Rice Krispies Treats (also called Rice Krispie Treats, Marshmallow Treats, Marshmallow Squares, or Rice Krispies Squares in the United Kingdom & Canada, and LCMs in Australia) are a confection commonly made through binding WK Kellogg Co's Rice Krispies or another crisp rice cereal together with butter or margarine and marshmallow. Though they are traditionally home-made, Kellogg's began to market the treats themselves in 1995. Rice Krispies Treats products are currently manufactured and marketed by Kellanova.
History 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." By the fall of 1940, the recipe was being publicized by Kellogg's in advertising for supermarkets"Try This Recipe: Kellogg's Krispies Marshmallow Squares" (Tri-City Grocery Co. Advertisement). Alton (IL) Evening Telegraph, 17 October 1940, 14. and newspapers."Marvelous! New Candy Recipe" (advertisement). Oswego (NY) Palladium-Times, 13 November 1940, 9."Marvelous! New Candy Recipe" (advertisement). Punxsutawney (PA) Spirit, 19 November 1940, 8. In 1941, the name was changed by Kellogg's to "Rice Krispies Marshmallow Squares.""Easy-To-Make Halloween Treat" (advertisement). LIFE, 20 October 1941, 67.
By 1950, Kellogg's published the recipe only slightly changed (1/4 cup butter, 1/2 pound marshmallows, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 5 cups of Rice Krispies)."Fun Without Fuss! The Great New 9-Minute 'Crispy Candy'" (advertisement). LIFE, 30 October 1950, 100-101. By 1955 Kellogg's advertised the confection as "Marshmallow Crispy Treats," listed margarine as alternative to the butter, and eliminated the vanilla (1/4 cup butter or margarine, 1/2 pound marshmallows, 5 cups of Rice Krispies)."Everybody Goes for Crispy Treats" (advertisement). LIFE, 14 November 1955, 66.
Kellogg's began commercially to produce plain and chocolate-based treats under the trademark brand-names of "Rice Krispies Treats" (in the United States and Mexico), "Squares" (in Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland) and "LCMs" (in Australia and New Zealand) in 1995; however, other manufacturers had offered similar products under variant names (such as "Crisped Rice Treats" or "Marshmallow Treats") prior to this. Kellogg's also offered a breakfast cereal based on the confection from the 1990s until their discontinuation in 2020.
See also Arare (food) Cakcak Chocolate crackles Sachima Rengginang White Christmas (food)
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More recipes and product information from Rice Krispies Canada