Gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe using just 5 simple ingredients! No-bake and super easy to make, just mix it all up, melt some chocolate, add M&M’s and chill (the crispy cakes, not you!)

Gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe – yup, the bog-standard M&M’s are gluten-free here in the UK! That means the world is now suddenly full of tons of different ways to use them… starting with these beauties.

Rice crispy cakes were a staple in my lunchbox growing up, but as I entered adulthood… they sadly vanished along with my lunchbox.

(and my Tamagotchi and Pokemon cards in case you were wondering)

But why?! Not only are they so incredibly easy to make, they taste great and they’re packed with all that wonderful nostalgia.

However, I wanted to jazz up the rice crispy cakes I remembered and make them as visually appealing/yummy as any cake, cookie or traybake. Challenge accepted!

And you know what? Adding a layer of creamy milk chocolate and an explosion of M&M’s is the perfect way to do exactly that!

Why make my gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe?

You only need 5 simple ingredients to make these – they couldn’t be easier to whip up.
They’re no-bake, so no gluten-free flour required and no need to switch your oven on.
They only take 20 minutes to make, then chill them in the fridge until set.
No xanthan gum required.
They don’t taste gluten-free AT ALL – you’ll have to fight to keep the muggles away from these!

So what do they taste like? Firstly, I can tell you that they taste every bit as good as they look!

The bottom layer is a thick, chunky, crunchy rice crispy cake that we all know and love. Sweet and sticky with tons of bite to it.

Then, the milk chocolate adds a lovely velvety, creamy layer of indulgence. And of course, the M&M’s just take things to a whole new level.

They’re chunky and chocolatey with a crisp coating, a sweet finish and a burst of colour. Absolutely perfect!

Here’s everything you’ll need for this recipe, keep scrolling until you see the recipe card for the measurements and method ??

Gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe: Ingredients

marshmallows
butter
rice krispies (ensure gluten-free – see FAQ section above for recommended safe products)
milk chocolate
M&Ms (the chocolate, peanut and salted caramel ones are all gluten free in the UK, not the crispy ones)

So I thought I’d kick things off with a little frequently asked questions section – if you just want the recipe, then keep scrolling.

But I’ve thrown in some tips here that will be really helpful if this is your first time baking this, or you want to adapt it. So here they are!

Gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe: Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

It is gluten-free, though nobody would know just by tasting it – trust me!

Bear in mind that minimising cross-contamination is hugely important if you’re Coeliac or making this for someone who is. Here’s some tips from Coeliac UK on minimising the risk of cross contamination.

Also, make sure that all ingredients used don’t have any gluten-containing ingredients. Then make that that they also don’t have a ‘may contain’ warning for gluten, wheat, rye, barley, oats (which aren’t gf), spelt and khorasan wheat (aka Kamut).

Here’s some more info from Coeliac UK on identifying safe gluten-free products.

Can I make your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe dairy free?

Of course, M&M’s are NOT dairy-free, unfortunately. There are vegan versions of M&M’s available, but sadly, they’re all a ‘may contain’ for milk.

However, you can always substitute them for something else entirely – like these, or whatever else you like.

Then, you’d also just need to use a dairy-free alternative to butter like Stork hard margarine and simply use dairy-free chocolate instead.

Can I make your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe vegan?

Yep! Firstly, use a dairy-free alternative to butter like Stork hard margarine and use dairy-free chocolate instead.

Instead of M&M’s use a vegan alternative instead like these. Bear in mind that these are NOT dairy-free (or nut-free) because they have a ‘may contain’ warning for traces of milk.

Then all you’ve got left to contend with is the marshmallows. Regular marshmallows aren’t normally vegan because they often contain gelatine.

Fortunately you can easily buy gluten-free AND vegan marshmallows online from Amazon.

Is your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe nut free?

Sadly not as M&M’s have a ‘may contain’ warning for nuts.

Is your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe low FODMAP?

M&M’s and chocolate both contain lactose which isn’t low FODMAP. So sadly, you won’t be able to use M&M’s in this recipe until you’ve successfully reintroduced dairy.

However, you can still make this recipe low FODMAP with a few simple swaps. If you use dairy-free chocolate and dairy-free chocolate chips instead of M&M’s then this recipe will be lactose-free and therefore, low FODMAP.

That would make this recipe suitable for the elimination phase of the diet.

