A Chocolately Twist on a Classic Treat

Rice Krispie treats are a classic childhood recipe. They were one of my Mom’s favorite easy treats, and are now one of my daughter’s favorite treats. I never really cared for them because I found them to be too sweet. So recently when my middlest asked me to make Rice Krispie treats with her I decided to try something new to balance the sticky sweetness of this classic treat. And you will love the results!

You will need 1 package of regular marshmallows or 4 cups of mini marshmallows. I prefer mini marshmallows to the regular large size because they melt more quickly and smoothly. You can also throw a few in at the very end to add some marshmallow chunks to your treats, which is a super tasty addition! In the US I prefer the Kraft Jet Puffed marshmallow brand, while here in Italy I prefer the Haribo Chamallows Barbecue or these mini marshmallows from Flying Tiger. Kellog’s Rice Krispies are my brand of choice for the rice cereal. You may have a substitute that works for you. I feel like they stay crunchy and are the best quality, but feel free to substitute another brand if you prefer.

Grease a 9×13 glass pan and set aside. Melt 1 cup (225 grams) of chocolate [I used a combination of dark and milk chocolate for mine]. Measure out your 5 cups of marshmallows ahead of time and keep them in a separate bowl. Then measure out your 6 cups of Rice Cereal and place in another bowl . [If you are using the Rice Krispie treats for cake decorating you can use 4 cups of marshmallows instead of 5. If you prefer your treats on the gooey side, you can use 6 cups of marshmallows]. Crush one tube of Oreo cookies (approximately 15 cookies) and set aside.

In a large pot melt 3 tablespoons of butter over low heat. Add 5 cups of marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Add salt if desired. Remove from heat. Stir in 6 cups of Rice cereal. Add crushed Oreos and stir (you can substitute M&Ms for the Oreos, if you prefer, or add a 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows, if you would like your treats to be extra sticky).

Press Oreo Rice Krispie mix into the 9×13 pan until it is flat. Pour the melted chocolate over the top and spread with spatula until there is a thin coating over the whole pan (be careful not to spread all the way to the edge of the pan, as it makes it difficult to cut and remove the treats later). Allow to cool (room temperature if it isn’t hot out, in the fridge if you make them during the warm summer months).

Cut in squares and enjoy! If you do not plan to use them right away store in an air tight container. They can be refrigerated. They cannot, however, be frozen. It ruins the consistency of the cereal!

Rice Krispie treats are an easy treat to make as a party favor, for a birthday party or get together or just for kids to enjoy on movie night! They are also extremely easy to use in cake decorating, because they are easy to mold and hold their shape well once they have cooled. I have used them to make a tea pot on an Alice in Wonderland cake, a mountain on a Frozen cake and a Lego man on a Lego cake. Just leave out the crushed oreos to make the classic recipe and mold while the treats are still warm (not hot). You can use cookie cutters to create fun shapes, or mold them into the desired shape with your hands. Have fun creating shapes and additions to your birthday cakes!