Ideas for Rice Krispies Treats

The first official recipe for Rice Krispies Treats was published in 1941. Since then, the treat has become a staple food of childhood. But, just as kids grow up, so has this classic dessert, which now can be made healthy, dressed up with chocolate and candies, or even turned into cupcakes. With this treat, anything goes.

Healthy Rice Krispies Treats

Creating a healthy version of Rice Krispies is simple and makes for a great after-school snack. Use a whole-grain rice cereal instead of the classic Rice Krispies. Add a few tablespoons of raisins, cranberries, oatmeal and even flaxseed to create a rockier texture with a broader flavor. Use marshmallows to bind the bar together, or try a mixture of peanut butter and almond butter. This keeps the savory quality of the treat intact but cuts down on the amount of processed sugar. Allow the bars to set in a greased baking pan and cool before eating.

Chocolatey Treats

If you crave all things chocolate, then add a cocoa twist to this classic treat. Add morsels of M&Ms, chocolate chips or white chocolate chips during the mixing process. Another route is to create a chocolate sauce out of melted chocolate chips. After the treats are fully molded, coat the treats with the chocolate sauce. Refrigerate overnight and serve. To complete the chocolate infusion, substitute Cocoa Krispies for original Rice Krispies.

Grown-up Treats

Putting a spin on a classic kid's food is a popular gourmet trend, and Rice Krispies Treats are no different. Add items such as coconut, pecan or macedamian nuts to the recipe. Substitute butter with a brown butter sauce to give the dessert a salty taste. You can even add spirits to the classic recipe -- add about 1/8 tbsp. of rum, Kahlua or whiskey into the mix before adding in the marshmallows.

Shape It Up

Rice Krispies Treats can take on any creative shape, no matter what the recipe. Use pans with shapes such as circles, stars, holiday designs or even letters. Use frosting and cake decorations to create a funny face. Or create Rice Krispies cupcakes by molding the mix in a cupcake pan, then adding frosting and sprinkles to the top.

References

• Whole Grain Gourmet: Healthy Rice Crispy Treats
• Free Stuff For Kids: Thirteen Ways to Dress Up Your Rice Krispy Treats
• The Hungry Mouse: Chocolate-Covered Rice Krispie Treats
• Bruce Krieg: Bruce's Coconut-Rum Rice Krispie Treats
• The Kitchn: Playing Around: 5 New Takes on Classic Rice Krispie Treats
• Cooking For Engineers: Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats by Michael Chu

Resources

• Rice Krispie Treat Recipes
• The Original Rice Krispie Treat Recipe