Are M&M’s gluten-free?

Yes, in the UK, M&M’s are gluten-free! But don’t take my word for it (you never know when things might change after all), here’s a link to it so you can check it for yourself.

According to Coeliac UK, if a product has no gluten-containing ingredients and no ‘may contain’ warning for gluten, wheat etc. then that makes it safe for Coeliacs and those on a gluten-free diet.

Bear in mind that not ALL variations of M&M’s are gluten-free – I believe the ones with crispy bits in the middle (in the blue packet) contain barley, so be sure to avoid those. I won’t link those here in case anyone gets confused!

Which rice crispies are gluten-free?

Believe it or not, rice crispies aren’t always 100% free from gluten because they often contain barley malt extract.

However, some of these products are actually certified by Coeliac UK as being safe to eat, even despite containing barley. That’s because they contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten, which according to Coeliac UK, that makes them safe for people with Coeliac disease.

But don’t take my word for it – if you look on the Coeliac UK app (you have to be a paying member to view it) it actually shows that the below products are safe to eat.

So here’s a list of all the rice crispies which are safe for us to eat, including those that are free from barley entirely, if you’d prefer. Bear in mind that the barley-free products are more expensive and sometimes not quite like regular rice crispies – they seem to be flatter and less puffy.

Nestle GoFree Rice Pops (free from barley)
Tesco Free From Rice Snaps (free from barley)
Asda Rice Snaps Cereal (contains barley but certified by Coeliac UK as being gluten-free)
Essential Waitrose Rice Pops (contains barley but certified by Coeliac UK as being gluten-free)
Morrisons Rice Crackles (contains barley but certified by Coeliac UK as being gluten-free)

Just as a note, a lot of Tesco’s own brand cereal also used to be certified by Coeliac UK as being gluten-free, despite containing barley. However, they’ve since been removed from the Coeliac UK app (without explanation), so I won’t be recommending them anymore.

Can I make this without the marshmallows?

Sadly not as the marshmallows are what binds the rice crispy cake together and gives it a lovely, sticky finish and sweet flavour.

Plus, for example, unlike using honey as a binder, mashmallows will bind the rice crispies together without having to bake them.

Can I use a food processor or stand mixer to make this?

Both are total overkill for this recipe, especially since a food processor would blend the rice crispies instead of mixing them!

I’d definitely advise making this purely by hand to avoid crushing the rice crispies are they’re being mixed. So get a good silicone spatula or wooden spoon and get mixing!

Do I need any special equipment to make your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe?

As I mentioned, you should definitely make this recipe by hand, so you certainly don’t need any crazy appliances or anything like that.

What you will need however is a 9″ square baking tin – here’s the one I use. Apart from that, you’ll just need a little baking paper too!

Do I need weighing scales to make your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares?

In short… yes, yes and yes! And I wouldn’t advise attempting any my recipes without them.

A lot of work went into fine tuning ratios and quantities and for me, baking is all about consistency and precision. I want you to make this recipe and for it to turn out EXACTLY like mine did.

I’d recommending using digital cooking scales like these so you know you’re getting an accurate measurement and replicating my recipe as accurately as poss.

How can I tell when my gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares are ready to cut?

Until the marshmallow and butter have had time to set in the fridge, the bars will be loose and sticky.

Once they’ve had long enough in the fridge, they should be solid and sturdy, ready to be cut into bars. If you get them out too early, simply pop them back into the fridge for a little longer.

How long can I keep my gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares for?

I’ve kept them for about 4-5 days in an air-tight container with no problems. If you need to keep them any longer than that, I’d highly recommend freezing them (see advice below for doing that).

Can I freeze my gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares?

Of course! I’ve frozen them for up to 2-3 months no problem. Slice them up before freezing – that way you can simply defrost slices as and when you need them.

Plus, they’ll thaw a lot quicker. When you want to eat one, each slice should take around 3 hours to defrost at room temperature. You’d never know they were frozen!

Can I print your gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe?

Of course! Just hit the print button located on the recipe below ?? (otherwise you might end up printing this entire post which would probably make your printer go into early retirement)

Gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe: Method

Oh and here’s a printable version of my gluten-free M&M’s rice crispy squares recipe. Please remember to give it 5 stars if you tried it and enjoyed it as it helps people know it’s worth trying too! ⭐️