Chef notes
Lucky Charms Krispies TreatsThere are few things as simple, yet deeply satisfying as a batch of homemade Rice Krispies treats. When I was younger, I remember my mom made a pan of Rice Krispies treats in the days before my first orthodontic appointment. It was like a temporary goodbye to sticky foods. I remember the smell of melted butter, the slightly sweet scent of the sticky marshmallows and the crackly noise of the cereal as it was mixed in. As an adult, I can’t help but wonder why I don’t make cereal treats more often.
Enter these Lucky Charms Krispies treats. Perfect for kids and adults alike, these cereal treats blend Lucky Charms cereal and all of its marshmallow-y goodness with Rice Krispies cereal into the most colorful, soft and chewy cereal treats. Whereas most traditional rice cereal treat recipes use smaller amounts of ingredients and a square baking pan, this recipe yields a full 9-by-13-inch baking pan’s worth of treats (and trust me, you’ll be thankful for it)!
A generous amount of butter — in combination with melting the marshmallows low and steady — ensures the cereal treats stay perfectly chewy and slightly soft over the course of a few days. Just be sure to store them in an airtight container to make them last longer. With a big splash of vanilla extract and hefty dose of salt to both enhance the marshmallow flavor and keep the sweetness in balance, the only thing that makes these treats more magical is topping them with extra Lucky Charms marshmallows.
Technique Tip: The Rice Krispies in combination with the Lucky Charms yields a wonderfully light, almost crackly, texture to the treats.
Regardless of the size of the marshmallows you use, try to melt the marshmallows into the butter over that 5 to 6 minute time frame to yield the perfect soft, yet chewy texture.
Swap Option: You can either use two (10 ounce) bags mini marshmallows, 20 ounces (about 83) regular sized marshmallows or a combination.
Ingredients
- nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
- 6⅔ cups Lucky Charms cereal, plus more marshmallows for topping
- 3 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 20 ounces marshmallows
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Preparation
1.Lightly spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the long sides. Lightly spray the parchment.
2.In a large bowl, combine the Lucky Charms cereal and Rice Krispies cereal.
3.In a large (preferably nonstick) pot set over medium heat, melt the butter, about 2 minutes.
4.Once the butter is melted, reduce the heat to low, add the marshmallows and stir constantly until the marshmallows are completely melted and combined with the butter, 5 to 6 minutes.
5.Add the vanilla extract and salt and stir to combine.
6.Remove the pot from the heat and quickly fold in the cereal mixture until evenly combined.
7.Scrape the mixture into the prepared pan. Using a piece of parchment lightly sprayed with nonstick spray or a butter wrapper, lightly press the cereal mixture into a smooth, even layer. The cereal should be somewhat tight, but not super packed down. Top with more of the Lucky Charms marshmallows, as desired.
8.Let the treats cool completely at room temperature, about 1 hour.
9.Lift the slab out by the overhanging parchment and transfer to a cutting board. To avoid sticking, lightly grease a sharp knife with nonstick spray. Cut the slab into 24 bars.
