Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats are a berrylicious twist on a classic dessert! Made with strawberry-flavored homemade marshmallow fluff and freeze dried strawberries, these bars are sure to be a huge hit!
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- Light and chewy strawberry rice krispie bars
- Strawberry rice krispie treat ingredients
- How to make homemade strawberry rice krispie treats
- Can I use real strawberries?
- Tips for making Rice Krispie Treats
- Cutting & Storing
- Frequently asked questions
- Looking to make more Valentine’s Day treats?
- Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
Light and chewy strawberry rice krispie bars
Sweet, pink, and pretty Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats are both a feast for the palate and the eyes! The rice cereal and homemade marshmallow fluff are lightly flavored with freeze dried strawberry powder, giving this no-bake dessert a berrylicious flavor.
Just like my Strawberries and Cream Mini Tarts and Berry and Lemon Poppyseed Cake, these rice krispie bars are a perfect treat to enjoy on Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, or really any special occasion. The pink color pops on any dessert table!
Short on time? These gooey and chewy rice krispie treats will be just as flavorful and sweet with storebought marshmallow fluff instead of homemade. Plus, they can easily be customized by substituting the strawberry flavor for anything else you like, such as cocoa powder, coffee, matcha, and more.
Strawberry rice krispie treat ingredients
These pink, berry-flavored treats are elevated above the classic version thanks to the homemade marshmallow fluff and freeze dried strawberries. Here’s what you need:
- Rice krispies cereal - Or any other puffed rice or corn cereal will work just as well.
- Freeze dried strawberries - This dry strawberry powder packs in the craveable berry flavor without adding unnecessary moisture to the marshmallows.
- Unflavored gelatin powder - Gelatin is necessary when making homemade marshmallows and will give them a light, bouncy, and slightly chewy texture.
- Sugar syrup - A simple combination of sugar, water, and light corn syrup that, when heated to the correct temperature, will whip up into marshmallow fluff.
- Unsalted butter - Adds richness to the marshmallow fluff and prevents it from getting too sticky.
- Vanilla - The warmth of vanilla extract helps these cereal bars taste a step above the rest!
How to make homemade strawberry rice krispie treats
Step 1: Warm the cereal. Grease a large mixing bowl with butter and pour in the rice krispies. Place the bowl in the oven on low to warm your cereal. This will make the future mixing process much easier!
Step 2: Bloom the gelatin. Mix the gelatin with a little water and vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.
Step 3: Make the sugar syrup. Heat the sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a heavy-bottomed saucepan until it begins to bubble. Continue to cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 250°F.
Step 4: Whip up the marshmallow fluff. Transfer the sugar syrup to the bowl of a stand mixer. Once slightly cooled, add the bloomed gelatin and whisk until the mixture turns opaque, thick, and glossy.
Step 5: Flavor the fluff. Add the freeze dried strawberry powder and softened butter to the homemade marshmallow fluff and mix until just combined.
Step 6: Assemble, cool, and serve. Use a spatula sprayed with a bit of cooking oil to mix the warm rice krispie cereal into the marshmallow fluff. Transfer this mixture to a baking pan and top with more freeze dried strawberries. Let the cereal treats set and firm up before cutting them into bars and enjoying!
Can I use real strawberries?
Sadly, I would not advise using fresh strawberries for this recipe. The amount of water and moisture that exists within a fresh strawberry will not work.
Instead, the fresh strawberry moisture will make the rice krispie treats soggy - a tragedy! Personally, I like using freeze-dried strawberries and strawberry powder to assure that the rice krispie treats are packed with flavor while also maintaining the perfect texture!
Tips for making Rice Krispie Treats
- Pay attention to the specific temperatures of your sugar syrup before moving onto the next task. Make sure to use a thermometer and babysit the syrup to ensure that you are hitting the right temperatures.
- Be extra gentle when you are mixing together the cereal and marshmallow fluff. The cereal is quite delicate and can easily be crushed!
- Make sure to grease your spatula! This ensures that your marshmallow fluff and rice krispie cereal does not get stuck, preventing you from incorporating everything well.
- To make sure that the rice krispie treats hold their shape, wait to cut into them for at least an hour. I know... it's hard to wait! But you won't regret it.
