Pumpkin Spice Rice Crispy Treats
Turn a childhood favorite into the perfect seasonal snack with these Pumpkin Spice Rice Crispy Treats!
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Ah, Nintendo. Talk about a childhood favorite! I’m not referring to the Nintendo Wii or the N64. Heck, I’m not even referring to the Super Nintendo here. I’m talking about the old school Nintendo. The one where you had to blow out the cartridges every time you wanted to play a game. And if it was really bad, you had to wipe the contacts down with some sort of special solution (it was probably just diluted rubbing alcohol). Either way, it required crossing your fingers and doing a good luck dance to get the game to play properly.
I recently rediscovered all of my old Nintendo games at my Mom’s house. Sure enough, those bad boys went straight into the suitcase to come back home with me. Then last summer, I stumbled across a neighbor selling a whole bunch of his old Nintendo games. You better believe I stopped and grabbed those up! So now I’ve got a pretty respectable collection of games. But here’s the catch: I still had to blow on the games and do a little dance to get them to work.
Then my sister sent me a Retro Bit for my birthday. I’ve been playing some old school Super Mario Bros. like it’s my job. Link (Zelda) made an appearance in there. And so did the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I’ve had so much fun replaying all of my old games. (The Retro Bit’s design makes the games more reliable…) But I’ve found the graphics downright hilarious.
I had a sleepover party for my 6th birthday, and my parents gave me the Nintendo as a present. We stayed up all night long playing that thing. And I remember the graphics being amazing. Fast forward 30 years. Technology has evolved a little bit, and video game graphics are now virtually lifelike. Not only are the old games super retro in terms of video quality, but I also have the system plugged into a large flat-screen tv. So now the already low-level retro graphics are stretched almost beyond recognition. But you know what? I’ve still been playing those games!
Sometimes it’s the childhood favorites that continue to captivate us well into adulthood. In fact, that same description could be used for these Pumpkin Spice Rice Crispy Treats. As the childhood version of myself will attest, rice crispy treats are synonymous with childhood. And as the adulthood version of myself will attest, pumpkin spice everything is awesome. So why not blend these two together and make some Pumpkin Spice Rice Crispy Treats? I did just that the other day, and then I proceeded to eat nearly the entire batch. Good thing rice crispy treats are silly easy to make! (I might have eaten most of that second batch, too. Oops.)
Pumpkin Spice Rice Crispy Treats
Ingredients
- 6 cups rice cereal
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 10 oz. full-size marshmallows
- 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 2 cups mini-marshmallows
Instructions
- Grease or spray a 9”x5” bread pan; set dish aside. (See note.)
- Place rice cereal in a large bowl; set bowl aside.
- Using a large saucepan, add butter, marshmallows, and spices. Place over low heat, stirring often, until mixture is completely melted and smooth.
- Pour melted marshmallow mixture over cereal and stir until well-coated.
- Stir in the mini-marshmallows.
- Using a spatula or a piece of wax paper, press coated cereal evenly into prepared baking dish. Let cool completely before slicing.
Original Nintendo! I used to love playing Super Mario, and with much less success Battletoads. Wow, writing that makes me feel old.. I doubt my students have even heard of the original Nintendo or even SNES. Great idea with the pumpkin spice, a much more ‘adult’ rice crispy square. I like the mini marshmallows, that you added – gives it a better look than normal rice crispy squares.
Oh man, Battletoads. That’s a blast from the past right there, Matt! Hey, I felt old playing those original games, but it’s also really fun. These kids these days…they don’t even know what they’re missing. The original Mario Bros. was the best! Let’s get together, play Nintendo and eat rice crispy treats, ok? 🙂
You are hilarious with your Nintendo! I can only imagine how those graphics must look on a large flat screen tv! That 6th birthday party sounds like a blast! Too bad you can’t time travel some of these delicious pumpkin spice rice crispy treats to snack on with your little friends!
Oh man, I love my Nintendo, Rachelle! Granted, I have all of about zero time to dig it out and play now…but I do love it. Totally takes me back to being 6-years-old again! 🙂 But at least we can play old-school Mario, eat rice crispy treats and pretend to be kids again, right?
Yes! Nintendo. And I totally remember blowing on those cartridges 😀 And the graphics? It’s hard to imagine just how basic they were compared to now until you go back and look at them. Hilarious, right?!
These rice crispy treats look delicious, David! Love the pumpkin twist. So perfect for the fall! Pinned, of course. Have a great week 🙂
Man, blowing on those games to get them to work was the worst! Actually, worse than that was when you’d be playing along and then the game would just freeze. Nothing you could do but pull it out, blow and try again. Ugh!! Nothing like some pixelated fun to take us back to our childhoods, right, Dawn? 🙂 Speaking of childhood, these rice crispy treats totally take me back to a good place…just me, Mario and some rice crispies! Haha!
