Regular Kellogg's Rice Krispies are not gluten free. It sounds crazy, right? We know that rice is naturally gluten free, so you'd think plain old Rice Krispies would be too. But they aren't!
And not only is there a risk of cross-contamination, like many products that aren't safe for those on a gluten free diet—they have a gluten-containing ingredient in the form of barley malt. None of this applies in Canada, however, where Kellogg's offers a gluten free version of brown rice Rice Krispies.
Thankfully, though, wherever you are in the world, you've still got options. Here are 4 brands of gluten free rice krispies cereal for you to try (and none of them is Kellogg's). (This list used to contain 5 brands of safe crisp rice cereal, but Erewhon's brand is no longer manufactured as of July 2020.)
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Are Rice Krispies gluten free? No (mostly)
Since rice is naturally gluten free, you might wonder, are Rice Krispies are gluten free (the Kellogg's brand)? Conventional Kellogg's Rice Krispies are made with malt syrup, derived from barley, which is a gluten-containing grain. They are most definitely not gluten free.
In 2011, though, Kellogg's introduced a gluten free variety of their famous snap, crackle and pop Rice Krispies that was sold in conventional grocery stores all over the U.S. However, they were discontinued in the U.S. just a few years later. The gluten free variety is, however, still available in Canada.
How to choose safe gluten free rice krispies
First, check the label. Look for crispy rice puffs labeled or certified as gluten free. Then check whether they're made in a dedicated gluten free facility or at least follow purity protocols.
Even if you check the ingredient label and don't see any gluten-containing ingredient listed, that doesn't automatically mean they're safe. There's still the potential for hidden gluten or cross-contamination in that packet of rice crisps if they're not made in a dedicated facility.
Remember, grains are often processed alongside other grains or at least on the same production lines. So rice puffs can easily pick up particles of wheat, barley, or rye unless special measures are taken.
Can you buy gluten free crisp rice cereal?
Yes! Fortunately, now there are tons of brands of gluten free crisp rice cereals available for purchase. Some are a little more precious than others and are a bit more expensive.
Cereal is pretty expensive, in general, though (gluten free or not). I've always found cereal to be a poor investment for the morning's nutrition.
But it's fast and always ready when you are. As long as it's low in sugar and high in whole grains, I'm fine with it for my kids.
The following are 4 brands of gluten free crisp rice cereal that I think are worth a try. Some are more expensive than others, and some are more like Kellogg's and are little wrinkled puffed rice grains. Others are a more puffy, more youthful-looking grain. The choice is yours!
One Degree Organic Foods GF Sprouted Brown Rice Crisp Cereal
I honestly had never heard of the One Degree brand before I started my search for gluten free rice crispy cereal varieties. The box is smaller than most at 8 ounces; since most others are 10 ounces, a relatively universal price means that this variety is more expensive by 25%.
I really like these little puffy grains, though. They're unlike the Kellogg's Rice Krispies variety, which is wrinkled like a raisin. That's neither good nor bad. It's just a matter of personal preference.
They're nice and snappy, stay crisp in milk, are only very lightly sweet, and the grains are sprouted which some say is better for your gut. They are great in gluten free Rice Krispie Treats, too.
Here are the other details about One Degree:
- Size of package: 8 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: About $4.25
- Availability: Okay. I purchased this cereal at Vitacost.com, and have seen it on Target.com. It's sold on amazon.com, but the prices are terrible (at least as of this writing)
- Other common allergens: none (but states that it's processed in a facility that uses soy, tree nuts and dairy)
- Ingredients: organic sprouted whole grain brown rice, organic coconut sugar, unrefined salt, tocopherols (vitamin E)
Nature's Path Gluten Free Crispy Rice Cereal
Like One Degree brand, this Nature's Path crisp rice cereal is puffy, not wrinkly. That is not ageist, it's just a fact.
