Pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats

This is the best pumpkin Rice Krispie treats recipe! Easy to make with just a few minutes of hands on time these Rice Krispie squares are made with just five ingredients and make the perfect fall dessert. Kids love this treat and this recipe can also easily be made gluten free and vegan too!

Why you will love this recipe:

• The taste! These halloween rice Krispie treats are sweet, soft and gooey!
• This dessert is so easy to make. It only requires a few minutes of hands on time.
• This no bake dessert is made with just five ingredients!
• It's healthy compared to other Rice Krispie treats recipes and is made without food colouring and without white chocolate chips.
• The fun orange color makes this dessert a great option for Halloween, Thanksgiving and fall.
• I've included options to make this recipe gluten free, dairy free and vegan too!
• If you love pumpkin desserts you will also love edible pumpkin chocolate chip cookie dough and if you love Rice Krispie Treats you will also love chocolate covered Rice Krispie Treats.

Health benefits of pumpkin:

Pumpkin is such a nutritious food. It's low in calories, high in fiber and is filled with many different vitamins and minerals. Pumpkin is particularly high in vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin E, copper, iron, and magnesium.

Key ingredients and substitutions:

• Rice Krispies cereal - the base of these delicious orange Rice Krispie treats is Rice Krispies cereal. You can easily swap this for another brand of rice krisps cereal, and if you are gluten free simply use a gluten free brand of rice crisps cereal or gluten free Rice Krispies.
• Marshmallows - marshmallows will be melted with the butter and pumpkin to create the most delicious sweet and sticky mix that will combine perfectly with the crunchy cereal. If you are vegan be sure to choose vegan marshmallows.
• Pumpkin puree - pumpkin adds a beautiful orange color plus fiber, vitamins and minerals to these crispy treats. Be sure to use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. You can either used canned pumpkin puree or make your own.
• Butter - butter gets melted together with the pumpkin and marshmallows to create the perfect soft filling for these pumpkin rice crisp squares. I recommend using salted butter for this recipe. If you are vegan or dairy free you can use a vegan butter.

Variations and add ins:

• You can use any type of rice crisps cereal to make this dessert. It doesn't have to be brand name Rice Krispies.
• If you are gluten free be sure to use a gluten free rice crisps cereal.
• If you are dairy free use a vegan butter to make this recipe.
• To make these Rice Krispie treats vegan, use vegan marshmallows and a vegan butter.
• To change up the flavour, make these Rice Krispie treats with pumpkin spice marshmallows.
• Turn these into chocolate pumpkin Rice Krispie treats by drizzling a little melted chocolate over top before serving.

How to make this recipe:

Step one:

First, line an 8" x 8" baking pan with parchment paper.

Step two:

Next, in a large pot, melt the butter and pumpkin puree together over medium heat. 

Step three:

Once the butter and pumpkin are melted, add the marshmallows and vanilla extract and turn the heat down to low. Stir the mixture until the marshmallows are completely melted, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

Step four:

Now remove the pot from the heat and fold in the cereal. Make sure each piece of cereal is coated with the marshmallow mixture.

Step five:

Then transfer the mixture to the prepared baking pan. Gently spread the mixture to fit the pan and press it down lightly so you have an even layer. Allow the treats to set for at least 1 hour at room temperature. Cover the pan tightly if leaving out for more than a few hours. Once they are set, cut them into pieces and enjoy!

Tips:

• Stir the pumpkin, butter and marshmallows frequently while they are melting to prevent them from burning and sticking to the bottom of the pot.
• To help the Rice Krispie squares set more quickly you can put the pan in the fridge. 
• I recommend using salted butter for this dessert recipe.
• Feel free to make a double or triple batch if you are serving a crowd.

How to store:

Store any leftover Rice Krispie squares in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the fridge for up to 7 days.

Frequently asked questions:

Other recipes you will love:

• Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
• Pumpkin muffins with chocolate
• Healthy pumpkin risotto
• Pumpkin and sweet potato soup
• Pumpkin seed butter

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