Recipe Review: Chocolate Crispy Rice Cakes

Recipe Review: Chocolate Crispy Rice Cakes

With the midpoint of the semester just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get together with some friends to relax and share some good food. So, here’s a recipe for a take on a classic treat that can be made right in your dorm with only a microwave and a few ingredients.

You’ll need a microwave-safe bowl and spoon, as well as a bar of dark chocolate, a bar of milk chocolate, crispy rice cereal, half a stick of salted butter and honey. The chocolate can be readily found at the Jay’s Nest, and the cereal is often available in the Marketplace, though unfortunately you will likely have to venture off campus for the other ingredients.

Start by adding the full bar of milk chocolate and half a bar of dark chocolate to a bowl. Add half a stick of butter and four tablespoons of honey or a honey substitute like agave syrup. Microwave them together in 10-second intervals, stirring after each, until the ingredients are fully melted.

Pour in the crispy rice cereal and mix. Continue adding the cereal until all of the cereal is fully covered, but there is no more of the chocolate mixture left to be mixed in. I used about three or four cups of cereal.

Then, transfer the mixture to an airtight container or cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let it cool or place it in the fridge to speed up the process. Cut them into bars and enjoy!

This recipe also can be customized with a variety of toppings, like sprinkles, marshmallows or nuts for some extra flavor, texture and colorful flair.

After trying this recipe, I would recommend being cautious about the amount of butter you add. Though you can’t really taste it in the final product, it still smells quite a bit like butter. Additionally, be sure to add enough cereal so you don’t have large sections that are mostly filled with chocolate.

Overall, I think they ended up being pretty tasty, and they have a soft enough texture while still holding their shape. They also have just the right amount of sweetness for my tastes.

The proportions I used resulted in about nine reasonable servings, so if you plan to share with many more people, consider doubling the quantity of ingredients. They’ll also keep for about a week when covered, so you can make a few extras for yourself to keep on hand for those late-night study sessions before midterms.