Rice Krispie Treats-our way

In the summer of 1965, my family took a pilot trip to Los Angeles, California with an eye to settling there. My maternal grandparents had waved a cheery farewell to the snow in Buffalo four years previously and were encouraging my parents to do the same. For six weeks our family of five shared a cozy one-bedroom apartment with my Bubby and Zeidy (surviving the Second World War in hiding had inured them to stress). In addition to serving heaping platters of chicken paprikash and flaky apple strudel, my grandmother surprised us with this recipe for Rice Krispie treats.

Rice Krispie Treats-our way

These crispy, sweet and chewy squares do not contain marshmallows and are suitable for people who are following a plant-based diet, but don’t let that hold you back. Everyone finds these goodies addictive. These effortless squares can be prepared in minutes by even the youngest chefs in your family. My grandchildren made a pan of these crunchy Rice Krispie treats disappear in the blink of an eye, proof positive that this recipe is a classic winner. Are you smiling Bubby?

California 1965, Nanette, Sheryl, Larry, Zeidy Klein

Assemble your ingredients. Premeasure all of your ingredients because this recipe moves along at a good clip. This recipe can be made with butter or margarine. Spray a 9X13-inch pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. Allow the parchment paper to hang over the short ends of the pan so that you can use it as handles to lift out the pan of squares.

Melt the butter or margarine over medium heat in a medium-large Dutch oven. Add the cocoa, corn syrup and brown sugar to the pot. Heat until the mixture starts to bubble. Add the vanilla. Stir to combine. Remove the pot from the heat and add the Rice Krispies, stirring to thoroughly coat the Rice Krispies with the melted sugar syrup. 

Scrape the Rice Krispie mixture into the prepared pan. Pat the mixture with a spatula until it is smooth. Allow the squares to cool. Holding on to the parchment paper “handles”, lift the Rice Krispie treats out of the pan and cut them into individual pieces. Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Rice Krispie Treats-our way

Cookies, Cakes, Pies and Desserts

By Bubby Klein, Pat S-J for reintroducing me to this family recipe – Serves: 20

Prep Time: 5 minutes – Cooking Time: 5 minutes – Total Time: 10 minutes

Sweet, chewy, crunchy Rice Krispie squares with a hint of cocoa and vanilla in every bite.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup butter or margarine (I use Fleischmann's stick margarine)
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 cup corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 cups Rice Krispie cereal (any brand is fine)

Instructions

1

Spray a 9X13-inch pan with cooking spray and line it with parchment paper. Allow the parchment paper to hang over the short ends of the pan to use as handles for lifting out the squares later. Set the pan aside.

2

Melt the butter or margarine over medium heat in a medium-large Dutch oven. Add the cocoa, corn syrup and brown sugar to the pot. Heat until the mixture becomes liquid and starts to bubble. Add the vanilla. Stir to combine.

3

Remove the pot from the heat and add the Rice Krispies, stirring to thoroughly coat the Rice Krispies with the melted sugar syrup. 

4

Scrape the Rice Krispie mixture into the prepared pan. Pat the mixture with a spatula until it is smooth. Allow the squares to cool. Holding on to the parchment paper "handles", lift the Rice Krispie treats out of the pan and cut them into individual pieces.

Notes

Thanks to Pat S-J for reintroducing me to this family recipe.