A Sweet Valentine Treat: Easy and Delicious Rice Krispie Valentine Hearts
Looking for a quick, delightful, and relatively healthy Valentine’s Day treat? Look no further! Our Rice Krispie Valentine Hearts are the perfect homemade gift, classroom snack, or simply a fun activity to do with your kids. They combine the classic, comforting crunch of Rice Krispies with the festive spirit of Valentine's Day, all while being surprisingly simple to make. These are a guaranteed hit for anyone looking for a sweet treat without spending hours in the kitchen. I remember making these with my own mom every year around Valentine's Day; the sweet smell of marshmallows and the vibrant pink sprinkles always filled our kitchen with joy.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Growing up, Valentine’s Day was always a big deal in my family, not for extravagant gifts, but for the little homemade touches. My grandma used to make Rice Krispie treats in all sorts of fun shapes, and the Valentine's hearts were my absolute favorite. The slightly chewy texture , the crispy crunch—it’s a nostalgic bite of my childhood that instantly makes me smile. Now, I carry on that tradition with my own kids, and nothing beats the sticky little hands helping to shape and decorate these sweet hearts!
Ingredients
- 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- 10 oz marshmallows (about 40 large or 400 mini)
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pink or red food coloring (optional)
- Valentine's Day sprinkles
- Cooking spray
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making the Recipe
- Prepare: Lightly grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Melt: In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
- Combine: Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until completely melted. Remove from heat.
- Flavor: Stir in the vanilla extract and food coloring (if using).
- Incorporate: Gradually add the Rice Krispies cereal to the melted marshmallow mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
- Shape: Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Gently press the mixture down using a spatula or your hands (greased or covered with parchment paper to prevent sticking) until it's about 1 inch thick.
- Cut: While the mixture is still slightly warm, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts.
- Decorate: Immediately decorate the hearts with Valentine's Day sprinkles while they are still sticky.
- Cool: Let the Rice Krispie Valentine Hearts cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or packaging. Enjoy!
Rice Krispie Valentine Hearts
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Lightly grease a large baking sheet with cooking spray.Cooking spray
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.3 tablespoons butter
- Add the marshmallows and stir continuously until completely melted. Remove from heat.10 oz marshmallows
- Stir in the vanilla extract and food coloring (if using).1 teaspoon vanilla extract, Pink or red food coloring
- Gradually add the Rice Krispies cereal to the melted marshmallow mixture, stirring until evenly coated.6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Gently press the mixture down using a spatula or your hands (greased or covered with parchment paper to prevent sticking) until it’s about 1 inch thick.
- While the mixture is still slightly warm, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts.
- Immediately decorate the hearts with Valentine’s Day sprinkles while they are still sticky.Valentine’s Day sprinkles
- Let the Rice Krispie Valentine Hearts cool completely on the baking sheet before serving or packaging. Enjoy!