A beloved teacher across campus, teaching a class with only rave reviews from upperclassmen, a legend who needs no introduction: who could be a better candidate for my next feature than the one and only Mr. Ikezi! Along with his love for music, avid enthusiasm for the Star Wars franchise, and wheeze-inducing sense of humor, Mr. Ikezi also has a major sweet tooth. In selecting his requested dish, Mr. Ikezi did not hesitate to choose his favorite sweet treat: Rice Krispies treats!
Rice Krispies trace their origins to the 1930s when Kellogg employee Mildred Day invented the sweet treat on behalf of a fundraiser for the Camp Fire Girls. The recipe has since evolved from its original use of molasses and corn syrup to the new (and much easier!) version using marshmallows. The company capitalized on the unique crispy noise Rice Krispies emit in milk, personifying the onomatopoeia “Snap, Crackle, and Pop” into the adorable trio of elves emblazoned on its boxes. Despite its popularity, the company has faced some controversies. Rice Krispies came under fire in 2011 due to the company’s misleading health claims, such as the Rice Krispies’ alleged ability to “improve children’s attentiveness by 20%.” Regardless of its tumultuous history, Rice Krispies are still an iconic American comfort food, a delight to all sweet treat enthusiasts.
With only three main ingredients, homemade Rice Krispies treats are incredibly easy to make. I first melted a quarter cup of butter on low heat and was careful to prevent the butter from burning. I cooked on low heat for several minutes until the butter attained a perfect toffee color and a warm, caramel-like aroma. Then, I tossed in a heaping four cups of pillowy marshmallows and a splash of vanilla extract, allowing that to melt until it became a thin syrup consistency. Once fully melted and combined, I turned off the heat and mixed in five cups of puffed rice cereal as well as a pinch of salt.
I made sure every grain of cereal was thoroughly coated with the marshmallow and butter mixture. I then proceeded to transfer it into a buttered pan, making sure to distribute the mixture evenly.
Because our Physics Honors class was currently working on our bridge project, I set aside a small amount of Rice Krispies batter to apply important, complicated physics concepts to molding the mixture into the shape of a very strong and mighty bridge.
After letting it rest for several hours, I cut the pan of Rice Krispies treats into traditional rectangular pieces. The dish was now complete!
The next morning, I put a couple of Rice Krispies pieces and my Rice Krispies bridge into a container, and off to school I went. I surprised Mr. Ikezi at the very start of collaboration, and I was both nervous and excited to hear his critique. After taking a bite, he declared that they were “delicious,” and before we knew it, two pieces were already gone! I was very happy to see him enjoying them.
I was curious as to why he chose Rice Krispies treats. Mr. Ikezi told me that, in his elementary school, a student had brought in Rice Krispies treats for a birthday party, and that moment really ignited his love for Rice Krispies. Having grown up with Asian sweets his whole life, Rice Krispies treats were his first introduction to the world of American desserts. He especially enjoys the chewy and crunchy texture of Rice Krispies treats, which contrast for a unique mouthfeel.
I’ll admit, I was a tad skeptical at first because I had never been a fan of the overly sweet, store-bought Rice Krispies treats. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavor profile of the sweet marshmallow and toffee flavor from the butter combined with the crunch from the puffed rice. Mr. Ikezi agreed, stating that he preferred homemade over store-bought Rice Krispies treats, which are often filled with preservatives: he particularly enjoys Rice Krispies treats made by his lovely wife. We then discussed the endless possibilities of Rice Krispies variations, from chocolate Cocoa Puffs to Fruity Pebbles.
I really enjoyed making this snack for Mr. Ikezi and chatting about Rice Krispies treats with him. I’m also happy to say that I am now a Rice Krispies treat convert!
In conclusion, Rice Krispies treats are a wonderfully easy recipe to make and customize to your liking. And the homemade version is far superior, so I would definitely recommend making Rice Krispies treats with your family, friends, and maybe even for your favorite teacher!
