Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Cereal hit store shelves in 1928, and was a moderate success. The breakfast cereal’s popularity with youngsters didn’t come until a decade later, when Rice Krispies treats were created quite by accident. A Campfire Girls troop leader, seeking an inexpensive fundraiser idea mixed the cereal with butter, and a sensation was born.
History of Rice Krispies Treats
A similar recipe for dessert squares called, “Puffed Rice Brittle” was also featured in an earlier cookbook in 1916. The Campfire Girls troop leader, and Kellogg’s employee, Mildred Day is generally credited in bringing the inexpensive treat to life, and public consciousness, after her scouts sold hundreds of Rice Krispies Treats during the summer of 1939 in a small town in Michigan.
Campfire Girls Leader Starts a Sensation with her Recipe
Mildred Day needed a fundraiser, which would allow her Campfire Girls the ability to raise a large amount of money for their summer camps and activity programs. The Kellogg brand was popular in her area of Michigan not solely for value of their products, but for commitment to community. During the Great Depression, the company didn’t fire workers, and shipped products overseas to the armed forces. Banking on the loyalty of families of Battle Creek, Day planned to promote the Campfire Girls fundraiser as a way to not only assist the young scouts, but to support the company, which had shown compassion, and support to working families and soldiers.
Campfire Marshmallows Added to Older Puffed Rice Recipes
The creative scout leader had a copy of the “Puffed Rice Brittle” recipe, adapted the concoction to add sweeter flavor to the treats. During that era, Campfire Girls also sold “Campfire Marshmallows” in a box, similar to the Girl Scout Cookie drives of today. Day decided to remove the molasses and vinegar from the recipe, and add Campfire Girls Marshmallows to the mix.
Kellogg’s Adds Rice Krispies Recipe to Back of Cereal Box
Kellogg’s executives took notice of the mania Day’s recipe created among both children and price-conscious mothers. In 1941, the company added Day’s recipe to the back of the Rice Krispies cereal box and trademarked the name and recipe for the simple dessert. The treats created by a clever Campfire Girls leader to raise money for her troop soon became a national sensation.
Rice Krispies Treats Produced and Sold in Grocery Stores
Rice Krispies Treats became a staple at children’s birthday parties and elementary school classrooms. They developed into a treat for all occasions with the use of cookie cutters and food coloring. Holiday-themed treats were easy to make, and allowed young children to participate in the process in the kitchen. In 1995, Kellogg’s began producing and packaging the treats for grocery stores. The treats are also available in various colors and shapes for holidays and seasonal promotions.
Classic Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 10 oz marshmallows about 4 cups
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Instructions
- In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
- Add rice krispies. Stir until well coated.
- Using buttered spatula, evenly press mixture into 1/2 pan pan coated with cooking spray.
- Chill in freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- Cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day.
Apple Pie Rice Krispie Treats
Ingredients
- 5 cup mini marshmallows
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 ½ cup diced dried apple
- 2 cups quick oats
- 4 cups Rice Krispie cereal
- caramel sauce
Instructions
- In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat and add the vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well.
- In a large bowl, mix together the dried apple, oatmeal and Rice Krispie cereal. Add the melted marshmallow mixture and stir well until coated.
- Butter your fingers and press mixture into a buttered 8 X 8-inch pan. Pat well to compress. Drizzle with caramel sauce. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes and cut into squares. Best if served the same day.
Birthday Cake Rice Krispies
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounce mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup yellow cake mix
- 6 cups rice krispies cereal
- 3 tablespoons Colored Sprinkles
Instructions
- Line a half pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows.
- Stir until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined.
- Stir in cereal so it is completely coated with marshmallow mixture.
- Mix in 2 tablespoons of the sprinkles.
- Press into pan using the back of a well-greased spatula or gloves that have been sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Chill in freezer for ten – fifteen minutes
- Spray a chef’s knife with nonstick spray and and cut into squares.
- Decorate with frosting (if using)
- Decorate with additional sprinkles.
Red Velvet Krispy Treats
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 10 oz mini marshmallows
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup red velvet cake mix
- 6 cups Cocoa Rice Krispies cereal
- 4 ounces white chocolate chips melted
Instructions
- Line a half pan with parchment paper and grease well.
- Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows.
- Stir until they begin to melt, adding in cake mix one spoonful at a time so its combined. Add krispies and stir to combine.
- Press into pan using the back of a well-greased spatula.
- Chill in freezer 10-15 minutes.
- Spray a chef’s knife with nonstick spray and and cut into squares.
- Decorate with melted white chocolate.
- Decorate with shaved chocolate
Rice Krispies Turtles
Ingredients
For crispies
- 4 T butter
- 5 C mini marshmallows
- ½ C creamy peanut butter
- 5 ½ C Rice Krispies
For caramel
- 1/4 cup water 60 ml
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
- 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream 160 ml
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon size pieces 45 grams
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
For chocolate drizzle
- 2 C chocolate chips
- ½ C chopped pecans
Instructions
Make Crispies
- In a 4 quart sauce pan, melt butter on low heat. Once butter has melted, keep heat on low and add mini marshmallows.
- Once marshmallows begin to soften and melt, add peanut butter while constantly stirring
- Once, mixture is almost combined and melted, remove from heat and continue to stir until marshmallows have completely melted..
- Add crisp rice cereal to sauce pan and stir until evenly coated with mixture.
Make Caramel
- In a heavy bottomed saucepan, heat the water and sugar over medium heat. Make sure to use a saucepan that’s a little bigger than what you think you will need. Stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture starts to bubble just a little.
- Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, stop stirring completely. Let the mixture continue boiling until it turns an amber color, this could take anywhere from 4-12 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and slowly whisk in the heavy cream. The mixture will bubble up quite a bit, so make sure to do this very carefully. Then, mix in the butter, vanilla, and salt (to taste) one ingredient at a time. Let cool slightly.
Assemble
- Add rice crispy mixture to greased ½ pan. Spray your hand with nonstick cooking spray and pat down mixture until firmly compacted.
- Pour caramel evenly over the top of rice krispie treats.
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments (for about 90 seconds total), stirring after each until smooth.
- Drizzle chocolate over the caramel layer. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top of the chocolate.
- Let set completely – THEN cut and serve.