Rice Krispie Cookies (with almond and coconut)

Everyone loves rice krispie treats, but did you know that you can use that same rice cereal in cookies? You can! This Rice Krispie Cookie recipe makes biscuits that are buttery and sweet with hints of almond flavor and coconut. You’ll love crispy outside and soft, chewy interior of these rubbly homemade cookies.

This post has been updated for recipe, photos and content since its first publication in 2014.

I’m not certain why, but coconut and almond just seem to be a good combination to me. Especially in cookie-form.

I’ve made a few almond coconut cookie recipes in the past like these lacy, chewy almond coconut oatmeal cookies and these coconut almond chocolate chippers. Both are delicious… but so are these Rice Krispie Cookies with Coconut and Almonds.

Deceptively delicious Rice Krispie Cookies

These these sweet, crispy, chewy Rice Krispie Cookies have a deceptively simple look to them. But one bite and you know they’re the BOMB! So buttery. So tender. With chewy flaked coconut and crunchy toasted almonds.

The rice Krispies in this cookie recipe aren’t an afterthought. They’re actually the secret ingredient.

However, it’s not plain rice cereal. Far from it.

They’re lightly sweet and buttery with a toasted caramel-malt flavor that’s both crispy and chewy (thanks to a special coating). I got the idea for the seasoned rice cereal from this TikTok recipe.

In this cookie recipe, the Rice Krispies act as a flavor enhancer, rather than a crunchy element.

Ingredients for Rice Krispie cookie recipe

Start by assembling and toasting the Rice Krispies cereal for the cookies. It only takes a few minutes to toss the ingredients together.

Making the Rice Krispies’ coating

1. Combine the cereal with the powdered milk, sugar and salt and give it a quick toss.
2. Add the melted butter and use a large rubber spatula to toss the cereal until it’s evenly mixed with the buttery coating.
3. Spread the Rice Krispies on a rimmed sheet pan in a single layer and bake for about 8-10 minutes.
4. Give it a quick stir and continue to cook the cereal until it’s a darker golden color and smells toasty and warm.
5. Set the rice aside to cool.

You can make the toasted Rice Krispies in advance if you don’t want to do it the same day as the cookies. Store them in an airtight container and they’ll last on the counter for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.

The cookie base for these almond coconut krispies is much like any other cookie recipe with creaming butter and sugar and mixing in the dry ingredients. However, the cookie dough doesn’t need to rest or chill before using, which is nice because that means you’ll be eating Rice Krispie cookies even sooner.

Making the Rice Krispies cookie recipe:

1. Cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar until well mixed.
2. Add the egg and almond extract and beat for 2 minutes until very light and creamy.
3. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a separate bowl.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir or beet together until they are just combined and no dry bits remain.

The dough will be very thick and firm.

Next come the mix-ins. These are the elements that take the Rice Krispies cookies a step beyond.

Toasting slivered almonds for the cookies

I use toasted slivered almonds for this cookie. They’ve got more crunch than sliced almonds and toasting them to a golden brown deepens their nutty flavor.

If you don’t have slivered almonds, feel free to substitute other toasted nuts (note: you may need to give them a rough chop if they’re on the larger side).

About the cookie dough

The cookie dough is fairly sturdy, therefore, I recommend using a large rubber spatula to fold the toasted Rice Krispies, almonds and coconut into the dough.

It’s more effective than trying to stir the mixture, which will wind up just straining your biceps.

Scoop large rounds of dough (about 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons) onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

Though the dough is sturdy enough to roll into balls, I don’t recommend doing that because the Rice Krispie cookies won’t have the same rubbly, craggy look to them.

This Rice Krispie cookie recipe is open to lots of substitutions and swaps. Get creative and use what you have on hand.

Variations:

• Use other types of nuts like toasted chopped pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts or chopped Brazil nuts.
• If you’re a chocoholic, add chocolate chips or M&M candies to the mix.
• Substitute raisins (we like golden raisins) or chopped dates and toasted pecans for the coconut and almonds.
• Substitute macadamia nuts for the almonds and add white chocolate chips.
• Add 1/2 cup of dried banana to the batter for a very tropical cookie.

FAQ’s

How do the Rice Krispies cookies taste?

You might think that the rice krispies give a crunchy boost to these cookies, but that’s not their sole purpose. In fact, the crunch factor from the rice cereal is slight and more noticeable a day or two after you’ve made them. Instead, the coated rice krispies add a buttery, almost caramel-like flavor boost to these almond cookies.

They deepen and intensify the richness. These cookies have a subtle almond flavor and the flakes of sweetened coconut give them a satisfying chew.

My tasters barely had words, focusing instead on grabbing another cookie.

I love this combination of chewy coconut, crunchy almonds and the buttery-malty toasted rice cereal. They give every morsel a melt-in-your-mouth goodness that’s incomparable.

Don’t take my word for it. Try them yourself.

More easy cookie recipes you’ll love:

• Lemon Sugar Cookies
• Buckwheat Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookies
• Everything Oatmeal Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Brookies
• Dried Cherry Pecan Cardamom Cookies
• Peanut Butter White Chocolate Cookies
• Bailey’s Irish Cream Cookies

More cookie recipes with almonds and coconut:

• Ricciarelli
• Salted Coconut Pecan Bars
• Almond Crescent Cookies
• Chewy Coconut Macaroons
• Mocha Almond Brickle

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