How Long Do Rice Crispy Treats Last?

These no-bake desserts last up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge. The treats soften quickly at room temperature after 5 minutes, so it's important to store them in the fridge. After one week, the rice softens and gets mushy, so don't store for longer than that or freeze them for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature before serving.

Can I Color The Nests?

Yes, you can add a few drops of liquid food coloring to the peanut butter batter. Flashy colors pop out better, like green food coloring or red food coloring. However, since the peanut butter is already brown in color, the nest won't be as vibrant in color.

Which Vegan Candies Can I Add To The Nest?

There are many vegan chocolate eggs options to put candies on your plant-based nests, I've picked one of them in the recipe card. However, some chocolate candies are not vegan, for example: - M&M's: not vegan - Smarties: not vegan If you are not after a chocolate candy, Skittles are vegan-friendly, or you can use vegan jelly beans.

Are These No-Bake Nests Healthy?

Yes, one of these nests only contains: - 82 calories - 5.9 grams of carbohydrates - 6 grams of healthy fat - 2.2 grams of protein And it's a source of essential minerals: - Calcium: 8.8mg - Phosphorus: 33mg - Potassium: 62.4mg

Are Rice Krispies Vegan?

In this recipe, we use cereals made from crisped rice or puffed rice, so you might be wondering if Kellog's Rice Krispies are vegan. Unfortunately, they are not vegan. Kellog's Rice Krispies are made with one ingredient that is animal-sourced: Vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 used in food manufacturing can have two sources. It can either come from lichen, where it is vegan, or from sheep wool. Kellog's uses the latter in their recipe, making Rice Krispies not strictly vegan. Now, some vegans do eat these rice cereals because they consider Vitamin D3 to be a byproduct of wool manufacturing. Interestingly Vitamin D is one of the easiest vitamins to get for us as all it takes is to be exposed to sunlight for 10 to 30 minutes a day for our skin to synthesize it.

Easter Rice Krispie Nests

These cute Easter Rice Krispie Nests are cereal treats with no marshmallows or refined sugar! Bonus, these cute no-bake treats are also vegan and gluten-free.

These healthy rice crispy treats are a marshmallow-free version of my classic Vegan Rice Crispy Treats Recipe.

Ingredients and Substitutions

This paragraph gives you all my tips about picking the right ingredients. For the full recipe with measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post!Go to Full Recipe

Most classic Easter Nest recipes call for butter and marshmallows. Both are not vegan-friendly and not really healthy either.

So here I am sharing a healthy twist to the classic Rice Krispie Easter treat that kids will love.

Puffed Rice Cereals – read the paragraph above to learn how to choose vegan Rice Krispies for vegan dessert recipes.
Peanut Butter – pick the most natural, unrefined peanut butter made only from peanuts.
Coconut Oil – coconut oil keeps the nests together at room temperature.
Vanilla Extract – for more flavors.
Vegan-Colored Chocolate Candies or vegan jelly beans, and they look like mini eggs.

How To Make Healthy Rice Crispy Treats

First, line a mini muffin pan with cupcake paper liner or if you are using a silicone mold, simply add cooking spray. Set aside.
In a saucepan, over low heat, stir the peanut butter, coconut oil, vanilla extract, and maple syrup until completely melted. You can also melt it in the microwave, but it tastes better in a saucepan.
Remove from the heat when it’s just melted, don’t bring it to a boil.
In a large mixing bowl, add puffed rice cereals and pour the peanut butter mixture on top.
Using a silicone or wooden tool, stir the ingredients until the puffed rice is fully covered by the mixture.

Easter Rice Krispie Nests stacked on a white tablecloth.

Transfer about 1-2 teaspoons of mixture into each muffin hole.
Press very well using the back of a teaspoon or a chopstick to pack the rice into the cupcake liner.
Shape a depression in the center of the mixture to form a nest mixture and add any candies or mini eggs chocolate you like. To find vegan candy eggs, read below or check out the recipe card for an option. You can also add some edible grass for a true nest look.
Place the muffin tin in the freezer to set the nest hard. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to do so.
Then, serve immediately and store in the fridge to keep the treats hard and crunchy.

More Kid Vegan Recipes

If you enjoy simple vegan recipes made for kids like this one, you’ll love these:

Chocolate Dipped Stuffed Dates

Vegan Rice Crispy Treats

Green Smoothie for Kids

Overnights Oats For Baby

Baby Cookies