I Tried the Viral 3-Ingredient Cheez-It Treats, and Confess I Love Them

Published on January 3, 2026

Salted caramel was first, then came a pinch of flaky sea salt on my chocolate chip cookies. Million Dollar Bacon joined the party soon after, and it was official: I am a card-carrying member of the sweet-and-salty fan club.

After trying and loving the beloved Candied Cheez-Its, I still had about 70 servings left (whoops!), which inspired me to search for other salty-sweet treats I could make with the cheesy crackers. Along the way, I knew I had found “the one” when I scrolled to a video about the viral Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats, which inspired one commenter to joke, “the amount of butter with the Cheez-Its and marshmallows made me clutch my pearls!” 

In addition to fans recreating this unique no-bake snack on social media, the Cheez-It team shared a demonstration and urged viewers to “try this and thank me later.” Don’t mind if I do.

How to Make Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats

Savory Rice Krispies Treats are certainly having a moment, and this is among the easiest. Here’s how to make the official Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats recipe:

1. Melt the coating. In a Dutch oven over low heat, melt unsalted butter. Dump in mini marshmallows, then stir with a wooden spoon until they melt.
2. Mix the treats. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in a splash of vanilla extract, kosher salt, and a box of Cheez-Its. Mix until the crackers are evenly coated in the marshmallow mixture. 
3. Shape, cool, and enjoy. In an 8 x 8-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper, press the Cheez-It treats into an even layer. While warm, sprinkle with flaky salt. Let the treats cool, then cut into 16 pieces—or your desired serving size.

Tips When Making the Treat

After just 15 minutes of prep time and only three ingredients, you can have a pan of these unexpected treats ready to surprise and delight at your next potluck or bake sale (or to keep all to yourself). Feeling inspired to try these Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats at home? Here are a few pointers and variations to keep in mind:

• Convert your marshmallows. This recipe is formulated using mini marshmallows, not to be confused with the harder “tiny” marshmallows, “regular” marshmallows (which many of us use for s’mores), or supersized “jumbo” marshmallows. Each variety has a different packing density in cups. Save the tiny kind for decorating or sprinkling over hot chocolate. Feel free to substitute 32 regular marshmallows, 8 jumbo marshmallows, or 2 cups of Marshmallow Fluff for the 4 cups of mini marshmallows.
• Swap in a different salty snack. If you didn’t happen to buy a football team's worth of Cheez-Its or prefer a salty addition sans-cheese flavor, try this same formula with broken pretzel twists, Ritz Crackers, Ruffles potato chips, or a mix of more than one of those. You could also sprinkle salted peanuts into the Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats.
• Brown the butter. For even more flavor and a pleasant, rich, nutty undertone, take a few extra minutes to brown the butter before proceeding with this recipe. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, cook and stir the butter for 5-8 minutes, skimming off any foam that forms, until the butter is golden brown and smells nutty. Then stir in the marshmallows and follow the instructions as written.
• Double up. Feeding a crowd? It’s extremely easy to make Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats in a 9 x 13-inch pan. Simply double the recipe quantities.

The Verdict on Cheez-It Marshmallow Treats

After I savored my first square, I smiled as I realized one of the memorable pieces of feedback on Cheez-Its’ original TikTok post could not be more true:

“If this is wrong, I don’t want to be right,” the folks behind Jet-Puffed marshmallows’ social team admitted. I wholeheartedly agree. 

The savory, salty, and crunchy crackers, enveloped in the creamy, sweet, and rich vanilla-scented marshmallows, ensured that each bite was a supreme craving cure. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top is the final chef’s kiss, complementing the sweetness of the marshmallows and accentuating the salty quality of the crackers. With all of that flavor—and a generous amount of butter—in the mix, a small square goes a long way. 

Equal parts weird and wonderful, I can’t wait to introduce friends and family to this unconventional twist on the classic Krispies treat many of us remember from childhood. The fact that they ask for only 15 minutes per batch means it’s possible to do so even on a busy weeknight.