Cutting & Storing
After cutting into my fair share of rice krispie treats this summer, I would highly recommend using a serrated knife! Light, airy and chewy rice krispie treats tend to get squished incredibly easily if they're not handled with care. Using a serrated knife to cut into your squares will prevent this from happening and allow for the perfect squares.
If each rice krispie treat is individually wrapped and kept at room temperature, they should last for up to five days!
Frequently asked questions
I don’t recommend making these rice krispie treats with real strawberries because the natural moisture in the berries will leave you with a messy and soggy cereal bar.
Any leftover strawberry rice krispie treats can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Not at all! You can go the traditional route and leave these rice krispy treats unflavored or flavor them with the powder of your choice, like cocoa, matcha, and instant coffee.
Most major grocery stores carry freeze dried strawberries (sometimes they’re labelled as dehydrated strawberries). When all else fails, order them online!
Looking to make more Valentine’s Day treats?
- Raspberry Valentine’s Day Bundt Cakes
- Brioche Doughnuts with Vanilla Rose Pastry Cream
- Cherry Chocolate Mini Cakes
- Yuzu Raspberry Macarons
As always, I love seeing your creations and hearing from you! If you try the recipe for these Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats, please share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!
Strawberry Rice Krispie Treats
Equipment
- Fork
Ingredients
- 175 g (5 cups) Rice Krispies Cereal
- 2 teaspoon Unflavored Gelatin Powder
- 2 tablespoon Cool Water, for blooming gelatin
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 60 g (¼ cup) Water, for sugar syrup
- 170 g (½ cup) Light Corn Syrup
- 200 g (1 cup) Granulated Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 55 g (¼ cup ) Unsalted Butter
- 35 g (¼ cup ) Freeze Dried Strawberry Powder
- 20 g (½ cup ) Dehydrated OR Freeze Dried Strawberries
Instructions
- Set oven to warm, or to 150 degrees F. After greasing a large bowl with butter, pour in the rice krispy cereal and place in the oven. The cereal will begin to warm while you start on the marshmallow fluff making it easier to mix later in this process!175 g Rice Krispies Cereal
- In a small bowl, mix gelatin, 2 tablespoon water, and vanilla with a fork.2 teaspoon Unflavored Gelatin Powder, 2 tablespoon Cool Water, 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- Combine the sugar, water, corn syrup, and salt in a pot. Turn on the stove to medium-high and heat until bubbling. Continue to cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 250 degrees Fahrenheit.60 g Water, 170 g Light Corn Syrup, 200 g Granulated Sugar, ½ teaspoon Salt
- Pour the hot syrup into the bowl of your stand mixer and cool until your thermometer reads 212 degrees. Add the gelatin mixture into the sugar syrup and mix with the whisk attachment on low speed to combine. Once homogenous, increase the speed to medium-high and continue whisking until the syrup is thick and glossy. This should take 5-8 minutes.
- Grease your 8x8 pan while you wait for the marshmallow fluff to finish mixing.
- Add strawberry powder and softened butter to the marshmallow fluff and whisk to combine.55 g Unsalted Butter, 35 g Freeze Dried Strawberry Powder
- Grab the warmed cereal from the oven and pour your strawberry marshmallow fluff into the bowl with the cereal. Using a spatula sprayed with oil, fold the cereal into the marshmallow fluff gently until combined.
- Transfer the mixture into your prepared pan and sprinkle the dehydrated strawberries on top, gently pressing to the top of the rice krispie treats. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest and ingredients to cool/firm for 1-2 hours.20 g Dehydrated OR Freeze Dried Strawberries
- Cut into pieces using a serrated knife. Wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and store for 3-5 days!
Notes
- Can I make these with real strawberries? I don’t recommend making these rice krispie treats with real strawberries because the natural moisture in the berries will leave you with a messy and soggy cereal bar.
- How long do rice krispie treats last? Any leftover strawberry rice krispie treats can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Do I have to use strawberries? Not at all! You can go the traditional route and leave these rice krispy treats unflavored or flavor them with the powder of your choice, like cocoa, matcha, and instant coffee.
- Where can I buy freeze dried strawberries? Most major grocery stores carry freeze dried strawberries (sometimes they’re labeled as dehydrated strawberries). When all else fails, order them online!
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