Preschool Snack Idea: Rice Krispie Treats

Squishy. Crunchy. Stretchy. Sticky.

All wonderful sensations just experienced in the making of this quintessential preschool snack idea.

… Any guesses?

I love making Rice Krispie treats with the kids. It’s a quick, no-fail recipe that they can help out with almost every stage of, it’s no-bake, and the end result is a treat that adults can enjoy just as much as kids!

Since this is a quick recipe with only three main ingredients, I try to let each of the kids make their own mini-batch.

I start with letting each child squish a bunch of marshmallows into a one-cup measuring cup, and then add one tablespoon of butter (or coconut oil) to their microwave-friendly mixing bowl. I have them help me push the buttons on the microwave to melt the marshmallows, about 35 seconds to 1 minute, depending on microwave strength.

Then, they add one and a half cups of Rice Krispies to the marshmallow-and-butter mixture and stir. This sticky, crunchy, tough to stir mixture is a great sensory experience, especially with all of those crackles and crunches while children stir.

Once completely mixed, push the Rice Krispie mixture into a lined loaf pan, or cute silicone muffin cups.

Now, you can leave as is, or you can let the kids add their own special touch by adding sprinkles, cinnamon, or melted chocolate on top of their Rice Krispie treats.

Have each child label their pan to avoid any confusion later, and chill for 30 minutes until set.

Once set, remove the Rice Krispies from the pan and either cut into squares, or use cookie cutters to make fun shapes.

And, the best part? Enjoy!

Almost any cereal can substitute in for this recipe, and you can use natural (or vegan) marshmallows to great result, so feel free to improvise or adapt this recipe to your own food preferences. (I also like to add a drizzle of caramel or chocolate at the end, but that just might be too far for some people.)