Thick & Chewy Homemade Rice Krispie Squares Treats Recipe in 5 Minutes
This rice krispie squares treats recipe are puffed cereals can be a true delight in a properly made krispie squares bars or just about any shape you can imagine.
The little rice krispie bars are gooey and chewy and make a perfect breakfast cereal.
While you can find them in every grocery store, you should know that making them at home will bring some extra deliciousness. And you will also know for sure how to tailor your krispies to suit your taste.
What are Rice Krispie Treats?
In 1928, Kellogg’s bought the Rice Krispies Cereal to the stores.
The product didn’t become very famous or popular those days. This happened ten years later right after rice krispies treats were first made by mistake. While looking to create an economical fundraiser product, a leader of Campfire Girls troop came up with the idea of mixing puffed cereals with butter. That is how a new star of the homemade treats was born.
These little treats were first named “puffed wheat squares”.
We may find the recipe in Lucy Maltby’s dessert book from 1938. The ingredients used were cereals, butter, sugar, vinegar and molasses. However, a related recipe can be found in a 1916 cookbook. It featured these goodies as “puffed rice brittle”. And although the recipe is not entirely original, Mildred Day, the Campfire Girls troop leader, received the credit of getting this delight to the attention of the public.
All that because her scouts managed to sell hundreds of krispies during the summer, in a small town in Michigan. This happened in 1938, a decade after the cereal producer tried to introduce the rice krispies in the breakfast cereal market.
You should also know that Mildred Day was Kellogg’s employee. The company was valued in that area for two reasons: first of all, their products were appreciated. Second, the enterprise made a commitment to the community and kept it. In the days of the Great Depression, no worker was fired and they also delivered supplies to the American soldiers overseas.
Mildred Day needed a considerable supply of money to organize the scouts’ summer activities and camps. So a successful fundraiser was a must. She wanted to promote the young scouts but also the company through this fundraiser, as a “thank you” gesture for the support shown to the soldiers and working families.
As she had information about the rice brittle recipe, she adapted the ingredients by adding a sweet flavor. Since she had marshmallows at hand (as the scouts were selling “Campfire Marshmallows” in a box), she dumped the vinegar and molasses from the recipe and added marshmallows.
A whole mania started with this homemade rice crispy. This girl created an American sensation while trying to raise money for her scout troops.
Are Rice Krispie Treats Good for You?
Let’s take a look at the marshmallows rice krispie treats nutrients and calories. First, you should know that these bars or squares contain a surprisingly low amount of calories. There are about 90 calories in most prepackaged rice treats.
If you care about your diet, you should know that you need to keep a balance between calorie intake and exercising. Considering your weight goals, diet and physical activity, you will see if the Krispie Treats are suitable for you. However, there is more than calories to check in a product. The sugar intake is extremely important. A high amount of sugar will boost the risk of diabetes, dental problems and high triglycerides.
Depending on the bar variety, you will get from 45 to 90 calories per treat. Rice Krispies are one of the healthiest cereals you can buy. There are other breakfast cereals which can bring up to 88 percent of sugar, but that is not the case with this product.
The best thing about these goodies is that you can replicate them at home.
How to Make Rice Krispy Treats?
All the homemade rice crispy recipes are pretty much the same. There are a few tricks here and there to keep them buttery and gooey and full of flavor. They are perfect for a quick dessert and can serve a crowd. Plus, you don’t need to bake them.
You will only need a few ingredients to prepare the marshmallow rice krispie treats, five to be more specific.
First of all, it is obvious that you need rice krispie cereal. You definitely can’t prepare the dessert without this ingredient.
Butter could not miss from this great recipe. We may say that butter is the base of many delicious desserts. Consider using a butter replacement if neccessary.
Marshmallows will keep everything together and give that chewy texture to your treats.
Salt gives a depth of flavor which is totally absent from the regular rice treats. You will need only a pinch.
Vanilla extract adds a pleasant aroma and the treats will simply melt in your mouth.
The steps of the rice krispie treats recipe are quite simple. You just need to melt together the marshmallows and butter in a big pot, and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir well and you will get the batter for your treats.
One important thing to look for when preparing rice krispie bars is the ratio between marshmallows and rice cereal. If adding too many marshmallows, the bars will get sticky and won’t stay together. You will practically have the mixture but won’t be able to cut it into squares.
In case you use too much cereal, the squares won’t be gooey and chewy, but crunchy and dry. While crunchy can be good in some circumstances, this is not one of them. If you are using a 9’’x13’’ pan, these are the best quantities: 9 cups of cereal with 11 cups of marshmallows.
To keep you bars from sticking to the pan, line it with parchment paper greased with a little oil.
