Strawberry Rice Crispy Treats

We're really getting into the big eating season aren't we?  It feels like it was Halloween just a few days ago and here we are, the day before Thanksgiving.  The malls have already started decorating for Christmas and the Short Hills mall has set up a big Ice Age pavillion for photographs, it's a nice non-denominational set since we have such a diverse population here in Northern New Jersey.

It might come as a surprise to you, but I won't be cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year.  In fact, I won't even be eating a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  I'll be going out to a restaurant with Boyfriend and his parents (the in-laws!).  Since I'm not cooking dinner, I took to the kitchen this weekend and made some treats for my coworkers.  There were chocolate chip cookies, two French silk pies and these little pink beauties.

These are strawberry rice krispy treats.  Made the simple way.  In the past, I have made flavored rice krispy treats using homemade marshmallows.  When I wanted to make flavored treats this weekend, I didn't have the energy to whip up a batch of marshmallows, let them cure and finally prepare the krispy treats.  What I needed was a potent source of natural flavor.  Dehydrated strawberries were the perfect solution.

A little tricky to find (I got my dehydrated strawberries at Whole Foods), I sometimes find myself eating these little gems like potato chips.  Luckily I had set aside a bag of berries for the purpose of making strawberry macarons.  Instead, they made their way into these marshmallow treats and they packed a flavor punch.

Seriously deep with strawberry flavor, the dehydrated berries were the perfect solution to making flavored rice krispy treats without all the fuss.  I'm searching the health food stores for other dehydrated fruits that I can put into my next batch.  I've already found freeze-dried pears and pineapples.  What else is out there?  dehydrated blueberries, apples, beef?  Okay, maybe no to beef-flavored rice krispy treats.

I hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving, whether you are cooking, being cooked for or having pizza.  I've had dessert already, so as long as I can score myself some turkey, it will be a good day!

One Year Ago: Thanksgiving Potato Pie
Two Years Ago: Chocolate and Peanut butter Macarons

Strawberry Rice Krispy Treats

A Wilde Original

Be sure to look for dehydrated, or freeze-dried, berries and not just dried berries.  They need to be crisp like a chip, not soft like a raisin.  Take your dehydrated berries and process them in a food processor until they are powdered.  Now you've got concentrated berry flavor!

1 - 10 ounce bag marshmallows
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp dehrdrated strawberry powder (see not above)
6 cups crispy rice cereal

In a large pot, stir together butter and marshmallows over low heat.  Once marshmallows are almost completely melted, add the dehydrated strawberry powder.  Stir until everything is combined and the marshmallow is thoroughly pink.  Add cereal and stir until completely coated in marshmallow.

Coat a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray.  Pour cereal mixture into the pan.  Spray your hands with cooking spray and press the cereal mixture into the pan.  Let treats sit for at least an hour before cutting into squares.