My cornflake marshmallow treats recipe is easy and delicious! These no-bake homestyle treats with a base of 3 ingredients are similar to rice krispies, but more crunchy and chewy. I used more marshmallows and butter than other recipes on the Internet, so these treats are extra chewy and tasty. If you want to learn how to make cornflake marshmallow treats with 3 base ingredients, keep reading!
Can You Make Marshmallow Treats With Cornflakes?
Yes, you can! Everyone knows and loves the gooey, buttery, marshmallowy flavor of rice krispie treats. Since these treats are so popular, you might be wondering if it’s possible to make something similar with other types of cereal.
The answer is yes. By taking the basic recipe and replacing the puffed rice cereal with another–in this case, cornflakes–you can make delicious marshmallow treats that put a twist on a classic favorite.
Cornflake Marshmallow Treats vs Rice Krispie Treats
Although cornflake and rice krispie treats are similar, there are a few important differences to point out about cornflakes treats:
They’re crunchier / crispier – Although “crispy” is in the name of the puffed rice version, this cornflake version is crunchy and crispier, so if you like texture, you’ll like this recipe.
They’re gooier – My recipe calls for more marshmallows than other no-bake treats, so these cornflake treats are chewier than normal rice krispie treats. If you like chewy textures, you’ll like these.
Slight corn flavor – Since this recipe calls for cornflakes instead of puffed rice, the taste is obviously slightly different. Although the flavor is similar, there’s a noticeably corn flavor in these treats.
What’s The Difference Between Cornflake Treats and Cornflake Cookies?
In addition to cornflake treats, there are also cornflake cookies. Similar to my no bake peanut butter and oatmeal cookies, cornflake cookies are made on the stove top, formed into balls, and then left to harden. As you can see, the process is similar to this cornflake treats recipe, but there are differences:
Marshmallows vs Corn Syrup – Cornflake treats use marshmallows as a sweetener and binder while cornflake cookies use corn syrup, or sometimes butterscotch chips, often combined with peanut butter.
Squares vs. Cookies – Although you could make circular marshmallow treats and square cookies if you really wanted, marshmallow treats are usually cut into squares and cookies are usually round.
Peanut Butter – Even though you could definitely add peanut butter to cornflake treats, it seems to be a more common ingredient in the no bake cookie recipe.
As you can see, these cornflake marshmallow treats and cornflake cookies are very similar. Honestly, if you really wanted to, you could probably call these marshmallow treats a form of no-bake cookie. Both of these desserts are delicious, so I will have to try the cookie at some point.
Cornflake Marshmallow Treats Ingredients
My cornflake marshmallow treats recipe is easy because it has just a few, simple ingredients:
Cornflakes – 6 cups. If you buy a box that’s at least 9 oz, you should have enough.
Marshmallows – 14 oz. I started off with just 10 oz, but as expected, I ended up adding more. I used miniature marshmallows since they tend to melt better.
Butter – 1 stick, unsalted
Optionally, you can also add:
Salt – 1/8 teaspoon. If using unsalted butter, I recommend adding a pinch of salt.
Extra Salt – 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. An extra sprinkling of salt once the treats are cut into squares will help bring out the flavor.
Vanilla – 1 teaspoon. I didn’t add any vanilla since marshmallow usually have vanilla flavoring.
Tools:
Before starting this recipe, make sure you have:
Large Pot – You’re going to need enough room to stir all the ingredients together, so make sure your pot is big enough.
Wooden Spoon – A large wooden spoon or spatula to stir the cornflakes and marshmallows.
8×8 Casserole Dish – Pour the hot corn flakes and marshmallows into a casserole dish to harden.
Cooking Spray – These treats can be sticky, so spraying your hand with non-stick spray makes it much easier to handle these cornflake treats when they’re still warm.
Do I Have To Use Miniature Marshmallows?
No, you don’t. As in other treats recipes, I used miniature marshmallows because they tend to melt easier and faster than large marshmallows. However, if you have large marshmallows, feel free to use them.
How to Make Cornflake Marshmallow Treats
Learning how to make cornflake marshmallow treats is easy. You just have to follow a few, simple steps:
Gather the Ingredients
It’s important to gather the ingredients before starting cornflakes marshmallow treats recipe. This recipe moves very quickly, so you want to make sure you have everything you need ready to go.
Butter the 8×8 Dish
In addition to gathering the ingredients, it’s also important to prep the 8×8 casserole dish in which you’re going to let the treats harden. I rubbed mine with butter, but you could also use non-stick spray to coat the dish. Like I said, this recipe moves quickly, so I would grease the dish before starting.
Melt the Butter
The first step in the recipe is melting the butter. Put the butter into a large pot on the stove and melt the butter on medium heat, stirring constantly.
Add the Marshmallows
Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows. At first I only added 10 oz of marshmallows because I wasn’t sure how many ounces I was going to need, but I ended up adding 4 more oz later for a total of 14 oz.
However, I recommend adding all 14 oz at the beginning. Keep stirring constantly over medium heat so that the marshmallows melt evenly and the butter doesn’t burn.
Add the Cornflakes in Stages
When you see that the marshmallows are fully melted, start adding the cornflakes in stages. I think I added about 1/3 of the cereal at a time, but looking back, I think that adding 1/4 of the cornflakes at a time would have made it easier to mix in the cereal..
Turn Off The Heat and Add the Vanilla (If Using)
Once all the cornflakes are completely coated in the melted marshmallows and butter, turn off the heat. If you want to add vanilla extract, now is the time to add it. I don’t recommend adding the vanilla extract at the beginning because the heat might burn off the vanilla.
Pour the Cornflakes Treats into the 8×8 Dish
Now it’s time to pour the hot cornflakes, marshmallows, and butter into an 8×8 dish to harden. Although the mixture will be hot at this point, it will start to set quickly: that’s why you should gather the ingredients and prepare the mold before you turn on the heat.
Spray Your Hand with Non-Stick Spray
These soon-to-be treats are extremely sticky while they’re still hot, so spraying your hand with non-stick spray or coating it in butter will help tremendously when you pat them down flat into the 8×8 dish.
Pat Down the Warm Treats Into the 8×8 Dish
Although the corn flakes treats will still be hot, using your hand to pat them down flat is easier than using a wooden spoon or large spatula. So, use caution to them down into the 8×8 dish so you can later cut them into squares or bars.
Can I Form The Corn Flakes Treats Into Different Shakes?
Yes! If you’d rather have these treats look more like cookies, you can use a spoon to scoop out balls and then place the balls on wax paper, parchment paper, or aluminum foil to harden. This recipe is easy and flexible!
Let the Cornflake Marshmallow Treats Harden
Now wait for the cornflakes treats to cool down. Corn flakes marshmallow treats hold their shape better if you wait until they’re fully cooled to cut, but I think they taste better warm, so I only waited about 15 minutes.
However, if you want your treats to hold their shape perfectly, I would wait at least 30 minutes, if not a full hour to cut them. If you make ball-like cookies, I think they’d be almost totally cooled after 30 minutes.
Cut The Treats
Once the cornflake treats have set enough for you, it’s time to cut them into pieces.
Sprinkle With Extra Salt (Optional)
Even though an extra sprinkle of 1/8 to 1/4 salt on these treats is optional, I highly recommend it: I thought it really helped to bring out the flavor.
Serve
Enjoy these easy, no-bake cornflake marshmallow treats!
Cornflake Marshmallow Treats FAQ’s
How Many Treats Does This Recipe Make?
Although it depends on how large you want the portions to be, I would say that this recipe makes 9 large servings, 12-16 servings that are just a few bites.
Should Cornflake Marshmallow Treats Be Served Warm, Cold, or Room Temperature?
This is personal preference. In my opinion, these cornflake treats, rice krispie treats, and other marshmallow treats taste better while still warm. Although they don’t hold their shape as well when cut, warm treats are gooier and chewier, so there’s a great contrast in texture with the crunchy cereal.
How To Store Cornflake Treats
Store your treats in the refrigerator in a closed container. If you want to eat them warm, take the treats out of the refrigerator 30-60 minutes before you want to eat them.
Can You Reheat Marshmallow Treats?
While I haven’t tried reheating corn flakes treats, I’ve tried microwaving rice crispy treats in an effort to increase the chewiness. Honestly, it didn’t work out–I felt like the rice krispie treat dried out–although you can let a treat come to room temperature, I don’t recommend reheating it to melt the marshmallows.
How Long Do Cornflake Marshmallow Treats Last?
2-3 days. Although some websites say that marshmallow treats will last up to a week, I think that as with many homemade desserts, cornflake treats will be past their peak after the 3-day mark. They should still be acceptable up to a week–just dried out and past their prime.
Can You Freeze Cornflake Marshmallow Treats?
Yes! I’ve frozen rice krispie treats before, and after thawing in the refrigerator, I was shocked by how unaffected they were by the freeze / thaw process–they were still super crispy!
To freeze corn flakes treats, simply cut them into individual portions, wrap them in plastic wrap, put them in a plastic bag, and then freeze. Your treats should stay good frozen for up to 3 months.
Can You Make Cornflake Marshmallow Treats in the Microwave?
Yes! I have made Fruity Pebbles treats in the microwave, so I’m sure you could make cornflake treats in the microwave as well. However, I made the Fruity Pebbles treats both in the microwave and on the stove top, and I think that making them on the stove top slightly toasts the cereal, bringing out the flavor.
Can You Make These Treats the Night Before?
Yes! You can definitely make these treats the night or day before: like other cookies, they hold their quality well for the first few days.
What Mix-Ins Can I Add?
Yes! Although I didn’t add any mix-ins, I think chocolate chips, coconut, or nuts would be good.
Can I Make These Treats with Frosted Flakes?
Yes! I would follow the recipe exactly the same, except I would replace the corn flakes with frosted flakes.
What Are the Most Important Things to Keep in Mind When Making This Recipe?
