3 Grain Marshmallow Crispy Treats

Crispy treats are one of the greatest inventions ever. Think about it - you take a cereal that no one would ever eat without 3 pounds of sugar sprinkled on top and turn it into something totally edible by mixing it with sugary marshmallows. Suddenly kids everywhere are clamoring for the things. 

It has been my experience that most all natural cereals that are actually good for you don't taste all that great on their own (think fiber twigs). I have also learned that if you bring some buttery marshmallow goodness to the party, everything tastes better - even cereal that resembles tree bark. Even so, I left the fiber twigs at the store and made these with three simple puffed cereals that resembled the originals enough to make any kid happy.


3 Grain Marshmallow Crispy Treats
Makes 8 treats

What I use:

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 5 oz. mini marshmallows (about 3 cups)
• 1 c. puffed rice
• 1 c. puffed millet
• 1 c. puffed wheat

How I do it:

1. Measure out the cereal.

2. In a medium pot over low heat, melt the butter.

3. Add the marshmallows and stir constantly until smooth and completely melted.

4. Turn off the heat; add the cereal to the pot and stir until it is evenly coated.

5. Line a small baking dish with foil and grease it with butter. Transfer the cereal mixture to the dish. It doesn't really matter what size you use. My dish is about 8 x 6. If you use a smaller dish, they will be thicker. If you use a bigger dish, they will be thinner. 

6. Press the cereal down flat using waxed paper, a buttered spatula, or your buttered hands. Allow it to rest until completely cooled, about 1 hour.

7. Pop the whole thing out of the dish and peel the foil off. Cut into bars - short and wide, or long and skinny. 

 

You can double the recipe and use a 13 x 9 pan.

Keep in mind, these aren't as light and crispy as the marshmallow treats you may be used to. Because of the types of cereal we are using, they are softer and chewier. If the chewiness bothers you, you can certainly toast the cereals on a dry cookie sheet for about 3 to 5 minutes at 400 degrees F. Watch they don't burn!


The family says:

• Andrew is a total crispy treat purist, so he wasn't a huge fan of these, but K absolutely loved them. 
• After a lifetime spent eating blue box crispy treats, the chewiness of these takes some getting used to, but after that, I found myself grabbing a bite every time I walked into the kitchen.