Desserts, Holidays / Entertaining, Nostalgia, Pink Things

Neapolitan Rice Krispie Treats


Yes, this recipe was another inspired find via Pinterest. When will the intervention be scheduled? No, really, I’m not that bad. Honestly there’s a lot of junk swimming around the site now that it has become so overwhelmingly popular. That means that I get extra excited when I manage to come across an idea that makes a lightbulb burst into brilliance over my head like I’m a food blogger cartoon. It takes a lot to get me gushing and exclaiming these days and the things that do usually involve zombies, Kate Middleton, or Jensen Ackles so these pretty Neapolitan Rice Krispie Treats via The Partiologist are definitely in good company.

My method for crafting these addictive layered squares is slightly different from the original post. I couldn’t find strawberry flavored marshmallows so I opted for strawberry fluff instead. I also used a 9 by 13 pan as the base for the squares and made 3 entire batches of treats. All of that sticky marshmallow stirring practically gave me carpal tunnel. Ouch! Each batch of cereal was then very firmly pressed into place in the pan, and chilled for a time in the refrigerator in between making the vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry layers.

The most entertaining part of this task was when I flipped the entire pan over onto a cutting board to begin slicing the treats into servings. That brick of sugary sweetness looked the the perfect building block for a fairy princess castle. If only we could craft our homes out of Neapolitan-striped bricks. How cool would that be?! Anyway, I thought that all of this stirring and pressing and marshmallow scraping deserved a slightly cuter presentation than the usual ho-hum tupperware container. So I found some seriously adorable (and matching) ice-cream cone ribbon on Etsy and bagged the treats in little towers before I sent them off to CK’s office.

Even though this is a time-consuming activity I would make them again in a heartbeat. The chocolate-vanilla-strawberry combo is to die for and I think I’ve developed a little obsession with strawberry fluff. Yet another pink food to add to my ever growing arsenal!

Neapolitan Rice Krispie Treats
Inspired by  The Partiologist and The Original Rice Krispie Treats recipe

For the Vanilla Layer
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

For the Chocolate Layer
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
6 cups Cocoa Krispies cereal

For the Strawberry Layer  (Note: I followed the recipe for Fluff based treats for this layer. It is slightly different from the other two layers).
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 jar (7 1/2 oz) Strawberry Fluff
5 cups Rice Krispies cereal

Begin by lining a metal square edged 9” by 13” pan with aluminum foil. Instruction are available here. Use a pan that has high sides. Casserole dishes with rounded edges will not be able to hold all of the treat layers. Generously spray your prepared pan with cooking spray.

For the Vanilla Layer melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until they have melted completely. Quickly stir in the rice cereal until it is completely coated. Pour the mixture into your prepared pan. Spray a rubber spatula with cooking spray and then firmly press the marshmallow covered cereal into the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator. Wash out your cooking pot and proceed to the Chocolate Layer.

For the Chocolate Layer melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until they have melted completely. Quickly stir in the Cocoa Krispie cereal until it is completely coated. Pour the mixture on top of the vanilla layer in your prepared pan. Spray a rubber spatula with cooking spray and then firmly press the marshmallow covered cereal into the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator. Wash out your cooking pot and proceed to the Strawberry Layer.

For the Strawberry Layer melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the strawberry fluff and stir continuously until it has melted completely. Quickly stir in the rice cereal until it is completely coated. Pour the mixture on top of the chocolate layer in your prepared pan. Spray a rubber spatula with cooking spray and then firmly press the marshmallow covered cereal into the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator.

When the treats have cooled completely, remove them from the pan. Place them on a cutting board. Discard the aluminum foil and cut the large rectangle into slices. Then cut each large slice into smaller squares. Enjoy!