Hi David! I remember well my son being glued to his Nintendo for hours on end! But, only after his homework was done. I frequently made rice crispy treats for the kids and since my son’s favorite dessert is pumpkin bars, I think he would really like these! Maybe I’ll make some and send him a surprise package!
Yes, yes, I only played Nintendo once my homework was done, too. Well, at least that’s what I told my Mom! (Haha…just kidding. I was a good kid. I really did do (most of) my homework before playing games!) As far as the rice crispy treats, the pumpkin spice twist is super awesome! I seriously couldn’t stop eating these. 🙂 Thanks, Dorothy!
Oh, man, do I miss the good ole days of Nintendo, I loved Super Mario Brothers 2. It was so much fun and such a new age experience back then. OMG, I totally remember Link! I loved that game. I would like to see some of the old graphics; I’m sure it would crack me up. I haven’t had or made rice crispy treats in years. I always looked at them as kids treat, and as I got older my palate got more refined. These Pumpkin Spice Rice Crispy Treats excite me and make my mouth water. I can take down more than a few of these bad boys.
Mario Bros 2 was the best! That was the one where you got to pick your character, right? I was actually just playing that a few weeks ago. I love playing as Princess…she could float! And Link? Best game ever! I still love all the Zelda games because they actually made you think to solve the puzzle. Embrace that childhood and make a batch of rice crispy treats, Mary…you deserve it! 🙂
Can’t say I ever had a Nintendo game, although I am a little older than you Dave. I became more of a fan of games when computers came around and BeamRider and Jumpman were favorites of mine and a building civilizations type game about Egypt was another. These are a perfect reminder of childhood goodies and I love the little marshmallows in them too.
Oh man, I played a lot of those early PC games, too. Not sure I remember BeamRider, but I probably would’ve played it if I had it. Heck, maybe I should go try to find a simulator and play it online! 🙂 I’ll grab a rice crispy treat and just escape into the pixelated world of early video games…and it’ll be awesome!!
Yup, I remember some time ago you had a post about the old games you had found. You know what David? Don’t go to the attic (or to the part of the houses where you keep old stuff) anymore. It looks like a dangerous thing to do. I often say the foods in your and my childhood were different. But – surprise – rice treats were my favorite thing as well, and they could easily be found in the Soviet stores. I still do like them, but I try to avoid this – way too addictive (No kidding – can eat a lot at once). So if you consider sending me these delicious treats, 3-4 pieces would be enough:) Thank you very much in advance!
You’re right, Ben. My basement is a dangerous place to go…and not just because of Bloody Mary. I’ll find video games, and then I’ll just disappear into a black hole of pixelated fun for the rest of the afternoon. (Of course, some days I bet my wife actually wishes I would disappear…haha!)
Wait, you guys had rice crispy treats in Soviet stores? Crazy! I’m thinking you need to give these pumpkin spice version a shot. They’re not addicting at all. I promise. (Well, not really…I can’t lie to you, my friend.)
I love the whole idea of making pumpkin rice krispy treats, how fun David! I don’t blame you for eating the whole batch, they look so addictive!
Thanks so much, Manali! I gotta say that I’m starting to get worn out with the pumpkin spice thing…until I ate one of these rice crispy treats. Man, I love those flavors! These are indeed a fun treat to make. 🙂
I have not had rice krispy treats in years, but I do remember that as kids we loved them, great idea to add pumpkin.
I remember thinking that Nintendo was such a revolutionary game, haha! gaming certainly has changed.
We made some rice crispy treats this summer with my niece…and it totally reminded me how much I love those things! Then I added some pumpkin spice. Holy cow…amazing! 🙂
And yes, isn’t it funny how we thought the Nintendo was like the greatest thing ever? I wonder what kids these days will think when they look back to the current games. Man…technology… Thanks, Cheri!!
I had a Nintendo DS (the original model) and it was my favorite. So nostalgic for those Mario Kart marathons I used to have… these rice krispie treats look awesome! I actually never had them as a kid, but discovered them at college because the dining hall always has them 🙂
Oh man, Nintendo DS! Laura has one of those. I’d steal it whenever I went on plane trips…it helped pass the time so well! Come to think of it, I’ll be traveling next week. I wonder where that DS is these days…I need to find it! 🙂 Rice crispy treats are amazing…and amazingly easy. You totally should make a batch yourself…and add some pumpkin spice in there! Thanks, Medha!
I love rice crisps and the twist with pumpkin sounds amazing. Looks so addictive and delicious. Thank you for sharing another lovely recipe. Pinned!
Thanks so much, Kushi! The pumpkin spice in this one is totally addicting…and it really gets you into the Fall spirit, too. 🙂
Ah yes, I do have memories of playing Nintendo with my brothers in our play room as kids. My hubby bought a Sega a couple years ago and we were addicted to playing old-school Tetris and Sonic on it for a bit. I think I should pull it out of hiding to play sometime soon!
And what a good idea to incorporate pumpkin spice into rice crispy treats!
You absolutely need to go dig that Sega out of the closet…have a retro night! Make a childhood favorite for dinner and then have rice crispy treats for dessert. And then play Sonic until you pass out. Sounds pretty fun, right? 🙂 Thanks, Nicole!
Such a great idea to use pumpkin spice int these yummy rice crispy treats. I love playing Nintendo with our kids years ago.
The pumpkin spice twist on these was super tasty, Dawn! Perfect treat to go along with playing some old school video games. 🙂 Thanks!
Love Rice crisps ,these are my favorite.. Your clicks make me drool over this!!
Thanks so much, Sharmila!! 🙂
I am envious…Not going to lie! I troll ebay occasionally for old school nintendo, sega and galaxy consoles- You lucky kid! Oh well, I’ll cry into these rice crispy treats which (Donald) trump any of my versions- I mean, marshmallows!
Man, I totally lucked out for old games. I’ve got a whole box of ’em here…wait for it…in the basement!! A lot of the games are just really, really bad. But then there’s Mario and Zelda, and those are just classics. I spent way too many hours as a kid playing those games! 🙂
You have made me want to play Mario now. I am still kind of obsessed with Mario Kart!
I think rice krispie treats were the first thing I ever made at school, so I love this adult pumpkin version!
Hey, I’m still kinda obsessed with Mario Kart, too. Nothing wrong with pretending like you’re a kid and going back to play some old school Mario! And of course you need tasty rice crispy treats when playing old school video games! 🙂 Thanks, Dannii (and Dave)!
David, not having grown up with rice cripies (“what the hey?!” you might say), I always found them to be bland – but you definitely made them EPIC by tossing in those 5 aromatic and tasty spices! BTW, I couldn’t agree more – it is indeed those childhood favorites that continue to captivate those of us trying to get this adulting thing down …and if you are looking for a job playing Super Mario Bros and the like – I saw one advertised yesterday – under the title of “Gaming Master” – hey reason #598 y’all should move back to the ATL! 🙂
Wait. There’s a job that requires you to play video games? Lies! Does this job actually pay? Because I think I’ve been working in that job for years already! Seriously, though, back when I used to play online games, there were groups of players who were sponsored to play. Sponsored! That’s crazy talk. But what’s not crazy is rice crispy treats…especially rice crispy treats with pumpkin spice flavors. Yum! Thanks, Shashi!
Ahhhh….nintendo. Zelda…seems like it was ages ago but that always brings back a good memory of childhood. And these rice crispy treats is a perfect companion. Especially fall is now here!
Zelda was seriously the best! I played almost all of the Zelda games for years, but I lost track somewhere a few years back. The last one I played was super confusing…I miss Zelda 1! 🙂 (Actually Zelda for Super Nintendo was my favorite by far.) Ok, enough nerd talk. Let’s make some rice crispy treats, ok?
You hit a sweet spot by bringing up rice krispies treats AND Nintendo. I always loved going to my grandma’s house to play Mario and Duck Hunt and Ms. Pacman! I loved video games until they came out with the Gamecube, so my N64 is firmly planted in my parent’s basement waiting for me to come back to play it. I still indulge in a rice krispies treat every once in awhile, but I’ve never tried a pumpkin one!
Oh man, I totally did the same thing when I was a kid! I would sit in my grandma’s basement playing Super Mario Bros 3. It was awesome…and I still remember it like it was yesterday! I say dig out that N64 and make a batch of rice krispies…live it up like the 1980’s! 🙂 Thanks, Jessica!
These sound so lovely and perfect for fall. The last time I made rice crispy treats, I used some Halloween marshmallows I got on clearance – they were orange and black. The treats came out this horrible shade of dark brown because of the colored marshmallows, lol. They still tasted good though!!
Oh no! The strike of the colored marshmallows…haha! I did notice they have some crazy marshmallow flavors out there now. I think I saw a caramel apple flavor the other day. Can you imagine how good those would be in rice crispy treats?? 🙂 Thanks, Chrissy!