Cookie Trivia: Rice Krispie Treats History (2024)

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Rice Krispie Treats are a no-bake cookie bar made from crisprice cereal (like Kellogg brand Rice Krispies), melted butter or margarine, andmelted marshmallows.

The treats have become immensely popular not only becausethey are delicious and easy to make, but also because variations of theoriginal recipe abound. (Here's the most popular Homemade Rice Krispie Treats recipe.)

Unlike many happy accidents, the treats were intentionallydeveloped.

The First Treats

In 1928 Mildred Day, a recent home economics graduate of IowaState University, was recruited to work for the Kellogg Company in BattleCreek, Michigan. Her job was to test recipes in the company’s kitchens and totravel across the country to conduct cooking schools for Kellogg’s customers.

According to Day’s daughter Sandra Rippie, Mildred and co-worker Malitta Jensen created Rice Krispie Treats. Many believe the recipe was inspired by Puffed Wheat Squares, a recipe in Lucy Mary Maltby’s 1938 cookbook, It’s Fun to Cook, with ingredients that included butter, sugar, molasses, puffed wheat cereal, and vinegar. Marshmallows are less sticky than molasses, Day is reputed to have said about the substitution.

Soon after, Kellogg’s was contacted by a Kansas City-areaCamp Fire Girls organization, who pleaded for ideas for a fundraiser. Kellogg’sdecided to test what it initially called “marshmallow squares” developed byMildred and Malitta. Day took a train to KansasCity where she set up a temporary kitchen. For two weeks,working daily from 6:30 AM to 10 PM, she made batch after batch of the treats. Meanwhilethe mothers of the CampFire girls wrapped thebars and the girls sold them door to door.

The original recipe first appeared on the cereal box in 1941 … andcontinues to do so to this day.

The World’s Biggest Rice Krispie Treat

Image: Hometown Pasadena

In April 2001, IowaState Universityhonored Day’s memory by creating the then-world’s largest Rice Krispies Treat.The project took 8 hours to make, created from 818 pounds of Rice Krispies,1,466 pounds of marshmallows, and 217 pounds of butter. Volunteers made theconfection at the university’s Friley Hall kitchen, and poured the mixture intoa waterproof Plexiglass form that measured 12 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 2feet deep. After it was loaded onto a flatbed truck and weighed in at 2,480 pounds,the Treat was featured in the university’s spring parade, then eventually cutinto pieces and sold.

The record was surpassed in March 2010 when a team ofhundreds of volunteers worked for more than 48 hours to make a 10,460-poundTreat, using 5,000 pounds of Rice Krispies donated by Kellogg's along with7,000 pounds of marshmallows. Slabs ofthe confection were auctioned to benefit La Cañada Flintridge Community Center in California.

Treat Timeline

1928: Rice Krispies cereal is introduced to the public by Kellogg

1939: Kellogg employee Mildred Day and co-worker Malitta Jensen created the Treats, likely inspired by a recipe that used puffed wheat and molasses

1940: Kellogg trademarked the name “Rice Krispies Treats”

1941: the recipe for the Treats first appeared on a cereal box

1940s: Treats became a popular snack to make and mail to service men abroad

1995: Kellogg introduced the first commercially-prepared Rice Krispies squares

2001: The biggest Rice Krispie Treat to date was created at Iowa State University to commemorate alumnus Mildred Day, weighing 2,480 pounds.

2010: Current largest Rice Krispie Treat record holder weighed in at 10,460 pounds, made for fundraiser to benefit the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge in California.

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Return from Cookie Trivia: Rice Krispie Treats to The Cookie Elf home

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Cookie Trivia: Rice Krispie Treats History (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of the rice Krispie Treat? ›

Rice Krispies Treats were invented in 1939 by Kellogg Company employees Malitta Jensen and Mildred Day "in the Kellogg kitchens in Battle Creek, Michigan as a promotional vehicle for the cereal." Kellogg's began commercially to produce plain and chocolate-based treats under the trademark brand-names of "Rice Krispies ...

What is the trivia of rice crispy treats? ›

Many believe the recipe was inspired by Puffed Wheat Squares, a recipe in Lucy Mary Maltby's 1938 cookbook, It's Fun to Cook, with ingredients that included butter, sugar, molasses, puffed wheat cereal, and vinegar. Marshmallows are less sticky than molasses, Day is reputed to have said about the substitution.

