Do you have a favorite treat from when you were a kid?  I have lots because I have a very sweet tooth!  One that I remember making a lot is Marshmallow Treats. ‘Rice Krispies Squares’ or ‘Marshmallow Squares’ are other names for these delicious snacks.  Whatever the name, these treats remind me of my childhood and simpler times.

Invented by Mildred Day, an employee at Kellogg’s, and her co-worker Malitta Jensen in 1939, Marshmallow Treats’ popularity grew when they were suggested in response to a fundraising request to Kellogg’s.  By 1940, the recipe was advertised by Kellogg’s and has been a big hit ever since.  And, by the 1990’s, these bars were a packaged good widely available on grocery store shelves.

When I was in grade school, I took a cooking activity where we made these easy and yummy Marshmallow Treats.  I remember asking my parents to buy marshmallow creme and marshmallows all the time so I could make these whenever I wanted.

Recently, I went to an adult luncheon, and someone had made Marshmallow Treats, but with popcorn.  They were delicious and it was the first time that I had seen them.  I don’t usually have dessert at lunch (it’s more of an after dinner thing for me), but I couldn’t stop eating them.  I came home and googled the recipe and made them that evening.  When my daughter took them to school, she said her friends kept asking her what they were.

The recipes I found basically followed Kellogg’s Rice Krispies’ “The Original Treats” recipe, with the variation of adding the popcorn and chocolate drizzle.

Marshmallow Popcorn Squares

Marshmallow Popcorn Squares

Marshmallow Popcorn Squares

Marshmallow Popcorn Squares

Here’s what I ended up doing.

Marshmallow Popcorn Treats

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 40 regular sized marshmallows
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 12 cups Skinny Pop popcorn
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips, melted

Method:

• Melt butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan over low heat.  When completely melted, remove from heat and add the vanilla.
• Add the popcorn and stir until well coated
• Spread the mixture into a 13 by 9 by 2 inch pan, sprayed, lined with parchment paper, and sprayed again
• Wait 5 minutes and then flatten the mixture with a clean spoon or spatula.  If you wait, it is not as sticky to spread!
• Refrigerate half an hour
• Melt the chocolate chips and drizzle them over the mixture
• Refrigerate again
• Cut up and store in a covered container in the fridge

Enjoy!  I’d love to know if you have ever made or had these Marshmallow Popcorn Treats.