Now, you most certainly want your bars to be crispy, yet fluffy and a bit aerated. In order to achieve this, be kind to them. When transferring the mixture to the pan, softly spread it on the bottom. Grease your fingers or a spatula to do this. Be extremely gentle when pressing and leveling the batter. If you compact them, you will get some tough and thin squares.
All you need from now on is patience. The mixture needs to set at room temperature for a few hours and up to one day. Cut into squares and enjoy!
How to Make Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats Recipe?
Despite the name, you won’t need pumpkin for these goodies, but you will shape them as pumpkins. The recipe is the same, you will still be creating those marshmallow rice krispie treats.
Only this time you will also need food coloring, red and yellow to get orange. Add it when combining all the ingredients. Start with one drop of red and continue adding one by one until you get the desired color. Shape the mixture into small balls and flatten a bit to make them look like pumpkins.
To get the small pumpkins look real, make a stem out of mini pretzels or chocolate candies and a leaf using some green M&M.
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats Recipe With Sprinkles?
Sprinkles could be just another great addition to the rice krispie bars. Add them right after you remove the butter-marshmallow mixture from heat. The beautiful colors will make the squares look cheerful and the kids will love them even more. And not only the kids…
How to Make Minnie Mouse Rice Krispie Treats Recipe?
This is another great way to serve these goodies.
After spreading the krispie mixture on the tray, place it in the fridge for about an hour to set. Use a Minnie Mouse shaped cookie cutter to cut the treats. Make sure you grease the cutter so it doesn’t stick to the batter.
To decorate the rice krispy treat, melt some chocolate (dark or white) and dip the bars. Add M&M eyes or sprinkles. You may even turn it into a cake pop by inserting a lollipop stick at the bottom.
How to Make Rice Krispie Treats Recipe Shaped Like Candy Corn?
For these Halloween treats, you will need three layers: white, orange and yellow. Divide the ingredients into three equal parts to create the layers. For the orange one you can use red and yellow food coloring.
Spread the white layer first on a loaf pan, followed by the orange and yellow. Set aside for two hours at room temperature or one hour in the fridge. Use a serrated knife to cut slices. Cut again each slice in half crosswise. Shape each square into candy corn shape with gentleness.
How Should Rice Krispie Treats Be Stored?
In case you have some bars left or you make them ahead of time, place the treats in layers separated by pieces of parchment paper. Cover and store in a dry place for up to three days.
On the assumption that you were going to ask me if you can freeze the bars, the answer is “yes” but keep in mind that their texture will change after thawing.
Place them in a freezing container between parchment paper sheets. Don’t let the bars in the freezer for more than two months. Thaw at room temperature when you decide to serve the bars.
If you liked this treat, check out our other treats such as easy flourless cookies.
Equipment
- Stove
Ingredients
- 11 cups (two 10 oz. bags) mini marshmallows
- ¾ cup (1.5 sticks) unsalted butter
- 9 cups crispy rice cereal
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Take a 9’’x13’’ baking tray and line it with parchment paper. Grease the paper with a little bit of oil or non-stick spray. Set aside until you prepare the mixture.
- Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat. Bring in the marshmallows and stir until everything is completely melted and combined.
- Take the pot away from heat and add the salt and vanilla. Stir again.
- Add the cereal and stir gently to coat every little piece with the marshmallow mixture.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared tray. Grease a spatula and use it to gently spread the batter on the bottom of the tray. Lightly press the mixture to even and flatten it. Make sure you don’t use force so your treats will remain fluffy and aerated. Otherwise, the mixture may harden and the treats won’t get the desired texture.
- Leave the tray at room temperature for the mixture to set. Supposing you are in a hurry and want to cut the bars earlier, place the pan in the fridge for one hour. Alternatively, just let the mixture set at room temperature for at least two hours and up to one day. If leaving it for more than a few hours, cover with cling film.
- Take the homemade rice crispy out of the tray by lifting the edges of the parchment paper. Cut into equal squares and enjoy.
Notes
- These rice krispie treats are perfect as a snack for Halloween or Thanksgiving, especially when shaped like pumpkins or candy corn.
- When handling them, no matter if you are cutting the mixture into squares or shaping anything, don’t forget to grease the spatula, cutter and even your hands. Even though the mixture is set, it can always become sticky and you will ruin the desired shape.
- This treat is pretty sweet due to the marshmallows, so I don’t recommend eating too many squares. One tiny bar has about 140 calories which is pretty much. I know they are delicious but make sure you enjoy the treats in a responsible way so that they will fit your nutritional plan. The same advice goes for the kids too. We all know that too much sugar can make them become agitated not to mention the other risks like damaging their teeth, for example.
- All in all, give this recipe a chance and enjoy!