Rice Krispies Treats

March 7: National Cereal Day

We went on a “food field trip” to Cereal City USA in 2005, a few years before the tourist attraction closed down. Located in Battle Creek, Michigan, the “Breakfast Capital of the World” and headquarters of the Kellogg Company were about a four-and-a-half hour drive from where we used to live in Northern Illinois.

At Cereal City USA, we were able to tour part of the production facility and learn how corn became corn flakes, see several interactive and historical exhibits on display, play in the kids’ area, put our picture on a mini-cereal box and eat toaster tarts and, of course, cereal. We even had breakfast with Tony the Tiger (Frosted Flakes cereal) and mingled with other mascots, such as Toucan Sam (Froot Loops cereal) and Snap, Crackle and Pop (Rice Krispies cereal)!

Our own mothers used to make marshmallow treats out of toasted rice cereal for us when we were children. Nowadays, these sweets snacks can be found from bake sales and bakeries to coffee shops and convenience stores. They are also pre-packaged as breakfast bars/square treats. But why buy them when they can be made at home in a snap…crackle and pop?!

Below we post the original recipe for Rice Krispies treats and its chocolate variation. Rice cereal marshmallow treats are good to eat for breakfast, at snack time and on National Cereal Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from Rice Krispies)

For the original rice cereal treats

• ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
• 1 package (10 ounces) or 5 cups regular marshmallows (or 4 cups miniature marshmallows)
• 6 cups rice cereal (Rice Krispies— gluten-free also available)

Directions

In a large pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Mix in the cereal until combined well.

Spread the mixture into a greased 13×9-inch pan. Press down evenly using parchment or waxed paper. Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve.

Bonus Recipe

Cocoa Krispies Treats

For the chocolate rice cereal treats

• ¼ cup (½ stick) butter
• 1 package (10 ounces) or 5 cups chocolate-flavored regular marshmallows (or 4 cups miniature marshmallows)
• 6 cups chocolate-flavored rice cereal (Cocoa Krispies)

Directions

In a large pan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Mix in the cereal until combined well.

Spread the mixture into a greased 13×9-inch pan. Press down evenly using parchment or waxed paper. Allow to cool, then cut into squares and serve.

Notes

• There are other flavored marshmallows in jumbo and mini sizes. And there are other kinds of toasted rice cereal (fruit-flavored, gluten-free, frosted and generic). Check for availability in local grocery stores.
• Rice cereal marshmallow treats may be formed or cut into shapes, stacked as cakes, dipped in chocolate, frosted and decorated, made into pops, fortified and flavored with fruits and nuts and much more!
• Click HERE to download a PDF of Kellogg’s press release about the Rice Krispies mascots—Snap, Crackle and Pop.
• Check out the Cheerios Bars recipe which we also blogged about for National Cereal Day.