Looking for a way to take ordinary crispy rice treats up a notch? Add freeze-dried berries! This one simple ingredient gives the nostalgic, chewy, marshmallowy treats a major glow up!
Freeze-dried fruits have become a secret weapon of mine when I want to add intense fruity flavor to treats! The crushed crispy berries add a pop of tartness that cuts right through the super sweetness of the marshmallows!
Here’s what you need:
Crush the freeze dried strawberries.
Freeze dried fruits can be found at most grocery stores, or online. Could you use other fruits besides strawberries for this recipe? Of course! Mango, blueberry, raspberry, pineapple, etc,… would all be delicious! Just make sure you are choosing the crispy freeze-dried kind.
I prefer to crush my berries in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. This way doesn’t completely grind down the fruit and leaves some irregular chunks, which are the very best part! The chunks get speckled into the treats, giving them a burst of berry flavor throughout! Plus, this is a part of the recipe that little kids can help out with, if you trust them with a rolling pin. But if you prefer, you could grind them up in a food processor for more evenly crushed berries.
One of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity! It takes only these 5 easy steps and just a few minutes to prepare the treats.
- Crush the berries
- Melt the butter, marshmallows and berries.
- Stir in the cereal.
- Pour into a prepared pan.
- Allow to set for 1 hour, then cut into squares. (This is by far the most difficult step!)
Melt together the butter, marshmallows, salt and berries.
Heat a large pot to medium-low heat. Add the butter and swirl until melted. Add the marshmallows, salt and crushed strawberries. Stir with a rubber spatula until the marshmallows are almost completely melted.
Immediately add the cereal.
Turn off the heat and stir the cereal into the marshmallow mixture until completely coated. Time is of the essence here so act quickly. As the coated cereal begins to cool down, it will begin to firm up, making it harder to stir.
Pour the marshmallow-coated cereal into a prepared pan.
Spray the pan first with cooking spray to prevent the gooey mixture from sticking to the pan once it sets. Use a rubber spatula to firmly press the cereal evenly throughout the pan.
Allow the treats to set for at least an hour.
As the butter and marshmallow cool, they will firm up once again, making the treats easier to cut and hold their shape. It’s torture, but it is necessary.
Use a thin spatula to lift the entire square out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Use a very sharp knife to cut the treats into whatever sized squares as you like!
Keep stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. (I guarantee they won’t last that long!)
These crispy, chewy strawberry marshmallow squares make great gifts or classroom treats!
Other recipes to try:
Strawberry Crispy Rice Treats
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 12 ounces (weight) marshmallows
- 1 ounce (weight) freeze dried strawberries
- 6 cups crispy rice cereal
Instructions
- Place the freeze dried strawberries in a ziplock sandwich bag and use a rollin pin or mallet to crush them. They don't need to be completely pulverized, the little chunks of strawberry in the treats make them extra delicious. Melt the butter on medium-low heat in a large pot. Stir in the salt. Add the marshmallows and strawberries and continue to stir until the marshmallows are melted. Pour in the cereal and stir with a rubber spatula until completely coated. Remove from the heat and pour the mixture into a 9 x 9 inch pan that has been sprayed well with cooking spray. Use the spatula or your clean, greased hands to press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan. Allow the treats to cool for an hour before cutting.Use a spatula to hoist the entire thing out of the pan and onto a cutting board, then cut into squares. Keep at room temperature in a airtight container.