Rice Krispies Treats facts for kids
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| Owner | Kellanova |
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| Introduced | 1939 |
| Related brands | Rice Krispies |
Rice Krispies Treats are a popular sweet snack. They are also known by other names like Marshmallow Treats or Marshmallow Squares. In the United Kingdom and Canada, they are called Rice Krispies Squares. Australians know them as LCMs.
These treats are usually made by mixing WK Kellogg Co's Rice Krispies cereal with melted butter or margarine and marshmallows. People often make them at home. However, the Kellogg's company started selling them already made in 1995. Today, the company Kellanova makes and sells Rice Krispies Treats.
Contents
How Rice Krispies Treats Began
The Invention Story
Rice Krispies Treats were first created in 1939. Two Kellogg Company employees, Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day, invented them. They worked in the Kellogg kitchens in Battle Creek, Michigan. The treats were made to help promote the Rice Krispies cereal. It was a tasty way to show how versatile the cereal could be!
From Homemade to Store-Bought
For many years, Rice Krispies Treats were mostly a homemade snack. People would follow recipes to make them in their own kitchens. But in 1995, Kellogg's started selling them in stores. They offered both plain and chocolate versions.
These store-bought treats had different names depending on the country. In the United States and Mexico, they were called "Rice Krispies Treats." In Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, they were known as "Squares." Australia and New Zealand called them "LCMs." Other companies had also sold similar snacks before Kellogg's.
A Cereal Inspired by the Treat
For a while, Kellogg's even made a breakfast cereal based on the treats. This cereal was available from the 1990s until it was stopped in 2020.
The Classic Recipe Over Time
Early Recipes
Kellogg's shared the recipe for these treats in newspaper ads as early as November 1940. The first recipe was called "Rice Krispies Marshmallow Treats." It had four main ingredients:
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup marshmallows
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- One 5-1/2 ounce package of Rice Krispies
This recipe also appeared in some supermarket ads even earlier. By 1941, Kellogg's national ads used the same recipe, but called the snack "Rice Krispies Marshmallow Squares."
Recipe Changes in the 1950s
The recipe changed slightly over the years. By 1950, Kellogg's published a new version. It used 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 pound marshmallows, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 5 cups of Rice Krispies.
By 1955, the company advertised the snack as "Marshmallow Crispy Treats." This version suggested using margarine instead of butter. It also removed the vanilla. The recipe then was:
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1/2 pound marshmallows
- 5 cups of Rice Krispies
Images for kids
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The logo for Rice Krispies Treats.
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A plate of Rice Krispies Treats.
See also
In Spanish: Cuadrado de Rice Krispies para niños