Although my homestyle cornflakes marshmallow treats recipe is easy, there are a few things to keep in mind:
The recipe moves fast – So make sure everything is ready to go from the beginning.
Don’t use high heat – You might burn the marshmallows or butter–use medium or medium/low heat.
You need a large pot – Every cook has realized they needed a larger pot or bowl in the middle of a recipe. So, as recommended earlier in the article, make sure your pot is large enough to not only hold the ingredients but also allow you to mix everything together.
Why Didn’t My Marshmallow Treats Set?
If your treats didn’t solidify with time, I think the main reason is probably that you accidentally didn’t use the right amount of ingredients. I think that using too few marshmallows or more corn flakes cereal than indicated in the recipe would make it difficult for the binding agent to hold the treats together.
Help! Why Didn’t My Marshmallows Melt Very Well?
There are a few reasons why your marshmallows didn’t melt very well:
Old Marshmallows – A TheKitchn.com article covering tips on making rice krispie treats states that old marshmallows start to dry out and form a hard exterior that’s resistant to melting.
Large Marshmallows – As stated earlier, small marshmallows melt more easily, so I suggest using those.
Low Heat – Although you don’t want the heat to be too hot (medium or medium/low is ideal), if the butter and marshmallows aren’t melting, the heat might be too low.
A Chef’s Review
My cornflake marshmallow treats recipe was a success. With just a few minutes of cooking, I made no-bake treats that were similar to rice krispie treats, but crunchier, chewier, and with a hint of corn flavor. If you like texture contrasts, you’ll really like these.
Although I thought they were good, I still prefer the flavor of regular rice krispie treats–but I’m not sure why. This might just be personal preference since the people with whom I shared these corn flakes treats really liked them; in fact, one person said she preferred them over regular rice crispy treats.
Even though this recipe is easy, it’s important to have everything ready to go at the beginning because the recipe moves fast. It’s also important to not get impatient and turn up the heat too high and burn the marshmallows or butter. Also, although it’s optional, I think an extra sprinkling of salt brings out the flavor.
All in all, this easy cornflake marshmallow treats recipe was a hit. If you like homestyle crispy rice treats but you want to try something different, this no-bake treat recipe is worth a try.
Possible Changes to the Recipe
Although these cornflakes treats turned out great, possible changes include:
Flavored Marshmallows – I think chocolate or pumpkin-spice flavored marshmallows would be good.
Chocolate Corn Flakes – Using chocolate corn flakes would make these treats a chocolate-lover’s dream.
Chocolate Chips – I think semi-sweet chocolate chips would be good in these treats. If you don’t want them to melt, I’d add them to the treats as you’re pouring the cornflakes into the 8×8 dish.
Cornflake Marshmallow Treats Recipe Variations
If you want to put a twist on this recipe, good ideas include:
Chocolate Treats – Although you could use chocolate corn flakes, adding cocoa powder and chocolate chips while melting the marshmallows would make these extra chocolatey.
Peanut Butter Treats – Adding some creamy peanut butter would make these extra delicious.
Cornflake Marshmallow Wreaths – Forming the treats into wreaths and adding green food coloring would make them perfect for Christmas and the holidays.
More Cornflake Recipes
-coming soon-
More No-Bake Cookie and Marshmallow Treat Recipes
If you like no-bake cookies and treats, take a look at these other recipes on my website:
No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies – These are some of the best cookies I’ve ever had.
Cornflake Marshmallow Treats Recipe Directions
Ingredients
- 6 cups cornflakes (240g)
- 14 oz miniature marshmallows (285g)
- 1 stick unsalted butter (113g)
- *optional: 1/8 teaspoon salt (if using salted butter, omit the salt)
- *optional: extra 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon salt (to sprinkle on the treats once cut. A bit of salt will help bring out the flavor).
- *optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Before starting the recipe, be sure to gather the ingredients and grease the 8×8 dish.
- Put the butter in a large pot on the stove and melt the butter on medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Once the butter is melted, add the marshmallows. Melt the marshmallows into the butter on medium heat, stirring constantly.
- Add the salt (if using unsalted butter).
- When the marshmallows and butter are fully melted together, add in the cornflakes cereal in batches. I suggest adding 1/4 of the cereal at a time.
- Stir the cornflakes into the melted marshmallows and melted butter until the cereal is coated completely. Once everything is coated, turn off the heat.
- If adding vanilla extract, add the vanilla once the heat is turned off. Be sure to mix in the vanilla well.
- Pour the cornflakes into a prepared 8×8 casserole dish and pat them down flat.
- Let the cornflakes marshmallow treats harden for 15 minutes if you want to serve them warm. If you want to serve them at room temperature so the treats hold their shape better when cut, let the marshmallow treats harden for about 30-60 minutes.
- Cut the cornflake marshmallow treats into portions.
- Although it’s optional, I recommend sprinkling extra salt on the treats before serving to help bring out the flavor.
- Serve the treats.
YouTube Video
Be sure to watch my YouTube video tutorial:
