Description
This Easy Strawberry Rice Krispie Treat Hearts recipe combines the classic crunchy and gooey texture of traditional rice krispie treats with a fruity twist from freeze-dried strawberries. Perfectly shaped into charming hearts, they make a delightful and fun dessert or snack for special occasions or anytime you crave a sweet, nostalgic treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Marshmallow Mixture
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 cups mini marshmallows, divided (save 1 cup for tossing in at the end)
- 1 oz bag freeze dried strawberries, pulsed to a fine powder in a food processor
Cereal
- 6 cups rice krispie cereal
Instructions
- Prepare the pan: Swipe a large cookie sheet with shortening to prevent sticking and set it aside for later use.
- Melt the butter: Place a large pot over medium heat and melt the unsalted butter until fully liquefied.
- Incorporate marshmallows: Add 7 cups of mini marshmallows to the melted butter and stir continuously with a spatula until the marshmallows are completely melted, approximately 1 minute.
- Add strawberry powder: Stir in the freeze dried strawberry powder thoroughly to infuse the marshmallow mixture with fruity flavor.
- Mix in cereal and reserved marshmallows: Turn off the heat and add the rice krispie cereal. Stir until every piece is evenly coated with the marshmallow mixture. Then gently fold in the remaining 1 cup of mini marshmallows; these will remain partially unmelted, adding little pockets of marshmallow texture.
- Shape the treats: Immediately transfer the mixture into the prepared cookie sheet. Using hands lightly greased with shortening, press the mixture evenly and firmly to a flat layer. Allow the mixture to cool and firm up for about 10-15 minutes.
- Flip and cut shapes: Once firm, flip the rice krispie sheet out onto a sheet of parchment paper. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts closely together, maximizing the number of treats you can create.
- Store and serve: Enjoy the strawberry rice krispie treat hearts immediately or store them in a large gallon Ziploc bag to keep them fresh and soft for several days.
Notes
- Using shortening on hands helps press the mixture down without sticking.
- The reserved mini marshmallows added at the end create delightful marshmallow pockets within the treats.
- The number of hearts you get depends on the size of your cookie cutter.
- Letting the treats cool slightly helps them firm up for easier cutting.
- Store treats in an airtight container or zip-top bag to maintain freshness for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 heart-shaped treat
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
