Looking for a vibrant, show-stopping dessert that brightens up your party spread? These naturally blue Rice Krispies treats deliver a gorgeous pop of color without relying on artificial food dyes.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve tried to come up with blue food ideas to help celebrate the Indianapolis Colts’ season kickoff. Fortunately, butterfly pea powder came on my radar a few years ago. These vibrant cereal bars are also great for baby showers, 4th of July spreads, and perhaps a Frozen-themed birthday party!
I also have two tricks up my sleeve that make these the gooiest, chewiest cereal bars ever.
The Secret to Naturally Blue Food: Butterfly Pea Powder
True blue foods are rare in nature, but butterfly pea powder (made from ground, shade-dried butterfly pea flowers) creates a rich, cobalt blue hue naturally.
- Flavor profile: It adds virtually no flavor, maybe just a subtle, soothing earthiness similar to mild green tea or matcha. Regardless, it blends right into the sweet marshmallow background.
- Pro Tip: Always sift your butterfly pea powder through a fine-mesh strainer before adding it to the warm butter and marshmallow mixture. Sifting prevents clumps and helps distribute the color evenly.
Why These Are the Best Chewy Rice Krispies Treats
Not only are these bars a vibrant blue color, but also they solve the most common cereal treat issue: dry, rock-hard squares the next day.
1. Sweetened Condensed Milk Keep Bars Soft for Days
Adding just a few tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk to the melted butter and marshmallows locks in moisture and eliminates “next-day hardening,” keeping your squares soft and chewy for up to 4 days.
2. Extra Whole Marshmallow Pockets
Instead of melting every single marshmallow into a smooth liquid, fold roughly chopped mini marshmallows in with the dry cereal. As you fold the warm mixture together, these un-melted pieces soften into distinct, gooey pockets throughout each bite.
3. Freezer-Friendly Prep
Planning ahead for a big tailgate? You can wrap these squares in plastic wrap, drop them into a sealed freezer bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving.
Naturally Blue Rice Krispies Treats
Ultra-soft and chewy Rice Krispies treats dyed naturally blue with sifted butterfly pea powder. Made extra chewy with sweetened condensed milk and dotted with pockets of un-melted mini marshmallows, this dye-free dessert is perfect for baby showers, 4th of July spreads, kids’ birthday parties, or Indianapolis Colts game day tailgates.
- Total Time45 minutes
- Yield16 servings 1x
- DietGluten-Free, Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 6 cups (160 g) Rice Krispies cereal (or your favorite gluten-free crispy rice cereal)
- 3 oz (85 g) mini marshmallows, roughly chopped
- 10 oz (283 g) mini marshmallows
- 1 Tbsp butterfly pea powder
- 8 Tbsp (113 g) unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup (104 g) sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Lightly grease 8×8-inch baking pan and line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides for easy lifting.
- In large bowl, combine 6 cups of Rice Krispies cereal and the 3 ounces of roughly chopped mini marshmallows. Set aside.
- In large pot over medium heat, melt butter.
- Add 10 ounces of mini marshmallows and 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk. Stir until marshmallows are mostly melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Sift butterfly pea powder into mixture. Stir in kosher salt and vanilla extract until evenly combined and vibrant blue throughout.
- Remove pot from heat and gently fold in Rice Krispies and chopped marshmallow mixture, being careful not to crush cereal.
- Transfer mixture to prepared pan and lightly press it into an even layer (avoid packing it down tightly).
- Let set at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Lift from the pan, cut into 16 squares, and serve.
Notes
Storage: Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or wrap in plastic and store in a sealed freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Setting time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 155
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 6.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 23.5 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg