This weekend, I had some surprise guests show up, and as much as I love hosting friends, I wasn’t exactly prepared. Thankfully, with the ease of food delivery, we handled the main meal. However, when it came time for dessert, I realized something terrible—our dessert supplies had mysteriously disappeared. Neither my husband nor my daughter has admitted to finishing them off, but that’s beside the point! I had to think fast.
I quickly took stock of my pantry and found a bag of marshmallows and some crispy rice cereal. My daughter loves crispy rice with milk for breakfast, but sorry, sweetie—your breakfast became our dessert! In just 10 minutes, I whipped up a batch of Rice Krispie Treats. While we finished the pizza, the treats cooled down and were perfect for enjoying with a cup of tea.
To be clear, I didn’t invent this recipe—it’s been saved in my notes forever. I just never had a chance to make it. Either my daughter eats all the cereal, or I use the marshmallows in my coffee. But after we polished off the last piece, I realized how easy it would be to take these simple treats to the next level
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Ideas to Elevate Your Rice Krispie Treats
- Add chocolate chips or mix in some cocoa powder for a chocolate twist.
- Sprinkle in ground cinnamon to give it a warm, spiced flavor.
- A dash of vanilla extract brings out the sweetness of the marshmallows and rice cereal.
- If kids are your guests, top the treats with colorful sprinkles for a fun, festive look.
Later that evening, my curiosity got the best of me, and I wondered: How are Rice Krispies actually made? As much as I love making things from scratch, this one was trickier than I thought! The process involves boiling, drying, and frying medium-grain rice, which then “pops” during the final toasting process—similar to popcorn.
While it’s fascinating to learn about, it’s much easier to just grab a box of crispy rice cereal from the store and make these delicious treats!
Pro Tip:
While large marshmallows work, I highly recommend using mini marshmallows. They melt faster and make the process a breeze.
So, the next time you’re in a dessert pinch, grab your marshmallows and crispy rice cereal, and in no time, you’ll have the perfect treat ready to go!
Ingredients
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons butter
8 cups mini marshmallows, plus 2 extra cups
6 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
Instructions:
Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
Add 8 cups of mini marshmallows to the melted butter, stirring constantly until they begin to melt.
Stir in the kosher salt (if using), and then quickly fold in the crispy rice cereal, ensuring the marshmallow mixture coats the cereal evenly. Remove from heat.
Gently mix in the remaining 2 cups of mini marshmallows for extra texture.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and use a spatula to press it down evenly.
Allow the treats to cool completely, then slice into squares and enjoy!
These quick and delicious treats are perfect for any occasion!
Directions
- Ingredients:
- tablespoons butter
- cups mini marshmallows, plus 2 extra cups
- cups crispy rice cereal
- /2 teaspoon kosher salt (optional)
- Instructions:
- Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.
- In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
- Add 8 cups of mini marshmallows to the melted butter, stirring constantly until they begin to melt.
- Stir in the kosher salt (if using), and then quickly fold in the crispy rice cereal, ensuring the marshmallow mixture coats the cereal evenly. Remove from heat.
- Gently mix in the remaining 2 cups of mini marshmallows for extra texture.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and use a spatula to press it down evenly.
- Allow the treats to cool completely, then slice into squares and enjoy!
- These quick and delicious treats are perfect for any occasion!