewy
The key to these cookies’ irresistible bite is the contrast between gooey chocolate chips and the delicate crisp of Rice Krispies. Every mouthful offers a chewy base punctuated by light, airy crunches.
2. Familiar Chocolate Goodness
You already love chocolate chip cookies—this just adds a new twist. The flavor stays true to the classic, so you get everything you adore with an extra layer of interest.
3. Simple, Pantry-Friendly Ingredients
Nothing fancy here—you likely already have everything you need in your pantry. No need for specialty items or hard-to-find flours.
4. Quick Preparation
From mixing to baking, you’ll be enjoying warm cookies in under 30 minutes. This recipe is perfect for satisfying last-minute cravings or surprising the kids after school.
5. Crowd-Pleasing and Kid-Friendly
Kids love the texture, and adults get the nostalgic cereal throwback. These cookies are universally loved and never fail at parties or potlucks.
6. Easy to Customize
Toss in nuts, switch up the chocolate, or fold in dried fruit—the dough is your canvas. This recipe welcomes creativity without sacrificing structure.
7. Great for Gifting or Parties
These cookies hold up beautifully in gift bags, jars, and treat boxes. Their texture and flavor stay fresh for days, making them perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Before we get into the step-by-step directions, let’s go over the ingredients you’ll need. Each one plays a role in giving the cookies their perfect balance of crispiness and chewiness, along with rich chocolate flavor and that classic Rice Krispies crunch.
Optional Add-Ins:
- Chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch
- Shredded coconut for a tropical twist
- Mini marshmallows for a s’mores vibe
- White chocolate or butterscotch chips instead of (or alongside) chocolate chips
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Your Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats for easy cleanup and even browning.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This step ensures your cookies bake up with the perfect tender crumb and subtle caramel notes from the brown sugar.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla
Crack in the egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Beat until everything is smooth and well-blended. This gives your dough moisture and deep flavor.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients Separately
In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt. This helps distribute the leavening and salt evenly throughout the dough.
Step 5: Add Dry to Wet
Gradually add the dry mixture to the creamed butter and sugar. Stir just until no streaks of flour remain—don’t overmix or your cookies may become tough.
Step 6: Stir in Chocolate Chips and Rice Krispies
Gently fold in the chocolate chips and Rice Krispies. The cereal should stay as intact as possible to retain that delightful crunch in the final cookie.
Step 7: Portion and Arrange
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion out dough balls onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
Step 8: Bake the Cookies
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are just set. They’ll continue to firm up on the tray after removal, so avoid overbaking.
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack. Enjoy warm with a glass of milk or let them cool completely for the ultimate crisp-chew combo.
Pro Tips and Variations
1. Control the Crisp Factor
For extra crisp cookies, add an additional ¼ cup of Rice Krispies. For a chewier texture, reduce cereal slightly or bake for less time.
2. Chill the Dough
Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking if you prefer thicker cookies with more height and chew.
3. Try Different Chocolate
Semi-sweet is classic, but dark, milk, white, or even peanut butter chips all bring unique twists. Mini chips create a more even chocolate distribution.
4. Add a Flavor Twist
A dash of cinnamon or espresso powder can elevate the dough and give it depth without overpowering the original flavor.
5. Freeze for Future Baking
Scoop dough into balls and freeze on a tray. Once solid, transfer to a zip-top bag. Bake from frozen—just add 2 extra minutes to the bake time.
6. Adjust for High Altitude
At elevations above 3,500 feet, reduce baking soda slightly and add 1–2 tablespoons extra flour to prevent spreading.
Serving Suggestions
1. Indulge with Milk
Classic and comforting—nothing pairs better than a cold glass of milk and a warm cookie straight from the oven.
2. Crumble Over Ice Cream
Break up cookies and sprinkle over vanilla, chocolate, or caramel ice cream for a crunchy topping that melts into creamy bites.
3. Pack for Lunch or Road Trips
These cookies hold up well at room temperature, making them a great grab-and-go snack or lunchbox treat.
4. Make an Ice Cream Sandwich
Scoop a spoonful of ice cream between two cookies for a homemade dessert sandwich—freeze for 30 minutes to firm before serving.
5. Gift Them
Wrap a dozen cookies in wax paper and tie with twine for a charming edible gift that feels homemade and thoughtful.
6. Pair with Coffee or Tea
Their balanced sweetness complements hot drinks beautifully. Try them with a latte, chai, or even an herbal tea for a satisfying break.
Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
All-Purpose Flour (2 cups):
- The main component for the structure of the cookie. If you prefer a chewier texture, try swapping out some of the flour with cornstarch or use a mix of bread flour and all-purpose flour for a different texture.