What was the fourth Rice Krispies name? ›

There was briefly a fourth gnome in the 1950s named Pow who represented the claimed explosive nutritional value of Rice Krispies.

What was Rice Krispies 1928? ›

The breakfast cereal, which gave Jonathan Ross his TV debut in an advert in 1970 aged 10, first came to Britain from America on November 10, 1928. Marketed as "the talking cereal" - because of the sound it made when milk was poured onto it - it was initially sold by door-to-door salesmen.

Why can't Muslims eat rice crispy treats? ›

What about Rice Crispy Treats that have marshmallows in them, are they Haram too? Yes, they also use gelatin from pork. All pig products like pork are Haram (forbidden) for Muslims to eat. What is gelatin?

Why do people eat Rice Krispie treats before lifting? ›

Medical News Today, an online health news platform, said that “Rice Krispies Treats make for a suitable pre-workout snack due to their simple carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source, so eating a high-carb snack before a training session can boost energy and performance.”

What is a fact about Rice Krispies? ›

Rice Krispies was released to the public by the Kellogg Company in 1928. The original patent called for using partially dried grain, which could be whole or broken, that would have 15–30% moisture which could then be shaped by existing processes for cereal production that include rolling, flaking, shredding, etc.

Why did Rice Crispy Treats get hard? ›

Why are my Rice Krispy Treats hard instead of chewy? If you pack it down super tight, it will become hard. Also, be sure that you cover them tightly.

Is Rice Crispy Treats pork? ›

- Beef or pork gelatin may be used in all varieties of Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® bars, including Kellogg's® Rice Krispies Treats® made with Whole Grain bars. - Beef gelatin is used in Pop-Tarts® Toaster Pastries. Because the gelatin is used in the icing, our unfrosted varieties do not contain any gelatin.

What is the slogan for Rice Krispie Treats? ›

The words Snap! Crackle! Pop! first appear in a print ad.

What is the name of the elf in Rice Krispies? ›

They are three gnome-like elves who first appeared in the 1930s. Originally, only Snap appeared on the cereal's packaging before being joined later by Crackle and Pop (Main article: Pop). Their names are onomatopoeic. In the early 1950s, there was a fourth elf named Pow, but he was later dropped.

What are Aldi Rice Krispies called? ›

Harvest Morn Crisp Rice Cereal 375g | ALDI.

What were Rice Krispie treats originally called? ›

The Krispies Marshmallow Squares recipe now known as Rice Krispies Treats appeared on packages in 1940 and can be credited to the Home Economics Department as a whole, according to Kent Coffman of the Kellogg Co. Archives.

What is the oldest cereal? ›

The first ever breakfast cereal was Granola, invented in the USA in 1863 by James Caleb Jackson, operator of the Jackson Sanitorium in the state of New York. However, the cereal never caught on commercially, because the heavy bran nuggets needed soaking overnight before they were tender enough to eat.

Why don t they sell Rice Krispies anymore? ›

With Rice Krispies already having experienced significant delays in production because of the pandemic and the worker strike, Kellogg's is having difficulty keeping up with consumer demand. Only until the 2022 barley crop is ready will Kellogg's be able to bounce back.

Why do people eat rice crispy treats? ›

Rice Krispies treats have recently gained popularity on social media for their use as a pre-workout snack. Because they primarily consist of simple carbs, they are a suitable choice for people performing moderate to high intensity workouts.

Why are Rice Krispie squares called squares? ›

Kellogg's do have an explanation – even if it's not a great one. A spokesperson said: “Historically it is believed Rice Krispies Squares were named after the traditional 'square shape' of large US tray bakes.

Is it OK to eat Rice Krispie Treats? ›

The packaged version of Rice Krispie Treats is a highly processed food and not healthy. You'll be better off making them yourself at home, where you control what ingredients you use and can choose healthier options. In moderation, homemade Rice Krispie treats should be tolerated by most people.

Who thought of Rice Krispie Treats? ›

A woman by the name of Mildred "Millie" Ghrist Day and one of her coworkers, Malitta Jensen, created the recipe for Rice Krispies Treats more than 80 years ago, according to the Des Moines Register.

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