Chai Spiced Rice Krispies Treats

Total Time1

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: dessert bars

Servings: 32

Author: Christine Ma

Ingredients

Chai spiced marshmallows

⅓ cup powdered sugar 43 grams)
3 tablespoons cornstarch (24 grams)
3 packets gelatin powder (21 grams)
1 cup cold water, divided (250 ml)
2 cups granulated sugar (400 grams)
⅓ cup honey (113 grams)
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger, ground
½ teaspoon cardamom, ground
¼ teaspoon nutmeg, ground
¼ teaspoon allspice, ground
¼ teaspoon cloves, ground

Rice Krispie treats

1 cup butter (227 grams)
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ teaspoon of salt
16 cups Rice Krispies cereal (426 grams)

Instructions

Grease the bottom and sides of an 9x9 inch baking dish with butter. Combine powdered sugar with cornstarch and sprinkle about half of the mixture evenly over the bottom and sides of the pan.
Make the chai spiced marshmallows. Combine the gelatin with ½ cup cold water in a bowl of a stand mixer. Combine remaining ½ cup cold water with granulated sugar, honey, and a pinch of salt in a heavy-bottomed sauce-pot. Heat the mixture over medium heat until the temperature reaches 240 degrees F, about 7-8 minutes.
Slowly pour the sugar water mixture into the bowl with the gelatin with the mixer on low speed. Continue to beat as you add all of the sugar mix. Increase the speed to high and continue to whip until thick and lukewarm, about 8-10 minutes.
Add vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves into the marshmallow fluff and whip for another 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish and sprinkle another ⅓ powdered sugar mixture to dust the top. Let sit for at least 6 hours.
Cut marshmallows into 1-inch chunks. Dip the sticky sides of the marshmallows in the remaining powdered sugar mixture, dusting off the excess. Let sit for 10 minutes.
Spray a 9x13 baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
Melt butter in a medium sauce-pot over low heat. Add the marshmallows, vanilla, and a pinch of salt, stirring until the mixture is well combined and the marshmallows are melted.
Measure Rice Krispies in a large bowl. Pour the melted marshmallow mixture into the cereal and mix until the cereal is well coated. Pour the cereal into the prepared baking pan and spread it into one even layer, gently pressing down. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. Slice into bars and serve.

Notes

Grease the baking dish for the marshmallows with butter, shortening, or solid coconut oil. If you use vegetable oil or cooking spray, the marshmallows will stick to the pan.

Make sure the marshmallows sit for at least 6 hours or better yet, overnight. If you use the marshmallows right away, the texture of the rice krispie treats will taste stale.

This recipe makes a large batch but can be divided in half for a smaller batch. You can also make a full batch of the marshmallows and set aside half to enjoy on their own while using the other half for the rice krispies treat. You will need 12 ounces of marshmallows if making a half batch.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Prepare marshmallows

I love all things chai-flavored. Last year, I was all about my chai spiced pear muffins with oatmeal streusel and chai brownies. This year, it's all about chai-spiced Rice Krispies treats. The warm spices just scream fall and make you want to sit in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate.

This dessert may seem daunting because of the homemade marshmallows, but it's easy to make. And there is no comparison between homemade marshmallows and the prepackaged ones. Really.

To make the chai marshmallows, bloom gelatin in cold water in the bowl of a stand mixer. You're going to need a mixer for this part; otherwise, you will be whipping the mixture by hand for at least 30 minutes!

Simmer the remaining water with sugar, honey, and a pinch of salt until it reaches 240 degrees F. A candy thermometer or digital thermometer works best here; just make sure the digital thermometer goes up to 240 degrees F.

Slowly add the sugar mixture to the gelatin with the mixer at low speed. Once all of the sugar is added, increase the speed to high and let the machine do its thing for about 10 minutes.

The mixture will slowly become thick, double in volume, and turn into marshmallow fluff. Add the chai spices and vanilla, and there you have homemade marshmallows!

Now, to turn them into marshmallows, grease a 9x9 baking pan with butter and dust it with powdered sugar and cornstarch. Transfer the marshmallow fluff to the pan, sprinkle more powdered sugar and cornstarch, and let it sit for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Once firm, cut the marshmallows into bite-sized chunks and dust the sticky sides with the remaining powdered sugar mixture. Shake off the excess, and now the chai marshmallows are ready to use.

Step 2: Make Rice Krispies treats

Next, melt the butter, and add the chai marshmallows along with vanilla and salt. Keep the flames on low and gently melt the marshmallows in the melted butter.

Then, pour the melted goodness over the Rice Krispies cereal and mix until everything is nice and coated. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan in one even layer.

You can lightly press down on the cereal, but don't press down too hard. Let it sit for 30 minutes and then dig in.

I love how you can see the specks of the spices in the chai-spiced Rice Krispies treats. Every bite is so flavorful with the right amount of sweetness. Just perfect!

Make-ahead and storage

Make-ahead: I encourage you to make the marshmallows the day before. This gives enough time for the marshmallows to set before incorporating them into the Rice Krispies treats.
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add mix-ins?

Absolutely! The chai spices would pair great with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or even dried fruit and chopped nuts.

How can I prevent the marshmallow mixture from sticking to my hands when cutting and shaping?

To prevent sticking, lightly grease your knife with butter, shortening, or solid coconut oil before handling the marshmallow mixture. This will help make the process smoother and less sticky.