October 26, 2019

Pumpkin Pie Spice Rice Krispies Treats

Posted by HI Cookery under 10 October | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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Pumpkin Pie Spice

Rice Krispies Treats

October 26: National Pumpkin Day

We had a pumpkin-themed potluck at our culinary book club meeting this month. We brought pumpkin hummus (previous post) but had leftover canned pumpkin puree, so we added it with pumpkin pie spice to rice cereal treats and shaped them into petite pumpkins. These cute confections stood out at the pumpkin potluck and they quickly became a favorite because some club members were nostalgic about their childhood foods. The mixture could be pressed into a pan and cut into squares, but the pumpkin shapes made these more festive for our fall gathering. Pumpkin pie spice rice krispies treats are perfect for National Pumpkin Day and throughout the autumn season.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup canned pumpkin puree (see Notes to prevent soggy cereal)
  • 1 bag (10 ounces) marshmallows (use minis instead of jumbo for easier melting)
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 6 cups rice cereal
  • Orange food coloring (we used Wilton brand orange gel paste food color)
  • Pretzel sticks
  • Green fondant
  • Powdered sugar
  • Green tube frosting

Directions

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Stir in the marshmallows and pumpkin puree.

Add the pumpkin pie spice. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. When cool, stir the rice cereal into the pumpkin-marshmallow mixture until well coated. If desired, add orange food coloring to enhance the color. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Set aside. Butter your hands well and shape the cereal mixture into rounds. Place onto waxed paper.

Break pretzel sticks in half. Insert into the cereal rounds. On a clean surface lightly dusted with powdered sugar, roll out a little bit of green fondant to 1/16-inch thick. Cut out fondant leaves.

Place fondant leaves on the rice cereal pumpkins (brush a small amount of water on the back of the leaves to make them stick to the treats). Use a small round tip to pipe tendrils from a tube of green frosting. Store in a tightly sealed container until ready to serve.

Notes

  • To prevent cereal treats from being “rice soggy” and make them stay as “rice krispies”, measure out the pumpkin puree and blot out excess moisture by pressing onto paper towels. Then add the puree into the marshmallows. Be sure to cool to room temperature to firm up the marshmallows a little bit more before mixing in the cereal.
  • Instead of rolling and cutting out fondant leaves, try piping them onto the treats by using green tube frosting using a leaf tip.
  • Search our blog for more pumpkin recipes.

 

March 7, 2012

Rice Krispies Treats

Posted by HI Cookery under 03 March | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |
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Rice Krispies Treats

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.

Rice Krispies Treats

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)!

Rice Krispies Treats

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.

Rice Krispies Treats

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.

Rice Krispies Treats

Bonus Recipe

Cocoa Krispies Treats

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.

Cocoa Krispies Treats

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.

Cocoa Krispies Treats

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.