If you ever wandered through Costco’s bakery section, you’ve probably heard the buzz about one treat in particular: their marshmallow crispy cookie. Costco customers swear it is one of the best things Costco’s bakery has ever made: a soft cookie loaded with marshmallows and Rice Krispies for the perfect chewy-crunchy combo. The problem? It only comes in a massive pack, which isn’t exactly practical for a small household like mine. So instead of skipping it altogether, I decided to recreate it at home. If you’ve been curious about this cult-favorite bakery treat but don’t live near a Costco, this copycat recipe is for you.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Inspired by the Costco original: It is a soft, chewy cookie packed with marshmallows and Rice Krispies for that same crunchy-gooey texture fans rave about.
No membership required: Skip the Costco run (and the parking lot chaos) and make it right in your own kitchen. Perfectly portioned: Bake exactly as many as you need instead of committing to a giant bakery-sized pack.
That jumbo marshmallow center: My favorite twist, giving every bite an extra gooey surprise.
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, melted
- Adds richness
- ½ cup (100g) light brown sugar, packed
- Adds moisture and sweetness
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- Adds sweetness and helps create slightly crispy edges
- 1 large egg
- Binds the ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Adds warmth
- 1½ cups (188g) all-purpose flour
- Provides structure
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- Helps the cookie spread
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Balances the sweetness
- 1.5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Adds a light and crispy texture
- Jumbo marshmallows (or regular marshmallows if preferred)
- Creates a gooey center
Click on the images for the direct link to the ingredients/tools I used:
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, then whisk until fully combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
Gently fold in the Rice Krispies cereal until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading and makes the dough easier to work with.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Scoop a portion of dough, flatten it slightly, and place a marshmallow in the center. Wrap the dough completely around the marshmallow, sealing all the edges before rolling it into a smooth ball.
Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
Bake for 11–14 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. The marshmallow center will be extremely hot straight from the oven.
Enjoy warm for the ultimate gooey marshmallow center!
Costco-Inspired Marshmallow Crispy Cookies Baking Tips
Fully seal the marshmallow inside the dough: Make sure there are no cracks or exposed areas before baking. This helps prevent the marshmallow from leaking out.
Chill the dough before baking: Refrigerating the dough helps the cookies hold their shape and makes it easier to wrap the dough around the marshmallow.
Do not overmix the dough: Mix the ingredients until just combined to keep the cookies soft and chewy.
Bake until the edges are lightly golden: The centers may look slightly soft when removed from the oven. They will continue to set as they cool.
Storage Tips
Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Place a layer of parchment paper between cookies to prevent them from sticking to each other.
Fridge: Not recommended, as the Rice Krispies will become stale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular marshmallows instead of jumbo marshmallows?
Yes! Regular marshmallows work well, but using a jumbo marshmallow creates a more dramatic gooey center and a bakery-style cookie.
Why did my marshmallow leak out of the cookie?
The marshmallow may leak if the dough is not fully sealed around it.
ays. Let the dough sit at room temperature for a few minutes before shaping if it becomes too firm.
Can I add chocolate chips or other mix-ins?
Chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, or chopped nuts can be added for extra flavor.
Ingredient Substitutions
Rice Krispies Cereal → Other Crispy Rice Cereal
Any crispy puffed rice cereal can be used as a substitute. Choose a similar cereal to maintain the crunchy texture.
Jumbo Marshmallows → Regular Marshmallows
Regular marshmallows work well if you do not have jumbo marshmallows. Use enough dough to fully cover the marshmallow.
Vanilla Extract → Vanilla Paste
Vanilla paste can be substituted for vanilla extract using a 1:1 ratio for a stronger vanilla flavor.
What to Serve With Marshmallow Crispy Cookies
Coffee or Espresso → The rich, buttery cookie pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee, latte, or espresso.
Cold Milk → A classic pairing that complements the gooey marshmallow and crispy rice texture.
Ice Cream → Serve the cookies warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert.
Most Common Mistakes
Not sealing the marshmallow completely → Leaving gaps or cracks in the dough can cause the marshmallow to melt out during baking.
Using too little dough around the marshmallow → A thin layer of dough may not be strong enough to hold the marshmallow. Use enough dough to completely cover the marshmallow and seal the edges.
Overmixing the cookie dough → Mixing too much can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tougher cookie.
Overbaking the cookies → These cookies continue to set as they cool. Removing them when the edges are lightly golden helps keep the center soft and chewy.
Costco-Inspired Marshmallow Crispy Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup 113g unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup 100g light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup 50g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups 188g all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Jumbo marshmallows or regular marshmallows if preferred
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and glossy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract, then whisk until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Gently fold in the Rice Krispies cereal until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading and makes the dough easier to work with.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Scoop a portion of dough, flatten it slightly, and place a marshmallow in the center. Wrap the dough completely around the marshmallow, sealing all the edges before rolling it into a smooth ball.
- Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie.
- Bake for 11–14 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are just set.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. The marshmallow center will be extremely hot straight from the oven.
- Enjoy warm for the ultimate gooey marshmallow center!
If you enjoyed this Costco-inspired marshmallow cookies recipe, you might also like my Vietnamese coffee cookies and my mango sticky rice cookies.
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