Recipe tweaks hit sweet spot with classic treat
While almost everyone is familiar with the classic recipe for Rice Krispies Treats, slight variations on the original abound.
We think our recipe gets them just right, with the perfect ratio of marshmallow and butter to cereal, for a bar with the sticky chew that kids love and that adults remember fondly.
The basic procedure is the same as the back-ofthe box recipe: Melt butter and marshmallows, mix in cereal, and press into a pan — it couldn't be simpler.
But for a generous portion of these cereal treats — thick, substantial squares — we pat the mixture into an 8-inch square pan instead of the usual 13-by-9 inch pan. Adding a little salt to the mix kept sweetness in check.
Greasing the knife we used to slice the bars ensured that we were able to produce neat, easy-to-cut squares.
These treats are delicious as is, but their simplicity also makes them an ideal backdrop for a whole host of flavorings and mix-ins, so we developed several variations sure to please any crowd. Any brand of toasted-rice cereal will work in this recipe.
RICE CRISPY TREATS
Makes 16 servings
From "The Perfect Cookie" by Rice crispy treats
America's Test Kitchen.
3 tablespoons unsalted butter 10 ounces marshmallows ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt
5 cups crisped rice cereal
Make foil sling for 8-inchsquare baking pan by folding 2 long sheets of aluminum foil so that each is 8 inches wide. Lay sheets of foil in pan perpendicular to one another, with extra foil hanging over edges of pan. Push foil into corners and up sides of pan, smoothing foil flush to pan. Spray with vegetable-oil spray.
Melt butter in Dutch oven over low heat. Add marshmallows, vanilla and salt and cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, about 6 minutes. Off heat, stir in cereal until incorporated. Transfer mixture to prepared pan and press into even layer with greased spatula. Let treats cool for 30 minutes. Using foil, remove treats from pan. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
VARIATIONS
• Almond Joy Rice Crispy Treats
Stir 1 cup toasted sweetened shredded coconut, 1 cup toasted sliced almonds and ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips into marshmallow mixture with cereal.
• Chocolate-cherry Rice Crispy Treats
Add ½ cup white chocolate chips to pot with marshmallows. Stir 1 cup dried cherries, chopped, into marshmallow mixture with cereal. Microwave ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips in bowl at 50% power, stirring occasionally, until melted, 30 to 60 seconds. Drizzle over cooled treats. Let set for 15 minutes before cutting treats.
• Double Chocolate Caramel Turtle Rice Crispy Treats
Add ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips to pot with marshmallows. Stir 4½ ounces quartered soft caramels and 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped, into marshmallow mixture with cereal. Microwave additional ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips in bowl at 50% power, stirring occasionally, until melted, 30 to 60 seconds. Drizzle chocolate over cooled treats and let set for 15 minutes before cutting.
Loaded Rice Crispy Treats Stir 1 cup pretzels, broken into ½-inch pieces; ½ cup salted dry-roasted peanuts; ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips and ½ cup toffee bits into marshmallow mixture with cereal.
• Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats
Add ½ cup peanut butter chips to pot with marshmallows. Stir 1 cup dry-roasted peanuts into marshmallow mixture with cereal. Microwave additional ½ cup peanut-butter chips in bowl at 50% power, stirring occasionally, until melted. Drizzle melted peanutbutter chips over cooled treats and let set for 15 minutes before cutting treats.
• Salty Cashew-caramel Rice Crispy Treats
Stir 1½ cups salted roasted cashews, chopped coarse, and 4½ ounces quartered soft caramels into marshmallow mixture with cereal.
PER SERVING: 108 calories,
1 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 0 figer, 11 g sugar, 2 g fat (1 g saturated), 6 mg cholesterol, 96 mg sodium