The only really noticeable differences between Nature's Path crispy rice puffs and One Degree are price (Nature's Path is less expensive) and availability (I see Nature's Path in many stores, both brick and mortar and online). Nature's Path has two types of sugar (cane sugar and molasses) and One Degree has only coconut palm sugar, but I don't detect a difference in taste or crispness.
Here are the other details about Nature's Path:
- Size of package: 10 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: about $4.20
- Availability: Pretty good. I purchased this cereal at Vitacost.com, and have seen it available from Jet.com and iHerb.com. Amazon.com has a terrible price. In the past, I've seen this product in Whole Foods and in my local natural foods store.
- Other common allergens: none (but states that it's processed in a facility that uses peanuts, tree nuts, and soy)
- Ingredients: brown rice flour, cane sugar, sea salt, molasses
Back to Nature GF Sprout & Shine Cereal
This brand of cereal is probably the most like Kellogg's, as the grains are wrinkly and they're made with a pretty typical sugar. The package says that they're “batch-cooked,” but I honestly don't know why I should care about that.
The brown rice grains are sprouted, or allowed to germinate before cooking. That's neither here nor there for me. I just know that these little crispy rice grains taste good in milk, and are reliably gluten free. The price is a bit higher than some of the others, at least from what I've seen, though.
Here are the other details about Back To Nature:
- Size of package: 10 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: $5.25.
- Availability: Good. I purchased this cereal at Vitacost.com, and have seen it at plenty of large grocery stores (Shop Rite, Hannaford) and a few local natural food stores.
- Other common allergens: none
- Ingredients: sprouted whole grain brown rice, dried cane syrup, sea salt
Barbara's Organic GF Brown Rice Crisp Cereal
Barbara's brown rice puffs have been around for a long time, and their products used to just say “wheat free,” and weren't necessarily gluten free. This brown rice cereal calls itself “gluten free,” but it isn't manufactured in a dedicated gluten free facility.
According to the package, the cereal is verified to contain less than 20 ppm of gluten. Whether you are comfortable with that or not is a very personal decision. It is last on this list of 4 brands of crisp rice cereal to try for that reason.
The grains of crisp rice in Barbara's, like Erewhon and Back To Nature brands, are wrinkly not smooth and puffy. They stay crisp in milk and are sweetened with fruit juices. That doesn't matter too much to me, though, since sugar is sugar is sugar (for the most part).
Here are the other details about Barbara's:
- Size of package: 10 ounces
- Price you should expect to pay: $4.85
- Availability: Okay. I purchased this cereal at Vitacost.com, and have seen it at local natural food stores as well as some larger grocery stores. It's also available at iHerb.com.
- Other common allergens: none (package does state that it's manufactured in a facility that also processes wheat, peanuts and almonds, so use your discretion)
- Ingredients: organic whole grain brown rice, organic fruit juice concentrate (pear or apple), sea salt
FAQs
Regular Kellogg's brand Rice Krispies are not gluten-free because they contain malt flavoring, which is derived from barley, a gluten-containing grain. Even though rice is gluten free, the addition of malt flavoring makes the final product gluten-containing and not safe for anyone on a gluten free diet to consume.
A cereal is considered gluten-free if it does not contain wheat, rye, barley, or any of their derivatives. This means it should not contain any gluten, a protein found in these grains. It's important to note that the cereal should also be processed on equipment, and ideally in a facility, that doesn't handle gluten-containing grains to avoid cross-contamination.
Many popular cereals now are gluten free and/or have gluten-free versions. These include Chex and Lucky Charms, among others. Always check the packaging to ensure that it is labeled as gluten-free.
It's a myth that gluten free foods are healthier than their conventional counterparts, just because they're gluten free. Gluten-free cereals can be a healthy choice, especially for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. However, it's important to check the nutritional information as some gluten-free cereals may be just as high in sugar as other traditional cereals. Opt for cereals that are high in fiber and low in sugar for the healthiest choice.
