Are you a fan of rice krispie treats? I am! Rice krispie treats are not at the top of the treat request list at my house, though. It is something about the “air” quality the puffed rice cereal has that makes them less desirable than other treats.
One day a few years ago, I was craving rice krispie treats but knew I would be the only person who would eat more than one. I began to brainstorm solutions because I did not want a whole tray sitting around for days. I thought of the time right before my daughter was born when a friend of mine made the most delicious rice krispie treats I have ever had. Believe me, I do not say that lightly!
When I asked my friend what she had done differently to make them so outrageously good, she said she had added a little almond extract to the marshmallow mix and made sure a few marshmallows had not melted completely. What genius ideas! She had also drizzled a bit of melted white chocolate over the top, which certainly didn’t hurt either.
I applied this to my dilemma… maybe I could use my friend’s tricks with the extract and marshmallows, but also substitute out the type of cereal to create something that my whole family would love? I thought it was worth a try.
I decided to use Oreo O’s cereal because it is so good (probably not the best for a healthy breakfast, though!) and everyone at my house enjoys Oreos. I also decided vanilla extract would pair well with that cereal. The result was scrumptious and everyone liked them – even those who normally do not prefer this kind of treat. Yay!
I have been making them for the past few years now, and they are always a hit. Try the recipe with your favorite cereal and a complimenting extract… there are so many fantastic combinations out there!
Oreo O’s Treats
Ingredients
- 10 oz mini marshmallows, divided
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 9 cups Oreo O's cereal
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add 7 oz. of the mini marshmallows and the butter to a large saucepan. Melt the two together over medium-low heat. Stir frequently.
- Once melted, turn the heat to low and add the vanilla extract and the remaining 3 oz. of marshmallows. Stir just until incorporated and the new marshmallows begin to melt.
- Take the melted marshmallow mixture off of the heat and add the cereal. (If the saucepan isn't big enough, add the melted marshmallows to the cereal in a large bowl.)
- Mix thoroughly and pour into the prepared 9×13 pan.
- Lightly press the mixture into the pan (you may need to let it cool slightly first) and allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
- This is a great way to use any cereal – simply replace the Oreo O’s with the cereal of your choice. Also consider using different extracts to make new flavor combinations!
