Description

Cotton Candy Rice Krispies Twists are a playful and colorful twist on the classic Rice Krispies treat, capturing the nostalgic sweetness and pastel colors of cotton candy in every chewy, fluffy bite. Perfect for parties, kids’ snacks, or anytime you want a cheerful, delicious pick-me-up, this easy recipe combines simple pantry ingredients with a fun swirling twist technique for a visually stunning and delightful treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
10 oz (about 40) fresh marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon cotton candy flavoring or extract
Food coloring: pink and blue (a few drops each)
Non-stick spray or extra butter for greasing

Instructions

Prepare Your Workspace: Grease a large baking pan and your hands thoroughly with butter or non-stick spray to prevent sticking and make shaping the twists easier.
Melt Butter and Marshmallows: In a large saucepan over low heat, melt the butter first. Then add the fresh marshmallows and stir continuously until completely melted and smooth, ensuring no lumps remain.
Add Cotton Candy Flavor and Color: Remove the saucepan from heat. Stir in the cotton candy extract evenly. Divide the marshmallow mixture evenly into two bowls. Add pink food coloring drops to one and blue drops to the other, mixing gently to keep colors vibrant and distinct.
Combine with Rice Krispies: Gently fold 3 cups of Rice Krispies cereal into each colored marshmallow mixture separately, taking care not to crush the cereal and to maintain the color contrast.
Form the Twists: While the mixture is still warm but manageable, take equal amounts of each colored mixture and roll them into ropes. Twist the pink and blue ropes around each other to create a beautiful cotton candy swirl effect. Lay the twists onto the prepared pan to set.
Let Cool and Set: Allow the twists to cool completely at room temperature. This helps them firm up and hold their twisted shape well before cutting into individual pieces.

Notes

Start with fresh marshmallows for a smoother melt and perfect soft texture.
Fold colors gently after adding food coloring to maintain distinct cotton candy stripes.
Use wax paper on the pan for easy removal once set.
Work quickly, as marshmallow mixtures harden fast.
Cotton candy extract is potent; start with small amounts and adjust to taste.
Grease hands and utensils well to prevent sticking while shaping.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Appetizers
Method: No-bake
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 twist (approx. 1/12 of total)
Calories: 150
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 90mg
Fat: 5g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 1g
Cholesterol: 10mg

Keywords: Rice Krispies treats, cotton candy flavor, twisted treats, kids snacks, party snacks, gluten free dessert, marshmallow treats