Pistachio Halvah Rice Krispies Treats

Updated May 28, 2025

Pistachio Halvah Rice Krispies Treats
Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food stylist: Monica Pierini. Prop Stylist: Sophia Eleni Pappas.
Total Time
About 2½ hours
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes, plus at least 2 hours’ setting
Rating
5(174)
Comments
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What’s better than a pan full of freshly made, just-gooey-enough Rice Krispies treats? A core memory for many, it continues to be a fan favorite, whether a packaged gas station treat or a high-end bakery grab like this one. Perfectly balanced with an additional layer of texture from the pistachio and halvah, this recipe comes from Shilpa and Miro Uskokovic, the supertalented pastry chef duo that opened Hani’s Bakery + Café in New York’s East Village in 2024. Their use of tahini brings a level of sophistication, and offsets the sweet bite this snack can often have. There is not a thing that needs altering in this recipe, yet, in Rice Krispie treat tradition, it encourages a bit of playfulness for the cook to make it their own. —Lisa Donovan

Featured in: Rice Krispies Treats Are Good. This Version Is Transcendent.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 to 8 servings
  • ½cup/113 grams unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • 1(10-ounce/ 283-gram) bag mini marshmallows
  • cup/100 grams sweetened condensed milk
  • 2tablespoons tahini, well stirred
  • 2tablespoons pistachio butter (preferably unsweetened)
  • 1tablespoon vanilla bean paste or extract
  • teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
  • 6cups/160 grams Rice Krispies cereal
  • 4ounces/113 grams store-bought or homemade pistachio or sesame halvah, crumbled and divided
  • ½cup/67 grams shelled roasted pistachios, coarsely chopped and divided
  • 2tablespoons white sesame seeds, lightly toasted and divided
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

521 calories; 29 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 11 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 61 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 31 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 270 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Line an 8-inch square metal or glass pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two opposite sides.

  2. Step 2

    Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot over medium. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with heatproof flexible spatula, until butter foams, settles and then turns dark brown, about 5 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Add marshmallows and stir vigorously until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add condensed milk, tahini, pistachio butter, vanilla and salt; stir well until incorporated and mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.

  4. Step 4

    Remove pan from heat and stir in cereal, half of the crumbled halvah, half the pistachios and half the sesame seeds, scraping bottom of pot and folding until cereal is well coated.

  5. Step 5

    Scrape into prepared pan and smooth top with spatula. Immediately sprinkle remaining pistachios, sesame seeds and halva on top, covering the surface evenly. Press down lightly with spatula to help adhere. (For best texture, do not compact or press down too firmly.)

  6. Step 6

    Cover loosely and set aside at room temperature until set, at least 2 hours and up to 24.

  7. Step 7

    Just before serving, using the parchment paper sling, lift treats out of the pan. Peel away the parchment from underneath and discard. Place the treats on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut into 6 to 8 pieces. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
174 user ratings
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Comments

@Marc g. I’m wondering if it’s the same as pistachio cream or pistachio spread? My grocery store has both, but not butter…

@louis Yes! I usually buy Italian pistachio paste. I look for one that has the prettiest green color and no added sugar.

@Suz- I just asked my husband “who is this person who still has Rice Krispie treats around on day 3?” Mythical, no doubt.

I made this vegan by using plant butter (I did not try to brown it as a vegan chef on Reddit said to add tahini to get the nutty brown butter flavor and there is a lot of tahini in this recipe) and condensed, sweetened coconut milk. It was delicious decadence. Just a note - a double batch is a lot!

11 ingredients v. 3 for the original cereal box recipe! If you manage to find all of them, you may have to make these more than you want. It would be very helpful if recipes like this indicated which ingredients are optional or have handy pantry substitutes.

For those looking for pistachio butter, your local Middle Eastern grocer should carry it. That is where I found some to make this recipe. It was pricey, but sooooooo worth it to make these Rice Krispie treats!

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Credits

Adapted from Miro Uskokovic, Hani’s Bakery + Café

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