Rice Krispies (1 ½ cups):
- The key ingredient that gives the cookie its crunchy texture, similar to a rice krispie treat, but in cookie form. Make sure to use fresh cereal, as stale ones will lose their crunch.
Chocolate Chips (1–1 ½ cups):
- Semi-sweet is the go-to choice, but you can also use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate, depending on your preference. Feel free to mix different types of chocolate for a fun variety.
Unsalted Butter (¾ cup / 1½ sticks), softened:
- Butter provides richness and flavor, keeping the cookies soft and chewy on the inside. Be sure it’s softened (at room temperature) to make mixing with sugar easier.
Granulated Sugar (½ cup):
- Adds sweetness to the cookies and helps them spread. If you like them crunchier, you can add a bit more sugar, but keep an eye on how they brown.
Brown Sugar (½ cup, packed):
- Brings a rich sweetness and moisture to the cookies, preventing them from drying out. You can use either light or dark brown sugar, with dark brown giving a deeper molasses flavor.
Egg (1 large):
- Helps bind the ingredients together and contributes to the cookie’s structure. For a softer cookie, you can use two eggs, but it will slightly change the ratio of ingredients. One egg is usually sufficient
Vanilla Extract (1 teaspoon):
- Adds a lovely flavor to the cookies. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can swap it with almond or maple extract for a different flavor profile, but vanilla complements chocolate perfectly.Baking Soda (1 teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise and stay tender, creating a perfect texture when combined with the brown sugar
Salt (½ teaspoon):
- Balances out the sweetness. If you use salted butter, reduce or omit the extra salt to avoid making them too salty.
Optional Add-Ins:
- Chopped Nuts: Walnuts or pecans provide a great crunch and extra texture.
- Cocoa Powder: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder in place of some of the flour for a chocolate-flavored twist.
- Coconut Flakes: Toasted coconut pairs wonderfully with the chocolate and cereal.
- Butterscotch Chips: For a richer flavor, butterscotch chips can add a caramel-like sweetness when combined with chocolate chips.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Set Up the Baking Sheet
- Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and make cleaning up easier later on.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar
- In a large mixing bowl or using a stand mixer, combine ¾ cup softened butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup packed brown sugar.
- Beat the mixture for 2–3 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy. This helps incorporate air into the dough, resulting in a chewy center and slightly crispy edges.
Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla
- Add 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the mixture, and mix until fully incorporated.
- Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly blended, as lumps of butter or sugar can remain if you skip this step.
Step 4: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- This step ensures the baking soda is evenly spread throughout the flour.
Step 5: Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture.
- Mix on low to medium speed, or fold by hand to avoid overmixing. Once the flour is no longer visible, stop mixing, as overmixing can lead to dense cookies.
Step 6: Stir in Chocolate Chips and Rice Krispies
- Gently fold in 1–1½ cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk, or dark) and 1½ cups Rice Krispies cereal.
- Be careful when mixing to avoid crushing the cereal, which will help keep the crunch intact.
Step 7: Portion the Dough
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto your lined cookie sheet.
- Leave about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading. For larger cookies, use a bigger scoop and increase the baking time by a minute or two.
Step 8: Bake the Cookies
- Place the baking sheet in your preheated oven. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
- The centers may seem a bit soft, but they will firm up as they cool. Avoid overbaking to prevent them from becoming too crispy or dry.
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy
- Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for about 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy them warm for gooey chocolate or wait until they cool for the perfect crisp-chew balance.
Notes
- Calories: 140
- Total Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Protein: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Sugars: 10g
- Sodium: 110mg
Conclusion
Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies combine everything we love about baking into one simple, delicious treat: rich flavor, a satisfying texture contrast, and endless versatility. They’re just as good fresh from the oven as they are days later in a lunchbox or cookie jar. With a short list of everyday ingredients and a prep time that doesn’t exceed half an hour, they’re perfect for spontaneous baking or planned-ahead parties.
So whether you’re looking to impress guests or just treat yourself, these cookies are guaranteed to hit the spot. Crispy, chewy, chocolatey—this recipe truly delivers.
FAQs
Why are my chocolate chip cookies crispy?
Baking longer, using more sugar, or flattening the dough can lead to crispier cookies. The Rice Krispies also add their own natural crisp.
What makes cookies soft instead of crunchy?
Higher moisture content from brown sugar and underbaking just slightly will give you a softer texture.
What is the secret to a crunchy cookie?
Use more granulated sugar than brown sugar, bake a minute or two longer, and ensure the dough is chilled beforehand.
Are Rice Krispies good in cookies?
Absolutely! They add a subtle crunch and lightness that elevates the classic chocolate chip cookie without overpowering it.
