Chai-spiced Rice Krispie treats are a tasty, no-bake sweet loved by kids and adults alike! The spicy, peppery flavour has cool weather written all over it.
Grease an 8-inch (20-cm) square baking pan generously with butter. Set aside.
Place the butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Heat the butter in the on medium-power until completely melted (the amount of time depends on the size and power of your microwave).
Add the marshmallows to the bowl and stir well until all of them are coated in melted butter.
Place the bowl back in the microwave and cook the marshmallows and butter until the marshmallows are puffy and inflated, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Give the marshmallows a stir with a rubber spatula. If after stirring, they are still holding some shape, cook them in 30-second increments in the microwave, stirring after each segment. Continue to cook and stir until all of the marshmallows are smooth and creamy.
Add the chai spice and vanilla to the melted marshmallows and stir well to combine.
Pour the Rice Krispies into the bowl and stir. Once all of the Rice Krispies are well coated, and the marshmallow is evenly distributed, spoon the mixture into the prepared tin. Use a small piece of lightly-buttered parchment paper to gently press the Rice Krispies lightly and evenly into the pan and corners, smoothing the top. Cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Homemade chai spice is super easy to make and comes together in minutes if you have all the spices. For cost efficiency, I like to buy the spices in bulk.You must, and I can't stress this enough, check your Rice Krispies and marshmallows for freshness before you begin! Trust me, nothing is worse than biting into chai-spiced Rice Krispie treats only to find you used stale cereal and old marshmallows. Ultimate sadness!The amount of time it takes to melt the butter and marshmallows is completely dependent on the power of your microwave. I have a large, high-powered microwave which gets the job done in less than two minutes.If you don't own, or don't want to use a microwave, you can follow the same method with a large pot on the stove top. I recommend melting the marshmallows on low heat which takes longer but results in a chewier Rice Krispie square.
Substitutions
You can substitute DIY pumpkin spice for chai spice if you like.I haven't tested this recipe with vegan marshmallows so I can't comment on that.