Prepare a square baking dish (8 or 9 inches) with oil/butter or parchment paper. I like parchment because it is easy to lift out after they cool.
Put 2 cups of the marshmallows and salt (and butter if using) in a large pot and slowly melt over low heat. Stir continuously with a spatula to avoid it burning. You can add water to thin out a bit. Start with 1 tablespoon. Turn the heat down if it starts to burn. Be patient, it will take a little bit for the marshmallows to melt (especially vegan ones) but they will. Takes between 3-7 minutes depending on the stove top.
Once they are almost melted, add in cashew butter, extra cup of marshmallows and vanilla. Mix well. Adding some marshmallows here helps give extra chunks of gooeyness. You can add them all together at the start if you prefer.
When the extra marshmallows just start to get soft, remove from heat, add in the rice cereal and mix again to combine. Keeping stirring until everything is mixed well.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and gently press down to shape them and get them in. You can use your fingers dipped in water, the back of the spatula or even a small sheet of parchment to do this so you don’t get sticky. Careful as it will be hot. Do not press hard or it will pack it in and make your end result hard.
Let rest on the counter for about an hour then remove, cut and serve! If you refrigerate the end result will be harder.
Notes
The cashew butter needs to be runny so that it melts smooth. If you can’t find cashew butter you can always make it by putting cashews in a food processor and blending until smooth and runny.
I use cashew butter because it helps give some richness to the end result. If you prefer to use all marshmallows, you can leave it out.
You can use any nut butter but the cashew gives the creamiest neutral flavor. Other nut butters are good but you will taste them, almond is my second choice.
You can also use regular dairy free butter instead of the nut butter.
For the marshmallow free option you’d need 4-5 tablespoons if using all butter. You can also sub with 6 tablespoons coconut butter or 3-4 tablespoons coconut oil.
If you are making without marshmallows, it will not be gooey like traditional rice Krispie treats. Adjust the ingredients to get the texture you prefer.
Using fresh marshmallows makes a difference in the end result, especially if using vegan ones.