No Bake Lemon Treats
No Bake Lemon Treats
You don't need an oven to prepare a delicious treat for your next party! With this recipe for lemon treats, you can whip up a quick snack using cereal and sandwich cookies. And since it's packed with lemon flavor, it's perfect for any spring or summer get-together. Simply combine the ingredients, slice into bars, and enjoy each lemony bite of these sweet snacks.
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What Do I Need to Make Lemon Treats?
Since these no-bake treats are so easy to make, you can prepare them with just a few minutes of prep work. And all you need are a handful of ingredients to make them! To whip up your lemon treats, you'll need:
- Mini marshmallows
- Rice Krispies cereal
- Lemon sandwich cookies
- Unsalted butter
- Lemon juice
- Yellow food coloring
- White sprinkles
How Do I Make Lemon Treats?
Making these sweet treats couldn't be easier. And since they're made with crispy rice cereal and lemon cookies, you can't beat each bite's delicious flavor and texture. But the best part about this simple recipe is how quick they are to prepare. Just follow these easy instructions to make your own no-bake lemon treats at home.
Step One: Prepare the Cookies
Before mixing up these no-bake bars, you must take a few minutes to prep your ingredients. Start by placing ten lemon cookies in a zip-top bag. Close the lid and crush the cookies using a rolling pin. Continue crushing until the cookies are fine crumbs, making sure not to over-crush them into a powder. Set this bag aside and add the remaining cookies to a separate bag. Repeat the process until all those cookies are crushed, too.
Step Two: Melt the Marshmallows
Combine the marshmallows and butter in a large bowl. Place the ingredients in the microwave and heat for two minutes, until the two ingredients are fully melted. Stir to mix the butter into the marshmallows.
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Step Three: Add the Lemon
Once the marshmallows are melted, add the lemon juice and yellow food coloring to the bowl. Mix until well combined and there are no color streaks in the marshmallows. Continue adding more food coloring until your desired shade of yellow has been reached.
Step Three: Mix in the Cereal & Cookies
Add the ten crushed lemon cookies to the bowl and the rice cereal. Stir to mix all the ingredients together, folding the melted marshmallows over the top of the cookies and cereal until they're completely covered.
Step Four: Prepare the Bars
Spray a 10x7-inch (or 8x8-inch) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and spread the cereal mixture evenly across the pan. Lightly press the mixture into the pan so it compacts together. Then, decorate the top of the bars with sprinkles and the remaining crushed cookies. Cover the dish and allow the treats to rest for at least four hours before slicing and serving.
Lemon Treats Recipe Ideas
These quick and easy treats are perfect for any occasion! And since they're so simple to make, they're also easy to customize. Try these recipe ideas to create some delicious lemon treats for your next get-together.
- Add more lemon flavor. These bars feature a slight lemon flavor, so if you want extra citrus in each bite, there are a few steps you can take. Adding fresh lemon zest to the marshmallow mixture is a great way to enhance the lemon flavor. Or mix in some lemon extract to give the flavor a boost.
- Make a bigger batch. If you're hoping to feed a crowd, try preparing the treats in a bigger pan. Using a 9x13 pan will result in thinner treats, so if you want to serve more people, simply double the recipe.
- Add more marshmallows. Give your lemon treats a little more sweetness by mixing in extra marshmallows. After melting the marshmallows and butter, add an extra ½ cup mini marshmallows with the cereal and cookies. These extra marshmallows will keep their shape as you mix them in, giving your treats added sweetness in every bite.
- Decorate with more toppings. The easiest way to dress up these treats is by adding some toppings. Try dressing up the snacks with melted white chocolate, yellow candy melts, lemon icing, or lemon zest.
How Do I Store These Lemon Treats?
These lemon treats taste best when fresh, so enjoy them right after they're cut into squares! If you have leftover treats after the party, simply store them at room temperature. Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and keep them in a cool, dry place. They'll stay good for up to four days.
How Do I Keep My Rice Krispies Treats from Sticking?
Using a nonstick cooking spray is the best way to keep your treats from sticking while preparing them. Make sure to spray the pan before adding the cereal mixture, then spray the nonstick cooking spray on your hands or spatula to keep the mixture from sticking as you press it into the pan. You can also use the spray to make it easy to cut your treats after they're cool. Simply spray the knife before slicing it to quickly and easily cut your bars.
No Bake Lemon Treats
Ingredients
- 16 Ounces Mini Marshmallows 1 bag
- 5 Cups Rice Krispie Cereal
- 13 Lemon Sandwich Cookies crushed
- 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
- Yellow Food Dye optional
- White Sprinkles
- Nonstick Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Spray your pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- Place 10 of the cookies in a sealed baggie, and smash them with a rolling pin or similar item. You don’t want large chunks, but you down want them to be made into a powder either. Set aside. Repeat with the leftover cookies, but do those separately.
- Combine the marshmallows and butter in a large mixing bowl. Microwave for two minutes.
- Immediately stir until the butter is fully mixed into the marshmallow.
- Add the lemon juice and stir until combined.
- Add the yellow dye and stir until no color streaks appear. If you like the color, continue to the next step. If not, add more until you reach the color you prefer.
- Add the 10 crushed cookies and mix well.
- Add the rice cereal and fold the ingredients over each other until the cereal is completely coated by the marshmallow.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread it evenly across the pan before pressing it down firmly so it compacts together.
- Immediately sprinkle with the leftover crushed cookies and white sprinkles.
- Cover and let sit for about 4 hours or overnight, or until they’re set.
- Slice and enjoy!
Notes
- If you would like to use a 9x13 pan, you’ll want to double the recipe or your treats will come out thinner. If you’re ok with this, no need to double then.
- These are not a strong lemon flavor. They’re just a light lemon flavor. If you want an even stronger lemon flavor, you can add some lemon zest or a teaspoon of lemon extract before adding the cookies and cereal to the marshmallow.
- I like leaving the treats overnight for the best results in cutting them. However, this isn’t necessary.
- These treats will keep for up to 4 days, stored in a sealed container, in a cool dry place like a pantry. Do not freeze.
- Be sure to press down on the cookie crumbles and sprinkles after you add them to the top. This will ensure they stick well.
