Rice Krispies are a classic breakfast cereal made by Kellogg’s. The main ingredient is puffed rice, which gives the cereal its distinctive light and crunchy texture. But are Rice Krispies really just puffed rice? There’s actually a bit more to the story behind this iconic cereal. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how Rice Krispies are made, the ingredients that go into them, and how they compare to plain puffed rice.
How are Rice Krispies made?
Rice Krispies begin with puffed rice grains. Puffed rice is made by first cooking and drying rice kernels. The rice is then loaded into a pressure chamber and subjected to intense pressure and heat, causing the moisture inside each kernel to rapidly expand and puff up the grain into a light, crunchy form.
Once the puffed rice is made, it gets coated with a mixture of sugar, malt flavoring, and melted marshmallow to create the distinctive crispy, sweet Rice Krispies cereal. So while puffed rice is the main ingredient, there are a few additional steps and ingredients involved in order to achieve the taste and texture we know as Rice Krispies.
Ingredients in Rice Krispies
According to the official Kellogg’s website, these are the ingredients that go into a serving of original Rice Krispies cereal:
- Rice
- Sugar
- Malt flavoring
- Iron
- Vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (niacinamide)
- Vitamin B6
- Folic acid
- Vitamin B12
- Salt
- Vitamin D
So while puffed rice makes up the bulk of Rice Krispies, there are also small amounts of added sugars, vitamins, and minerals. The malt flavoring is what gives Rice Krispies their distinctive sweet, malted taste that is different from plain puffed rice.
Nutritional comparison of Rice Krispies vs puffed rice
Here is a nutritional comparison between a 1 cup serving of original Rice Krispies cereal and a 1 cup serving of plain puffed rice:
| Nutrient | Rice Krispies (1 cup) | Puffed rice (1 cup) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 110 | 60 |
| Protein | 1 g | 1 g |
| Carbs | 23 g | 13 g |
| Fat | 0 g | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g | 1 g |
| Sugar | 3 g | 0 g |
As you can see, while the basic nutrition stats are similar, Rice Krispies have notably more calories, carbohydrates, and sugar compared to plain puffed rice due to the added ingredients. Puffed rice has a bit more fiber. So Rice Krispies do differ somewhat from straight up puffed rice nutritionally.
Other differences between Rice Krispies and puffed rice
In addition to the added sugars and flavoring, there are a few other differences between Rice Krispies cereal and plain puffed rice:
- Shape – Rice Krispies pieces are rounded puffs, while puffed rice can be more irregularly shaped.
- Color – Rice Krispies are coated in a white powdered sugar mixture, while puffed rice tends to be light brown.
- Texture – Rice Krispies maintain their crunchy texture when soaked in milk. Puffed rice tends to soften faster when wet.
- Intended use – Rice Krispies are meant to be eaten as a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal. Puffed rice is more often used as an ingredient in cereals, snacks, etc.
So in summary, while puffed rice is the main component, the additional ingredients and production process for Rice Krispies results in some notable differences from plain puffed rice in terms of taste, texture, appearance, and nutritional profile.
Can you make Rice Krispies at home?
Because Rice Krispies contain fairly simple ingredients beyond just the puffed rice, it is possible to make DIY Rice Krispies at home using just a few ingredients:
- Puffed rice – The base of any Rice Krispies recipe.
- Marshmallows – Melted marshmallow helps bind and coat the puffed rice.
- Butter – A little butter helps the marshmallow mixture spread evenly.
- Vanilla extract – For additional flavoring.
- Powdered sugar – To dust the finished Krispies for sweetness.
Here is a simple homemade Rice Krispies recipe:
Ingredients
- 6 cups puffed rice
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces mini marshmallows
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large pot over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
- Stir in vanilla extract. Add puffed rice and gently fold to coat all pieces evenly.
- Press mixture into a baking pan coated with nonstick spray. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.
- Dust squares with powdered sugar before serving.
The basic steps are to melt the marshmallows with butter, mix in the puffed rice to coat, then let cool and solidify before cutting into those classic crispy rice square shapes.
While homemade won’t be exactly the same as the factory version, you can get close with the right ratios of puffed rice to marshmallow binding. Add in any other flavorings if desired.
Fun facts about Rice Krispies
Here are some interesting tidbits of trivia about Rice Krispies cereal:
- Rice Krispies were first introduced by Kellogg’s in 1928.
- The Rice Krispies mascots Snap, Crackle, and Pop were introduced in the 1930s.
- Legend has it that the elves Snap, Crackle, and Pop live in mushrooms and make the sounds by magically turning grains of rice into Rice Krispies.
- Early Rice Krispies ads featured the cereal’s “merry elves” and encouraged kids to listen for the sounds the elves make while eating the cereal.
- In 1963, The Rolling Stones hit song (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction was partly inspired by that snap, crackle, pop sound of Rice Krispies.
- The recipe for puffed rice was discovered by accident in 1902 when hot cereal grains exploded under pressure.
- Kellogg’s makes enough Rice Krispies each year to circle the earth’s equator over 14 times.
So while they seem simple, Rice Krispies have a surprisingly long and storied history as one of America’s classic breakfast cereals.
Conclusion
While puffed rice is the main ingredient, Rice Krispies cereal has some key differences from plain puffed rice. The additional sugars, flavoring, vitamins, and manufacturing process help give Rice Krispies their distinctive crispy, sweet taste and crunchy texture. So no, Rice Krispies are not just simply puffed rice. But the satisfying snap, crackle, pop sounds of Rice Krispies will likely continue delighting kids and adults alike for generations to come.