Description
Delightfully easy and festive, these Strawberry Rice Krispie Treat Hearts combine classic crispy marshmallow cereal with a vibrant twist of freeze-dried strawberry powder. Perfect for any celebration or as a sweet snack, these treats are quick to make and irresistibly delicious with pockets of gooey marshmallow and a fruity strawberry flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 8 cups mini marshmallows, divided (7 cups plus 1 cup reserved)
- 1 oz bag freeze dried strawberries, pulsed into a fine powder
- 6 cups rice krispie cereal
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Surface: Lightly grease a large cookie sheet with shortening to prevent the rice krispie treats from sticking. Set the sheet aside.
- Melt Butter: In a large pot over medium heat, melt the 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Melt Marshmallows: Add 7 cups of mini marshmallows to the melted butter and stir continuously with a spatula until the marshmallows are completely melted and smooth, about 1 minute.
- Add Strawberry Powder: Stir in the freeze-dried strawberry powder thoroughly into the melted marshmallow mixture to evenly distribute the strawberry flavor and color.
- Combine Cereal and Marshmallow Mixture: Turn off the heat and add the 6 cups of rice krispie cereal to the pot. Stir well to coat every piece of cereal with the melty marshmallow mixture. Then, gently fold in the reserved 1 cup of mini marshmallows, which will remain intact, creating delightful pockets of marshmallow in the treats.
- Shape the Treats: Immediately transfer the strawberry rice krispie mixture to the prepared cookie sheet. Using hands lightly greased with shortening, press the mixture evenly and firmly into a flat layer. Allow it to cool and firm up for about 10-15 minutes.
- Flip Out and Cut: Once cooled, carefully flip the entire sheet onto a large piece of parchment paper so the bottom is now facing up. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out heart shapes as close together as possible. The number of hearts will depend on the size of your cutter.
- Serve and Store: Enjoy your strawberry rice krispie treat hearts immediately, or store them in a large gallon-sized Ziploc bag to keep them fresh and soft for several days.
Notes
- Using freeze-dried strawberries adds natural fruit flavor without adding moisture, maintaining the crisp texture of the treats.
- Reserving and folding in one cup of marshmallows creates fun, gooey pockets throughout the treats.
- Shortening on your hands helps press the mixture evenly without sticking.
- These treats are best enjoyed fresh but can be stored airtight for up to 3-4 days to maintain softness.
- Feel free to experiment with other shapes beyond hearts for different occasions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 treat (approximate)
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg
