Marshmallow Treats From the Eighties
You’ve probably suspected this, and it’s true. The recipe for marshmallow treats has changed over the years. These days, the recipe on the side of the box has less butter and a different proportion of marshmallows to cereal. How do I know this? Because I have a recipe from the early 80’s right here.
The composition is not radically different. The earlier recipe had 4 tablespoons of butter and 5 cups of cereal. The current version has 3 tablespoons of butter and 6 cups of cereal. I find the difference noticeable and plan on using the higher butter recipe from now on. Here are a few peanut butter ones from the other night. I actually made 1/4 of a batch, turned it into an 8 inch square pan and just pressed them up against the side to make a long rectangle. I should have made a full batch since everyone loves them so. Here’s the recipe (full batch).
Marshmallow Treats From the Eighties
4 tablespoons butter (salted)
1 (10 oz ) package big marshmallows or 4 cups (minis)
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal
(optional) 1/4 cup peanut butter
M&M’s or Reese’s Pieces for added flair
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven set over medium heat, melt the butter completely. For a little extra flavor, melt it until it just starts to brown. Stir in the marshmallows and reduce heat to low. Stir marshmallows until melting. At this point, add the peanut butter if you happen to be using it. Add the cereal and stir until coated.
Transfer mixture to a 9 inch pan which you have lined with either parchment, Release foil or a good thick layer of butter. I recommend lining with some sort of paper. After the treats have cooled a bit (but not completely), press some “flair” into the top. Let the treats cool completely (about half an hour) then lift them out of the pan, place the slab on a cutting board and score into giant size squares.
Notes: You may use a 13×9 inch pan, but using a smaller one makes the krispie treats more impressive
You’re right, everybody loves these and they disappear instantly.
I think that Reese’s Pieces would be the most appropriate topping when one considers the popularity of E.T.
So, what is the difference between this version and the other version. Will you tell us or will I have to make this and find out for myself?
I made the peanut toffee bars. Yummy.
Hi Abi,
I’m sorry if you had to go look this up yourself. If were a better blogger, I would have checked my comments from vacation. Anyway, what’s different is basically there’s more butter. The bars just have more umami.
Randi, I am working on a scratch version and will send it to you if it pans out.
Definitely 80’s with those Reese’s Pieces candy… reminds me of E.T. the Extraterrestrial.
I have now made these for my office three times. I brown the butter and leave out the peanut butter (darn allergic people). I didn’t say anything to my officemates, but multiple people commented on how these were the best rice krispy treats they’d had in a long time.
Oh Please. Is there a reason why people like you insist on promoting fats? Aren’t Americans fat enough already?
You can make this recipe healthy by omitting ALL of the butter and replacing it with 1 teaspoon of butter flavoring or extract (which is fat free) and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Also get rid of the candy pieces unless you are a kid.
I even go a step further and replace some of all of the Rise Krispies with Quick Cooking Oatmeal. Makes a healthy treat with lots of fiber.
Thanks for your suggestions, Healthy. As I’ve said many times, my personal preference is to make things full fat and eat small portions…but that’s just me. I can’t control all other Americans, but suspect a lot of us eat too much unhealthy fast food.
That said, I like experimenting with low fat options an will give your version a try. Sounds interesting.
I’ve used this proportion a number of times since you’ve posted it, and there really is a difference! We always include the peanut butter, and to make them totally decadent for the daughter & her friends, we ice them with chocolate frosting and press peanut butter M&Ms into the top. Yum…
(And by the way, Anna, that was an extraordinarily nice reply to a nasty, condescending scold. Well done – you are a better woman than I.)