Rice Krispies Treats Cereal

In terms of attention given to cereals online, we’re living in something of a renaissance right now. Thanks to a host of nostalgic meets sugarholic bloggers like Leandra Palermo, a great exchange of ideas and under-the-radar cereal picks is just a click away. One of those picks, and one of the few cereals I had yet to try, was Rice Krispies Treats.

Make no mistake about it, this stuff had a cult following even before Leandra wrote her incredibly flattering review on the Seriouse Eats network. Essentially a deconstructed version of the iconic mass produced Rice Krispies Treats that my mother would include in my elementary school lunches, Rice Krispies Treats and my hungry stomach seemed like a match made in cereal nostalgia heaven. So, after a recent string of tips for a good day of frozen custard selling, I hastily made my way to the nearest Walmart* to pick up the cereal Leandra loves so much, she orders it from Amazon.

Despite loving Rice Krispies Treats (especially the ‘Rainbow’ ones and the Chocolate Chunk flavor) I disdain plain old Rice Krispies, and find Cocoa Krispies no match for Cocoa Pebbles. All things considered, I must just dislike rice-based cereals, and don’t get the appeal of something that’s suppose to “snap, crackle, and pop” in your milk. If I wanted popping in my mouth, I’d just as soon buy Pop Rocks.

True to the slogan, Rice Krispies Treats does snap, crackle, and pops if poured into milk. The pieces consist of clumped together portions of rice krispies, which, while sweetened, don’t exactly give up a sticky marshmallow and margarine sheen. They look like asteroids but they dissolve like particles of moon dust, while the mouthfeel, whether eaten dry or in milk, is nothing similar to an actual Rice Krispie Treat. It lacks the marshmallow goo and fails to deliver the savory taste of butter or margarine, and, what’s more, is one-note in its sweetness. There’s no bulk to the cereal, and snackability is extremely limited because of the light density. It is, I should think, a lot like eating air with sugar in it, and not very flavorful sugar at that.

I can’t overstate how disappointed I am with this cereal. About the only saving grace was the box maze, which I’m sure will make a fine addition to my cereal box collection. Nevertheless, I threw the rest of the box out, and  disliked it so much that I was more inclined to reach for the Special K Red Berries my mom likes than to eat this. Is it just me and my rice-based cereal aversion talking here, or have others found Rice Krispies Treats to be anything but a treat? And if not, what are your biggest cereal disappointments? I know I can’t be alone in my wallowing!

*As a complete aside, has anyone ever noticed how everything at Walmart ends in an eight? Like cereal or bars constantly priced at $2.68 or $2.98?

Rice Krispies Treats Cereal

• Price: 2.68 (Walmart)
• Ranking: 3/10
• Chances I’d Buy Again: 0%

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