Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Rice Krispie Treats

Know what’s frustrating? Scanning the side of the Rice Krispie box to find that all of the ingredients are gluten free, except for one. And that one? Malt flavoring. I’m fairly certain malt flavoring is not a vital component of the cereal I used to eat before bed every night when I was little. It’s like finding the perfect pair of all-weather boots only to realize the lining is bright fuchsia. Necessary? No. Bothersome (to a complete color-phobe)? YUP.

Well Kellog’s must have heard me grumbling in the Shoprite aisle, because low and behold, malt flavoring was eventually eradicated and Rice Krispies were certified gluten free. Celiacs rejoice!

Note: These require a little more patience than your run-of-the-mill rice krispie treats. It’s essential that you let the marshmallow mixture cool to room temp, or you’ll end up with soggy cereal. (I jumped the gun a little when I made them, as I have the patience of a hungry, cranky 4-year old. But I assure you, the wait will be worth it.)

[Original recipe from The Kitchn]

Ingredients 

3 tbsp unsalted butter

¼ cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)

1 10.5 oz. bag mini marshmallows

½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

¼ tsp cinnamon

5 ½ cups gluten free rice krispies

Recipe

Coat an 8x8 or 8x11 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large pot, melt the butter over low heat. Once butter is melted, add pumpkin and cook for 1-2 minutes until pumpkin is warmed through and can be stirred into the butter. Add all of the marshmallows and cook, stirring frequently, until the marshmallows are completely melted. Stir in vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon.

Remove pot from heat and allow mixture to cool for at least 20 minutes. Once mixture is cooled to room temperature, give it a strong stir to get it moving again then pour in the rice krispies. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold cereal into the marshmallow until cereal is evenly coated.

Scrape rice krispie mixture into the greased dish. Pop a plastic bag on your hand, spray one side with cooking spray, and use the greased side to evenly flatten the top of the rice krispie treats. Let set for at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares.