What are good interesting things to put in Marshmallow treats?

November 27, 2018 6:45 PM

I like to experiment with marshmallow cereal treats for an annual potluck. I’ve done all kinds of cereal, and bits & bites last year for a wonderful gooey salty spicy sweet thing. What are some odd, unexpected, or classic-but-delicious things to use in place of Rice Krispies?
posted by yellowbinder to Food & Drink (27 answers total)

I've always liked when red licorice laces are used like ribbon to tie them up like little packages. The recipe in that link uses a cream cheese filling that sounds yummy.
posted by NoraCharles at 7:38 PM on November 27, 2018

Brown butter!!!
posted by Champagne Supernova at 7:40 PM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]

I have taken to making rice krispie treats with golden grahams instead of rice krispies, and throwing in a handful of chocolate chips to make s'mores bars. They're pretty great (though you may have covered something like that already in your previous cereal treats, apologies if so).
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:54 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]

I was also coming in to link to the Smitten Kitchen recipe that uses brown butter, it is life-changing.
posted by doift at 7:57 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

I just had popcorn covered in peanut butter fudge and drizzled in chocolate, and I could eat quite a bit of that.

Cocoa Puffs, Rice chex, or any rice cereal.

Add bits of toffee (break up heath bars), roasted salted nuts, broken up peanut brittle,
posted by theora55 at 8:07 PM on November 27, 2018

Dried cranberries are really good.
posted by Crystalinne at 8:24 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

I love Special K bars.
posted by soelo at 8:27 PM on November 27, 2018

Lucky Charms.
posted by johnxlibris at 9:10 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]

Duck bacon. Cooked and diced into small bits.
posted by msladygrey at 9:10 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]

Something I learned many years ago: do not make these treats with Count Chocola cereal it does not go well.
posted by lepus at 9:34 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]

Crushed candy canes!
posted by quince at 12:24 AM on November 28, 2018

Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
If you’d like to try different types of cereal, you can get those single serving mixed packs and have fun.
posted by sciencegeek at 2:01 AM on November 28, 2018

Santa crunch popcorn. You might need to up the marshmallow quantity.

Peppermint bark
posted by Dwardles at 3:33 AM on November 28, 2018

Thirding that the brown butter honestly changes the flavor in such a way that they taste more decadent, more special, way more delicious.

For fun ones, I've done a 50/50 mix of Rice Krispies and Fruity Pebbles (more of the Pebbles makes it way too sweet) or Cocoa Pebbles. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is a great addition.
posted by rachaelfaith at 3:49 AM on November 28, 2018

Substitute Cocoa Krispies for the Rice Krispies.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:41 AM on November 28, 2018

BACON!!!! Crispy bacon!!!
posted by LaBellaStella at 4:51 AM on November 28, 2018

I bow to msladygrey.
posted by LaBellaStella at 4:53 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Why not take them in an Indian direction with cashews, raisins and cardamom?
posted by peacheater at 4:55 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]

Goldfish crackers taste very good with a sweet treat as a complimentary flavor.
posted by Hermione Granger at 5:05 AM on November 28, 2018

We used to put peanut butter in them.
posted by FencingGal at 6:18 AM on November 28, 2018

Biscoff Cookie Butter

FWIW, I don't think browning the butter makes a difference in this recipe. I like brown butter rice krispie squares and I like briscoff rice krispie squares but I think combining the two, the biscoff just drowns out the brown butter flavour so it isn't worth the extra effort.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018

My boyfriend sometimes makes them with macadamia nuts, unsweetened dried pineapple, coconut, and a bunch of lime zest.
posted by Akhu at 8:22 AM on November 28, 2018

It’s super simple but I’ve always loved Christina Tosi’s sesame ginger rice krispy treats. They’re a little warm with the ginger and more sophisticated somehow with the sesame.
posted by jeweled accumulation at 8:53 AM on November 28, 2018

If you can find puffed wheat cereal, you should try the Prairie-staple puffed wheat squares, Western Canada's odd but delicious Rice Krispie Square cousin. They're even better with a bit of espresso powder added and a tablespoon or so of molasses subbed for a similar amount of corn syrup.
posted by blerghamot at 11:41 AM on November 28, 2018

As johnxlibris posted, Lucky Charms for the win. Also, browned butter and almond extract instead of vanilla.
posted by Lynsey at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]

Melt a 12 oz bag of chocolate chips in with the marshmallows. It makes the texture looser but oh so delicious. You can also put some kahlua in the marshmallows.

I think you need to let us know some of your winning combinations, too.
posted by CathyG at 8:38 PM on December 1, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks all, these all sound delicious! I didn't end up having a lot of time or energy to spend on new ideas so I ended up with one I've done before - Cinnamon Toast Crunch with crushed candy canes as a base/topping and a little cinnamon extract in the marshmallows. Totally amazing.
posted by yellowbinder at 1:45 PM on December 2, 2018