Final week, I wanted to deliver a gluten-free dessert to my daughter’s college. I used to be attempting to determine what to make once I remembered the strawberry-lemon crispy treats we’d loved lately at a neighborhood restaurant. The proprietor, a household buddy, introduced some out for our youngsters, and, to our shock, the bars had been delightfully flecked with brilliant bits of dried strawberries and lemon zest. Fruity, gooey, and scrumptious, they tasted identical to a childhood summer season.
To make this straightforward twist on a traditional, I crushed up freeze-dried strawberries, that are a Trader Joe’s staple in our home, and zested a lemon over the cereal combination. Since almost each model of crispy rice cereal has the recipe printed on the field, this nostalgic dessert is virtually a no-recipe recipe. Couldn’t be less complicated.
Strawberry-Lemon Rice Krispies Treats
Makes roughly 12 bars
6 tbsp butter
1 16-oz bag mini marshmallows
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
7 cups crispy rice cereal
1/2 cup freeze-dried strawberries, crushed
Zest from one lemon
Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with both non-stick spray or butter. You may also line the pan with parchment paper, leaving a little bit of an overhang, to make it simpler to take away the bars.
In a big saucepan, soften butter over medium warmth. Add marshmallows and preserve stirring till melted. As soon as the marshmallows are utterly and completely gooey, stir within the vanilla extract and take away from warmth.
In the meantime, measure cereal into a big mixing bowl. Crush up freeze-dried strawberries (it’s best to do that whereas they’re nonetheless within the package deal) and add about 1/2 cup to the bowl. Zest the lemon over the cereal combination and stir. Then pour the marshmallow combination over the cereal and mix till nicely coated.
Scoop the cereal combination into the baking pan and press into a good layer. You should utilize a spatula however my children assume it’s enjoyable to (gently!) use a potato masher. At this level, I additionally prefer to sprinkle a bit extra strawberry mud and lemon zest on prime, purely for seems to be!
Cool at room temperature for a minimum of an hour earlier than slicing into bars.
Word: Conventional Kellogg’s Rice Krispies aren’t gluten-free as a result of they’re made with malt, however many store-brand crispy rice cereals are gluten-free. Nature’s Path makes crispy rice cereal that’s additionally vegan, and you need to use vegan butter and marshmallows as nicely (I just like the Trader Joe’s marshmallows).
What’s your go-to Rice Krispies deal with add-in? For years, mine was brown butter with sea salt. Obtained some other twists on childhood classics? I’m all ears!
P.S. Lazy ice cream, and everyone’s favorite strawberry cake.