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Faith says
I made these exactly as written, but they fell apart even after a stint in the freezer. I thought maybe I didn’t squish them down enough or they didn’t set long enough so the next day I squeezed them down as hard as I could…but after cutting you can eat them with a spoon because they won’t hold their shape. Room temp or cold doesn’t seem to matter either. Seems to be plenty of fluff coating every bit, but they didn’t work for me. Since I now have gallons of crispies to use (thanks Walmart bulk bag…) I’m thinking of trying half fluff and half melted mallows. I wanted to like them, I really, really did!
Nicole Hunn says
Did you make any substitutions, Faith, especially in the butter? When I tried to make these with certain butter substitutes, they didn’t hold together.
Mary Lee says
I am wondering if the regular recipe for Rice Krispies treats can be used. Of course, one has to substitute with G F cereal. In my case, that would be easier.
Nikki Kratzer says
When you make your Krispy treats, press out thinner on cookie sheets then use in place of graham crackers s for smores — yes THey are a bit sweeter — but just add an extra piece of chocolate And it evens out.
Nicole Hunn says
Interesting idea, Nikki!
Bonnie says
Aldi has a gf crispy rice cereal that is good. I think it is Millville. And Walmart sells gf crispy rice treats individually wrapped in a box. Nice for lunches.
Jodi Clay says
Try using coconut oil instead of butter. Stays fresh for days and adds a little extra flavor but not overtly coconutty!
Nicole Hunn says
I’m glad you found something that works for you, Jodi! For others’ benefit, in my experience coconut oil makes the treats are too soft. I recommend shortening, as I describe in the ingredients and substitutions section.
Belle says
I usually just buy luck charms and use they come out great since they are gluten free
Lori Harris says
Wegmans has their own gf brand that taste exactly like Kellogg’s!
fancy one says
The malt o meal brand rice crispies is the one that I buy from Walmart, they are in a big plastic bag for about $5. Discovered them last winter and have used them for making crispy treats. We like the one made with 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup peanut butter melted together and mixed with three cups rice crisps.
Emily says
Have you ever considered what it takes to make your own crispy rice cereal from brown rice?
Nicole Hunn says
Haha, Emily, actually yes! I have. Near as I can tell, you’d need industrial equipment.
fancy says
I have found that Walmart has a gluten free rice crispy cereal in their bagged cereal section and I have used it many times and shared it with my celiac group and everyone liked the bars I made.
Karen says
When we make rice krispy treats we actually use Rice Chex. We made it for our gluten free friends and found we liked it better with the crunch and texture it adds. It’s our go-to cereal now for these treats.
Nicole Hunn says
Interesting idea, Karen! Thanks for letting us know.
Jennifer says
Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice is also gluten free and CHEAP! I was a little skeptical at first, but I’m SUPER gluten sensitive and I haven’t had any issues with them yet.
Nicole Hunn says
That’s great to know, Jennifer. Having the name “malt” in the name isn’t great for their gluten free public relations, I bet, though! ?
Nancy Spears says
Post Cinnamon Pebbles make great “Rice Krispie” Treats. Very Flavorful! Try also Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles. They are all gluten free. We add some peanut butter to the Cocoa Pebble Treats for extra fun.
Brenda Gerken says
I live in central NC and my favorite GF crisped rice cereal is from Malt O Meal. I can buy a 36 oz bag for about $5 at Walmart. These are GF and the only ingredients are rice, sugar, corn syrup and salt. I’m out of them currently so I can’t read the label to see if they are produced in a wheat-free facility or not. They do look like Kelloggs – wrinkled little rice puffs, but that doesn’t matter to me. I love the flavor.
Nicole Hunn says
Nothing wrong with wrinkled rice crisps, Brenda! Malt-O-Meal is a Post brand, and their website isn’t 100% clear about the gluten free status of their products. They currently list the “Crispy Rice” Malt-O-Meal brand as gluten free, but tell you to read labels. They don’t have more explicit information on their website about the facility, etc.